Page 4 of No One Like You

As they got back to the apartment, the smell of warm Thai food invaded Megan’s nostrils. She felt like she hadn’t eaten in a week.

“I don’t know what you like these days, so I got a mix of stuff. Pad Thai, chicken and broccoli, there’s some vegetarian fried rice, and uh… the drunken noodles. I figure that the fried rice or the chicken and broccoli would be good for Sophia because they aren’t spicy.”

“Thanks, Aunt Tasha! I like it spicy, but not as spicy as Mom. Daddy doesn’t like spicy food, though.”

Tasha leaned in and whispered, “See, that should have been a sign. As soon as he choked on that chili I made our senior year, you shoulda run, girl.”

“Yeah, yeah. You always told me that I was the only white girl that you’d invite to a family barbecue.”

“You still are.” Tahsa’s expression was strained as if there were more that she wasn’t sharing.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“It’s okay. Long story. Let’s focus on getting you and your girl fed right now. Then you can sleep, or talk or whatever. I know that you’ve had a long day.”

“Sounds good! I hope that you like the Pad Thai because that drunken noodle is all mine.”

“Oh no, we are splitting that! And don’t give me those puppy dog eyes! Sophia, you know that your mom doesn’t play fair, right?”

“Can I try that drunken noodle?”

“Oh, sweetie, of course,” Megan and Tasha said at once.

“Jinx!” they both said, and for a brief moment they laughed, and it was like no time had passed at all.

The meal was amazing, although the only thing Megan really remembered about it was that it tasted good. Once Sophia was in bed, Megan and Tasha sat down on the couch and started talking. As exhausted as Megan was, it felt so good to reconnect with Tasha. Their conversation rambled from life to politics to food to movies and beyond. It was just like those long nights in college, talking across a dark room from their beds, just without the sounds of drunken vomiting outside. Eventually though, Megan must have drifted off. She vaguely sensed being guided to bed before oblivion overtook her.

CHAPTER 4

THE BEST

Megan surfaced from slumber and had a nearly immediate panic attack. Even with her eyes still closed, she could tell that this wasn’t her bed, there was someone else in it, and she had an incredibly intense cramp in her legs. Then, yesterday’s events came crashing down on her. Catching Brad with another woman, the fight, taking Sophia, the drive to Portland, and then seeing Tasha for the first time in years. Tasha! Oh no! Okay. Relax, breathe. Megan opened her eyes, which seemed like much more of a struggle than normal, especially for a Saturday. The red hair peeking from under the blankets identified Sophia as her bedmate.

That didn’t explain the dead weight behind her knees, though. Gingerly lifting herself, she spotted a little black mound tucked in the crook of her legs. From that mound, a tiny head lifted up, opened its eyes, and squeaked in protest at her movement. The mound unfolded itself into a cat, who proceeded to then stretch in the infuriatingly luxurious manner of their kind.

Megan knew that despite a decade or so of yoga, she would never achieve the exquisite bliss that this cat’s stretches promised. This must be Nocturne.

Nocturne, after being rudely awakened, stalked off in a huff through the door. Megan followed, although not as quickly, as her legs took a bit more coaxing as blood rushed back in. She wasn’t sure how long she had been sleeping like that, but it hurt. Megan followed Nocturne into the bathroom, and they looked awkwardly at each other as they took care of some necessary business. From there, she stumbled out into the rest of the apartment, which was currently unoccupied. There was a blanket on the couch, but otherwise no sign of Tasha.

Fortunately for Megan’s mental state, the door opened a few minutes later, and in walked Tasha, holding a beverage tray.

“Good morning,” Tasha said with way too much cheer for this soon after waking. “I thought that you might like coffee!”

“Oh, you are the best!”

“I know.” She grinned. “It’s been a minute since college, but I think that I remembered your coffee order.”

“Did I say the best? I meant to say that you are a goddess.”

“I know! But thanks for reminding me. Now mention that to Nocturne, because she thinks that she’s the only goddess in residence. Oh, and I got a cinnamon hot chocolate for Sophia.”

“Thank you so much. That’s very kind of you! Did you sleep on the couch last night?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! We came in and stole your bed. You should have told me. I’m so sorry!”

“Megan, it’s okay. I fall asleep on the couch half the time anyway. Nocturne likes to climb up on me, and then I don’t want to disturb her, so we just sleep on the couch.”

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