“Oh god this is gonna’ burn so bad.” Veronica said as she stared at the four shots of ridiculously strong Southern Comfort before her. There were four for me, four for her, four for Roger and John had been coerced into three.

 “I want to thank you both for cookin’ this meal.” Brian said, not waiting on anyone to start eating.

 “Absolutely, we don’t mind.” Veronica said.

 “No, it’s really no big deal.” I assured him. “Okay, here we go…four shots and then I get Roger’s pad Thai on a plate. Veronica…you and John first.” I said. Freddie was standin’ here with us, watchin’ this unfold. Veronica took a deep breath, John just shook his head and started in on the first one with Veronica in suit. I loved the look on John’s face after emptying three shot glasses. He immediately kissed Veronica after she finished her last one. They both looked a bit miserable which made me laugh. “Okay, here we go.” I told Roger, putting my hand on his. I picked up the first glass, and eyed Roger over the top of it. He raised his eyebrows at me…it set my body on fire. I had to down the first shot to keep myself from leapin’ over the counter onto him. I drank them down almost as quickly as Roger did and our concluding kiss of course, elicited a response from Freddie.

 “Lydia...do you swallow everythin’ that fast, love?” Freddie nonchalantly took another drag on is cigarette. John put his hand on his forehead at Freddie’s comment. I laughed at him stupidly and flipped him off behind my back. That sent him off in a fit of laughter. There were other, more important things for me to do at this point… like get these noodles out of the boilin’ water and drained. Veronica shoved a plate at John, who was, naturally, very grateful.

 “Here, how about you take this plate a’ food and start eating so you will shut up and leave her alone!” Veronica said, passing a plate to Freddie and shewing him away from the kitchen.

 “Hey Freddie, do you realize you’re the only one here who hasn’t been in the shower or changed clothes yet…you filthy tramp!” I antagonized him. Roger and John loved that.

 “Finally! You and I have something in common, darling!” was Freddie’s remark.

 “Shit. I still can’t one up him!” I mumbled to myself. I stirred the seasonin’ mix into the noodles smelling the obviously spicy flavor comin’ off of them as the steam escaped the noodles. I dished them out into a bowl and shoved a fork in it. “Here, sweetheart.” I leaned over the counter and tapped Roger’s shoulder. He turned around to face me, quite the surprised look on his face.

 “Oh, Lyd…” Roger pulled me over to him before I could move on to my next project. His kiss was enough of a thank you. I could taste southern comfort on his lips and that only made me kiss him harder. I reached my hand around his neck, into a sea of hair. His tongue tasted of southern comfort as well and believe me…it was sendin’ my already surging body over the edge.

 “You’re welcome.” I finally said, barely pullin’ my lips from his. “You want a southern comfort and cola to go with that?”

 “Are you havin’ one with me?” he asked.

 “I’m havin’ anything you’re havin’.”  I kissed him one more time before reachin’ for the bottle. I took his champagne glass and rinsed it out, filling it with southern comfort. I asked Veronica to get the cola out of the refrigerator. She turned around to hand me the bottle.

 “My god! How strong are you makin’ that!?” she laughed at the near triple shot I had poured into the glass.

 “Someone’s gotta’ make this stuff the right way.” I said taking the cola from her. She laughed again.

 “Shit…I’m three hours late…I’m gonna’ go grab my pill. You make me one, yeah?”

 “It will be ready and waiting for you.” I assured her, making my own drink. I was also watching our cheese on toast, making sure it didn’t get too brown. I took my pill in the mornin’s but it was apparent that Veronica took hers in the evenin’ …and even more apparent that she was late with it. I would have been absolutely panickin’ if I had had been that late. She seemed to treat it like it was no big deal and she, of all people should know. She had been with John long enough that if an accident were going to have happened…it already would have. I was new to it, but she wasn’t…it was my testimony that it was indeed, effective.

 Roger had spun around on his barstool to face Freddie, John, and Brian. I sat his drink on the edge of the counter and brushed his elbow. “Don’t knock this over.” I cautioned him. Roger sat his bowl in his lap and turned sideways to get the drink I had made. He immediately tried it.

 “Whew! God…this…is…gooood.” He announced. I made Veronica’s next, having already poured a triple shot in; I then added the cola.

