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Better luck next year, getting the wine bar, Marla!

What a sweet way to wrap this story up. I really love that Marla was able to recognize the back of Jim from the painting, and that Pam is so happy. Pam going to the show, and seeking out Marla - that definitely seems in character and I like that she's able to network a few contacts for New York as well.

Viewer interpretation, indeed.

I loved this so much, NLM! It's such a unique take on a frequently done moment in the show and it's just perfect. Thank you for sharing it with us!

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Would it be weird to copy and paste this entire story word for word and say I loved all of it? Because that's kind of what I want to do.

"The hardest part of this year was losing you." There's that knife to my heart this story was missing.

You know how I feel about Karen. The fact that SHE is the one here who points out to Jim that Pam is spending all of her time staring at him and basically propelling Jim into Pam's arms? It's too delicious for words. Hashtag Amazing.

And Jim setting the pattern of catching Pam staring at him and repeating it all morning and Dwight naturally thinking it's all a prank against him? That is something straight out of the show and it just makes me laugh.

Jim clearing the air and letting her know he's not seeing anyone before they leave for lunch? I'm glad he didn't drag that out. I'm also glad Pam dragged him into her too-small car and then they made out. This is the content we're here for.

"Jim's trying to poison me again!" JENNA. omg, I can hear this and I'm cackling.

And this ending! Karen realizing what she did and then the non-sting of her calling them friends... I'm here for all of this.

(I'm also here for the potential spin off of Matchmaker Karen and Ryan. Just saying, I wouldn't hate that.)

That last sentence though, that's one of the best closing sentences of a story I've seen in a long time! Let's be honest, we'd all admire Jim's big car if given the chance, right? Right.

I loved this!

Author's Response:

Coley, I swear parts of your review are better than the story itself... What’s a fic without a knife to the heart between friends? 

I think if anyone’s equipped to write a fic about Karen and Ryan it’s you. I call not it...

Thank you for your lovely review!  

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"Cocktails with a twist." I see what you did there.

Here's the thing, Jenna. I've already told you how well you write Jim and Pam. You write them SO well. But right now, I just need to stop and give you the appreciation necessary for your Dwight and Michael because they are always, always perfect. And this is no exception. "The store poisoned David Wallace" and "give me back my shirt" These are priceless lines and deserving of a shout out.

You also really write Karen well. It can be hard, when you don't like her, to write her fairly, but you always manage to hit the right notes with her. I love that we're kicking this story off with her already a bit wary of Scranton and Pam, and everything that goes along with it.

Listen, you already know I love the whole bulk of this chapter - Pam's confession and Jim overhearing it and Roy's reaction - of course I do. So I'm just going to keep praising you for your use of the secondary characters because you write them all incredibly well.

Kevin is the MVP of this chapter. Who woulda thought? And then the bartender's comment about letting him know if this was going to be a weekly event? I love Oscar being protective of Pam, too.

"Jim shot Pam a pleading final look that he hoped communicated everything left unsaid, especially that they weren’t done with this conversation. She gave him her best nervous smile in response, her lips twisting in much the same way they had when she’d whispered me too on the casino night and for a split second he’d thought maybe everything he was hoping for would eventuate." Well GD, Jenna. I can't wait to see how this conversation goes!

Looking forward to the next chapter!

Author's Response:

Coley, I discovered your little review influx during my lunch break today and saying that it made my day would be an understatement... Thank you for being the bright spot in a rather dull work day. 

Dwight and Michael are SO fun to write. I’m glad my attempts at them seem to work. I hope you love how they (& potato salad - the real hero of this story) factor into the next chapter.

I completely agree about Karen. It’s hard to strike that balance and not make her into a bit of a horrible caricature... She’s a polarizing character - there’s not much middle ground in opinions...

Oh god, I hope the conversation lives up to expectations. I keep going back and changing it, but hopefully I’ll have it up sooner rather than later... 

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I just don't even know where to begin with this one! It's so good. Like, so very good.

