As I moved out of her way, I thought that was a good choice, considering his company all had vaginas, he did not and the topic of conversation was undoubtedly going to be his friend who also didn’t.

She came in and I closed the door, observing, “Small town, fast talk.”

“You got that right, sister!” Alyssa yelled from the kitchen. “I cannot believe you didn’t tell us!”

“I didn’t want to be talking to you two about Mickey behind his back. You guys are friends with him,” I told them.

“So?” Alyssa returned. “I’m friends with a lot of people and that doesn’t stop me from talking, and listening, behind their backs. I’m a hairdresser, for God’s sake, if these lips are loose,” she pointed to her mouth, “clients find another maven with the mojo to beautify.”

“I also wouldn’t talk,” Josie said, slipping onto one of my stools. “But I do appreciate you not sharing. For Mickey’s sake. I wouldn’t say anything to anyone else but, of course, I’d need to share with my husband and that would be awkward.”

“I share with my husband too, but he’s long since learned to tune that shit out when I’m yapping at him. This happened when I told him Carver Hoover had a penis ring. I start yammering,” she waved a hand over her face, “Junior’s gone.”

I looked to the vodka her other hand was curled around then to her.

“I don’t have mixers,” I shared, if only to get us off the subject of penis rings.

“Who needs mixers when we’re doin’ shots?” she asked.

I looked to Josie.

Josie’s eyes twinkled and she shrugged.

Alyssa started slamming through my cupboards, “Please tell me in all the buying sprees you went on, you bought shot glasses.”

“I didn’t,” I admitted.

“Whatevs,” she mumbled, pulled down some juice glasses and started pouring.

“So, apparently, there’s a decision to be made.”

This was surprisingly a prompt from Josie.

I looked to her. “It’s a long story, but we’ll just say, things with Mickey and me have been rocky.”

She nodded.

“We’ll get to the long story later. Decision now,” Alyssa demanded, scooting glasses across the counter to us. “Have you made one?”

I took my glass and stared at it.

Then I lifted it and shot it.

I let the chill glide through me and looked to my friends.

“I’m terrified, and I’m terrified because I think I’m pretty much half in love with him already, so if I didn’t at least take a chance, I’d never forgive myself,” I announced.

“Right on!” Alyssa screeched to the ceiling then immediately did her shot.

Josie’s eyes twinkled again as she lifted her glass and sipped.

When she was done, she said quietly, “He’s a very good man.”