Page 12 of Origins of Eternity

“Oh, my God,” Arwen said again. “What is happening? Is she into me?”

“I don’t know,” Zara replied, even though shedidknow.

“Here you go,” Iro said as she held out a corked bottle of red wine that had ‘Domaine Leroy Richebourg Grand Cru 1949’ on it.

“This is from 1949?” she asked.

“Yes. They didn’t have anything from the 20s, or I would have chosen that for you,” Iro said. “It’s yours. As I said, I’m not a big wine drinker, but I hope you enjoy it.” She sat back down next to Arwen. “You haven’t touched your drink.”

“What is it?” Arwen asked.

“Bourbon. I thought you recognized what I was drinking when I asked if you wanted one.”

“Oh, I just nodded because you nodded.”

When Iro smiled at Arwen adoringly, Zara took a long gulp of that wine this time before setting the bottle down on the table next to herself.

“It’s a very good bourbon. Do you not drink bourbon?”

“Not really, no. I was going to get a mixed drink, like a Malibu and pineapple or something. I’m not a big drinker.”

“That’s sugary and sweet; masks the taste of alcohol.”

“I don’t reallylikethe taste of alcohol.”

“Try this. I think you’ll enjoy it. It’s smooth.” Iro held up her own glass. “We can try it together.”

Arwen picked up her glass and sniffed it, making Zara smile. Then, she took a hesitant sip when Iro did, and she promptly coughed.

“What… do you… mean by… smooth?” she asked as she continued to cough.

Zara went to get up to get Arwen a glass of water, but Iro was faster. Before Zara could even stand, it seemed, she was back with a glass for her.

“I’m sorry. I suppose I’m more used to it. I forget how it can be to drink it for the first time.”

“Is this really the good stuff?” Arwen asked after taking a drink of water.

“Yes, it is. It’s Blanton’s Silver Edition Bourbon; my favorite kind. If you take another sip, you can probably taste the vanilla and cinnamon, or maybe you’ll get a little citrus, like mandarin.”

“I don’t think I can take another drink of that. I’m sorry. Is it expensive?”

“I can drink it,” Iro replied before she finished the last sip in her own glass and pulled Arwen’s over to her. “What can I get you instead?”

“I’m okay. I can just drink this water,” Arwen answered.

“Nonsense. Do you want that sugar drink you were going to get?”

Iro waved her hand in the air, and the bartender nodded immediately.

“Not if you’re going to make fun of me for it.”

“I won’t,” Iro said as the bartender approached. “Can we get a Malibu with pineapple juice in it?”

Arwen laughed and said, “It’s just Malibu and pineapple.”

“Right. Sorry,” Iro said.

The bartender walked off with his marching orders, and Zara pulled up the browser app on her phone to first search for the bourbon while she still remembered the name of it. Whenshe noticed that it was listed as one of the most expensive bourbons in the world, selling for over five thousand dollars a bottle, her eyes went wide, thinking she’d typed the wrong name. Deciding to check on her wine next, she typed the name on the label in front of her, and her eyes went even wider.