“Sorry about that,” Thao said, then suddenly raised her hand. “Actually no––I’m not sorry. You were talking so much crap at the top.”
Soleil laughed. “Seriously. Your ‘I could do this blindfolded’ energy was strong this morning.”
Zuri rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. “Okay, fine. Me and my competitive edge. I deserved it.” She waved their teasing away with a swipe of her hand.
“Well, here, you deserve one of these, too.” Thao picked up a glass from the table between their two sofas and handed it to Zuri. “It’s called a Brandy Alexander.”
Grinning, Zuri eagerly took the drink—a creamy cocktail in a coupe glass, its rim dusted with cocoa and garnished with a chocolate-dipped candied orange slice––as Soleil placed a candy cane crown on her head, carefully rearranging her braids around it before settling back with a satisfied smile.
Zuri sipped as she read the cocktail menu in the middle of the table. The cognac warmed the back of her throat first, then came the sweetness of the crème de cacao, and the heavy cream—rich and velvety. It was exactly what she needed to get into the holiday spirit. A soft moan escaped her lips and her lids fluttered shut. Her friends knew her well, knew that she loved anything chocolatey: chocolate cake, Cocoa Puffs, cocoa nibs, and of course, a chocolatey Christmas cocktail––and they should, since she and Soleil had been best friends since kindergarten, with Thao and Avery rounding out their group in ninth grade.
“Oh, this is so good!” She took another sip of her Brandy Alexander and reached for a bacon wrapped scallop––one of the half-dozen, indulgent canapés on the table. “What did you girls get?” she asked over the music pulsating around them.
“We got the Pear Tree Martini.” Soleil pointed her red manicured finger between her and Avery.
“And I have the Naughty or Nice. Chardonnay and pinot noir with cognac and ginger ale.”
“Dang. You’ve got it all, don’t you?” Zuri teased the scallop off the metal toothpick with her teeth.
“Why should a girl have to choose?”
That was Thao to a T, Zuri thought.
“Speaking of choosing…” Soleil took a sip of her martini and set the crystal stemware on the table. “We’ve had our eyes out for potential hotties.”
“Hey, when I suggested this trip, I didn’t mean I want you to pimp me out.”
“Um, have you forgotten how terrible dating is? We just wanna help you sort through the bad eggs.”
Though supportive, during the course of her relationship with Bryan, each of her friends had found their own, subtle way of hinting that they weren’t fans of his. They’d known Zuri for years, and had watched her change with him, become more reserved, quieter. “You’re like a bird with clipped wings,” Avery had once said, trying to be gentle about her disapproval.
“What about them?” Avery pointed to a sofa a few yards to their right.
Zuri gave the men a curious once-over. The one in a tailored navy suit swirled amber liquid in a glass, and the other, wearing a charcoal turtleneck under a blazer, had his ankle crossed over his knee in a pose of practiced nonchalance––both casing the room. They were good-looking enough and carried the kind of easy confidence that made heads turn.
“Which one?” Thao asked.
“Either.” Avery leaned across the table for a mini crab cake. “Both.”
Zuri traded incredulous glances with Soleil and Thao before they all looked at Avery as if to ask, “Are you for real?”
Avery shrugged. “I figure one for each year you’ve gone without it should be enough to dust those cobwebs.”
Zuri scoffed. “Girl, please. What cobwebs? I may not have had a man, but you know I like my toys.”
“Yeah, and if your toys were doing the job, you wouldn’t have planned this little sex-cation for yourself.”
Zuri bent forward, her eyes leveled on Thao. “I really wish you’d stop calling it that.”
“And didn’t you tell me your favorite vibrator stopped holding a charge?”
“Soleil!”
“What? We’ve all been there. You might have to ask Santa for some new toys if we don’t get you laid in the next five days, so come on, focus.”
“You know, Z…” Avery tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear––her pale cheeks flushed from the alcohol. “If you don’t find anyone in Granite Falls, there’s always Spencer.”
Zuri nearly choked on her second bacon wrapped scallop. “Spencer? Your little brother, Spencer?”
