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CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
Hayden
“I’m lovingthat you’re close so we can do things like this.” I glance at Hailey in the mirror of our small, shared bathroom. It’s reminiscent of our high school days, us jockeying over the sink, both trying to get ready to go out at the same time.
Now though? I appreciate the close quarters and being able to spend this time with her. With age, I’ve come to appreciate the closeness we had and what we continue to grow.
“Definitely.” She nods, placing another curl in her hair. “Now that I can work from home a few days a month, you can expect me to be here as much as possible. Or anytime you want to go out, we can make it happen for the most part.”
Her offering warms a place in my chest. It’s been cold for longer than I care to admit. Continuing to frost over from the abandonment issues of our mom leaving us and never coming back. I used to stay up at night, wondering when she would walk through the front door again.
“We’re gonna Uber, right?” Hailey knocks me out of my memories with her question.
I put my finger to my chest. “I’m not driving. I don’t know about you, but I want to celebrate Cinco De Mayo.”
She nods vigorously. “Same, let’s ride share.”
Grabbing my phone, I start to search for a ride on my app. Surprisingly, there are quite a few options, even this far from a larger town.
“So, who all’s meeting us?” Hailey swipes a layer of gloss on her lips.
“A few girls from high school and a sister of one of the guys at the fire station. Should be a good time.”
“Anytime we can get together and have margaritas, chips and queso is gonna be good.”
“You’re right there. I’m ready. If you’re ready, our Uber should be here in a few minutes.”
We head outside to wait on the porch. The night is slightly warm and the sky bright. “I miss this,” Hailey sighs. “In Nashville you can’t see the stars. There’s too much light clogging up the skyline.”
“Kind of how I felt in Wisconsin. It was the Midwest of course, but there was still too much of everything.”
“I get what you’re saying,” she nods. “As much as I love being able to order food whenever I want, not having to make a special trip to get an expensive purse, and the like. I’m still giving up a portion of what makes me happy to live there. Isn’t that weird?”
“There’s a lot of stupid things we do for happiness.”
From your lips.
“This is our ride.” I point to the SUV pulling up to the curb.
We hop off the porch and head over to where the driver is parked. I verify this is ours and, once I do, we get in the back.
“Where are you ladies going tonight?” He asks, glancing back at us in the rearview.
“We’re going to have margaritas and tacos,” we say together.
“Celebrating the Independence, huh?”
“Actually.” I lift my finger up. “It’s not the Independence. It’s the celebration of the defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla. Still important, but not what everyone thinks it is.”
“Leave it to my sister to give a history lesson on the way to have margaritas and tacos.” Hailey’s voice is bored and deadpan.
“No,” the driver argues. “It’s good to know.”
“See.” I elbow her. “It’s good to know.”
“So the both of you say.”
We all make small talk as we drive to the restaurant. When we pull up, he looks back at us. “Have a good time, you two.”
