“I’m so excited,” exclaimed Joy. “I haven’t been here in a while.”
“Thank God,” Naomi muttered under her breath.
Joy rolled her eyes. “No wonder Chase loves you. You’re a party pooper just like him.”
The women laughed. “Who’s meeting us here?” asked Mallory.
“Nicki, Isabelle, Autumn and Tessa,” Joy replied. She looked at her phone. “They already got a table.”
The music got louder as they approached the double red doors, where a bouncer stood. A line was already forming, but Joy finger-waved to him, and he motioned them forward.
“Hi, Bruce. How’s the family?” asked Joy.
He nodded. “Good.” He opened the door and told them to have a good time.
“Wow. You must come here a lot,” said Mia.
“Not really. Bruce works part-time for Will,” Joy said and added, “Nice guy, married with a couple of kids.”
Inside, the air smelled of citrus cleaner, perfume and something fried drifting out from the kitchen. Low amber lights lined the walls. White-tablecloth-draped tables with candles in the middle were spread around, leaving a small area for dancing. Large potted palms provided some privacy between tables.
“Usually, they have a small band playing on nights they don’t have karaoke,” Naomi said.
They spotted their friends at a table near the back and made their way over.
After kisses and hugs all around, they settled down.
A server appeared almost immediately, already smiling.
“Drinks?”
“Vodka soda with lime,” Joy said without hesitation.
“Gin and tonic,” Naomi added. “Heavy on the lime.”
Mia glanced at the menu. “Tequila and grapefruit,” she said. “With salt.”
The other women gave their drink orders as the server nodded and scribbled. “I’ll be back with these and then take your order.”
When the drinks arrived, Mia’s first sip hit cold and sharp, loosening the tension in her shoulders.
Then, an order of truffle fries and a charcuterie board were placed in the center of the table.
Music pulsed through the room as the lights dimmed slightly and the karaoke screen flickered to life. A cheer went up when the first singer took the mic. He was actually really good, but she couldn’t wait to hear Joy sing after all the good-natured trash talk her friends had been throwing her way.
Mia wondered if the other women would get up to sing. She’d never done karaoke herself and actually had no interest in doing it. She was perfectly content to sit and watch. Just being at a table with friends and shared plates was enough. For the moment.
They’d made their way through snacks and several singers when Joy suddenly pushed back her chair. “All right, ladies,” she announced. “Let’s show them how to do it.”
The women got up. Mia stayed seated.
Joy shot her a look and made a sharp little motion with her finger.
Crap.
There was no way out of this. Mia groaned but stood and followed them toward the stage.
Joy scrolled through the song list and laughed. “Perfect.”
