Page 18 of That First Night
“And I think you would be amazing with him.”
“You don’t know anything about me, Thomas,” she cuts back.
“I would like to know more, Sunshine.”
I’m baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies when Kali and Avery get home from work. I wanted to be finished with this batch and hide the evidence that I have been baking since before they got home, but I was unsuccessful in my attempt. I blast some music and immerse myself in the baking process of cookies from scratch. Unfortunately, the girls know.
“Oh fuck, here we go.” I hear Avery mutter as she walks into the small apartment. I’m assuming she smells the freshly baked goods through the apartment.
“Don’t even start, Avery,” I cut her off, my voice louder than I intended it to be. “I have a pounding headache and had the afternoon from hell. I can’t even get my brain to work properly right now.”
Taking a seat on the barstool at the counter, Kali notices I have opened the tequila and sliced up some limes. Something I don’t reach for too often anymore. It’s only for emergencies. Today was an emergency that called for baking, tequila, and throwing myself on the couch to watch reruns ofFriends.
“Dear lord, she’s got the tequila out, Avery!” Kali screams over her shoulder before Avery struts into the kitchen.
“Fuck,” Avery groans taking a seat next to Kali.
“It’s taco Tuesday, Pey,” Kali says. “Put the oven mitts down and get dressed. We’re going for tacos and drinks at Old Jose. Right fucking now.”
Fuck, is it Tuesday?I forgot that before I moved here, we decided that Tuesdays would be our day for getting together at Old Jose for tacos and drinks. It’s one of the few places in the city that makes the best buffalo cauliflower tacos. They have a whole vegan section and ever since we found the hole in the wall restaurant, we decided it will be our spot every Tuesday.
Tonight though, I am not in the mood.
“You’re going to shut this cookie operation down right now, Pey. And when we get to the restaurant, you’re going to spill about whatever the fuck happened that caused this mess here and how your interview went,” Avery says, swinging her purse over her shoulder.
I let out an audible groan and before I know it, they are dragging me out the door.
The restaurant is busy tonight, but we’re seated quickly in a corner booth in the back, close to the bar. It’s like they knew we were going to need more than one round tonight. I order my usual mango margarita. Because tequila; enough said. And then order my buffalo cauliflower tacos.
The girls waste no time getting to the point of dragging me here.
“Spill,” Avery says.
I let out a deep breath. “Do you guys remember the charity gala that Kali dragged me to 5 years ago here in the city?”
“Yes,” Kali cuts in, laughing. “The night you had the most epic orgasm of your life.”
“I’m not laughing, this is serious, you guys.”
“Okay, okay, don’t get your panties in a twist,” Avery says, still fucking laughing. “What about that night?”
“He is the little boy's dad,” I let out with a long-drawn-out sigh.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP,” Avery screams.
“Would you keep it down?” I shush her, glancing around to make sure she hasn’t drawn attention to us. “This is serious!I need this job like I need air to breathe.”
I don’t think they really understand the magnitude of me needing this job. Selling my parents’ house and all the belongings that went with it gave me just enough cushion to get started here in the city. And of course, the first job offer I get happens to be with the one guy I thought I would never see again in my life.
“Pey, I don’t understand why you’re freaking out so much,” Avery says. “This job is perfect for you. You are amazing with kids. And honestly, it’s not like he’s going to be around if you’re there to watch his kid. You leave when he gets there. Minimal interaction.”
“Well, about that,” I whisper, looking down at my drink and immediately taking a sip of my margarita. “He wants me to move into his apartment.”
“Woah, woah, daddy wants you to MOVE IN??” Kali lifts a brow at me. “This sounds…. messy.”
“I am the messiest person in the world,” Avery cuts in. “But this might top anything I’ve done.”
“He said I would have my own space in the apartment. He would be out of my hair. Oh, and I get weekends off.”
