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“Do you really trust her alone up there?” Anna asks, blinking slowly. “Remember what happened last time?”
Carlie’s eyes widen. “What—what happened last time?”
Tasia blows out a breath. “Let’s just say … Viv hassticky hands, if you know what I mean. Shit, I better keep an eye on her. Chang, take care of that.” She points at the spill and dashes off to the front of the store.
“Quick, take your seat back before I have to spend the entire night envisioning stabbing Vivian through the boob,” Anna hisses at me, her voice low and urgent as she wipes up the wine.
I point to the back room. “But I should probably grab another folding chair for Tasia.”
Anna’s expression is devoid of any interest. In fact, it almost looks like she’s trying to glare a hole through my head.
“Oh, it’s okay. I can just sit on the—” Carlie begins, pointing toward the floor. She makes an attempt at dropping down and nearly takes out the floor lamp beside her.
Anna pops up. “I’ll get the chair. Lily, sit your ass down next to me. Carlie, grab a chair.” She hurries off to the back room before I can protest.
I shake my head and hold my hand out to help Carlie stand back up. “I promise, we’re not normally this chaotic.”
“I wish I could say I’m not normally this clumsy but that would be a lie.” Carlie huffs a laugh.
“Well, if it’s any consolation, you’ll fit right in.”
“Thanks,” she breathes, her shoulders sagging a bit. “I’ll admit, I was pretty nervous about coming tonight.”
I smile at her as Vivian and Tasia come into view. “Shit, I better sit down or I’ll be getting eye daggers from Anna all night.”
“Go,” Carlies says, shooing me toward the loveseat.
I sit down just as Anna enters the room with the folding chair. She dumps it in Carlie’s hand and practically dives head-first into the spot beside me.
“Hey, I was sitting there,” Vivian whines when she sees me.
“Actually, it was Lily’s spot first. You stole it but no one was man enough to kick you out,” Anna declares, picking up her phone and feigning boredom again.
I jab her in the side with my elbow.
“Just suck it up, Viv. You can tough it out with me and Carlie,” Tasia says, taking a seat. “Come on, Anna, hook me up.” She wiggles the tips of her fingers toward the glasses on the table.
Anna bends forward slowly and starts working as book club bartender. She tops up all five glasses and divvies them out.
“I’d like to propose a toast,” I say, raising my glass in salute.
Everyone stops in mid-sip to stare at me.
I clear my throat and continue, “To old friends andnew ones.”
“Who are you calling old?” Vivian scoffs playfully.
“Cheers,” I say, ignoring her as I hold my glass higher.
“Cheers!” The rest chorus.
I take a sip, letting the notes hit my tongue. Blackberry, cherry, and a hint of something else—something really sweet—lingers on my tastebuds.
“Okay, so who actually read‘Fuck me Sideways?’” Tasia begins. “Carlie, I know you’re new so we don’t expect—”
“The one by Anita Bang?” Carlie interjects.
Tasia nods.
