Page 127 of Love, Luck & Clusterf*ck

I quickly scanned my brain.Friday, Friday…. Oh shit, that’s right.“Um.”

“Don’t ‘um’ me. There is no way you’re missing my going-away party.”

“Nope. Of course not.” I put on my best smile. “Just try to keep me away.”

Kate had gotten the job. Her last day was in a week. I was incredibly bummed to see her go, but how could I not be at her party to help her celebrate? I tried to weigh the possibilities of Stephenshowing up. He was no longer her boss, or even worked in the same building, so that was a check in the no category. But he’d gotten to know her well enough in the months that he was here, making that a check for yes.

No worries. Whether he was there or not would have no impact on me. It was inconsequential. It definitely wasn’t anything to keep me up at night.

Except it was.

“It’s an atomic cherry.”

I peered at the bright red liquid inside the glass. “I’m not really a shot girl.”

“They’re my fave. Come on, just try it. There’s no way you’re getting out of doing shots at my going-away party.” She stuck out her bottom lip.

She had a point. Thiswasher party. I opened my lips and tipped it back. I only cringed slightly. “It tastes like child’s cough syrup.” I supposed it could be worse.

“Yeah, it’s an acquired taste, but I love ’em.” She waved her hand around between the two tables, ticking everyone’s names off. “Adam, Susan, Vicki, Josh, Rob, your turn.”

“I already had mine,” Adam said. “And I’m guessing everyone else has too since the glasses are empty.”

“Oh. Then time for another.” She raised her arm and snapped herfingers. “Another two rounds for everyone.” I couldn’t help smiling. I’d never see her so sloshed before. Even when she claimed to be drunk, it was never like this. She pointed a finger at me. “Don’t you worry about drinking too much, ’cause my wonderful hubby will drive you home if you can’t. He’s the whatever-you-call-it driver.”

“Designated.”

“What?”

“Designated driver.”

“No need to worry. We’ve already got one.” She grabbed John’s arm and leaned into him. “My wonderful hubby here.”

I laughed. “Good to know. Thanks.”

The server set two shots in front of each of us. Kate downed both of hers before we even wrapped our hands around one. Adam whistled. “I hope you haven’t made any plans later tonight, John. You’re going to be too busy holding back her hair while she pukes red shit everywhere.”

“Already scheduled it in.”

Kate thought that was hysterical. “Doesn’t stain the toilet, though. Already tried it out once.”

She pushed on my elbow until I picked up my shot and drank it down, along with my second. Okay, definitely starting to feel something.

Kate started raising her arm when Adam said, “Lucky guess, but another round?”

“Hey, how’d you know?”

“Lucky guess.”

“Oh, right.” She put her arms around Adam and me, nearly squashing all our faces together. “I’m going to miss you guys soooooooooooo much.” I didn’t think she even had that much breath in her.

“Yeah, me too. You have no idea.” The last thing I wanted to be was a Debbie Downer so I changed course. “But you’ll still stop byand visit, right? And we’ll still continue to go out.”

“Ab-so-tit-lut-ely” She looked around the table, then back at Adam. “Hey, werent’cha getting us more?”

“I already did and you drank it. See? Your shot glass is empty.”

“Oh.” She snapped her fingers and slurred, “Another three rounds for everyone.”

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