“I really don’t want to go to this party,” Brent complained as he and his cousin Josh stepped out of the cab.

“It’s a little late for that,” Josh replied. They stared up at the Manor, an extravagant building usually reserved for weddings and proms, but each year at Christmas the Fuller family rented it to throw the biggest Christmas bash in town.

“It wasn’t too late the first five times I said it. The first of which was last week.”

Josh’s shoulders tensed. “Listen, you’ve been bumming me out for weeks now.”

It wasn’t his fault Mia had dumped him right before the holidays.

“I needed to get you out of the house, and this seemed like a good time to do it. Come in, have a few drinks, talk to a few pretty girls, and dance a bit. That’s all I’m asking.”

“You make it sound like I’ve been sitting around the house in my boxers eating cheese puffs all day.”

Following Josh, Brent climbed up the front steps of the Manor. After giving their names at the door, Josh glanced at him. “When was the last time you left the apartment?”

“I go to work every day.”

“Not for work. To socialize.” Josh took them to the coat check area, where they abandoned their outer wear to a volunteer.

“I’ve been busy at work.”

“That’s a load of crap.” Josh headed into the crowd. Brent had dragged his feet, so they were late arriving, and now it seemed the party was in full swing. A buffet line started in the hallway and wound through a dining room, past a long table of food. In another giant room was a DJ and what seemed to be a full dance party. “Where do you want to start?”

Back at the apartment with a new Netflix original, and an icy beer, Brent thought. He knew better than to voice it though, but that didn’t seem to matter. His cousin read him like a book.

“This. Will. Be. Fun.” Obviously losing patience, Josh gritted his teeth and punctuated each word. Relaxing a bit, he patted Brent on the shoulder. “You didn’t even notice the coat check girl checking you out.”

“What?” Brent looked back toward the entrance.

“Come on.” Josh threw his arm around Brent’s shoulders to lead him further into the party. “That girl was probably still in high school, only here as a volunteer. Let’s see if we can’t find you someone more age appropriate.”

Brent hoped this wasn’t going to turn into a whole big production. If he had to suffer through tonight, first he wanted a beer, and then a little breathing room to survey the crowd. He wasn’t ready to get back into the dating scene so soon after being dumped, but Josh was right. It didn’t hurt to look.

* * * *

“Come on guys, let’s go dance!”

“I don’t feel like dancing,” Amy said. She and her friends sat on the sidelines, watching people swaying to the constant beats.

“Come on, just because Amelia isn’t here doesn’t mean we can’t have fun,” Geneva insisted.

Amy, Geneva, Lynn, and Amelia had been friends since high school, and each year at Amelia’s parent’s Christmas bash they got together, had a few drinks, and danced. At last year’s party, Amelia had gotten her heart broken. She’d led her crush beneath the mistletoe, kissed him, and confessed her love.

Rather harshly, he’d rejected her. Amelia vowed not to return until she was over Nick. Which meant this year their entourage was one short.

Since Amelia and Geneva were the two most interested in dancing, Amelia’s disappearance left Geneva trying to convince Lynn and Amy to dance, and with Amelia missing, Amy just didn’t feel up to it.

“I still can’t believe Amelia bailed on her own parent’s party,” Lynn said glumly, resting her chin on her fist.

Amy crossed her legs. “I can. I wouldn’t want to come either, not after what happened last year.”

“So what?” Geneva replied. “Big whoop. The guy doesn’t like her. That’s happened to all of us at some point. Get over it already.” Geneva’s lack of compassion wasn’t at all surprising. She wasn’t exactly warm and fuzzy. “In fact, I’m going to help her get over it.”

Amy had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. “How?”

“I’m going to sleep with Nick.”

She thought her eyes might fall out of her skull. “How is that supposed to help Amelia?”

Geneva waved away her question. “I’m sure it’ll help her. If he moves on, she’ll try harder to move on, too. Right?”

“Um, no.” Amy grabbed Geneva’s arm when she turned to leave. “You can’t.”

“Sure I can,” Geneva purred. She wore her sexuality like a badge. No matter where they went as a group, it was almost a guarantee Geneva would pick up a guy and take him home. “Watch me.”

“No. Geneva!” Amy attempted to stop her, but Geneva broke free of Amy’s hold and raced off through the crowd toward Nick and his friends. Amy stomped her foot. “Damn it!”

When she glanced over at Lynn all she got in the way of support was a shrug. None of them liked to cross Geneva. She often didn’t play fair.

Frustrated, Amy left Lynn behind and followed after Geneva. She got there just in time to watch Geneva lead Nick away from his group of friends. Fawning all over him, she stroked his arm and twirled a strand of hair around her finger.

Rage at both Geneva and Nick overflowed, but rather than confront them Amy turned on her heel and stalked away. As far as she was concerned they deserved each other.