ONE

“If you’ve really been living under a rock,” Elizabeth said, distractedly holding up two fingers as she listed off the facts. “One—there’s a serial killer on the loose. Two—partying has never, and will never, be my thing.”

Holly’s bored, almost dead-eyed expression didn’t shift as she replied, her voice tinged with irritation. “First of all, I know there’s a serial killer on the loose,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I’m not an idiot. But secondly, come on, Liz! It wouldn’t kill you to come out and have fun for once! You’ve been dodging this party for months now. I’ve been telling you about it for two solid months and you’re still saying no?”

Elizabeth sighed, her gaze drifting back to her sketchpad. “And I’ve been telling you, for two months, I’m not going. I have work to do, and you’re dead-ass distracting me right now.”

Holly smirked, leaning back slightly, clearly enjoying herself. “A serial killer’s not even going to be interested in you, Liz. You’re too boring.”

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, eyes still on the mess of sketches before her. “Perfect. That’s exactly the kind of news I want to hear.” She leaned into the table, drawing the pencil lightly across the paper, her mind still struggling to settle on the design she was trying to create.

The room around her was chaotic. Crumpled papers scattered everywhere—failed attempts, each more frustrating than the last. There was a design she could see in her mind, something big, bold, and outlandish. The kind of thing a celebrity like Lady Gaga would wear to the Met Gala—strange, intricate, something no one would be able to replicate. But the more she tried to get it onto the page, the more elusive it became.

“I can see it,” she muttered under her breath, her pencil twirling nervously between her fingers, “I just can’t get it down right.”

The silence between them stretched, with Holly staring at her expectantly. Her voice broke it, this time less teasing, but still determined. “Come on, Liz. Just put the pencil down for five minutes. Take a break. You’re killing yourself over this design.”

Elizabeth didn’t answer immediately, her eyes flicking over her surroundings. Her dining table was covered in a sea of crumpled paper—remnants of designs that never quite came to life. A pencil was still poised in her fingers, but she didn’t have the energy to keep pushing through.

She wasn’t ready to give up on the design, though. It was something she had to get right. She could see it: the way the fabrics would move, the texture, the shape. It was supposed to be the one—a showstopper—but her brain just wasn’t cooperating. She couldn’t focus. The pressure of having her boss, Ross, breathing down her neck for something new, something impressive, was wearing her down.

“I can’t focus,” she admitted quietly, almost to herself. “It’s like my brain won’t cooperate.”

“Exactly.” Holly’s voice softened. “And that’s why you need to stop for a bit. You can’t force this stuff. Sometimes you just need to let it go for a while.”

Elizabeth shook her head. She couldn’t afford to take a break. She was so close, yet so far. But Holly wasn’t giving up. The conversation was far from over.

“Please,” Holly said, her voice a little softer now, though there was still an edge of stubbornness. “You’ve been at this all day. You’re stressed. You need to get out of here, come to the party, and just let your mind relax for a bit.”

Elizabeth groaned, rubbing her temples, trying to fight off the pressure that was building in her head. She had so much to do. So much she needed to get done. But every time she looked at the paper, she just got more frustrated.

Holly wasn’t going to drop it. She tapped her foot against the floor, her stance one of defiance, but then her voice softened with a hint of mischief. “I’ll make you a deal. If you don’t go to this party, I won’t ever bring you leftover lobster and bottles of wine from the hotel again.”

Elizabeth’s head shot up, her blue eyes locking onto Holly’s with disbelief. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, I would,” Holly teased, a knowing smile tugging at her lips. “I know how much you love those lobsters and wine, Liz. You wouldn’t be able to survive without them.”

Elizabeth blinked at her friend for a moment, her eyes narrowing in challenge. Holly had her own unique way of manipulating people, and she knew exactly how to push Elizabeth’s buttons. She could picture it now: Holly bringing over the most delicious lobster rolls every Friday, along with that perfect bottle of wine she always seemed to find on sale. If Holly went through with this threat, Elizabeth’s life would be a whole lot duller.

“Fine,” Elizabeth muttered reluctantly. “Just this one party. After that, no more parties for the year. You’re not getting me to any more after this.”

Holly’s eyes lit up with delight. She squealed, bouncing around the table with an energy that was almost infectious, and before Elizabeth could even react, she had wrapped her arms around her in a tight, excited hug.

“You won’t regret it, I promise,” Holly giggled, her voice a mix of excitement and laughter. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet some wealthy prince charming who’ll fall in love with you before midnight. Just like in the fairy tales.” Her voice lowered to a whisper, filled with mischief. “And remember, my boss is hot. You might even have a shot!”

Elizabeth let out a long sigh, shaking her head, but her lips quirked upward in a small smile. “Holly, you’re insane.”

Holly didn’t seem to mind at all. “But you love me for it.”