 “Let me try it…surely can’t be that great.” Freddie sat his plate aside and got up form his spot on the couch. He took Roger’s drink from him in order to taste it.

 “Oh! Oh my…this…this is an orgasm in a glass, darling!” Freddie declared. It was at this same time that I had just taken a drink of my own mixed beverage only to spit most of it over the sink in a combination of laughter and amusement. I knew I needed to turn the toast…it was going to burn if I didn’t compose myself.

 “Lydia…if you fuck the way you make drinks…” Freddie laughed and winked at me before returning to his plate of food and Moet de Chandon. “Brian, you really should get in on some of that.” He insisted. Brian however, was on his third Guinness at this point and had no interest in anythin’ else.

 “I swear Fred…it’s like you don’t even know me sometimes!” Brian said shaking his head. I turned the toast and Veronica had returned. I noticed this bottle was almost empty and so if John wanted a drink, I would be opening the second bottle of the night…which by no means was a problem.

 “Here you go. Freddie says this is an orgasm in a glass so you may want to talk John into one.” I handed Veronica’s glass to her and searched another cabinet for a plate. I simply loved the look on Veronica’s face.

 “Well, if this is an orgasm in a glass what the hell do I need John for?” she said. I laughed so stupidly. That was the most brilliant thing I’d heard tonight.

 “I heard that!” John yelled at her.

 “Hey…hey Veronica…” I pulled her over and whispered in her ear. She covered her mouth to keep from squealing.

 “Oh you! You are soooo…” She shoved on my shoulder as I handed over the cheese on toast.

 “Well, I’m just sayin’…sometimes…there’s not a substitute!” I told her.

 “Oh! Oh, Lydia…” Veronica said giving her drink a taste. She headed over to the end of the couch where John was sitting.

 “That’s what he said!” Freddie just HAD to interject as he pointed behind his head. I took the liberty of takin’ my own cheese on toast out of the skillet. I tapped Roger on the back again.

 “Do you have another cigarette?” I asked of him. He shook his head yes and put his bowl of noodles on the counter so he could get into his pocket.

 “Here.” He pulled a cigarette out for me and lit it.

 “Thank you.” I answered as Roger returned to his noodles.

 “Alright. You people have talked me into it. But no mixing. I’ll take a shot…one shot. Here.” Brian said handing over John’s vodka bottle. I took his empty plate from him.

 “You want more mashed potatoes or somethin’? There’s plenty left.” I said opening the pot of potatoes.

 “No, thank you. Thanks again for cooking.” He said.

 “Oh! Here! Give me the pot!” Roger said flipping around and reaching his hands to me. I handed him pot of mashed potatoes.

 “Okay, Brian. Hold on here…” I said, clearing out a spot to pour us a shot of vodka. I took another drag on my cigarette and a bit of cheese on toast. “Who else wants one?”

 “I’ll do one with you!” Freddie bounced up from the couch, wasting no time at all. I grabbed three empty shot glasses off the bar from the shots we had done earlier and filled them with John’s vodka.

 “Okay, here….here, Brian…and mine.” I said passing them around.

 “Ready? 1….2…” Freddie counted it down and we all three swallowed it down at the same time. Brian sat his shot glass on the counter and got another Guinness out of the freezer.

 “Wow! These are so cold!” he observed.

 “Do I need to move them to the fridge?” I asked.

 “No, no. I’ll do that in a bit.” He assured me, going back into the living room.

 “Say, Lydia? Are there any bangers left?” Freddie asked looking over me.

 “Two. You want them?” I asked offering him the plate they were on.

 “I’ll gladly take those off your hands. Come here darling, you’re a good sport.” Freddie kissed my cheek as I took another puff of my cigarette. I took my drink and my cheese on toast to the barstool beside Roger.

 “It’s about time you come sit here with me.” He said still trying to clean out the pot of mashed potatoes.

 “It’s time to take a break and eat with you.” I assured him. “After we eat…it’s time to turn this kitchen into a salon.”

 Roger smiled at me. “You know…” he began looking down into the pot of potatoes. “…I uh…I can’t believe you’re gonna’ do this.” He laughed

 “Me neither. If I mess your hair up entirely…I promise I’ll make it up to you.” I winked at him.