“Yeah. You were in college. I came with a few girls I worked with at the bookstore. They’ve all moved on to other jobs now… but it was fun, I guess. I didn’t get along too well with them, but I made my own way and enjoyed the festivities. I wish you had been there with me. It would have been more fun, like this,” Tinsley said. I reached for her hand, and she took it easily.

“We’re here now, and that’s all that matters,” I told her.

Elizabeth looked overwhelmed and tipsy as she leaned on Bri, but she was trying to be a good sport, it seemed. Mara led us to a bluesy bar that featured live music and quickly found us a couple of small wooden tables near the dance floor. She ordered a round of shots and glasses of Scotch.

It seemed like a bad idea, mixing all these different types of alcohol together. But it was, after all, a celebration, and I was determined to have a good time.

The shots arrived first, followed by the Scotch. All at once, we downed them together, hissing from the syrupy burn in unison. Even Elizabeth finished her shot, knocking her tiny glass on the table when she was done.

She had chosen a seat next to me again, and I couldn’t help wondering what had changed with her. She seemed more distant from Georgia than she had before, and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t make me feel good to have more of her attention on me. And Georgia seemed unusually skittish, her eyes roaming the bar, distractedly.

The band was loud, the powerful sound of the saxophone and trumpets blaring in the cramped nightclub. Feet thumped to the rhythm of the music causing the wooden dance floor to vibrate. The area was filling up fast, guests swinging their arms and legs wildly to the growing beat.

After a few more drinks, Mara had cajoled all of us onto our feet, and led us to the dance floor. She pushed her way through the crowd, clearing a space in the center for the six of us. The room was spinning, the music vibrating my very soul, and although I wasn’t normally much of a dancer, I found my body swaying side to side with the other people in the crowd, the smile on my face so wide it was stretching at the corners of my mouth. Although I wasn’t normally one for makeup and fancy clothes, I felt beautiful after having my makeover.

“Take some pictures of me while I look hot!” I shouted, pointing over at Georgia, who was now staring down at her phone with a tight, pained look. She looked lost for a moment, staring blankly over at me, but then she nodded, lifting her phone to snap more pics.