Page 2 of Heartbeats and Hashtags
“I like hanging with you,” she adds quietly.
I make my way over to her, patting her shoulder affectionately.
“I like hanging with you too.” Her eyes lighten, and she smiles up at me.
“But you already go above and beyond for me,” I reassure her. Her reference is still intact. “Besides, we’re getting takeout. Now, shoo! Go and enjoy your youth while you still have it!”
I’m teasing mostly. Being only seven years older than her, I am still considered young, though sometimes I feel like I am aging rapidly.
Kirra smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. She laughs a little too loudly at my playful ushering out. I make a mental note to check if everything is OK tomorrow after this strange mood.
With a last goodbye down the drive, Kirra leaves. I feel a nagging sense that I’ve hurt or offended her somehow. I consider calling her back, but the moment passes. She was just being dedicated to her role and securing her future, I reason.
I'm finishingup my editing of the yoga video when Daisy and Tanya let themselves in, arms loaded with wine and takeout bags. “Girl's night!” Daisy crows, planting a smacking kiss on my cheek. I giggle and shut my laptop.
We gobble down pad Thai and dumplings while chatting about Tanya’s crazy workload and Daisy's new tattoo idea. When the food is gone, Tanya gives me a sly smile.
“So, are we watchingThe Notebookagain tonight?”
I laugh and queue it up on the TV for the hundredth time, settling into the couch with my best friends. We can recite the lines by heart at this point, but it never gets old.
Halfway through the movie, I pause it for a bathroom break. Daisy is curled up with tissues already, while Tanya is uncorking a second bottle of rosé. I just love these two girls so much. I wouldn't trade nights like this for anything.
We finish the movie with wet faces and a nearly empty third bottle of wine. Daisy insists on rewatching the epic rain kiss scene twice. Tanya rolls her eyes but rewinds as usual. As the end credits roll, Tanya yawns and rests her head on my shoulder.
“Love you guys,” I murmur sleepily.
Their answering mumbles warm my heart.
I sink back into the plush pink cushions of my U-shaped couch, gazing around my cozy living room. Twinkling string lights lining the walls give off a warm glow to match the rosy sunset outside my window.
Tanya makes herself at home, tucking her jean-clad legs up underneath her as she reaches for a cookie from the pile on the marble coffee table. We take snacks very seriously. A cookie tower is basically mandatory if we’re all meeting up.
Meanwhile, Daisy neatly smooths her flowing skirt before perching on the edge of the cushion, ever the picture of poise even in relaxation mode.
“So,” Tanya starts, nibbling her cookie, “any new dating app prospects for our resident single lady?” She waggles her brows at me playfully.
I roll my eyes with a dramatic sigh.
“For one, you’re also single, Tanya.” I tilt my head at her. “God, dating apps, ugh, don't remind me. I'm swearing off those apps after the model disaster date.”
I grab the nearest cushion and cover my face.
Daisy pats my leg sympathetically.
“Aw, sorry that one was so awful, hun. But you can't let one bad apple ruin the whole bunch!”
“Exactly!” Tanya chimes in with sarcastic enthusiasm matching Daisy’s genuine positivity. “You could find an old man pretending to be a younger guy or something! Or maybe you’ll find another guy wanting to be insta-famous.”
Tanya giggles, finding the whole disaster that is my dating life hilarious. I groan but then giggle with her.
“Thanks for the encouragement, Tanya,” I drawl sarcastically, “but I’m good. I’ve got you guys. I don’t want to even consider dating anyone for another five to ten years.”
“I’m only joking. You just have to get back out there and find the right guy who will worship the ground you walk on, like Mark does for our Daisy,” Tanya replies.
Daisy ducks her head, blushing. Those two have only been dating for a year but are practically married. Meanwhile, I'm striking out left and right, and Tanya is… Well, Tanya has a unique relationship with men, quite a few men.
“I don't know...” I hedge. “Can’t I just adopt twenty cats, maybe twenty vibrators too, and call it a day?”
