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Holly sniggered, biting on her bottom lip to hide a mischievous grin. ‘Put me out of my misery.’
‘Okay. It’s. . .’ Jen paused, building the suspense. She closed a few more pouches, enjoying making Holly wait.
‘Oh, come on,’ Holly urged, bouncing on the spot.
‘W,’ Jen lengthened the letter, making it last a few syllables. ‘Wine!’
‘Wine? Hmm. You learn something new every day. I didn’t think that went in an old-fashioned.’
‘And that’s why I’m the cocktail expert. Speaking of which, these are done. Shots?’
‘I thought you’d never ask.’
‘Right, I’ll tidy these up, you get everything ready.’
‘Glasses?’
‘Through that door, cupboard above the sink.’
Jen grabbed a bag of salt from the supply cupboard and lined up the limes before taking her hairnet off, pulling it taut between her two index fingers. When Holly walked back through the door she released the one closest to her, pinging the net straight into Holly’s chest.
‘Hey,’ Holly said, laughing. ‘Did you not learn your lesson last time? Forever taking me by surprise.’
‘Sorry,’ Jen replied, clearly not sorry at all. She did still feel bad about the whole mop bucket incident, though. ‘Wasn’t the best first impression, was it?’
‘The less said the better.’ Holly’s eyes swept the length of the table before settling on Jen. ‘I think you’ve forgotten the most important part.’
Jen stood, her eyes locked with Holly’s, and failed to grasp what was missing.
‘Tequila?’ Holly encouraged, raising her eyebrows to exaggerate the urgency.
Jen feigned ignorance. ‘Was just getting it, hold your horses.’ A quick trot to the nearest shelves and she returned, booze in hand. ‘I had a little left after making sunrises, so I thought it would be a good chance for some shots.’
‘Woman after my own heart.’ Holly pushed the empty glasses towards Jen.
‘Right, get licking.’
‘Huh?’
‘Your hand, for the salt.’ She poured two extremely generous measures. Holly didn’t protest.
Holly held out a freshly licked hand and Jen spooned a dusting of salt onto it before copying the move herself, lime slice now ready between finger and thumb.
‘What are we toasting?’ Holly asked, holding her glass up.
‘To the ducks of the world,’ Jen replied, bringing hers level.
‘Quack quack.’
‘Quack quack.’
Their faces contorted as the sharpness of the tequila wreaked havoc with their tastebuds before being sated with lime. Jen’s lips curled inward as she dumped the fruit back on the chopping board. ‘Nothing like a shot on an empty stomach.’
‘You’ve not eaten?’
‘Been busy, haven’t I? Speaking of which, I’ll do the front stickers, you do the back, then the night is ours.’
Holly lifted the sticker sheets Jen had slid her way. ‘Just right in the middle, yeah?’ she asked hovering a peeled sticker over the nearest pouch.
