Chapter Twenty-One
Hale
“That was delicious, thank you, Puddin’,” I told Fiona after we finished our really fancy Christmas dinner at the lodge. It was so good, especially the cheese and the potatoes, and the chocolate fondue. Oh, and the tiny little cakes.
And the roasted chicken. Mmmm, did I love me a nice roasted chicken with crispy skin.
“You’re quite welcome. I thought it would be a nice treat. The meal we had earlier was amazing as well.” Fiona looked at Carlos and Dusty and smiled.
Yeah, that had been delicious.
Shit, she had a pretty smile. Everything about her was pretty.
“Of course.” Carlos gave her shoulder a squeeze.
“There’s always room for all the food. Dessert mints, everyone?” I took a small box out of my pocket and opened it.
Carlos eyed the box. “By dessert mints, do you mean party mints? Sounds good to me. What is on today’s menu?”
“Oooh. Is this the same as yesterday?” Fiona asked as she leaned into Saoirse. She had been very cuddly today and a little droopy–probably tired from yesterday’s big day.
“I’ve got that and the other, other one, but I also have something new. I managed to get it.” I passed the tin to Carlos.
“I appreciate you finding something for me. I would’ve been fine just taking your usual. Though that shit from the wedding… amazing,” Carlos said.
Fiona gave us a look. “You mean the shit that had you seeing imaginary cats? Pass.”
“This is stronger than mine, but not quite that strong. It’s Christmas. We should do something fun. And this shouldn’t mess up any tests. It’s just a party drug anyway. I don't even know why the PHL cares.” I rolled my eyes.
Carlos shook his head. “They don’t care about party drugs the way they do in collegiate sports. They’re after performance-enhancing ones. I just don’t want it accidentally triggering anything else and causing problems. You know that happens sometimes.”
I thought for a minute. “Yeah, that happened to my sister’s university fútbol team. They were taking cold medicine, it set off something, and they nearly all got in trouble. Fortunately, someone realized what was happening and spoke up for them.”
“I’ll try the new one. Thanks. That was thoughtful of you.” Carlos took one and swallowed it down with the rest of his beer.
“I’ll try–I just don’t want to see any imaginary cats,” Fiona replied. Taking the tin from Carlos, she had one as well. She handed it to Saoirse. “It's not like we haven’t done drugs together before.”
Saoirse thought for a moment
“You don’t have to, Cici. Though I’ll try one now that I have no more responsibilities.” Dusty took one and swallowed it with his beer.
“What is it, exactly? I don’t want to see imaginary cats either.” Saoirse eyed it.
“It’s just to make the night a little more fun,” I replied, not sure why she was so concerned. Everyone would be beyond fine.
Also, who wouldn’t want to party with imaginary cats?
Saoirse took the tin from Dusty. I didn’t know exactly what was going on between the two of them. I guess they had some kind of fight, but were better now? It was pretty obvious he was still into her, but while she seemed to say she wasn’t into him, it was clear she was.
“All right, it’s Christmas.” She took the little pill with her wine and handed the tin to me across the table.
“That's the spirit.” I took one for myself. “Let’s have the Christmas of our lives.”
Today had been really good so far. All the fresh powder made the slopes magical. We’d gone down a bunch of different trails before teaching Fiona how to snowboard. Then we’d gotten ready for tonight, so we could go right to the festival.
I’d also made sure to call Grace and talk to everybody. Carlos had used Dusty’s phone to call his family, too, though the connection had been bad as their cruise ventured into areas that would be difficult to contact for the next few days.
Dusty and Fiona had also talked to their families.
I wasn’t sure if Saoirse even had a family.
I was also pretty curious about her. I mean, she did look like some sort of bad bitch business woman, the kind Mumsy would have over to the house to play cards.
But there was also something about the way she moved, some of the things she said, that made me wonder if maybe she was mafia.
Though my experience was more with the moonshine mafia than the Irish mob.
It could just be the accent.
I still had trouble understanding her, but it was getting a little easier.
