Free All In by Simona Ahrnstedt Page B

hour, it was still light outside, and an almost tropical heat lingered over the city.
    â€œWe can’t go home now,” Natalia said, still filled with the music. “How about one last drink?”
    Ã…sa waved a hand and nodded. “Alright, but somewhere without tourists,” she said. “What are all these people doing here?”
    Natalia laughed and took a few dancing steps across the cobblestones in her high-heeled golden sandals.
    As a child she had danced ballet—long, hard workouts. She had loved the old-fashioned discipline, the pale-pink shoes and simple outfits, but since she wasn’t one of the very best in her group, her mother decided it was a waste of time to continue. The next day she began at a school for ballroom dancing instead.
    Natalia furrowed her brow. All these choices that had been made for her, which shaped her. If it had been up to her mother, she would never have entered the financial world. “Wasted on a woman.” But Natalia had put her foot down on that one.
    She wove around an embracing couple. “What did you think?” she asked. “Aren’t you glad you came?”
    Ã…sa had grumbled and complained. No normal people stayed in Stockholm at this time of year. And Café Opera wasn’t that hip. But she’d still canceled an all-weekend party and come along.
    â€œIt was nice,” Åsa admitted, but then swore as one of her sky-high heels stuck between two cobblestones. She’d had more to drink than Natalia and was a little wobbly. A curl of blond hair was dangling in front of one eye, and the thin shawl she wore over her shoulders shimmered under the streetlights. She looked like a movie star.
    Natalia couldn’t stop smiling. The June night was warm and magical. The streets were filled with people, and she felt young and strong, as if the last few years of worry and grief had randomly decided to go off and burden someone else.
    â€œI haven’t had such a nice time in ages,” she said.
    â€œNot since Jonas,” Åsa said, surprising Natalia with her astuteness, because they never talked about the past. Åsa was allergic to pity parties and sadness, so just a few weeks after Natalia’s breakup with Jonas, she was already sending clear signals that it was time for Natalia to move on.
    Ã…sa’s inclination was always to move on and never look back, but Natalia had taken the breakup hard. And Åsa’s limited sympathy had hurt her more than she dared admit. But maybe the tide was finally starting to turn.
    â€œLet’s go in here,” said Natalia. She pointed at a subdued and very, very expensive bar and its long line and encouraged Åsa: “Get up there and get us in.”
    Ã…sa, who personally knew everyone who was anyone in Stockholm nightlife, caught the bouncer’s attention. He nodded in recognition, asked the line to step aside, and then they were in.
    â€œYou’re my idol,” Natalia chuckled.
    â€œI’m everyone’s idol,” Åsa said, clearing the way over to the bar for them. She ordered for them both. “Two vodka tonics, please.”
    The club was crowded and warm, and the din forced them to stand over by the bar so they could talk.
    â€œI don’t know a single person in here,” Åsa said.
    â€œIs that good or bad?” Natalia sipped her drink. It was strong and cold, and she was thirsty. She looked around. Well-dressed men and skinny women with long hair laughed, toasted, and flirted.
    Lord, when did everyone get to be so young? She tried to remember the last time she’d been out to drink for any reason other than work, but couldn’t.
    â€œYou know as well as I do that all the civilized people have already started packing for their vacations in SkÃ¥ne.”
    â€œI know,” Natalia groaned. The Swedish summer schedule followed a rigidly prescribed pattern. The Royal Swedish Yacht Club’s Gotland regatta was this