When We Go Back Again (Mason Brothers Book #1)

Chapter 27

EDEN

The Monday before Thanksgiving, Toni called me and said she wanted to do a Girl’s Night Out because she had Wednesday and Thursday off and wanted to make the most of it. Carly couldn’t make it because they were traveling for the holiday, but Jolie actually had an apartment in the same building that Toni did so she was going to come over as well.

At first, she wanted to travel out of town to do something, but after the incident with Jacob, I still didn’t feel comfortable being out in a place with alcohol that I couldn’t control. Thankfully Toni was completely understanding and said that she and Jolie could just brush up on their bartending skills and make some mixed drinks.

Armed with everything needed to make homemade pizza and a cheesecake that I bought from the bakery on Main Street, I use my foot to knock on Toni’s door because my hands are completely full. The door swings open and Toni laughs and then grabs some of the bags from me.

“Jesus lady, are you expecting an entire army for dinner?”

“There really isn’t much here, just a lot of produce and that takes up space.”

“Uh-huh, sure, come on in.”

I follow Toni into her apartment and take a look around, “Is Jolie here yet?”

“She’ll be back in a second, she bought a few special bottles she wanted to share with us,” Toni said with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

“Ooo that sounds good.”

In Toni’s kitchen, I start unpacking the bags and Jolie comes back in and wraps her arms around me. “Eden! I’m so glad you’re here. Listen, do you like lemon? Because I have this drink that is like a spicy lemon drop that you just NEED to try.”

“I love lemon stuff. You get started on the drinks and I’ll start getting these things chopped up and then we’ll get the pizza dough in the oven.”

“Toni, can I get some mixers?”

“Ahh yes, let me show you to my at-home bar.”

Toni goes over to her island and opens up the cabinets above where almost every liquor you think of sits as well as mixers, different glasses, and all the tools needed for a bar.

“Damn Toni,” I kid, “you could open up your own place.”

“I take my job very seriously,” she deadpans.

“Obviously.”

Jolie starts making drinks and Toni helps me chop up food. I get started with making the pizza sauce from canned tomatoes, the way that Alex Gurnaschelli taught me on TV. I did end up buying pizza dough, although I could make my own I just wasn’t feeling like it. Jolie brings us over two glasses and adds a slice of lemon.

“Alright, drink slowly, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

I take a small sip and then follow up with a long drink. “Oh my gosh, Jolie, this is amazing. What is in it?”

“What you would find in a normal lemon drop, but instead of regular vodka, I use a jalapeno vodka. Oh, I also add real lemon juice, not the kind from the jar.”

Toni finishes off her drink and nods with approval, “I only use real lemon juice in my drinks too. It can cost a little more during the off-season, but Lydia made a point of always using fresh and she was so right, every drink tastes better.”

“I know what drink I want from now on. Can you get Fletcher to stock this in the bar?”

Jolie grins, “I’m sure if he knew it was your favorite drink, he would.”