“What’s that?” Dora asked when the waiter put two glasses of Bloody Mary in front of her. The decorations and paraphernalia on top were nearly spilling out. “Courtesy for the birthday girl,” Rodrigo explained, smiling from the other side of the table. “Guys, for fuck’s sake, at this rate my ride back home will be an ambulance.” “I’m pretty sure you’ve had worse.” The whole table erupted in laughter. Dora took one of the glasses. If her friends were willing to get her drunk, who was she to say no? The table was full, the drinks were delicious and her brain was at that early stage of drunkenness, when everything seemed to be covered in mist. If this wasn’t her best birthday, Dora thought happily, it was definitely on the list. The bar was crowded, the atmosphere filled with a loud buzz of conversation. It was a recently-opened place, in a hip part of town, complete with exposed brick walls and drinks served in mason jars. It had been hard to reserve the table for a group that size, and still the hostess had pursed her red-painted lips in a bitchy manner when they arrived. It didn’t matter, though. All that mattered was that everybody she cared about had managed to come. “It’s official. Vivi and Marina went to the bathroom together. It looks like someone is going to win the bet,” Leo pulled her out of her thoughts, sitting on the empty chair and taking one of the glasses without the slightest ceremony. “Leo, you wouldn’t be so inelegant as to charge me a bet on my birthday, would you?” The boyfriend raised an eyebrow. “Besides, you poured Tequila on Marina. That’s cheating.” “I’ll think about it, just because today you look particularly gorgeous,” Dora smiled. Leo wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling their chairs together. Then, he stuck his forehead to his girlfriend’s and whispered, “Are you happy?” “Yes. Very much.” “Good,” He leaned over to steal an affectionate kiss and then straightened up. “They really keeping the drinks coming, huh? Good stuff, but drink slowly. I don’t want you passing out any time soon.” Dora frowned. “Why? What are you up to?” “Me? Nothing. What a terrible thing to do, to be suspicious of me.” Leo pouted, winked at Dora and turned around to steal some more of the Bloody Mary. She was then sure her boyfriend was plotting something. *** “Guys, there’s a lot of cake left, really! Don’t you want some more?” “No, no, we’ve already taken a lot of cake, thanks!” Marina answered, with her lipstick all smudged up. “Uber arrived,” Vivi warned, smiling. They both disappeared into the car and Dora sighed, happy. She felt Leo’s arms wrapping around her back and leaned back against his body. He kissed her neck a few times and whispered in her ear: “Shall we go?” “Let’s go,” Dora whispered back, feeling her knees weaken. He knew she could never resist that move, especially when there…