Fiona settled the bill and we made our way up the mountain to the festival, so that we could continue to explore and see the different bands. Once again, I had my belt pack of drugs, snacks, pain reliever, and other festival necessities.
As we rode the ski lift, Fiona put her head on my shoulder.
“Are you okay, Fifi? I have an energy gel in my belt pack if you need one.” I gave her a squeeze.
She looked up at me. “I’m fine right now, though I don’t know how long I’m going to want to spend at the festival. It’s cold already, even with the heater in my jacket. Maybe after the Manic Dream Pixies, I’ll go back to the villa and use the hot tub.”
“That sounds good to me. I’m here more for the vibes than anything,” I told her.
Carlos nodded in agreement. “I’ll join you in the hot tub.”
Oh, there were some things that I’d like to do in the hot tub with the both of them. My thoughts kept returning to yesterday. Kissing Carlos. Him down on his knees. The three of us in the club. Earlier.
It was pretty fun.
This morning, I’d been upset with myself after I realized that I’d passed out on the couch and hadn’t gone to bed with them.
Well, maybe tonight.
We caught some music, then went to explore another one of the areas, and have more drinks. The three of us sat by the fire while Dusty went to talk to someone and Saoirse got Fiona a snack.
“I don’t feel anything at all. How long is it supposed to take to kick in?” Carlos admitted as he took a sip of his drink.
“Yeah, I don’t feel anything either. I thought it’s because I’m an alpha–generally I have to take two or three times what other people do,” I agreed. “It should’ve kicked in by now.”
Fiona took a sip of her cocktail, which blinked. “I don’t feel anything either and usually I’m the first person to notice something.”
I rummaged around in my belt pack. “I think enough time has passed that we can try something else or have a second one.”
Carlos thought for a moment. “Do you think it’s safe to mix them?”
“It didn’t work. Also, if you use one of my usuals you know how you react,” I reassured.
“You’re right. It should be fine. But I think I’ll just do your usual,” Carlos said.
“Go for it.” I handed him the box.
Fiona held out her hand. “I’ll have the same, please.”
I considered the other stuff, because why not see imaginary cats? But, it was more fun when you all did the same thing, so I took it and put the tin away.
Saoirse returned with one of those waffle cookies shaped like snowflakes that Fiona liked.
“Here you go.” She handed Fiona the waffle. Saoirse also had a cone of spiced nuts that she passed around.
“Do you feel anything?” I asked Saoirse as I took some nuts and handed the cone to Carlos.
She shook her head. “Maybe it takes a while?”
“Do you want something else?” I added.
“No, thank you, I’ll just do some shots for now. I’ll go get some,” she offered.
Fiona stood. “Can we go pee first, please?”
“Of course.” Saoirse took Fiona’s hand and led her off.
“Can we go to the good bathrooms?” Fiona asked as they left.
Good bathrooms? Bathrooms were bathrooms. Right?
I reached over and took more of the hot spiced nuts out of the paper cone Carlos still held.
“I had a lot of fun yesterday and I’m sorry I fell asleep on the couch,” I apologized.
“It’s fine. Fiona and I just went to sleep.” He looked up at me. “I had fun, too.”
Excitement sparked inside of me. He liked it? Carlos wasn’t just putting on a show for Fiona, he actually enjoyed it?
Amazing.
“Maybe we can do it again?” I asked tentatively. “Perhaps in the hot tub?”
“Count me in.” He tossed another nut in his mouth.
Relief flowed through me, because we were friends and I valued our friendship, but making out with him was pretty fun, too.
“The two of us can have her real good in the hot tub,” Carlos added.
Oh, we could. Maybe I could have him, too…
“Hey, do you remember making out with me at one of Dimitri’s parties?” I was curious.
A frown crossed Carlos’s face. He tilted his head, hair falling in his eyes. That man really needed a haircut.
“I don’t remember. But we get pretty fucked up when we party together.” He looked up at me, brown eyes meeting mine. “Was it good?” His scent went anxious.
