𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝘅

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝘅:
Icy Martini's

❅𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝘅❅

I analyzed myself in the full-length mirror, taking in the navy sweater I wore with a white skirt and white stockings underneath.

Half of my dark hair was pulled up while some of it remained down and curled.

My face was layered in light makeup and I wore my usual silver jewelry.

Given the ice bar event, I think I pulled together the perfect outfit.

Now I'm just more or less anxious for the event.

It's only been a day since the tree lighting—but luckily, I had a stress free day yesterday, filled with purely work.

I handled some meetings at the hotel and even started on the lesson plan for next week.

So I felt a little less overwhelmed with work which is a plus.

Given that this event will probably stress me out on its own.

I let out a deep sigh, grabbing my Saint Laurent perfume to spray myself in.

And once I finished with that and grabbed my purse, I left my apartment entirely—heading down to the waiting Maybach.

Which my dad had specifically sent for me even after our conversation a couple of days ago.

But he just wants to ensure I'm safe.

I'm still not taking chauffeured cars to work.

I'm really only taking it today because I plan to have a drink or two.

Maybe that will at least help me when it comes to seeing a particular person.

Which is someone I inevitably thought about during the entire car ride, wondering how I would avoid her.

This event is most likely big.

It's not as big as the tree lighting, but it won't be intimate to a point where I can't avoid her.

During the short drive, I made mental notes of how I would stay away from her, ensuring that I wouldn't have to endure any awkward moments.

Or possibly more anxiety.

I glanced around as I stepped out of the car, nodding at the man who held the door open for me.

This ice bar event was outside—with complimentary blankets, string lights hanging overhead, and intricately carved ice sculptures.

The tan pavement was covered in fake snow while soft instrumental Christmas music played.

It was beautiful.

Especially with the sun setting on the horizon.

This was more of a night event given the ice sculptures would melt during the day.

But I liked it more at night.

It all looked much more sparkly and beautiful.

I suddenly glanced over, noticing Dani now approaching me.

She wore a loose white long-sleeve shirt and baggy white jeans—matching the blue and white theme as she kept her dark hair down.

Of course, she's here.

And approaching me.

But my actions the other night didn't exactly give off the vibe that she couldn't approach me.

So that's my fault.

"Hey..." I trailed off, awkwardly smiling as I glanced around for Nelli.

Or Tahir.

Even Ronan.

But with the crowd growing and it quickly getting darker, I couldn't immediately spot anyone.

Great.

"Hey," Dani said back, flashing me her usual smile.

"I didn't realize these kinds of events were your thing," I said, wondering why she managed to be at these last two recent events.

Is this how it will be for the entire month of December?

Because I might have to skip a few events if that's the case.

"I more or so came for you if I'm being honest," Dani said, which naturally made my brows raise, "It's just been a while since I've seen you and I miss you—we've all missed you," she quickly corrected herself.

I nodded almost hesitantly, unsure of what I was supposed to say to her right now.

Because I didn't exactly miss her too.

"A drink," I suddenly mumbled, blinking a few times as I glanced away from her, "We should go get drinks," I clarified, motioning my head over to the bar, which was entirely illuminated in white.

And with the sun gone, the white-toned string lights, lit-up ice sculptures, and illuminated bar all looked so pretty.

It definitely felt lighter in the air.

"I heard the drink menu is insane so I'm down," Dani agreed with me, causing me to immediately nod as we both began making our way to the bar.

Which wasn't too far—we just had to squeeze by different groups of people conversing.

Once we made it to the bar, I was able to successfully occupy myself with the drink menu rather than talking to Dani who stood beside me.

I was torn between two drinks.

The Peppermint Blizzard—it consisted of peppermint schnapps, chocolate liqueur, milk, and a candy cane stir stick.

Then there was the Icy Martini, which was vodka, lychee liqueur, and a little champagne.

I ended up settling on the crystal martini for now just because it looked really cute.

It was served with this edible flower frozen inside of an ice cube, which I thought was creative.

The moment I saw someone near me get served the cocktail, I officially wanted it.

But I definitely have a good excuse to try the peppermint blizzard later.

"How is it?" Dani asked as I took the first sip of my drink.

Which was sweet and bubbly, I could also taste the small hint of vodka.

