Chapter 4
967 Words
Pacing myself, I only took 2 shots when I arrived. Getting our dancing on in the living room, I notice the girl exchanging looks with each other often and whispering too.
What are those two up to now? I ask myself.
After a while, I’ve had enough of their whispering.
“Ok! That enough now, spill! What’s going on with you two? What am I missing here?” I ask with a stern look, putting both my hands on each side of my hips. A true ‘mom’ pose.
"Nothing's going on. What are you talking about?" They both said in unison with such a squeaky voice, I'd have to be stupid not to see they were lying. And very poorly at that.
Giving them one more stern look, they both cave in.
“Fine!” They both whines.
“Don’t be mad at us.” Lanie says putting both of her hand up in surrender, “But Benji and I were talking with one of his friends that just moved back from out west and he’s single… And coming over here tonight to possibly meet you” Lanie tells me, cringing a little.
The shock and anger on my face must be very apparent from the look on theirs.
“You did what!?” Looking at them, I am furious! I walk away from them and go outside for some fresh air. I definitely need some after this piece of news.
“Tasha, please listen to what we have to say.” Sandy pleads, having followed me out.
“What on hearth made you think to plan this behind my back! Seriously, what the hell!?” I say, sitting down in frustration.
“Just meet him, you don’t have to have s*x with him tonight, dummy. He might just become a good friend to you, never know. Someday maybe more.” Sandy says, winking at that last part.
Gosh, they are lucky I love them, or I would have killed them for this stunt!
“I am not ready for anything serious… I know it has already been a year since Michael passed away, but I… I don’t know. With Kaylee and everything. I just don’t know.” I say, feeling the emotion of my grief crawling back into my heart and tightening it like a vise-grip.
“Look, we know you want to make sure Kaylee happy and all, but you're also allowed to be happy! You know that, right? We know how much you loved Michael, and how much you still do, but you are allowed to move on too. He would never want you to be alone.” Lanie says, hugging me from the side while Sandy gets on the other to do the same.
“I know…” I whisper out, letting a tear fall down.
Michael was an amazing man. He would never want me to stay miserable. But can I really meet someone already? Am I even ready for that?
“Ok, now wipe those tears, and let’s get back to dancing the night away!” Lanie says, pulling us both back in her empty living room she now calls her dance floor.
I love my friend. Even when they have terrible ideas sometimes, I wouldn’t trade them for all the money in the world! They have been there for me for years. We’re actually more than friends, we've become family, Sisters! We piss each other off, often. We even fight like siblings, but at the end of the day, we’d do anything to help one another.
“Let’s get another drink. I’m really thirsty after all this dancing! Tasha, time for you to make your famous cocktail!” Sandy says, smiling from ear to ear.
Getting into the kitchen, I get all my ingredients ready with the mixer. I pour the gin, 7up, grenadine, a tiny bit of orange juice, and shake it all up with some ice. Pouring it in the glasses Lanie took out, I add a few raspberries, and voila! Our favorite summer drink is ready.
“Hello, ladies, whatcha making? Ooh Tasha, is that your cocktail?” Benji asks, coming into the kitchen, kissing Lanie on the cheek.
“Yes sir, it is. Want one?” I ask, grabbing a glad and handing it to him.
“Sure, make that two. A friend of mine just texted and is almost here. I’m sure he’d like to try your drink.” He says with a coy smile.
“She already knows, Benji,” Lanie tells him, rolling her eyes.
“You girls already told her? What about surprising her? You can never keep a secret from each other for long, you know that!?” he says laughing.
Turning around and putting everything away, I don’t pay attention to everyone chatting away behind me.
“Hey Tasha, I want you to meet my friend.” I hear Benji say after a while.
Turning around with a big smile on my face to say Hi to his friend, I freeze when I see the person standing next to him.
“Mathieu?” I whisper out, shocked to see him here standing in front of me.
“Tasha? What are you doing here?” He asks, just as surprised to see me.
“What am I doing here? What are you doing here? Didn’t you move away?” I ask him, still choked from seeing him here.
“I had, but I just moved back a few weeks ago.” He says, still looking at me with a stunt expression.
“You two know each other?” Benji asks, looking confusingly at both of us in turns.
“Yeah, we do…” I say suddenly shy.
“How do you know each other?” Lanie asks, looking just as confused as Benji does.
“We… We actually when to school together. Well, I’m a year older, but yeah, we grew up together.” I tell her, feeling myself getting dizzy.
“WOW! Small world.” Is all Sandy says, for now…
“Well, since it’s a reunion, raise your glasses to friends reuniting!”
Looking from my friends to him, old feelings start resurfacing.
I can't handle this right now.
“We’re not friends,” I say grabbing my glass and leaving the room, feeling the tears coming up.
Why did it have to be him, of all people in this world, why?
- Writer
