“Well,we’re about to head out for the game. Are you guys coming? Loyal says he has enough tickets for everyone.”
Cassidy looked at Sloan. A crowded game wasn’t really the place he wanted to be right now— not with her.
“Nah, I’mapass, E, I’ve got a lot to do here tonight,” Cassidy declined.“And about Cairo…”
“I can handle Cairo, Cass. I love you enough not to get you involved,” Ellie said.
Cassidy glanced at Sloan and scoffed because she indeed knew her best friend.
“You let me know if the nigga loses his mind or something. Anything that feels even close to intimidation, and yougon’call your muscle off the bench. I’m never going to let any nigga make you feel unsafe,” Cassidy said.“I’llcrash out over you.”
“I know,” Ellie said.“And what about you, Sloan? You in or out?”
“I’ma call it a night,” Sloan said.“I got to rest up for Christmas tree chopping tomorrow, remember?”
Ellie laughed.“Shy and this damn itinerary,” Ellie cracked. She backpedaled toward the building.“Okay, get home safe. Love y’all.”
“Love you!” Sloan shouted back.
Before Ellie disappeared, Cassidy shouted,“Oh, and E!”
Ellie turned back to him.“Loyal’s a good nigga.”
“I figured. You wouldn’t be letting me and the girls go anywhere with him if he wasn’t,” Ellie snickered.“Alright, I’llsee y’all.”
Cassidy turned back to Sloan.“Let’s get back inside before I freeze out here.”
She stood and slid his coat off her shoulders. He didn’t bother putting it back on. He simply led her to the building and back into the heat.
“You want a drink, or you have to get out of here?” Cassidy asked.
Sloan thought about going to her empty house, and she shrugged.“I guess I can stay for one drink,” she complied.
“Shotsaren’t your thing, right?” he asked.
“God, please no,” she protested. He gave a lazy smile and pulled out the Kahlua, rum, and a few other ingredients.
“I’ma make you a gingerbread martini,” he said.
“I love gingerbread anything. I wanted to make a gingerbread house, but it was too crowded at that station,” she said as she watched him prepare the drink.
He whipped up the drink and set a napkin out in front of her before placing it down.
“None for you?” she asked.
“I’m simple. McCallan over ice works fine for me,” Cassidy stated.“Giveme a second. I’llbe right back.” He went to the kitchen and dug through the pantry before emerging with a gingerbread kit in his hands.“I knew we had extras in the back.”
Sloan smiled and sipped her drink.“This ishella good,” she said.“Okay,bartender!” She praised, raising her glass to salute him.
“I’ve had to work the bar plenty of times over the last few months when we got busy. This place is growing faster than I thought it would. I need to hire more help,” he explained.
“That’s a good thing. I’m proud of you for the way you’re attacking life,” Sloan said.
“Making up for lost time. I got to go full speed, you know?”
Sloan opened the kit and laid the items in front of them. He watched as she began to put the house together.“Christmas is your favorite holiday?” he asked.
“Yeah, you can tell?” she laughed.
