“Well, I’m not talking about Grant. He’s got that Aw, shucks awkward schtick going for him.”

“I kinda like that awkward schtick,” Julia admitted.

Kat glanced over her shoulder. “You better not make a move on the pita bread again,” she said, shooting Julia a warning look.

Julia held her palms up, proclaiming innocence. “I’m waiting, I’m waiting.”

At that moment, a key sounded in the lock and Andie appeared. “Did you bitches start without me?” she asked, face hidden behind the brown paper bag she was carrying.

“Jules tried to,” Kat ratted her out. “But I wouldn’t let her.”

“Well, the gang’s all here now, so…” Julia stuck her tongue out at Kat and then grabbed a piece of pita, taking it for a swim in the hummus.

“Very mature, Jules.”

“I’m not the one who was talking about Colin Firth’s BDE,” Julia shot back.

“B. D. what?” Andie asked, unscrewing the caps from a couple of liquor bottles.

Julia recognized the vodka label, but she’d never seen the other bottle before. “E,” she confirmed, watching with a skeptical eye as Andie measured out shots of the mystery liquid. “Kat is convinced Colin Firth has it.”

“Oh, God, it’s not some venereal disease, is it?” Andie wrinkled her nose.

“How dare you!” Kat declared, rising from the couch, aghast. “Do not besmirch my Colin that way.”

“Hear that?” Julia teased. “No besmirching.”

“Got it.” Andie added ice to a cocktail shaker and did a little dance around the kitchen, the lithe curve of muscle in her arms bunching as she shook the canister vigorously. A lifelong athlete, she’d have no problem participating in an afternoon stretch session with Cleo. Pouring the mixture into three martini glasses, Andie asked Kat, “So are you going to explain, or do I have to guess?”

“Explain what?”

“BDE.” Andie handed Kat a glass.

“Guessing could be fun.” Kat grinned wickedly.

“British Devil Eyes?” Andie hazarded, passing a drink to Julia.

“Not a bad guess,” Kat acknowledged with a nod. “But nope.” Julia caught how Kat surreptitiously lifted the cocktail closer to her nose, giving it the smell test before she raised her glass in a toast. “Na zdrowie,” Kat said.

“Sláinte.” Julia clinked glasses, but held out a beat longer, watching for signs of gagging. When all seemed fine, she risked a sip.

“Cheers!” Andie chirped, oblivious to their concerns. “What about Boring Dorky Elf?”

“He’s not an elf,” Kat huffed. “The man is six two!”

“Are we still talking about Colin Firth?” Andie asked. “Because, if so, I’m standing by Boring Dorky Elf.”

Laughing midswallow, Julia coughed, spewing her cocktail. “BDE stands for Big Dick Energy.”

“Ew,” Andie grimaced, turning to Kat. “That man is old enough to be your grandfather.”

“He is not.”

“Your father, then.”

“I’m not the one dating guys old enough to be my dad,” Kat shot back.