Avery frowned. “Man, I’m missing everything. The only interesting thing I’ve done is save a bougainvillea.”
“Save it? Why? They just take over everything.” TJ rolled her eyes.
“They don’t if you take care of them and prune it like you should.”
Avery was our plant mama, inside and out.
Cordelia came back with the tall shot glasses filled to the brim and I did a quick prayer for my liver. A few lime wedges in a bowl and a saltshaker rounded out the tray of trouble. Not that we really needed it with the top shelf tequila. At least she’d brought a basket of fries with all the good dipping sauces.
Avery sighed. “You’re the best.”
“What did I miss?” Cordelia asked as she passed out the shots.
“Did you know the Barrows house on the lake is haunted?” I asked.
“Oh, sure. Everyone knows that.” The waitress grinned at me.
“You’ve seen her too?” I twisted the shot glass in front of me.
“No. I’ve never been brave enough to go out there. Some people say they’ve seen her walking on the beach at night though. Always in a black dress.” She tucked her tray under her arm and wiggled her fingers. “Spooky.”
“Really? I’ve only seen her in the window.”
Avery took a healthy sip from her glass, then she finished it. “Yum. Bring the bottle. It’s on me.” She pulled out a crisp fifty-dollar bill.
“Where the heck did you get that?” TJ snatched the bill from her.
Cordelia plucked it out of TJ’s hand. “I’ll get the bottle.”
Avery grinned. “When I was at the Mavis’s house, their neighbor asked me to help them with bougainvillea. They wanted me to chop it down, but I just made it pretty and took clippings for my collection. They gave me a hundred bucks for my help.”
“Dang. Well, now I don’t mind letting you pay.” TJ threw her shot back.
I filled them in on what happened in the secret library. TJ had been there for most of it, but I had a few more details from the second time I’d sneaked in.
By the time I finished, Cordie came back for a food order. We decided on a handful of apps instead of a full meal.
When I was feeling sufficiently warm from the tequila, I leaned forward. “So, I had the best sex ever. Twice.”
“Way to brag.” TJ blew raspberries at me as she refilled our glasses.
“Once in your office.”
“What? When?” TJ’s brows knit together.
Avery grinned. “Probably today if that beard burn is anything to go by.” She snagged a jalapeño popper off the sampler tray.
“Why not in your office?” TJ asked with a huff.
“You had the condoms.”
Avery threw her head back with a cackle. “Since when?”
“You are a bad friend.” TJ tore off a hunk of chicken tender, baring her teeth before she started chewing.
I laughed. “I know. I’m so sorry, but safety first! Especially since we have an infected girl in the office.”
TJ snickered as she dunked the rest of her tender. “Pregnancy is not catchy.”
“This girl is taking no chances. I’m legit on baby lake.” I waved my fry at her. “I can’t help if you took those condoms from the trivia night. You stole mine.”
“Because you haven’t needed any in ages. Besides, they were my backups.”
“Since they were still in that drawer since Christmas, I guess your dry spell is as bad as mine. Or you forgot.”
“Bah.” TJ threw a piece of popcorn chicken at me.
I snatched it out of the air and shrugged before popping it in my mouth.
“So, what’s this guy look like?” Avery asked. “I’ve only heard you rant about his attitude.”
I sighed. “Intense. Cordie was right about that. Tall. Great shoulders. He’s got these full lips that can—what?”
TJ arched her eyebrow at me. “What did he do with those lips?”
“Many things. Is it hot in here? Maybe I need a water.”
“What kind of things?” Avery grinned.
