Cierra scoffed, “Mia, I’m months away from even beginning to think about that.”
“All the better reason to get a head start!”
Before Cierra could reply, the bartender returned with the complete order. But while Cierra was admiring the tall cylindrical concoctions, filled with tiny ice cubes and topped with magenta hibiscus flowers, Mia was shifting her neck around, looking for something.
“What are you looking for?” Cierra asked, but Mia couldn’t hear her over the tropical house music playing overhead. “WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?!” Cierra repeated, and Mia waved her hand, as if beckoning someone over. Cierra looked over her own shoulder to find two age-appropriate men coming their way and whipped around with accusing eyes toward her friend.
“What?” Mia said, like a cat caught with a mouse in its mouth. “I can’t enjoy a girls’ night out with my best friend? We need an objective party to judge which one of us finishes our drink first.”
Instantly, Cierra became incredibly self-conscious about her choice to wear boring straight-leg jeans and a black T-shirt. And why had she gone out with her hair in a bun? Could she look more basic? Then another thought came over Cierra:Oh my god, when was the last time I got nervous around a man?And then another thought:Oh my god, when was the last time I flirted with a man besides Harry?
The pair of men approaching them looked nothing like each other; maybe they were coworkers or old college friends. And from the slightly dazed expressions on their faces, they also looked like they had ended up in the wrong place. The first to introduce himself was tall and broad-shouldered. He had dark brown skin and a soft middle that wasn’t too big but immediately made you think he’d be great to cuddle in bed. Bythe way he was biting his lip at Mia, he was obviously loving the interaction.
“I’m Marcus,” he said with a light chuckle.
“Hi, Marcus, thanks for coming over. My friend and I have a very important job for you,” Mia said coyly, already working her charm on them. “Oh, and I’m Mia. This is my best friend, Cierra.”
“Nice to meet y’all,” Marcus said with a smooth voice, never once taking his eyes off Mia.
Here we go, Cierra thought to herself. Not that she ever minded Mia getting more male attention than she did. That was usually the case. But then again, whenever this happened, Cierra used to be able to tell herself,I’m the one with a man at home.
“And I’m Julian,” the second man said. Flowing brown hair, reminiscent of a Backstreet Boy, framed a ruggedly handsome face, which more than made up for him being shorter than his friend. A teal-blue pullover concealed toned arms underneath. He looked equally embarrassed by his friend’s flirtatiousness and automatically shared a look with Cierra, letting her know they were both victims of their friends’ antics.
“So, ladies, what can we help you with?” Julian prompted, breaking the weird trance happening between their two slightly hotter friends.
“Well,” Mia said, finally taking her eyes off Marcus, “we’re having a bet. Whoever finishes their drink last, loses.”
By the smiles quirking on each of the guys’ faces, they looked confused but interested.
“What if one of us wants in?” Marcus chimed in. “I love a challenge.”
God, this guy is such an asshole, Cierra thought to herself. And if there was one thing Mia liked, it was a charismatic, charming asshole. At least, she liked them for a week or two, before starting the maddening cycle all over again.
“Okay, you can play too then. But that means . . .” Mia trailed off, looking at Marcus’s friend.
“Julian?” he said, sounding slightly wounded that Mia had forgotten his name so soon.
“. . . that means thatJulianhas to judge. And no biased treatment, Judge Julian. There are serious consequences on the line.”
“And what exactly are they?” Marcus asked.
“Oh, whoever is last has to wearthatskirt to whatever big event they have next,” she said, pointing to one of the many cheeky asses on display.
Marcus grinned. “Count me in. I love to show a little skin,” he said with a wink. Cierra and Julian rolled their eyes in unison.
After Cierra and Mia had secured another round for their new friend Marcus, the competition began. The trio all downed a shot (which almost made Cierra throw up) and drank their ice-cold, overly-sweet hurricanes just as quickly — as if a real one were coming.
They looked at each other with competitive, strained eyes while they chugged. Cocktail juice was spilling all over Mia, and Marcus finished first at alarming speed. Based on their ten-minute interaction, Cierra would have put money on Marcus having won hundreds of drinking competitions in college. Shockingly, Cierra finished faster than Mia, and Julian called it.
“Oh, sorry, Mia. Looks like you finished last.”
Cierra grinned at her exuberant friend, who shrugged it off. Just then, it dawned on Cierra: Mia had definitely made up this stupid game as another excuse to go shopping and wear something fun and ridiculous.
After receiving a dirty look from the bartender, likely in response to chugging their thoughtfully made creation like a shotgun beer, the foursome headed to a nearby bar that had pool tables, darts, grunge rock, and a median age about tenyears higher than where they had been previously. Cierra found herself in that awkward position of being stuck with “the friend” while Mia and Marcus did their thing. But luckily, Julian made it easy. He wasn’t flirty, probably because some of the first words out of Cierra’s mouth had to do with Harry breaking up with her, followed by some scowling at a couple making out at the other end of the bar.
“Should we call the PDA police?” Julian asked jokingly.
“Sorry,” she said, pulling her glare away from the happy duo. “You’re catching me at a weird time.”
