Easy Magic (Boudreaux #5)

“Yeah, yeah.” Kate rolls her eyes and leans her head back on the chair. “I know. But I’m already the size of a house. Eli says I’m still sexy, but I’m the size of a house.”


“You’re actually a sexy pregnant woman,” I reply honestly. “You may not feel like it, but I’m an unbiased third party, and I can tell you that I think you look amazing. Your skin is clear and glowing, and you’re very healthy.”

“I’m glowing because I’m always sweaty,” Kate grumbles.

“Well, aren’t you just a little ray of pitch black?” Van says with a saccharine sweet smile. Rather than be offended, Kate giggles.

“I know. I’m sorry. I am thankful for this baby, and that we’re both healthy. I know she’ll be here sooner than I think. I just get tired more easily, and the stretch marks are ridiculous. Not to mention, you guys get to drink crazy amounts of booze tonight and I don’t.”

“But we’re glad you came because you’re fun and it wouldn’t be the same without you,” Charly replies and kisses her cheek. “Cheer up, sugar.”

“Okay.” Kate takes a deep breath. “Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better.”

“Good. We won’t make you walk much tonight.”

“Where are we going, anyway?” I ask. “The Odyssey?”

“No,” Callie says, shaking her head adamantly. “I practically live there. If we’re going out for fun, I want to go somewhere else.”

“I heard a fun spot just opened up a few blocks over,” Van says. “Let’s walk down and check it out.”

“Fine, but I’m not walking back later,” Charly says. “I’m going to be too drunk, and we’re all wearing pretty shoes.”

“We’ll call the guys,” Gabby says. “Rhys will have to come get me anyway. It’ll work out.”

“Fun. Let’s go,” Callie says and the six of us set off, walking two by two down the heart of the French Quarter.

“I’ve been meaning to call you, Mal,” Gabby says. “I would love it if you and Beau could come out to the inn for dinner one night this week.”

“Oh, thank you! That would be fun. I think we’re open just about any night, but I’ll ask Beau to make sure.”

“Great,” she replies with a grin.

“I hear that you’re a we,” Van says, tossing a smile over her shoulder. “I like that.”

“I think I like it too.” I grin as we walk through the door of the bar. Like most bars, it’s dark, but the furnishings are new, and it’s clean. The music is classic 80’s.

“I love Cyndi Lauper,” Gabby murmurs, nodding her head in time with the song. “It’s pretty in here. Not cheesy.”

“Thank you,” a tall brunette says as she approaches, a wide smile on her pretty face. “We just opened last month. I’m Alice. Six of you tonight?”

“Yes,” Callie replies. “If you could put us in a corner somewhere, that would be great. And I apologize in advance for our shenanigans.”

“Sugar, we welcome shenanigans,” Alice says with a sassy wink and leads us to the back corner of the bar. The booth is massive, with rich gold and purple leather. It’s typical New Orleans colors, but not at all cheesy.

We order our first round of drinks and get settled, taking in the scene around us.

It’s not packed, but there are several other full tables. The dance floor is empty, but it’s still early.

“I’m so happy we’re doing this,” Gabby says. “I don’t come into the city to see you guys nearly enough.”

“Agreed,” Van says. “But it’s a long drive, so I get it.”

“We should try to do this once a month,” Charly suggests.

“Sure, until I have this baby and never feel like leaving the house again,” Kate says, then smiles. “Because I won’t want to leave her.”

“Oh, trust me,” Gabby says, “you’ll want to leave her. Not for a few months, but you’ll eventually need a break.”

“I want to know about Mallory and Beau,” Charly says, suddenly changing the subject. “Spill it.”

“I’m seeing him,” I reply, not sure what she wants to hear, exactly, but positive that it’s probably more than I want to say.

“Duh,” Gabby says, rolling her eyes. Our drinks are delivered. “You can go ahead and get round two going now,” she tells the waitress.

“Not for me,” I jump in. “I am a one drink girl.”

“Why?” Van asks. “Can’t hold your liquor?”

I smile and shrug. “It’s a safety thing. It’s harder to keep a grasp on my head when I’m drunk. And I say way too much.”

“An honest drunk,” Callie says with a wink. “I think we want you to be honest, Mal. Plus, there are six of us. Safety in numbers and all that jazz.”

Just then my phone pings with a text.

“No chatting it up with my brother during girls’ night out,” Charly says and sips her cocktail.

“It’s Lena,” I reply with a grin. “Do you mind if I have her join us?”

“Not at all!” They all nod good naturedly, so I shoot Lena a response, tell her where we are, and to get here STAT.

“Thanks, guys.”

“I like her,” Kate says with a smile as she sips her Sprite.

“We all do,” Callie adds. “Bring her along anytime. In fact, we’ll get her number, and include her in group texts.”

“She’d like that,” I reply, surprised to find tears near the surface. “You’re all so nice.”

“Oh, we have bitchy moments,” Charly replies. “But on the whole, yeah, we’re good people.”

I nurse my drink for the next twenty minutes, feeling not a little overwhelmed by these funny, successful women, and the fact that they’ve befriended me, bringing me—and my best friend—into their fold.

“You summoned me, and I’m here,” Lena says when she finds our table.

“Yay!” Gabby says and scoots over to give Lena space in the booth. “We’re happy you came. You need to give us all your number so we can just include you in the group texts for stuff like this.”

“Oh good, group text hell,” Lena says with a wink. “Thanks for including me. Is Mal shitfaced yet?”

“Whatever,” I reply and throw my lemon wedge at her. “I’m not a boozer.”

Lena smiles, and I can hear her thoughts clearly: I’m here. Go ahead and have fun. You’re safe.

I shrug one shoulder and reply: thank you.

“Why do I think that a whole conversation just took place between you two?” Callie asks.

“Because it did,” Lena says. “Let’s flag down that waitress.”

***

“So, back to you and Beau,” Callie says an hour and several drinks later. “Talk to us.”

“So sexy,” I gush, then clamp my hand over my mouth. “See? I talk too much.”

“Never,” Charly replies and leans her chin on her fist, either listening intently or too drunk to hold her own head up. “I’ll talk about Simon if you want.”

“Yes!” I clap my hands and nod. “Tell us about Simon.”

“Sexiest man ever,” Charly says, but the rest of us shake our heads. “I know, you all think your men are the sexiest ever, but I’m related to most of them, so just… no. Simon has the British sexy factor going on.”

“I love a British accent,” Lena says with a sigh. “Can we meet him sometime?”

“Of course!”