“Fair enough. So, Mirnda,” Jade said teasingly, “if you’re not the Girl in the Holiday Inn Hot Tub, are you the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo?”
Mirnda blushed a bit. “Nope.”
“You sure?”
Mirnda rolled her eyes, and took off her jacket, setting it down on the counter. She slipped the sleeve of her blouse up far enough to expose her right shoulder blade enough to demonstrate there was no tattoo. Then she sat back down, taking another drink.
“And the other shoulder?” Jade was wearing a mockingly accusatory expression.
Mirnda laughed, repeating the process for the other shoulder. While she did so, Jade refilled her glass and smiled approvingly.
“Just flicking you shit, but I am glad to see you have a sense of humor.”
“I don’t think Karan and I would have gotten along so well if I didn’t have a sense of humor. He takes life a little too cavalier to be compatible with someone who is always serious.”
“Preach.”
“I think sometimes he’s a little too goofy, though, which I think is what kept us from ever becoming serious. It tends to come out at the worst times and eliminate any romance from the situation. Lust? Sure. Romance? Not so much.”
“Cheers!” Jade raised her glass again. “To Karan! He’s great in bed, but not someone you’re going to take home and keep forever.”
“Amen.” Mirnda returned the toast and took another big drink. Now on her third glass, she was starting to feel the alcohol, despite the fact she could barely taste it. As Jade had promised, it was a good drink for getting drunk without realizing it. “I see why you like these drinks.”
Jade smiled knowingly. “Feeling it already?”
“Maybe a little, yeah.”
“Told you I’m good at this.”
“There’s no denying that.”
A brief silence followed while they made eye contact, then a sly smile crossed Jade’s face. “You sneaky devil, you changed the subject!”
Mirnda smiled and shrugged. “What subject?”
“Which girl are you?”
Mirnda stammered a bit. “I don’t know, Karan and I never had that particular conversation.”
“Right, right.” Jade said. “So let me guess.”
“Um…OK.” Mirnda didn’t know quite how to get out of this, and some combination of the alcohol and the company kept her from entirely wanting to. But then she had a flash of mischievous inspiration. “You can guess, but every time you get it wrong, you take a drink.”
“Deal. And when I get it right, you finish yours.”
“When? You mean if.”
“Sure. You keep thinking that. I’m a smart girl, I’m feeling you out, and I’ll get it eventually.” She paused and scratched her chin theatrically and over-dramatically. Then she pretended to smoke a pipe, which made Mirnda laugh.
