Page 24 of Bleeding Hearts

“Watching the two of you move boxes all day is actually quite exhausting,” she responds. “Who knew?” She yawns, stretching her legs farther on top of me.

“Not me.” I chuckle at her. “So, you officially live alone. How’s it feel? What are you going to do with your first night in your apartment that’s now only yours?”

“It feels weird,” she mumbles, a solemn look on her face before she quickly masks it. “You make a good point, it is my first night here officially alone, and I have absolutely nothing to do. So, let’s go out and do something fun.” She pops up from the couch with a new burst of energy.

“I thought you just said you were exhausted?” I ask, raising my eyebrow at her.

“You’re right, but nothing a little caffeine won’t fix,” she says, smiling. “We’ll stop and get some on the way.”

“On the way to where?”

“Well, I don’t know. I haven’t gotten that far yet.” She frowns. “Ideas, give them to me, go.”

“I don’t know either.” I laugh at her. “We could grab some food and go to Carl’s, I guess,” I say, referring to the local bar we often frequent.

The owner is an older woman named June, who is one of the most badass people I’ve ever met. The whole place is kind of a hidden gem. Once you find it, you never want to leave.

“No, that’s boring. We do that all the time.” She sighs. “Come on, think bigger. We’ve got this.” She paces back and forth, her face pursed tight as she tries to come up with an idea. I stay quiet, just watching her.

“I’ve got it.” She abruptly stops, turning to face me. “Mini golf,” she says excitedly.

“Mini golf?” I question skeptically.

“Yes, mini golf.” She squeals. “My coworker told me about a new place that opened the other day that lights the whole course up in Christmas lights after it gets dark and there’s a fully stocked bar with snacks. We can go get food, then go there. Ple—"

“Okay, okay. Yes, we can go,” I cut her off, laughing at her enthusiasm over mini golf. “Just stop your rambling. You know I’m always down to do whatever you want.”

“And that is why you’re my very best friend.” A smile covers her face that is quickly replaced with a serious look. “Don’t repeat that to Lo, though. Or Theo. Or Gabby. You know what, just don’t repeat it to anyone, for that matter.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” I laugh at her. “Now you ready to go? I’m starving.”

“You’re always starving.” She rolls her eyes at me. “One second,” she says, walking over to the mirror next to the door and looking at her reflection.

She’s wearing an oversized nude hoodie that falls down to midthigh and black leggings paired with white Nike Air Force 1s. It’s been getting slightly warmer in Seattle the past week, but the winter chill still lingers.

I watch her undo the messy bun on top of her head, loose brown waves falling around her face. She runs her hands through the mess of hair a few times before turning back to me.

“Good enough, I’m ready.” She shrugs. She grabs her keys from where they’re sitting on the table next to the door and throws them at me. “I’m lazy. You’re driving.” She smiles before turning to walk out the door, knowing I’ll follow her. I always do.

“Anything for you, pudding pop.” I throw my arm casually over her shoulder as I quickly catch up to her.

“Oh my gosh, where the hell do you find these things? One day I’ll get you to stop with the horrendous nicknames.” She throws her head back, laughing wildly.

Little does she know that I’ll never stop as long as they make her laugh as they did just now.

I said it before, the things I’d fucking do for a Demi smile.

CHAPTERSEVEN

Demi

“Fucking fuck,” I shout as I watch the golf ball plop into the water. I ignore the dirty look from the mother with her two kids at the hole next to us, instead watching my golf ball float away from me tauntingly. “This sucks.” I turn to Asher, pouting.

“You were the one who wanted to go mini golfing.” He laughs while sinking his ball into the hole in one shot like he’s done for the past five holes.

“Yeah, well I didn’t know that I sucked at it. Or that I was playing with the fucking Tiger Woods of mini golf.” I huff.

“Wait, you’ve never played mini golf before?” he asks, scooping his ball out of the hole and giving me his full attention and I shake my head.

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