26. Mac
Mac
M y skin is slick with sweat as I make the short walk from the shop to Hal’s to meet MJ and the guys. The summer air is sticky with the threat of a monsoon rolling in, and even in cargo shorts and a light T-shirt, I’m ready for a cold drink and a dip in the creek.
I push the large wooden door in and immediately hear chatter and loud country music filling the space.
Thankfully, the house lights are on so I can easily spot Blake’s tall frame from the doorway, and I make my way through the crowd to the high top my friends are occupying.
Varying glasses half-full of different colored liquids litter the table.
MJ greets me with a huge grin, and I’m surprised when her speech is crystal clear. “Hey honey! Come, try one of these Shannon made!”
“She’s been experimenting with different recipes all fucking night,” Blake grumbles. I grab the least girly-looking drink on the table. It’s dark brown and in a short g lass. Coffee and vodka hit my tongue, and I groan.
“Yeah, yeah, they’re not terrible,” Blake grumbles beside me.
“Dude, these have been great all night. You’re just annoyed because she can make a better drink than you!” Austin jabs his elbow into his brother’s side, and we all laugh at Blake’s expense.
“Here, try this one.” MJ slides a martini glass toward me that’s half-filled with pink liquid. It looks girly as fuck but when I take a sip I moan. “I knew you’d like that one. It’s me.”
I almost choke.
“Come again?” Austin snickers.
“Guys, gross!” MJ exclaims. “Shannon named it after me. She said it fits my essence or something.”
MJ leans her head into my space and lowers her voice. “Does it taste like me?” I nearly choke again but shake my head.
“Nah, baby. Nothing tastes as heavenly as you do. But it does make me think of you. The strawberry is a nice touch and is that . . .” I take another sip. “Vanilla vodka?”
Blake nods, because of course he knows exactly what’s in the drink. He’s probably torn apart every single one Shannon has brought over all night. Poor girl.
“Shannon has one for all of us. Blake and Austin were thinking about making them part of the menu as a tribute to the Dream Team. Isn’t that cool?” MJ smiles widely, pride for her friend radiating off her.
“Very cool.”
I drink and pull out my phone to text the guys the idea I just had.
After our date night on Saturday, the guys and I worked out a plan for MJ’s birthday.
They closed on the building and are graciously allowing me to use it to host a small gathering for my girl.
Nothing big, but Blake is going to make some food, and these drinks would be an amazing touch.
“Care to share with the class?” MJ calls me out after hearing Blake and Austin’s phones go off in unison.
I lean into her space, kissing her forehead and murmur, “Don’t worry about it, baby. I’ll tell you later.”
I catch Shannon’s eye and nod to her to bring some more drinks over for the table. Hopefully a few more drinks and MJ will forget what I’m supposed to tell her later.