"Amazing," I told her, watching as she sipped on the Cocoa Martini.

Which almost reminded me of an espresso martini, only more hot chocolate inspired. 

I think I want to try that too.

"Did you want a sip?" Dani asked me, noticing my clear line of sight.

I immediately shook my head, awkwardly clearing my throat, "No-no, I'm good—"

"Vee, I didn't know you were back?"

I immediately glanced over at her familiar voice which used to irritate me more than nails on a chalkboard.

Dove.

She had on a white dress with stockings that stopped above her knees, wearing matching white earmuffs.

Why didn't I think of ear muffs?

I suddenly glanced over, noticing another presence right beside her.

Mazin.

She wore a navy long-sleeve shirt with white leather pants and stilettos—wearing her long blonde hair down in waves and a dramatic side part that emphasized her sharp face.

Her iced-out watch and bracelets managed to capture any shred of light—along with the layered chains she wore to match.

So much for avoiding her I guess.

I suddenly cleared my throat, glancing back to Dove who I realized said something to me.

What did she say again?

She didn't know I was back.

"I got in this week," I suddenly said, finally responding to her previous question.

"Just this Monday," Dani added, probably recalling when she had first seen me at the restaurant with Tahir.

"I didn't realize we were keeping tabs," Mazin suddenly said, her stare pinpointed precisely on Dani.

And I couldn't help but clench my jaw at the familiarity of her raspy voice—it was just as soft as I remembered it.

Except it held more of an edge with Dani. 

Someone who she apparently didn't like still. 

"So... this is just like old times," Dove suddenly said, clearly trying to change the topic before Dani said something back to Mazin.

And I could tell with how Dani corrected her posture that she had a comeback prepared for her.

Meanwhile, Mazin seemed unfazed—almost bored by Dani's presence.

"Yeah, make fun of my outfit and it'll be just like old times," I purposely said to Dove, flashing her a tight smile.

I'm not about to sit here and pretend to be her friend.

She might be nice now, but it doesn't erase how mean she was.

"Speaking of that," Dove awkwardly said, blinking a few times as she glanced over to Mazin.

What the fuck is Mazin going to do for her?

Put words in her mouth?

If Dove's going to speak, she should at least look at me while doing so.

"I just," Dove said, suddenly glancing back to me, "I wanted to apologize—"

"It's good—you know I actually wanted to take a look around so," I suddenly cut her short.

Along with this forced conversation.

I already need two drinks just for having to endure this.

"I'm used to you leaving before we can have a real conversation, so it's good," Mazin casually said, her tone as nonchalant as fucking ever.

And the insinuation in her tone isn't helping.

I genuinely want to know how she has the audacity to act mad right now?

Like she isn't the one who fucked this all up.

But I'm not going to be petty.

I'm not—

"And I'm used to you fucking everything up before we can have a real conversation," I purposely pointed out, "So yeah, it's definitely good," I emphasized, feeling my chest burn along with my ears as I stared so openly into her dark eyes.

It felt like the few seconds between us, faded into something longer—especially with how irritating she had to be.

I assume she couldn't just leave it all unsaid between us.

But I refused to let her say anything more to me, so I stepped forward, attempting to walk past them.

But Mazin didn't bother taking a step to the side.

Which felt purposeful yet again.

Especially with the thick crowd gathered around the bar.

I still managed to walk past them both anyway.

Even if it meant passing by Mazin specifically.

Which was probably my second fuck up.

Or maybe third.

I'm losing count.

But this one felt like my worst given her body easily brushed mine as I passed her—immediately smelling her sweet cologne.

Mazin purposely turned her head in the midst of it all, staring down at me as I brushed past her with Dani following behind me.

And I couldn't help but draw in the deepest fucking breath of my life as soon as I made it around her, trying to rid my brain of her smell.

And her voice.

And her dark eyes that I worked so hard to forget in Korea.

This is so fucking unfair.

Especially her behaving as if I did something wrong. 

"You okay?" Dani asked as we finally made it through the thickness of the crowd surrounding the bar.

I nodded, "Yeah, I just—I need to find Nelli," I said, glancing around a few times before looking back over to Dani, "Preferably alone... this is just a lot and—"

"I get it," Dani immediately assured me, which naturally made me nod a few times, almost relieved by her understanding.

