Page 65 of Which Witch is Willing?
Sunny strode to Aerin first. “Don’t worry. It’s not that bad. I filled them with wine so that everyone will relax and have a good time. You can pick from rosé or pinot grigio. Or for those who aren’t up for drinking alcohol, we have a selection of Tierra’s teas.”
Aerin lifted a defiant brow. “I would like my wine in a glass.”
Tierra shook her head. “Nope. You have to play along.”
Martha lifted her hand and called out. “I’ll take the pinot.”
“Same,” Hattie Mae said.
Sunny gave Aerin one last chance and then headed toward the couch where Claire and the two witches sat. She handed bottles to the two elderly women on either side of Claire and then looked expectantly at her.
Claire quickly waged an internal battle. Wine to help her manage this insane affair…or dealing with these lunatics sober. “I’ll have the rosé.”
Aerin shot her a traitorous look, and Claire shrugged. “It’s wine.”
Sunny handed out bottles to the rest of the ladies and set the remainder on a side table.
“Wait,” Aerin called out, and Sunny turned to her. “I’ll have pinot,” she said, her words dripping with irritation.
Tierra grinned as Sunny selected a baby bottle for Aerin and strode toward her. “It’s not bad,” Sunny said. “I tried it out last night and got a little wasted.”
Aerin accepted the offering with much distaste. “Wine should be consumed slowly so that one can savor the flavor.”
Sunny chuckled. “We have more in the kitchen if you’d like to savor some later.”
Aerin shifted her gaze to Claire and shook her head, letting her know the depth of her disappointment that Claire had caved to social pressure.
Claire grinned. Aerin had done exactly the same. Sisterhood had far more influence than either one of them obviously expected.
Sunny glanced about the room. “Everyone ready? When I say go, start drinking. As soon as you’re finished, hold up your bottle. The winner will receive a fantastic prize chosen by me.”
Claire lifted the bottle close to her mouth and studied the nipple. How long could this possibly take?
“Go!” Sunny yelled.
Claire stuffed the nipple in her mouth and began to suck. Not nearly enough wine came with each attempt. She glanced about the room and choked on a swallow at the ridiculous sight before her. Witches of all ages drank from their bottles as if their lives depended on it.
She shifted her gaze to Aerin who’d unscrewed the lid from her bottle. Aerin raised a saucy brow, lifted the bottle in a toast to obviously how foolish Claire must look, and took a sip. Leave it to her Air witch sister to rebel.
But Claire wasn’t one to ignore a brilliant idea. She unscrewed the nipple and took a drink. When she finished, she held up the bottle.
Sunny berated her with a pointed finger. “No, Claire. You have to drink through the nipple, or you’re disqualified. Keeping going, ladies.”
A few minutes later, the woman in the purple skirt who’d arrived with Gwen thrust her bottle into the air. “Done!”
The other ladies lowered their bottles, and Sunny strode toward the purple clad witch with a small bag in hand. “Here you go, Melody. Nice job.”
Melody accepted the gift bag and stuffed her hand inside. She pulled out a gorgeous amethyst necklace that Claire suddenly coveted. She so should have stuck with the nipple.
Sunny followed with a “guess the baby items inside the diaper bag” game, which Claire and Aerin didn’t even attempt to win. Claire opted for a second baby bottle instead.
Afterward, Aunt Justine stood. “We’ll pause now for lunch. Sunny and I will serve. But get your gifts ready, ladies. We’ll let Tierra have a bite to eat and then start opening them.”
At least Aunt Justine was sticking to the rushed party schedule.
“What about seeing the baby?” Martha asked in a loud voice.
Tierra’s face flushed. “She’ll join us after her nap. I promise.”
