Page 12 of Sassy & Sixty
Rosie felt her cheeks warm. "Is it too much? I knew I should have gone with the cardigan..."
"Don't you dare," Lisa interjected, giving Rosie an approving once-over. "You look fantastic. We all do. Right, ladies?"
There was a chorus of agreement, though Catherine still looked like she might bolt at any moment. Her usual conservative attire had been replaced by a flowing bohemian top that Julie had clearly had a hand in choosing.
"Right then," Emma said, rubbing her hands together with glee. "Let's go paint this town... well, maybe not red. More of a tasteful mauve. Come on!"
As they entered the pub, Rosie was struck by how loud it was. The place was packed, mostly with people half their age, all shouting to be heard over the thumping music.
"Good grief," Julie yelled, her eyes wide. "Is this what pubs are like now? I feel like I've stepped into a nightclub!"
"What?" Lisa shouted back, cupping her ear.
"I said... oh, never mind. Let's find a table!"
They managed to snag a booth in the corner, squeezing in together like sardines in a sparkly tin. A young waiter approached, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of them.
"What can I get you... ladies?" he asked, his tone suggesting he wasn't quite sure if that was the right form of address.
"Gin and tonic," Emma said promptly. "And keep 'em coming, sonny. We've got a lot of lost time to make up for."
The others placed their orders - a vodka martini for Lisa, white wine for Julie, a rather daring cosmopolitan for Catherine, and after a moment's hesitation, a mojito for Rosie.
As the waiter walked away, looking slightly shell-shocked, Rosie leaned in. "I've never had a mojito before," she confessed. "I'm not even sure what's in it."
"Rum, mint, and a healthy dose of midlife crisis," Emma quipped. "You'll love it."
Their drinks arrived, and Rosie took a tentative sip of her mojito. The fresh, minty flavour with a kick of rum was a revelation. "Oh my," she said, her eyebrows rising. "That's rather good."
"Told you," Emma grinned, raising her gin and tonic in a toast. "To the Sensational Sixties Squad and our first big night out!"
They clinked glasses, giggling like schoolgirls. As the alcohol began to work its magic, their inhibitions started to loosen. Lisa, usually so composed, was regaling them with increasingly hilarious stories from her life as a high-powered executive.
"...and then," she gasped, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, "the CEO walked in, wearing nothing but his boxer shorts and a tie!"
The table erupted in laughter, drawing curious glances from nearby patrons. Rosie couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so hard. It felt good, like she was shedding years of pent-up stress and propriety.
"Ladies, ladies," Emma said, holding up her hand. "I hate to interrupt, but nature calls. Anyone care to join me in powdering our noses?"
Catherine and Julie volunteered to accompany her, leaving Rosie and Lisa at the table.
"Having fun?" Lisa asked, giving Rosie a warm smile.
Rosie nodded enthusiastically. "More than I've had in years. I'd forgotten what it was like to just... let loose."
"I know what you mean," Lisa agreed. "It's like we've been given permission to be silly again. To remember who we were before life got so..."
"Complicated?" Rosie finished for her.
"Exactly."
Their conversation was interrupted by a commotion near the bar. Rosie turned to see Emma engaged in what appeared to be a heated debate with a group of young men.
"Oh lord," Lisa muttered. "What's she up to now?"
As they watched, Emma gestured dramatically, nearly knocking over someone's drink in the process. The young men were laughing, but not unkindly. In fact, they seemed to be thoroughly entertained by whatever Emma was saying.
"Should we rescue her?" Rosie asked, half-rising from her seat.