Each and every voicemail is a GD treat, and each one is better than the last one. I love that Pam starts out with familiar territory, coming up with the chair prank.

So I know that reading one of your stories, I'm going to be attacked somehow by some string of words you've put together but I honestly never thought you'd get me with an Avril Lavigne song. Especially THAT Avril Lavigne song, but hey, here we are and it's one of my top 3 favorite moments of this chapter. Who knew?

“He was good enough for her, though. You, I mean. You’re the skater boy here. I’m making a metaphor. Like in fifth grade reading class.” Ugh, it's just so good and sad and I'm fine here.

"Hey suck face." I've said this to no less than 4 people since I first read it, and I'm going to keep saying it.

My favorite part of Pam's voicemails is the rollercoaster of emotions - she goes from silly to angry and then to so heartbreakingly fragile with the whole "life is so boring now" and "maybe everyone at the office hates me" messages.

And then when he answers the phone and she doesn't know? I really love that she's oblivious to it and just keeps going.

I haven't even talked about Jim yet. And man, do I love Jim and his whole "Mind Pam" moment here. I just love how he knows exactly how he would comfort her if he was there and that he's doing his best to do that from 200 miles away.

As always, your banter is *chef's kiss* - Hungover Jim and Drunk Pam are one of my new favorite pairings and they work so well off of each other here.

This exchange right here?
“Yeah, probably,” he chuckled. “But probably not tonight, though.”
“Aww. Well that’s dumb.”
“It kind of is,” he agreed lightheartedly.
“Then what about, maybe we could fix it tomorrow?” -- This might be my favorite moment of the whole chapter and I don't have any reason for that except I can HEAR it in their voices perfectly.

Real Jim is going to call Real Pam! I can't wait to see how this goes. I really, really can't.

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Welcome to MTT! I’m very glad you found us :)

I am so intrigued by this story already. First things first, your Michael cracks me up. “So spray me in cooking fat and roll me in sprinkles” made me laugh so hard. You’re already doing a wonderful job with the supporting characters.

Your Jim though. He’s great. The whole testing to see if Katy giggled at everything is priceless. And his ever-present concern and interest for Pam is spot on.

But they’re going to Ohio! And Pam doesn’t want to marry Roy! These little divergences from the original Booze Cruise have me so interested in what happens next... I can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with.

Author's Response: Thank you so much for your reply! You're very kind. I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far - I do hope you  like what it is I've come up with.

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Hey, remember when we asked you to write the bodysuit story and you did it? I knew you could do it.

No surprises here, I love everything about this. I love that Pam’s pouting like a three year old and that she’s day drinking because she’s a grown ass woman making her own decisions.

So, one of my favorite things about your writing is how you string these little phrases together – like “he’s on speed dial” and “I’m on drunk dial”. That’s SUCH a good line.

I’m always a fan of your drunk Pam and this is no different. “Goddamnit Karen Filippeli” made me laugh out loud. Also loved that Jim just kicks the step ladder out of the way to hang the painting. I’m a details girl, these kinds of details delight me.

“Huh. Right. Bodysuit. It has snaps.” AG YOU DID THIS. I KNEW YOU COULD DO THIS AND YOU DID IT.

And it’s everything I wanted it to be. I still can’t believe Jim was able to walk away from that.

Goddamnit, Karen.

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oof. I don’t know how you did it, and if it was intentional or not, but you somehow managed to make Jim unlikable In this chapter. I don’t know, but both situations felt out of character to me - like, I just don’t see Jim being so possessive of his ice cream or being so confrontational with the woman at the store. I feel like Jim would make a joke out of that situation, not set himself up for a possible MeToo moment. YMMV

But seriously. That ice cream wasn’t even gone got 24 hours. He needs to lighten up and let Pam enjoy her late night snacks.

Hopefully Jim’s in a better mood next chapter!

