Page 8 of On the Rocks

“We really need some good press right now to lay the foundation for the new line.”

Dominic and I were preparing for the launch of Elixir Free, a premium line of ready-to-drink, alcohol-free mocktails. I’d wanted to grow Elixir beyond liquor ever since a buddy of mine talked about how difficult it was to go out as a recovering alcoholic and find more than a soda on the menu. Elixir Free could be a fun and mindful lifestyle alternative for anyone looking to cut alcohol.

“If we can start building buzz now, by the time we’re ready to launch, we should have people lining up to buy. And speaking of the launch…” Dominic said, trailing off.

“I know.I know,” I said. “I’m working on it.” A launch was only as good as the product, and currently, we didn’t actually have a product because I hadn’t found the right person to develop it.

“I’m not gonna harp on you tonight. But you really do need to get a move on.”

“Allie and I are working on it.” I’d brought my talent manager on board to help me track down the right person to lead the Elixir Free team. We had great developers on staff, but they’d struggled with this assignment so far. We needed to bring in someone new, someone who could think outside the box. “I think she might have a meeting lined up.”

“Okay, well that’s progress.”

I rubbed my eyes. “God, I hope so.” Especially after tonight.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” Dominic said. “Maybe I would have been able to smooth things over with the Masked Mixer.”

Yeah, probably.But saying that would just make him feel bad. “Nah, man. Don’t worry about it.” Dominic was my friend first, and he was dealing with enough. “Tonight needed to be about you spending time with Hailey. I know how important that is for you, especially right now.”

Dominic sighed. “Yeah.”

“How’s that going anyway?”

“About as well as you can imagine considering…you know.”

“Well, hey,” I said, trying to cheer him up. “At least we’ve got Trent’s birthday party to look forward to.”Iwas certainly looking forward to it. Our college buddy was one of my closest friends, but we all had so much going on in our lives that itcould be tough to carve out time for each other. At least Dominic and I worked together; we knew we’d see each other at the office. With Trent—and our other friends Paul and Vincent—it got trickier. But birthdays were nonnegotiable. We always spent them together, and always in the same place.

“I’m honestly stoked to go to Long Island next weekend,” he said.

I laughed. “I called Nana Dee earlier today.” Trent’s grandmother had become a surrogate grandmother to us all during college. “She’s promised us a good time. But she also said we have to provide the booze.”

Dominic laughed. “That tracks. But just know if you end up in the pool again this year, I’m leaving you there.”

I laughed too, some of the tension draining from my shoulders. Tonight had been miserable, but it was over now, and I had good things to look forward to—like time with my friends, a big launch of a new product sure to take the world by storm, and a whole lifetime of never having to see the Masked Mixer again.

3

CORA

You’re still coming to lunch, right?

Obviously. I’ve gotten out of bed today just for you.

Ireplied to Jennifer’s message as I climbed up the stairs from the subway station to the street.

Not that I could have slept in with the amount of noise you were making this morning.

Jennifer wasn’t just my best friend but also my roomie. We split a tiny one-bedroom apartment, and though it was tight quarters, with our packed work schedules, we didn’t often get in each other’s way. Plus, I wasn’treallygoing to complain. When my ex Levi walked out on me a year ago, I couldn’t afford my own place, and Jennifer had come to my rescue.

Sorry. Had to make sure you weren’t going to blow me off.

When do I ever? I’m like fifteen minutes away.

Good.

Is that smoothie woman still coming?

Her name is Allie.

---