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He strutted away, and I headed to the front door I could see Ryan through the glass, but no Miirl?" I asked, but then heard a wheeeeee co from up above

"She’s ridden it twice already," he replied, rolling his eyes but sirlfriend as she ca over the side

"That will never get old I love this thing," she announced when she got to the botto out She had a basket full of treats and an ara is actually useful"

"Well, it’s not just a carnival ride, no" I laughed, grabbing a bag as well "Good lord, how ht it would be best to plan for any and all hiccups tonight And speaking of hiccups, I brought plenty of booze," she stated, nodding to the box frooes better with tension than alcohol?" I snorted, catching Ryan’s eye

"I tried to tell her," he said under his breath

"I heard that," she sang out as she trotted into the house

"Iback " ’Sup?" He nodded to Si chair

I chuckled tohis enthusiash me when he looked at ot toher set up the bar while I finally got the turnovers into the oven

We chatted while we put together snacks for the evening Since I didn’t have the tiether in tied to put together a respectable spread I arranged several cheeses fro a runny Brie and a stinky Stilton, some French bread, and little bowls of spicy almonds and salty olives Slices of salami, capicola, pepperoni, andwith bowls of marinated artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers A few containers of garlicky hummus and pillowy pita co the final touches on her drink stations

"Whiskey sours,out a bottle of Galliano just as Simon and Ryan ca before you two got here that she was dying for so me blush as the timer went off on my turnovers

"Mix yourself up there, Siles froetting turned over later on that night You wouldn’t catch

Just as Simon handed me a drink, we heard the doorbell

"Showti off to the door It was Sophia, with the tallest ood looking He was like NBAup and up "I’m Caroline"

"Hey," he said down to me in a voice that was incredibly deep "Zach"

He shuffled off to shake hands with the guys as I took Sophia’s coat

"When I say that’s a tall drink of water, I’ him out as he towered over Ryan and Simon, neither of ere short

"Thanks He plays basketball in France; he’s hoyyher thanup her coat

She scanned the roo a little easier when she saw that Neil wasn’t there "Can I help with anything?"

The doorbell rang again

"Like right now, can I help with anything? How about Iacross the floor as she grabbed Tall Zach and pulled hi around me to open the door for the only friend who hadn’t yet arrived

"Hey,Sia kiss onto re an effort I had to really ht with him

I can’t say for sure that she’d ever appeared in Playboy But if she hadn’t, she should have

"Hi! I’h clenched teeth I could tell it was putting Sih

"Hi there, Missy," I ed "Let me take your coat, Missy"

"Wow, look at all those s!" She giggled as I led them inside

I kne much a all that size cost to install, and I wondered how much it would cost to repair

chapter ten

"Airplane Airplane people Airplane holding a sponge"

"Airplane with hands, hands? Okay, hands Airplane hands Sponge hands"

"Sponge hands! Airplane sponge Bird sponge Bird! Okay, bird Hand bird"

"SpongeBob HandBird Stop pointing at the airplane, we know it’s not an airplane!"

"Ti her Sharpie across the rooht it as she huffed, "I can’t believe you guys couldn’t get that! It was so obvious that it was--"

"Ah-ah-ah, don’t say another word We get a chance to steal," Siuys, and the guys were currently kicking our ass They were up forty points Stupid boys

"Go ahead, you’ll never get it Don’t worry, they’ll never get it," Sophia assured us, sipping her cocktail and winking at Zach over the riive us a minute We have thirty seconds to exa to draw," Ryan said, standing up and going over to the board where Sophia had been drawing

"We kno the game is played!" Mimi yelled from her perch on the back of the couch She was Drunky Miht; her cocktail station had served her well And overserved her--she was Loud Drunky Mimi "You don’t have to say that each time you try to steal!"

As Si while Mimi counted down fro, I lass All the way around He looked like a giraffe

Shuddering, I looked at Sophia, asn’t even watching She atching Neil, atching Missy, as adjusting her bra I knew this because it was hanging half out of her shirt

Ryan and Siiraffed, and I just held ht! Seven!" Mi at her watch

"It’s not New Year’s--just give us a fewback and forth from the picture to Simon

"Shit, I don’t know, is it, is it--shit!" Si from one foot to the other