Page 82 of From Now On

“You ever try it?”

Eve pauses in the middle of twisting the top off the water bottle. “What?”

“Jell-O. Did you ever try it?”

Her lips move, but nothing comes out. “I—you…” She coughs. “You remember?”

“’Course I do. You picked lime. Did you ever try it?”

Eve hesitates before shaking her head. “No.”

I grab the pan off the shelf. It barely wobbles. It’s set. “Wanna?”

“Now?”

I glance at the clock. Two forty-nine a.m. “It’s not even three. You know there are spring breakers in a nightclub doing tequila shots right now.”

Eve makes a face. “I’m off tequila for a while.”

I smirk. “We used vodka.”

“Okay.” She exhales. “Yeah, I’ll try it.”

“Yeah?”

“Gotta see what all the hype is about, right?”

I scrutinize the dish. Aidan and I didn’t discuss how we’d serve the shots. Usually they’re already portioned in little cups.

“Okay.” I grab a knife out of the drawer and rip a piece of paper towel in two.

Eve watches me cut two squares with an amused look on her face. One piece almost hits the counter during the transfer to the makeshift plate, but I manage to save it.

I pick one up, then gesture for Eve to do the same.

She does, still looking like she’s on the cusp of laughter. The wobbly squares do look ridiculous jiggling in our palms.

“Ready?” I ask.

“Yeah. Cheers.”

“To what?”

She tilts her head, studying me. “What?”

“What are we cheers-ing to? You’re supposed to say cheers to…something.”

Eve shrugs. “I don’t know. I always just say cheers. You pick.”

“All right.” I think for a few seconds. “Cheers to…fifth wheels.”

She laughs and nods. “To fifth wheels. Unnecessary but…”

“Decorative?” I suggest.

Eve laughs again before downing her shot.

I take mine too, scrutinizing Eve’s reaction closely. She chews furiously, nose scrunching a little before she swallows.

---