Page 149 of The Me I Left Behind

“She’s a freshman in college,” Julia quipped. “Are you kidding me?”

Alice bristled. “Oh, she’s still a virgin. Ella would tell me.”

“Right.” Lia rounded the bar. “Keep telling yourself that. Who is making the sunrises?”

“I will,” Julia said.

They all stared at her.

“What? I can’t drink them, but I’m still a good bartender.”

Lia touched her arm. “You won’t be tempted?”

“Hell no. I don’t eat bacon, either, but that doesn’t mean I fall off the bacon wagon when I cook it for Sam. I’m good. I promise. Besides, I like to concoct things.”

“Well then, sister. Have at it,” Maggie said.

“Time to par-ty!” yelled Alice.

“What about Carol, Maggie?” Lia poked a chip in her mouth. “You think she’s sleeping with Logan?”

Maggie snorted. “She’s on the pill. Definitely. And besides, she and Logan are staying at the Gull this week together, so there is that.”

Alice whirled around. “You put her on the pill?”

Maggie laughed. “Seriously, Alice? Get with the century. She put herself on the pill and I bet Ella is too!”

Alice looked stunned, then plopped down onto a bar stool. “I’m still living in Pollyanna world.”

“Well, you better get out of that soon because your life is about to flip. How’s the divorce coming along?”

“Not.”

“Really?”

Alice closed her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it. Maybe next year.”

“Sure. Let’s just drink then.”

Their chatter halted for a few seconds, then Alice said, “Julia? What about Hannah? Do you think she’s a virgin?”

Julia didn’t miss a beat. “What kind of virgin? The boy–girl penetrating kind of virgin or lesbian virgin?”

Alice blinked several times. “I should know how to answer that, shouldn’t I?”

Maggie burst out laughing. Lia joined her. Julia just smirked and pushed the button on the blender.

“Frozen margaritas coming up. Tequila sunrises are in the cups. Choose your poison, ladies.”

Maggie reached for a sunrise. “I’ll meet you chicks on the deck. Last one there gets the broken lounge chair.”

“So, Maggie, tell us about Lilly.”Alice took a drink of ice water.

They’d just finished dinner at a popular Carolina buffet, stuffing themselves silly with seafood and hushpuppies, and were contemplating cocktails.

“I’m so full I’m not sure I can even talk,” Maggie said. “Let alone drink?”

“Oh, one margarita won’t take up much room.” Alice signaled the server. “A round of margaritas, please. Make one non-alcoholic.” She pointed at Julia. “And make sure she gets that one.”

---