Page 73 of Ice Block

“Don’t be a buzzkill! Come on, one more!”

“Okay with you, Liv? Hayes is coming to pick you all up, right?”

Why the fuck is he asking Liv if I can have another drink? I am a grown ass adult, goddammit!

Liv shifts her gaze between me and Johnny, her fingers tappingnervously on the table. “Yeah, he’ll be here in an hour; one more round of the Maggie Special!”

I narrow my brows. “What the hell is theMaggie Special?”

“Johnny makes it extra special just for you.” Liv smiles back, but I know she’s hiding something.

That woman can’t keep a secret to save her life.

I glance around the table at everyone finishing up their breakfast, seeing them all conveniently avoiding eye contact with me. I look into my glass, staring at the drink. “Are you poisoning me?”

“We are not poisoning you, Maggie,” Kara laughs, “Johnny just puts a lil’ something special in that for us.”

“I don’t know what you guys are up to, but I don’t like it…”

“Hey everyone; sorry I’m late!” Kennedy pops in, taking a seat and sliding her purse on the back of the chair. “As I was leaving, I had another random gift delivery at my place and had to let the guy in.”

Kara stares at her with wide eyes. “Anothergift? What was it this time?!”

Kennedy looks down at the table shaking her head. “A giant diamond encrusted leopard. I’m fairly certain they are real diamonds.”

“The fuck?! Seriously?” I yell.

“Yeah, let me show you the picture. Maggie, you need to come down the hall and see this monstrosity in person.” Kennedy shows us her phone as all our eyes bug out.

“Kennedy! Who the hell is sending you all these gifts?” Olivia asks, starting to tick out the insanity on her fingers. “First, it was the cappuccino maker, even though you’re lactose intolerant, then the dozens and dozens of roses. How many did you say it was?”

“Five dozen and randomly there were eight single roses.”

“And the Taylor Swift autographed guitar, which I have to admit I’m still a little jealous of, and now a diamond encrustedleopard?! Who is your secret admirer?” Olivia leans across the table, asking her the question we have all been wondering for weeks.

She looks down at her drink with a groan. “I wish I knew. The note always says the same thing, but it’s never signed.”

Kara pipes in, reciting the note we’ve all heard multiple times, “I see you in my dreams, in every sunlit sky; I see you in the morning when you barely pass me by.”

I chime in with the rest, “Like waves drawn to the shores, you’ve pulled me in with force. I’ll long for you until the day when I am finally yours.”

“Goddammit, I need to know who this is so I can put it in a song,” Olivia grumbles.

“Well, whoever it is, you’re lucky. Someone trying to win you over? He sounds sweet. Probably even cares about you…” My words trail off as I try to shake away the mess in my own head and take a long drink of my mimosa. I nod to the carafe Johnny left on the table. “You want one?”

Kennedy looks at Olivia. “Is that the Maggie Special?”

“Yep.”

Kennedy flags Johnny down. “Can I get a mimosa over here? All that’s left is the Maggie Special.”

“Sure thing, Kenni…be right there!”

I whip my head back and forth between my friends like a damn cat watching a ping-pong match. “Okay, what the hell is up with the drink?” Olivia laughs as she looks away. “Seriously what?”

“Maggie,” Kennedy says, cupping my hands in hers. “It’s just OJ with champagne around the rim of the carafe to make you think there’s alcohol. They’re cutting you off when they get you the Maggie Special.”

My nostrils flare. “What in theactualfuck?! I hate you all. I’m already dealing with two weeks of no contact from…him...and nowyou’re taking away my champagne? You guys are the worst.” I rip my hands from Kennedy, crossing my arms over my chest and slumping further into my seat.

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