Page 28 of On the Rocks

“I can’t believe this. Actually, no I can. I was thinking this decor wasn’t really you,” she gestured to the art on the wall, “but this…You totally used to keep all the little writeups the school paper did on the football team in high school!”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You totally did! You always liked to see your name in print,” she teased. “You even had that little scrapbook.”

I couldn’t believe she remembered that. I cleared my throat. “Pretty sure you were the one who made the scrapbook.”

“Because I was sick of finding bits of paper all over your room.”

I could still remember the weekend she’d presented it to me, smiling proudly. She’d found little football stickers to decorate all the pages. I’d been ridiculously touched by the amount of thought she put into the gift. But anyway, that was only high school football. This was totally different. “GQwas a big moment.”

“Whatever you say, Your Majesty.”

“Can you stop calling me that?”

“No can do. I think it’s stuck now.” She whipped her head back and forth.

“What are you looking for?”

“The crown you must have dropped on your way back from your castle.”

I shook my head, resigned to the fact that she was never going to let me forget this Cocktail King thing. Truth was, I didn’t hate the nickname. Not when she said it. Not that I would ever admit that out loud. “I think we’re getting off topic.”

She smirked. “Are we?”

“Yes. What I wanted to talk to you about today was my vision for Elixir Free.”

“Alcohol-free cocktails,” she said. “Unique flavor profiles. I think I’ve got it.”

“That’s the end product, but alongside that, there are specific goals I’m hoping to achieve.”

She straightened up, all hints of her earlier teasing gone. This Cora was all business. “Which are?”

“I know mocktails often lack the depth and complexity of flavor of alcoholic cocktails, which is why we’re pushing the unique flavor angle, but my aim is to put something delicious in the hands of our customers. Something that’s fun to drink—that makes you feel like you’re part of the party.”

Cora nodded, pulling out the notebook she brought. She pulled the cap off a pen with her teeth. “It’s true alcohol does meld flavors in a way that is difficult to replicate with nonalcoholic ingredients alone,” she said. “But I’m confident in my abilities.”

“Don’t hesitate to go bold with the ingredients. Whatever you need, I’ll make sure our teams source it. Exotic fruits. Herbs. Spices. Anything. What I really like about some of our competitors is that their mocktails use fresh, natural ingredients. They’re packed with vitamins.”

“And antioxidants,” Cora added, scribbling something down. “And there’s definite hydration benefits.”

“Exactly. I want to be able to say the same about our line. I know a lot of the mocktails out there are made with syrups and other sweeteners?—”

“I’d actually like to avoid a high sugar content,” she cut in. “And the use of artificial flavors and preservatives. I think that undermines what the brand is trying to achieve. For Elixir Free,I think it’s all about the thoughtful selection of ingredients and mindful preparation. A high-quality, premium product that tastes good and makes youfeelgood. We’ll use fresh, whole fruits and vegetables wherever we can.”

“You could also use natural sweeteners like honey or agave syrup.”

“And if we opt for soda water or a coconut water base, we’ll keep them hydrating and low-calorie.”

“What do you think about using teas?” I asked. “There’s been a big shift in the market toward them recently.”

“I think it’s a good idea. We could potentially incorporate green tea or hibiscus tea for added antioxidants and flavoring.”

We were surprisingly on the same page about the line, which was a relief. I knew from her reputation as the Masked Mixer that she knew her stuff, but I’d been a little worried we wouldn’t be able to see eye to eye. But Cora had some great ideas, and she genuinely seemed to appreciate my insights. I’d maybe even go as far as to say we were getting along, which was… Well, we hadn’t gotten along this well since high school. Definitely not since before the breakup.

Cora gasped suddenly and grabbed another frame off the table beside her. “Oh, look at you! Posing with your poorly designed tenth anniversary bottle.”

I huffed. “I don’t get your hang up about the bottle. Why don’t you like the way it looks?”

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