As she says it, her nose scrunches up so cutely. I want to take a picture to remember that expression. “Um, no, I don’t regret my tattoos. Sure, some of my designs are silly or just plain stupid, but that’s my life story on my skin. All the decisions that made me who I am today.”
“Something tells me that you’re a pretty chilled person.”
I shrug nonchalantly. “I try to be.”
“You must teach me your ways, as I need to chill out more.”
“Deal.”
Our eyes lock, and the air around us feels different. Before I can say anything else, Tanya gets up from her chair. “Do you want anything to drink? I’m feeling a bit thirsty—” She stops and giggles before asking, “Drinks?”
Is it just me, or is she flustered as well? It can’t be…
“If you could bring me more water, that would be great. Thanks.”
“I’ll see what I can find.”
With that, she leaves the room, and I’m left thinking if I’m imagining our connection or if she’s feeling it too. Because I really hope she does feel this pull I have toward her.
* * *
Tanya returns with two bottles of ice-cold water after five minutes. She hands me one, and I open it quickly, as my mouth feels like someone stuck cotton balls there. Taking a long sip, I love the feeling of the cool liquid going down my throat, some of it dripping down my beard. I let out a groan that I realize too late sounds very sexual.
“Thanks for the water,” I say, putting the lid back on. “It helped to get the most of a metallic flavor off my mouth.”
“No problem,” Tanya says, the corners of her lips quirking into a light smile. ”Back to your sisters. There’s two left, your little sisters, right?”
I put my hand up to shield the hospital lights from my eyes.Where are my sunglasses?“That’s correct. Next, we have Eleanora, aka Nora, who texted me earlier. We’re the closest in age, only fourteen months between us, so we grew up very close, too.”
“Sweet. I’m ten years older than my younger brother Will, so we aren’t as close as we could be. I’m more like an extra parent for him.”
“You have to tell me more about him at some point.” I nod thoughtfully as I make a mental note of her little brother’s name.
Tanya takes a drink from her own water bottle before agreeing. “I will. So what does Nora do?”
“She co-owns a vet clinic in Brooklyn with her now-husband and sometimes works nights. That’s why she’s up this time of the day—it’s her turn to do the graveyard shift.”
“She owns the clinic with her husband? I bet there’s a cute story behind that.”
“Yes, it would make a perfect rivals to lovers story if someone was to write it.” I can’t stop grinning, thinking about how Nora met my now brother-in-law. “They both worked at the same clinic, not liking each other, competing for customers and a better salary. Well, one thing led to another, and they’ve been married for ten years this fall and bought the said clinic together around five years ago.”
“I love it. Just like in romance books,” Tanya exclaims and continues before I have time to say anything else.She reads romance, too? It can’t be.“One more sister to go. Let me guess… Eloise works as a barista, trying to find her true passion, not knowing what she wants to do with her life.”
“I do like how you could just come up with something like that on a whim, but that doesn’t sound like my younger sister. Eve, short for Evelyn, is a Ph.D. student at the NYU Department of Sociology, and she’s the most ambitious out of us all.”
“I also take sociology classes! What’s her thesis topic?”
“Honestly, I still have no freaking idea what it is exactly, but it has something to do with urban sociology and cityscape. Apparently, New York is a perfect place to do the research,” I shrug. I should maybe know more, but it’s hard to keep up with everything my sisters do.
“That sounds about right. I’m studying sociology and criminology classes online while waitressing at a local restaurant.”
I want to know more about this woman who surprises me with everything she shares. “What do you want to do after studying?”
“I want to be happy. I guess the rest will follow.”
“But what are your career goals?”
Tanya plays with the hem of her dress that has seen better days, but still, she looks drop-dead gorgeous wearing it, the fabric showing off her curves. “I want to be a prison guard, but let’s see if that ever happens.”
