“As in this Monday?” Andie gasped, handing each of them a fresh cocktail.

Julia resisted the urge to down the whole thing in one gulp. “Yep.”

“Ouch.” Kat winced.

“Yep.” Giving in to temptation, Julia drained her third drink.

“What ideas have you got so far?” Andie wondered.

“Zilch.” Julia shook the glass, ice cubes clinking. “And it’s only a trial run. Which means I don’t get a travel budget, so I need to keep it reasonably local.”

“That’s good news for you, since you hate traveling anyway,” Kat pointed out.

“You would too if you moved around as much as I did when you were a kid.” Julia shook her head. Going to college in Chicago was the first time she’d felt grounded. This apartment was the first place to feel like home, and Kat and Andie were the first friends she’d made that she didn’t have to pack up and leave after a year or two.

“Not to mention you get carsick all the time,” Andie reminded her.

“Not all the time,” Julia protested.

Andie and Kat both stared at her, daring her to deny it. The slight downside of having long-term friends: they knew you too well to let you get away with any bullshit. They’d taken too many vacations together for Julia to dismiss the truth. Planes, trains, automobiles … it didn’t matter what mode of transportation she chose, her motion sickness eventually got the best of her.

Andie frowned, concern creasing her dark brows. “Are you sure this is a good idea?”

“Under other circumstances, the ‘Take Me!’ segment wouldn’t be my top choice, but it’s my best chance to keep this job, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes.” Julia sighed. “I’ve got to nail this. I really need to wow my boss with something special. Exciting and new.”

“You make it sound like The Love Boat,” Kat said.

Julia blinked at her.

Kat shrugged. “I’ve been watching reruns with my babcia again.”

“That might actually work,” Andie mused.

“You’re kidding, right?” Julia swiveled her attention.

“I don’t mean the actual Love Boat.” Andie laughed. “But maybe there’s something like it. A matchmaking cruise ship on Lake Michigan.”

“Ooh, sign my babcia up for that,” Kat teased.

“Exactly.” Julia made a face. “Even if just the thought of a cruise ship didn’t make me want to hurl, this sounds like an activity for seniors. Which is fine, but I think the ‘Take Me!’ target audience veers a little…”

“More hip and less hip replacement?” Andie suggested.

“Bingo,” Julia said, pointing at Andie.

“Something else my babcia could do on the boat,” Kat teased.

Julia ignored that. “Hey, it’s only Friday. I’ve got all weekend for inspiration to strike.” She held out her empty glass to Andie. “So how about one more round?”