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Cora grabs the bottle of tequila and yanks out the cork. She pours five shots and hands one to each of us. “A toast.”
Claire smiles at her. “What are we toasting, Cor?”
“To friends.” Cora holds hers up in the air. “The best of friends.”
“To friends,” we collectively say and then down the warm liquid.
The heat spreads down my chest and into my belly. I settle into the spot next to her as she fills her cup back up. "You getting shit-faced on me tonight?"
“So are you! It’s the only way I can get you to dance with me.” Cora refills my shot glass.
“You know I’m not a tequila girl.” I take it, because I don’t want to draw any unwanted attention, and down the contents.
Cora pours more into Claire’s empty glass, too. “I’m seriously so happy you’re both here. That we’re here. I needed this. More than you know.”
My heart tugs at the fact that I haven’t been as good of a friend as Cora has deserved lately. I’ve been so focused on everything going on in my life that I haven’t been paying attention to hers. Just because someone wants me dead doesn’t mean her problems are any less important than mine.
“What’s been going on, Cor?” I ask her and swallow down the guilt of being a shitty friend.
She sighs. “It’s fine. Everything is fine.”
But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
I guess me and my men aren't the only ones with secrets.
“Talk to me, Cora bora.” Claire drinks her shot and sets the glass on the table.
Simon and Johnny sit on the opposite end of our roped-off section and have a conversation of their own. But from the music blaring in this place, not a blip of what they're saying carries over to us.
Simon winks and my pulse picks up speed. I force myself to look away and focus on my best friend.
“Just the usual. Work. Life. Boys. Family. You know.” Cora shrugs and paints a smile on her beautiful face. “But tonight is about forgetting our worries, right?” She pours herself another drink and tips it back.
Her eyes light up and I follow her attention to spot Alec walking toward us. Cora grips my arm and reaches for Claire. “Would you kill me if I asked him to dance? Oh my god, I’m going to do it.” Cora rises to her feet and adjusts her boobs. “I’m going in.”
And before either of us can stop her, Cora walks with confidence right over to him, their bodies separated by the rope between them. They exchange a few words and apparently, she convinces him because he unhooks the barrier and lets her out.
Alec glances over his shoulder at Simon and Simon gives him a thumbs up.
Simon turns toward me and mouths, “It’s okay.”
I draw in a breath and sigh. “I hate keeping her in the dark.”
“Me, too.” Claire leans back into the couch, throws her arm over the back, and turns toward me. “I haven’t been around enough to have the conversation with her though. You know? And there are so many unpredictable variables. It could be the best or worst thing for her.”
“That’s my thought, too. I feel selfish not telling her, but I’d be selfishfortelling her. It sucks not having someone to talk to. She’s my best friend, and she’s completely in the dark. Part of me wants to keep her there, to protect her.”
“Yeah,” Claire says. “It’s not always the best choice though.” She faces me more. “I told my best friend, Rosie.”
My eyes widen. “No shit? How did that go?”
“Well.” Claire exhales. “I was forced to, really. She got caught in the war, almost died. I didn’t have a choice at that point. We went through a rocky period, but I think it brought us closer.”
“Wow, I had no idea.”
Claire grabs one of the bottles of water off the table and twists the cap off and takes a sip, returning to her position toward me. “We’ve all held our fair share of secrets in an attempt to protect those we love.”
“Even you and Johnny?”