Author's Response: I was trying to go for light and teasing with Jim talking to Pam about the ice cream. I'm sorry it didn't land quite like that with you. I assure you, Jim's not mad at Pam. As far as the woman in the store, I see you point, however I do see Jim as being protective. See him guarding Cece and Philip during family picture day.

Thank you though for the critique and the feedback.

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"His lips aren’t as gentle as yours. They’re rough and demanding in a way that’s scary and strange, even after knowing him like that for years and knowing you like that for minutes that stretched for far longer." -- Congratulations. This is the most heartbreaking line written in all of 2019. I hope you're happy.

I really like the choice not to use names; and how painfully aware they each are that these substitutes aren't working for them anymore.

Ugh, this one hurt in the best of ways. It's so good.

Author's Response: Thank you so much where's my Dundie

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I don’t think a single one of us can fault Pam here, and if someone does... I’m pretty sure they’re lying.

This is seriously so good. It can be hard to keep the balance between angst and lust, without either being completely unrealistic, but you managed to do it so well. Poor Pam is just stuck in a tough spot, and you took us through so many emotions in just a few paragraphs.

Some highlights for me: how something so perfectly benign as Jim’s reaching over her for a cookie is enough to spur her on. (“Fabric softener and sunshine and missed opportunities” should be a candle scent.) Her engagement ring branding her. The fact that she knows she’s going to do it again.

But that second to last paragraph? Oh yeah. He knows.

And bonus points for using a Taylor Swift song for the title. I’m honestly that easy to please sometimes. But now that we know you can write like this... I’m probably going to need more of it.

Thank you for sharing this!

Author's Response: Thanks Coley! I really appreciate you taking the time to review, especially after you’ve already read the thing. 

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We agreed that it's cool to review the chapters we didn't write, right? Cool. Because this deserves a review.

I knew it was coming, but Jim explaining what the turtledoves actually looked like had me giggling like crazy. The whole thing is such a perfect setup for kitchen shenanigans and unlike Jim's second rate decorating supplies, you didn't disappoint. At all.

"Jim cranked his fist near his crotch twice before letting his fingers wiggle, mimicking the words that had Pam bent over at the waist" I would pay actual money to see JKras do this particular gesture and I don't care what that says about me. Thank you for that amazing image.

I mean, this entire scene is goddamn sexy start to finish but it's the little details that you throw in like this, "he glanced up and saw that her forehead was resting on her folded arms as she thrusted back into him" that really solidify you as my favorite smut writer.

Well, that, and then her stumbling when she gets out of his lap after... seriously. *chef's kiss*

This was so much fun to read!

See. I love that this entire thing starts out with a slightly needy Jim whining to Pam that he misses her and then it turns into Pam being even needier. Like, tripping over the dog at the end of the stairs and going into the basement kind of needy. I love that.

"“Oh. It’s unsexy, Jim? Is it unsexy that I’m trying to hide in my parents’ basement so I can let you get me off over the phone?” Her whispered tone was harsh, and Jim couldn’t decide if he should be turned on or scared or both. “What would you like me to do while I unbury the couch to make this more sexy for you? Should I tell you what I’ve been thinking about all day? Would that help make it less unsexy for you?”" This is the paragraph that had me choking on my hot cocoa and my MOM asking me if I was okay. And I wasn't. Because I can hear this paragraph and it just.. it's so good. Because Jim is all, "yeah, yeah that would help" and I just... you know these two so well and I love the worlds you paint for them.

"Wait. We're fucking stupid." This made me LOL for real and I'm really proud of Pam for not just throwing her phone in frustration at the interruption.

And then you somehow manage to flip the switch right at the end there from sexy to sweet and I'm going to run out of ways to tell you how much I love the way your mind works but just know how much I appreciate everything you write and share with us!

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Daaaaang. I’m hooked already. This is such a great first chapter; I was tense reading the whole thing and I’m worried and concerned about everyone mentioned... I especially don’t trust those 2 at the end there!

I’m looking forward to the next chapter!

Author's Response: Thank you so much! Yeah, they are both trouble. Thanks for reading. ;)