Claudia was more staring at the sparse trees than practicing with them today. She hadn't drank much because she was too aware of rifts and governments lurking to want to let her guard down. She was still tired, though, from being out late. The fresh air was keeping her from becoming zombified.
She smiled at John's approach and question. "Yeah, I did. Friends and eye-candy all in the same place. A woman needs a good ogle once in a while," she said. "How about you, birthday boy? Did you have as much fun as Nick apparently did on his errand, judging by the dopey smile on his face when they returned?"