“Next question!” Eli said. “What was the name of the doll that Scott Calvin’s company worked on inThe Santa Clause?”
“What?” Elle said. “Who the hell would remember that?”
“Oh god, I know this one,” Sloane said. “That scary little white-girl doll that wasn’t even cute. Shit, what was her name?”
“Polly?” Brighton said, the name just outside her reach. “Holly?”
“But it was, like, a whole name, not just a first name,” Adele said. “Wasn’t it?”
“I’ve never even seen this movie,” Wes said.
“It’s awful,” Manish said.
“If byawfulyou meanfucking great,” Brighton said. “Dammit, the doll was, like…she was in a little dress and—”
“Do-It-All-for-You Dolly,” Charlotte said casually, pouring herself another glassful of Mistletoe Margarita.
The group blinked at her.
“What?” she said, sipping. “I’m right.”
“Oh my god, you are,” Sloane said.
“Do-It-All-for-You Dolly?” Manish said, his brows raised. “What,exactly, does Dolly do for you?”
Elle nearly did a spit take.
“Sounds iffy, that’s all I’m saying,” Manish said.
Charlotte laughed, a real laugh,herlaugh, and Brighton couldn’t help but smile back, something swelling around her heart. It had been five years since she’d heard that laugh.
“You’re brilliant,” Brighton said to her while Elle took their answer up to Eli.
“Like you didn’t already know this about me,” Charlotte said quietly.
Brighton laughed then, her shoulder pressing into Charlotte’s. “I did know.”
They looked at each other for a second, the air between them growing thick with—
No.
Brighton didn’t want to say it. Didn’t want to even think it.
Charlotte’s throat bobbed as she swallowed, her eyes bright and lovely. A strand of silvery hair fell over her cheek, and Brighton lifted a hand to tuck it behind her ear.
An instinct.
But she stopped herself just in time, instead changing course to pull her own hair over her shoulder.
Charlotte cleared her throat and looked away, then took another gulp of her margarita. Several gulps, in fact, then pulled the pitcher closer to her. “I need another drink.”
Brighton didn’t realize Charlotte wascompletely plastered until they were leaving Watered Down with the leg lamp nestled in Manish’s arms.
Charlotte grabbed Brighton’s arm as they meandered through the tables toward the door, nearly pulling Brighton down with her.
“Whoa, are you okay?” Brighton asked, turning to steady Charlotte. Wes grabbed Charlotte’s other arm.
“I’m fine,” Charlotte said, but she blinked at the dim room, then pulled at her coat, which Brighton now noticed was buttoned crookedly. “I’m hot. Is it hot in here?”