Which meant the old parts of me were slowly fading back in.

Fuck.

"I'll see you around," I quickly told Dani, who could really only nod before I walked past her.

And luckily, not even a few minutes of searching through the crowd, I found Nelli off from the crowd.

She stood with her uncle Mav—who was in the middle of a conversation with Vic and Lena.

Someone who I haven't properly spoken to since I've been back.

"Vee!" Lena immediately said as soon as I approached them all, smiling so widely at me.

And I couldn't help but laugh slightly when she immediately pulled me into a big hug.

Which didn't necessarily catch me off guard given her nature.

She's always been a hugger with all of us.

"Tazmin told me you were back," Lena said as she jokingly squeezed me in the hug, "I can't believe you didn't stay to see everyone at the tree lighting."

I shook my head with a smile, "I swear I didn't mean to," I said as we pulled back from the hug slightly.

Lena hummed dryly, "That just means you need to make up for it by being at all the events," she determined.

"Don't promise anything—there's a lot of events," Mav suddenly said as he took a step toward us, briefly pulling me into a side hug.

"There's actually not enough, Maverick," Lena countered back, and I knew by the use of his full name he had probably pressed her nerves before I even got over here.

She's really funny when she's mad, I won't lie.

"You have us doing something every week though," Vic suddenly added in, immediately earning a narrowed look from Lena.

Which made Nelli subtly nudge him, signaling him to not say anything else.

"But we love weekly events," Vic quickly said, glancing over to Mav.

Who immediately nodded, "Right, they're nice—very good planning too," he added to his statement, glancing over when a darker-skinned woman approached us all.

And I immediately recognized Jada—who had her curls slicked into a low ponytail, wearing a white sweater and matching dress pants.

"Finally, I get to see you," Jada said as she approached me, giving me a hug brief hug that I reciprocated.

"Finally," I said jokingly as we pulled back slightly.

"How is settling in been going?" Jada asked as she walked over to Mav—who immediately slid his arm around her waist.

"Good—busy, but really good," I said, earning a few nods from my best friend.

"But I've been helping—I unpacked a lot of her stuff for her," Nelli added with a smile targeted at me.

"I love that you're reunited again," Lena said as she glanced between me and Nelli.

At least until she noticed Tazmin approaching us.

Which caused us all to look over.

"Hi beautiful," Tazmin said as she stopped by Lena, pressing a brief kiss to her cheek, "T's about to be here with Alena and Ronan," she told her.

"Good, everyone's here tonight," Lena said, running her hands up Tazmin's arms.

"Just as I said they would be," Tazmin whispered to her, leaning down to briefly kiss her lips, "We even got Vee here," she said as they pulled away, glancing over to me.

I automatically smiled, "And for longer than thirty minutes too," I joked as I took a sip of my martini.

Lena shook her head with a smile, "Any time is better than none," she assured me, clearly not that upset by me leaving the tree lighting the other day.

"It is," Tazmin said, sliding one of her arms around Lena's waist, "We're about to go find T at the front—you should come with us so you can meet Alena."

I raised a brow, "Alena?" I repeated the unfamiliar name back to them.

"T's girlfriend," Lena clarified with a proud smile, "They've been together for five years now."

I smiled slightly, "Aw no way—I didn't know T was boo'd up," I joked with them, not even able to imagine Tahir dating someone so seriously.

At least one of the Moretti's locked someone down.

Good for Tahir.

"T doesn't play games like his mom's," Vic said, laughing slightly when both Tazmin and Lena side-eyed him.

"True though, he and Alena have been stuck together ever since they met," Mav said as he took a sip of Jada's cocktail that she held to his lips.

"And Alena's great—you'll like her a lot, Vee," Tazmin told me.

"She is really nice," Nelli told me, making it known that Alena had her approval.

Which automatically meant she had mine.

I almost wish I didn't swear Nelli into secrecy regarding the Moretti's or I would've known about Tahir and his long-term girlfriend.

I suddenly glanced over when Tazmin reached for her phone that buzzed in the pocket of her dress pants, "They're here," she said as she briefly looked at her lock screen, motioning me along with her and Lena.

