Mixed Emotions - Mia Heintzelman Page 0,1

a few surprises up my sleeves.” Oli tossed a mischievous look over her shoulder before looking away. She knew Zora could read her better than anyone.

Again, why on earth did I let Oli talk me out of staying in?

“I’ll have you know I’m missing an eighties movie marathon for this. You know, they’re starting with Weird Science.”

“Oh ’you know, your basic high school orgy type of thing.’ ‘It’s a mindscrambler.’ ‘Hurts so good,’” Oli said in her best British accent. She was mocking Kelly LeBrock. Her thick brows dropped into a deep V, and beneath them, her brown eyes skewed into beady lasers. Everything about Oli fit the bill of sex goddess—her blunt-cut black bob, her olive-toned skin, and her full pout.

Blush pink bandage dresses worked for Oli because she had a banging body with normal-sized breasts and killer calves. She was perfection science couldn’t manufacture, but a terrible actress, nevertheless.

A sex goddess, Zora was not.

Even with her best friend’s fashion advice and styling, aside from the shimmery blue nails, none of her getup made her feel like herself. She’d tried to help Oli see that playing someone else’s cards would only leave her lost in the shuffle.

She wanted no part of losing herself for a man.

She hugged her arms to her chest and bit back the chattering of her teeth.

“Whatever, Buttwad. The fact that you quoted the movie proves my point.”

“Oh, you might miss it!” Oli put the back of her hand to her forehead in distress. “It’s been out for like thirty-five years. I’m sure you already own it, along with every other movie released that decade, so just be present and enjoy yourself, for once.”

In the midst of all the shivering and merriment, Zora’s phone pinged, and now she really was excited.

It was her turn.

After a couple of minutes, she bit her bottom lip and thought for a second before tapping out a message rapid-fire on her phone. Her thumb hovered over the small green vertical arrow while she considered whether to send it.

Zora:

1. Haggis burgers are going to be the secret weapon for my cookbook.

2. I’m home with Oli on the couch binge-watching the second season of Stranger Things.

3. I’ve been forced to listen to Ev and Soph have sex for the fifth time today.

Ugh, this is too easy.

Zora could feel a serious case of side-eye coming from Oli’s general direction. Together they inched forward along the black velvet ropes. Before she could second-guess it, she pressed send. Almost instantly, the phone pinged again.

Her smile was too wide to suppress.

“You’re about to meet a fine-ass man, and while you should be practicing your stale flirting skills, you’re seriously playing two truths and a lie with Mike?”

“Relax. I’m just—“

“Keeping tabs on him? Whipped? In denial that you’re in love with him and have been since forever?”

Zora ignored Oli and read Mike’s message as a second one popped up on the screen.

Mike: #2 You suck at lying. lol

Mike: First off, if you ever plan on beating me at this game, the two truths should not be glaringly obvious. lol. Your life and your career are food, so I already knew number one was true. But, for the record, haggis is disgusting. No clue how you’re going to mix Scottish and Creole food into one book. Second, if Ev and Soph weren’t screwing like rabbits, I’d be worried they were calling off the engagement. Where are you?

Oli grabbed for the phone, but Zora yanked it back. “What did he say?”

“Mind your own business. Go back to sending your little mysterious texts.” Zora giggled and attempted to unscrew the lines of her face to give Oli a pointed look, but it did not deter the woman with balls of steel.

“Seriously, what did he say?”

Zora bit the inside of her cheek because she was dying to show Oli, but she liked to see her sweat, too. After a few seconds, Zora flashed the screen to her and Oli burst out laughing. “I love you Zo, but he’s right. You really can’t lie for shit.”

“What?”

“Dummmmb,” she dragged out the word. “Even if he did think the haggis thing was a lie, why did you include me in it? Literally, my motto…my mission…my mantra is to never be home on a Friday night. The day I cuddle up on your couch on a Friday night fantasizing about the Upside Down is the day I’m officially old.”

Dammit, I knew that was too easy.

Zora yanked the phone back.

“And don’t tell him where you are. Why