I’m feeling so good right now, and I’m so tired of standing off in the corner and not having any of the fun. I’ve had to watch Andrew from afar all night when all I really want to do is drag him back to the break room and have my way with him.

In fact, maybe I should do that. I’m pondering that as an option when Bethaney finishes her version of Elvis’s “Blue Christmas” and hands the microphone back to the DJ, who cues up the next song and passes it to a guy I met earlier. I think he said he worked in accounting.

“That was awesome!” I tell her as she passes me.

“Thank you! I see you’re feeling good off the good stuff.” She motions to the drink in my hand.

I look at her funny. “What do you mean? This is just juice.” I start laughing but stop when I realize she’s not joining me in finding this funny. I hold up the drink and some of the liquid splashes over the side onto my hand. “Wait. Bethaney, there’s no alcohol in this, right? You said there wasn’t any.”

“Of course there’s alcohol in it.” She gives me a duh look. “It’s a party! I was just giving you a little liquid courage so you could let Andrew know how you feel.” She grins at me, and her lips sort of move in waves.

I don’t know if that’s actually happening or if it’s the alcohol, but it’s kinda cool.

I shake my head, trying to get back to my original thoughts. Alcohol. Right.

“Bethaney, I can’t be drinking at a work event!” Panic tries to grip me, but its hold is fuzzy at best in my current state. I just can’t seem to work up the indignation I know I should feel.

“It’s fine. Everyone’s drinking. It’s a party!” Circling around and dancing in place, she holds up her glass and finishes off what’s in there as if to prove how much of a party it is.

“I guess.”

She stops dancing and her eyes go wide. “Hey, I have an idea,” she says as though she just figured out how to solve world hunger.

I step closer to her. “What is it?”

She leans in and whispers in my ear. Even though I have a momentary pause where I wonder whether this really is the best thing, I push that thought aside because who doesn’t love surprises? Especially surprises that involve Christmas!

“Good idea.”

“Yay!” She claps her free hand against her glass and rushes off toward the DJ to make it happen.