Which made me glance to Nelli, "I'll be back," I told her.

Nelli nodded with her usual smile, "We'll grab a drink after," she told me as I backed away to follow Tazmin and Lena through the crowd.

Which we had to carefully weave through.

But luckily, I could already spot Tahir's light hair and Ronan's familiar face as they walked into the event toward us.

I also noticed a brunette by their side.

She was beautiful—long shiny hair, tanned skin, and dark doe eyes.

She looked Latina.

And her outfit was really cute.

She wore a white jumpsuit that clung to her body with a navy vest and chunky sneakers.

"Vee, you made it," Tahir said first, immediately pulling me into a brief hug.

I smiled as I hugged him back, "I couldn't miss it after leaving the tree lighting early," I joked with him.

"She could not," Lena added, which naturally made me laugh.

"I think I would've gotten kidnapped and forced here otherwise," I joked, glancing back over to Alena.

Which immediately made Tahir's eyes widen, "Oh right, I forgot you aren't introduced yet," he said, now sliding his arm around Alena's waist.

Who smiled almost shyly as she leaned into him.

"Alena this is Vee, the one we've told you about," Tahir said, motioning his head to me, "Vee this is my insanely beautiful and incredible girlfriend, Alena."

Alena jokingly rolled her eyes as she softly nudged Tahir, "It's nice to formally meet you," she said, looking over to me, "T talks very highly of you," she added, pulling away slightly from Tahir.

But only to hesitantly initiate a hug with me, unsure of if I was a hugger.

I immediately reciprocated her hug back, smiling slightly, "It's really nice to meet you as well," I told her as we briefly hugged, "I'm sure he always makes sure you have your hands full."

Alena laughed softly as we pulled away from the hug, "Did you hear about the inflatable Santa he wore the other night?" she retorted jokingly.

"Don't remind me," Lena mumbled as she leaned into Tazmin's side.

Which naturally made me feel single.

Especially with both of these overly touchy couples in front of me.

"John Wick," Ronan said, smiling as he extended his hand for a brief dap.

"John Wick's friend," I said back, briefly dapping him up as he pulled me into a brief hug.

"I'm not even going to ask," Tazmin determined, clearly finding the nicknames weird.

"It's hilarious though," Tahir just had to say, "It happened after that watch incid—"

"Where's Omara?" I suddenly asked, purposely cutting Tahir short before he could rehash the watch story.

I can't sit through that one again.

"She's coming with my sister and Zane," Lena determined, reaching for her phone in her coat that she wore over her short light blue dress, "They wanted to bake cookies for Nadi—I think they're on the way now though."

I felt my eyes immediately light up, "Nadi? She's coming too?" I asked, feeling nothing but excited at the mention of her.

She's the cool rich aunt of their family I swear.

"No, she's not coming tonight," Tazmin said as she watched Lena type on her phone, "She's flying in from Dubai tomorrow."

I immediately nodded, realizing that's what Lena meant by them baking her cookies.

It's for her arrival back in Miami.

I swear one thing Nadia does is travel.

But she always prioritizes being back home for the holidays.

I'll never forget that about her.

Or anyone else for that matter.

They all take holidays and family very seriously.

I suddenly glanced down when my phone buzzed, causing me to attempt to open my clutch.

But with my half-empty martini glass, it was nearly impossible to open it.

Luckily, Tahir instinctively grabbed the glass for me, so I could check who texted me.

Which was my dad, who was somewhere in the crowd looking for me.

"Okay, I have to go find my dad, but I'll be back to see Omi and then Morana and Zane," I told them all, quickly texting my dad back to meet by a specific ice sculpture, "It was nice meeting you Alena," I added, glancing back over to the brunette.

"You too," she said, smiling wider as I backed away from everyone, waving at them briefly as they nodded or waved back.

And soon I was off into the crowd, searching for my dad—and feeling beyond lucky that tonight went much better compared to Thursday night at that tree lighting.

Minus, the run-in at the bar.

But Mazin seems to be out of my peripheral so that's all that matters.

She'll probably be with everyone later though, so I'm unsure if I'll pop in to see Omara and everyone.

I might just be antisocial with Nelli and try all the different drinks on the menu.

That sounds like a much better end to my night than another run-in with her.