Free Precise by Rebecca Berto, Lauren McKellar

well.
    There are a few friends next to her, but they’re only part of the background as Katie takes in this new Dina. She’s wearing a short, purple dress. Daring still suits her well. The skirt fluffs out, the waist ties with a matching belt. It complements her red bob.
    “I didn’t know you were going to be here. Gee, Kates, I haven’t seen you in years!”
    “I know. I can’t believe it,” she says. “You see, I spotted this redhead earlier snobbing me off on the other side of the—”
    “So it was you who was ogling me off.” Dina clenches her hips, turning into the light. Her mustard-brown eyes shine as they always have, the light pronouncing each of her freckles. She sticks her left hand out. “I’ll have you know I have a fiancé these days.”
    Katie clears her throat. “Congrats! What have you been up to since high school?”
    “Studied accounting at RMIT and now I’m an accountant for a firm in the city. It’s all pretty hectic with work and moving into the house.” She fluffs her hand in front of her. “Not to mention organizing this party, but I love it. How have you been?”
    Katie feels the seconds slow. She can only hope it’s just a short linger. She’s had many situations like these, whether with a distant relative or another old friend of whom she hasn’t spoken to in a while. With practice, she grins, as if she were only caught off guard.
    “Not bad. I have a daughter, Ella, who started primary school this year.”
    “Wow. Cool!” Dina says, smiling.
    “Kates?” a woman says, poking her head over Dina’s shoulder. “You look amazing. You probably get that a lot. Nothing like a ‘Mom’.” The lady gestures when she speaks the emphasized word with quotation marks.
    “Agreed,” Dina adds. “No momma legs or tummy, there. Nope.”
    Katie rolls her eyes and relaxes into a circle amongst the ladies.
    Soon after, that woman is first to begin gossiping. Dina, the other ladies and Katie laugh. For half an hour they gossip. Katie shares some gossip too. It’s actually fun.
    But then it happens.
    Katie knew it: Dina couldn’t help it. The stories started off about school, careers, family. Once one of her friends mentions a wedding she’s attended, Dina takes over before the poor lady can finish. She talks on through her friend slumping in disappointment and inadvertently over another friend, too, unless one of them speaks in a loud voice or taps her shoulder.
    Katie asks about the builder for her and Tim’s house but that only leads to Dina crying over how happy she is that she has a partner as amazing as Tim to share her life with, and, and, and. Katie goes on laughing and smiling but she soon loses track of when to make noises.
    She turns away. From the garage roller door, Brent emerges out of the shadow with a drink in his hand. His arms swing a little too much with his stride. He takes a few more steps before he staggers off to one side then repositions himself after the wobbly moment.
    In that moment, seeing Brent so defenesless, she feels like rushing to him and mumbling one thousand things all at the same time. And, being the type of guy he is, he’d only say thanks and move on.
    His brother, though? Liam’s never taken something for face value. There’s always a message. Always something to make out of anything.
    Not Brent.
    When Katie’s a few meters away, he beckons a finger to her.
    “Girlies, it’s been nice knowing you.”
    Brent stumbles and she thinks he’s close enough to tumble onto her. She flings her hands in front of her face.
    He tightens his lips to stifle a laugh. “How about yourself, Kates? Had a bit too much?”
    Her response is too quick. “No.”
    “Those bottles over there.” He points down, near where Dina is. A gathering of bottles topples over each other. “You’re it.”
    “I’m who?”
    “The Drink Stealer.”
    Katie releases her breath. “Oh, yeah. Guess that’s me.”
    “Remember my promise?” Brent asks.
    “The one . . .