Gabby, her best friend in the entire world, matched her bright smile. “No, we’re not having cocktails. We both have to work.” She half-pouted. “Shit. I wish, though.”

“Quarter,” she said with a sassy smirk as she pointed to the jar on the back counter. Not that either of them would be able to reach it to add to the swear jar. Brick never minded adding the money to the jar. Sometimes, when he was busy at the other end of the bar, they liked to try their hand at making the shot themselves. It wasn’t easy making a quarter into a small mason jar from almost seven feet away. The times they had tried, they didn’t make it very often. But it made them laugh and have fun attempting to.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll add two bucks before we leave,” Gabby said, rolling her eyes, digging the money out of her purse as she did.

Okay, so they weren’t going to have some fun shooting quarters into the jar. Bummer. Mia didn’t mind taking her time here…having that drink.

“So, why are we here, if not to enjoy a drink…that totally wouldn’t hurt to have? A mimosa wouldn’t kill us. Light on the Prosecco, heavy on the orange juice.”

Gabby narrowed her eyes, attempting to use her wily detective skills to figure out why Mia was trying to press the drinks. Well, why the hell not, is what she wanted to say. 

“Fine. I’ll have a mimosa. Virgin style.” Gabby leaned across the bar and shouted to Brick, the best bartender in the world—Mia would never dispute that with anyone— “Add two virgin mimosas to our order.”

Brick laughed but winked in acknowledgment.

Mia huffed teasingly. Sort of. “Virgin mimosa? I don’t even think that’s a thing. You could’ve just said a glass of orange juice.”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Gabby chuckled, then her features relaxed into concern. “Everything okay? You seem a bit…squirrelly today.”

Mia ruffled a hand through her curly hair as she briefly looked away. She hated to lie to her best friend, but she didn’t want to be completely honest either. Sometimes, it was hard to talk to Gabby. Most of the time, they shared everything as besties do. But sometimes, somethings…needed to be left unsaid. Ever since Gabby found the love of her life and everything was going so well for her, it was hard to tell her things. Meanwhile, Mia’s life continued on its current path. Same job. Same single status. Same feeling of sadness that she could never quite seem to dispel.

“Who’s being squirrelly here? You or me? Ordering a virgin mimosa.” Mia rolled her eyes this time. “It’s going to be a busy day. A few new cast members are joining the production, and one I’ve worked with before who is a pain in my ass. She never listens to what I say. I create the designs. She wears them. End of story.”

“Quarter,” Gabby said with a bit of snark that made Mia wrinkle her nose at her and stick out her tongue.

Here was her chance to throw that quarter. They could have a throwing contest.

Or not.

What was she thinking?

Delaying the inevitable never worked. That same weary feeling would still be there. Still weigh her down.

“Not sure why everyone else always has to follow the swear jar rule. You’re the one who’s trying to stop the swearing. Not us. And it’s not like these swear jars help you anyway. You still have a potty mouth like a sailor.”

“Because you’re my bestie, and that’s what you do for your best friend. Need I remind you what I did for you a few months ago that was completely outrageous.”

Mia shrugged as her lips curved upward. “Only if you’re going to add thank you to that reminder. You did meet the love of your life.”

Gabby’s smile brightened as her eyes lit up with happiness—a look that hadn’t dulled since she met Dane. “I did, didn’t I? Dane is someone I never expected, and I love him more than I can say.”

Before Gabby could go into questions or inquiries into her love life, Mia spoke. “So, virgin mimosas and…what else did you order, and why?”

Gabby’s eyes narrowed again, briefly, like she was debating whether to put on her interrogator face before she smoothed out her features. “Brick’s breakfast burritos. Ever since Dane found out he makes the best breakfast burritos, I find it hard not to swing by and get one. But I wanted to talk to you about Dane. Since I know you have a busy schedule, I have a busy schedule, then I’m at home with him all night, I don’t want him to overhear. I swear, it feels like I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Mia wouldn’t exactly disagree. In the past month, she had stopped dropping by Gabby’s place as often. She felt like she was intruding. Of course, she knew if she uttered a single word hinting at that, Gabby would disagree and use a few choice swear words to get her point across as well.

Not that it was her only reason for distancing herself.

Of course, not something she wanted to think about right now.

Or ever.

“Is everything okay? You guys aren’t having problems, are you? Do I need to kick his ass or something? Because I’ll dig out my deadliest high heels and show him what’s up.”

Gabby giggled, slapping her hand on her shoulder. “Down, girl. Keep your high heels in the closet. Dane and I are good. His birthday is coming up in two weeks and I wanted to throw him a party. But…” Gabby shrugged, waving her hands frivolously in the air.

“But you suck at parties and want my brilliant help.”

“Yes!” Gabby clapped excitedly, nearly knocking over the plate Brick tried to set down in front of her. “Oh, sorry, Brick. Didn’t see you.”

“Good thing I got steady hands.” He smiled and set down both plates filled with two breakfast burritos that Mia knew would fill her up good. They were honestly the best burritos in the city. “And, not that I was eavesdropping or anything, but you can always have the party here.”

“That’s a fabulous idea. I was going to suggest it. Dane does love coming here.” It was one of the reasons Mia avoided it more often than not, which was hard to do when Gabby invited her, and she couldn’t say no to her bestie. And she knew if Dane and Gabby were here, then so would…the man she didn’t want to think about.

Because thinking about him always brought her mood down. Well, her mood down even further. Which was silly. It should raise her mood level up.

“So, you’ll make this the best party in the world? I get this feeling he doesn’t generally celebrate his birthday with much fanfare, and that is unacceptable.” Gabby shook her head as if Dane were crazy for not making a big deal about his birthday.

“He’s going to have so much fun he’ll be birthdayed out for the next three years.” Mia quirked a brow and picked up her burrito. “Although, you’re not much for fanfare when it comes to your birthday either.”

Gabby waved her hand flippantly in the air as if how she felt about her birthday didn’t matter. It was all about Dane.

Brick laughed as he set two orange juices—virgin mimosas—in front of them. “You do what you gotta do, Mia. No limit on anything. I love parties.”

“Why are you the best guy around? Stop being so awesome,” she teased. If only her heart didn’t belong to another, she’d try to wrap Brick around her little finger. He was one of the sweetest, kindest guys she knew. And she knew a lot of people.

“He’s going to love this,” Gabby said excitedly, then her smile dipped. “And maybe hate it. He doesn’t like attention and the hoopla—as he calls it—much. Don’t go completely overboard.”

“Well, your birthday is only two weeks after his. We could always make it a double party. So crazy you guys share such close birthdays.”

Gabby shook her head vehemently. “Nope. This is his day. I don’t want to overshadow his day by throwing me in the mix. It’s not a big deal.”

See. She knew it. Gabby didn’t want the hoopla thrown at her. Didn’t she see if they shared the party it wouldn’t be as bad? They could share the attention, instead of having it all smack dab on them with a party for themselves.

“You just said he might hate it. He might not hate it as much if you celebrated both birthdays together.”

But arguing with Gabby never got very far, especially when her mind was set on something.

“No.” Gabby arched a brow, the burrito inches from her mouth. “I don’t want a double party. I want him to have a super special day.”

“Okay. He’s going to get the party of the year. Don’t worry, I know how Dane can get. I won’t do anything to upset him.”

“I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Gabby pulled her into a side hug, squeezing hard. Some of the cheese oozed out of the top of the burrito Gabby held, falling onto Gabby’s hands.

They both giggled.

“You’ll never have to find out. Besties forever.”

Copyright © 2021 Amanda Siegrist.

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