“It was pretty memorable.” Leaning in I kissed him softly, tasting the spices and booze on his lips
I pulled away, wondering if it was too much.
Carlos pulled me to him, kissing me back. “Was that memorable for you? It was for me.”
“It was,” I breathed, heart pounding.
For a moment the air hung between us, charged. Now I regretted my promise to record the Manic Dream Pixies’ set for Mercy, because I’d like to take him back to the villa.
If Fiona wanted to tag along, I’m sure that would be even more fun.
Those two. Yeah, if I was older, wiser, and more responsible, I’d try to pack them up.
Carlos leaned on me and we sat there by the fire in comfortable silence.
“Where’d everyone go?” Dusty appeared holding a drink.
“The ladies went to the bathroom and to get some shots.” Carlos finished his drink.
Dusty checked his phone. “Sounds good. If Fifi wants to catch that set, we should probably be leaving soon.”
They came back with shots, which we chugged, then went off to the stage Fiona wanted to go to.
It was a pity that the drugs I’ve gotten today didn’t do anything. Oh well. Mine kicked in just as expected.
The music wrapped around us in a cacophony of sounds and color as we danced. Fiona stood in the middle, her arms around each of us. The three of us gyrated to the beat, everything around us fading away. My hands found their bodies, lips crashing to theirs.
Something smacked me on the head, and I looked over, frowning, the spell broken.
Saoirse stood there, arms crossed over her chest. “Don’t fuck on the dance floor. Also, this set’s over. Are we going to catch the Manic Dream Pixies or not?”
At least I thought that’s what she said.
Looking around, I realized the music had stopped. “Let’s go.”
We managed to get a good spot in the VIP section for the Manic Dream Pixies, and I caught the set on my phone. Fiona danced and pretty much climbed Carlos and Saoirse like trees.
After the set finished, we went to get more drinks. We found a spot around the fire in the Christmas village.
Fiona looked over at us. “I’ve seen everything I wanted to see tonight. I’d kinda like to go back to the villa. If you all still want to party, that’s fine with me. I can get back by myself.”
“I’ll go with you,” I offered. “What you said before about going in the hot tub sounds good to me.”
“Yeah, I’ll go with you.” Carlos looked at Saoirse and Dusty. “Feel free to stay. We’ll take good care of her.”
“Absolutely,” I added. Sure, I was drunk and high, but I could get the two of them back to the villa, naked, and into the hot tub just fine.
Dusty looked at his phone and his face lit up. “I found tacos!”
“Were they missing?” I shot Dusty a puzzled look, curious to what tacos was a euphemism for. Especially after the joke Fiona made at breakfast.
Unless someone actually stole the tacos? Oh, yeah, that made so much more sense. I stole a brisket once. But I don’t remember what I did with it.
Dusty gave Saoirse a pleading look. “Come get tacos with me? Please?”
Saoirse sipped her drink and thought for a moment.
Oh, wait, this might be a euphemism for sex. He was trying to hook up with her.
Shit, I’d like some brisket right now.
“If you’d like me to come with you, I will,” Saoirse said, then she turned to Fiona and added something in Irish.
“I’ll be fine.” Fiona put her hand over Saoirse's. “I’m just cold and a little tired. Stay out as late as you want.” She added a big wink.
“We’ll just get some tacos and maybe see a set or two, then we’ll head back,” Saoirse replied.
“Lalo and Hale-i-o-burrito’s got this, Cici,” Dusty assured quietly.
“I do.” I had it. Whatever that was. It was probably in my belt pack.
“We’ll text you if we need you. We’ll be fine. Go see your friend play and have a taco–or have him eat your taco.” Fiona grinned.
All this talk of tacos made me want to fuck some onion rings. Or was that fuck up some onion rings?
Saoirse rolled her eyes. “We’ll meet you back at the villa.”
We finished our drinks and I put my arms around the two of them. “Come on, let’s go find that hot tub.”
Hopefully it wasn’t missing, too.