She leans back. I follow her again.
“Have you been watching me, Gaige?”
“It’s kind of hard to ignore your group of…friends. You’ve been rather loud this evening.”
Her attention turns to the crowd in question. Her eyes fall closed a bit, her forehead wrinkling as her face scrunches up like she is in pain. As soon as I open my mouth to ask if she’s okay, she whips her head back toward me, an easy smile on her lips.
“We’re celebrating a friend.”
“What’s this friend celebrating?”
“Life.” Her answer is sure, matter-of-fact. Her smile is fake, waning.
I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say anything at all.
“And you? What are you here doing?”
“Relaxing…or trying to.”
“Rough day?” she asks.
“No rougher than most. I work a couple jobs and this is my first night off in some time. I try to come out and have a beer when I get the chance.”
“Why so many jobs?”
“I like to work.”
“No one likes to work,” she responds.
“Is that what you think?”
“Sort of. I mean, I think people like their jobs, but I also think that if they had the chance to sit at home and not lift a finger all day, they would take it.” She lifts a shoulder. “I know I would.”
“Is that what you do when you’re not out partying with friends?”
She chuckles, and it’s cute. “I wouldn’t call this partying, but yes, that’s what I do. I have a love affair with my couch, Netflix, and microwave popcorn.”
I rock back in my chair a little. “Why does that sound like heaven?”
“Because it is.”
“I’ve never even used Netflix and I’m jealous.”
“Wait, really?”
I nod. “It’s kind of pointless to have it when I work so much. Plus, I’m not home often when I am off work.”
“You mustreallylike your jobs.”
“I get free pizza at one.”
“You had me at ‘free’ and ‘pizza’. Do you make the pizzas?”
“I deliver them. I work at Harold’s.”
“Shut. Up!” She gasps. “That’s myfavoritepizza place! Though I’d remember if you’d delivered my pizza before.”
I grin. “Yeah? Why’s that?”
