Page 25 of Once Bitten, Twice Fried
“Oh shi-” A loud metallic noise. Julie dropped a piece of the machine.
Zoe stepped up to her. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes yes. I got it. No worries.” Julie flashed an “OK” sign at Zoe. “I just need to um… Tighten the thing around the other thing, I think.”
Zoe smiled. Classic Julie. “Do you know how to use this?”
Julie energetically shook her head. “I have no clue what I’m doing here.” She handed Zoe the piece she was holding. Smiling widely.
Zoe’s heart skipped a beat. Julie would always have this big dumb smile with an earnest answer every time she did something stupid. And it was just impossible to be mad at her. Worse, it made Zoe want to pinch her cheek. Zoe took over and made herself a perfect coffee, while Julie peered over her shoulder.
“Guess I’m not famous enough to operate this thing.” Julie chuckled.
“That’s the first thing they teach you at celebrity school.”
Zoe looked at Julie. The blue of her eyes was just like she remembered. She did have some small wrinkles around her eyes. Zoe had a sudden urge to tousle Julie’s curls, like she used to back then.
“When are the others going to wake up?” Yasmine interjected.
Julie looked at her watch. “Soon. Don’t worry.”
Moments later, a group of hens barged into the kitchen, bottles in hand. Leila climbed on the sofa in the living room area.
“We’re going to start this day by having a cocktail brunch then you all need to pack your bags up, because we’re going to the beach!” Clatter and laughter ensued.
“To the beach?” Yasmine said confusedly.
Maria grinned at her. “We have a villa in Knokke waiting for you. We’re doing Brussels, the North Sea, and then the Ardennes for your wedding. That’s a whole tour of Belgium just for you!”
Yasmine squealed with joy. Zoe chuckled and shook her head. She’d forgotten that Belgium was so small that just three locations could count as a whole tour. She glanced over at Julie. She was leaning against one of the counters, her arms crossed, beaming because Yasmine was happy. Zoe had missed that. The nice and wholesome friendship that she had with her Brussels friends was something she’d never quite found ever again. She’d just thought that life had changed for everyone, but seeing this group still so tight-knit made her happy.
“We’re really going to the beach?”
Alice patted Yasmine on the back. “Yes. You seemed very indecisive about the location of your hen do, so we’re doing both Brussels and the North Sea!”
“And you’re lucky enough to have a celebrity chef prepare you cocktails right now.” Leila looked in Zoe’s direction.
“Is that true, Zoe? You’re going to work today?” Yasmine said in surprise.
Zoe grinned. “It’s not really work if I can drink as well.” She grabbed one bag full of bottles. Zoe almost jumped as Julie ran next to her to help her carry the rest of the groceries to the kitchen area.
The hen party didn’t want anything fancy for cocktails. Most of them went for Zoe’s signature grapefruit gin and tonic orclassic margaritas. Her flair bartending skills were not amazing, but she knew enough to impress people. The girls all clapped and wolf whistled when Zoe managed to balance the bottle of gin on her elbow.
All of them cheered, except one.
Julie.
But it was different from yesterday. Julie seemed to be nicer, more engaged. She hadn’t clapped because she was too busy staring at Zoe with her mouth slightly agape. Zoe was still standing behind the kitchen counter, looking pleased at the rest of the hens enjoying their drinks - with compliments streaming her way. Her eye caught Julie, standing on the side, frowning at her cocktail. That was unusual. Zoe’s cocktails were one of her catering’s strengths. She walked up to her.
“What’s wrong? You don’t like your drink?”
Julie blinked, absolutely taken aback. “What?”
Zoe crossed her arms. “I saw you make a face when you drank.”
“Oh.” Julie looked at Zoe then at her gin and tonic then back at Zoe. “No! It’s delicious. I love it. Thanks!” She sipped her drink and nodded intensely at Zoe without breaking eye contact.
“… Are you aware that this makes you even more suspicious?”
