Love a Thousand Miles Away

Chapter 3 - Fridays Are For Margaritas

I go through the closing checklist as I get ready to close the shop. The rain subsided in the past couple hours to a light drizzle, and I'm looking forward to a dry walk back home. My phone pings with an alert and I look down to see the weather app alerting me to heavy rain showers starting in a few hours. I finish locking today's cash away and head over to the door with Penny and my purse.

"Are you ready for a speed walk home, Penny?" I ask rhetorically. Just then, I get a call and see it's from my best friend, Mila. I pick up and hear her greeting "Hi, stranger. Long time no talk." She's right. It has been a few weeks of super busy days.

"Hi, Mila, how have you been", I answer.

"Better now that I'm talking to you. You have any plans tonight?"

"Nope, just closing up the cafe and heading home." I place the phone to my ear and hold it with my shoulder as I respond. I step out and work on locking the cafe door.

"Good, just what I want to hear," she lets out in an excited squeal. We're having margaritas tonight. Josh's brother is in town, and they're having a couple friends over for a boys night. So I'm escaping before they ask me to cook or something."

I chuckle at her enthusiasm and accept that I now have plans tonight. "Okay, then, let's do it. Didn't the Mexican restaurant down the street just open up?"

"Yes, exactly what I was thinking. I checked out their menu online and they have 32oz margaritas," she exclaims excited at the thought.

Only half joking, I respond, "Okay, wow. I'm definitely sold! When can we start drinking?"

"Head over right now and we can walk over ASAP. They're dog friendly so bring Penny!"

"Alright I'll be there in 15." I hang up and grin like a Cheshire Cat the rest of the way home. I was fully set on immediately changing into my warmest pajamas to rewatch an old show that I probably already watched a few times. And as a cherry on top, I was set of devouring a pint of Ben & Jerry's for dinner. Only Mila can get me to change my plan to stay home and go out instead.

Walking in my apartment, I go straight to the closet and pick out my outfit. A cream colored turtleneck sweater and black skinny jeans. I adjust a light brown baseball cap over my dirty blonde hair and decide to leave my damp curls down. It's grown out long enough to where it dangles just above my hips. I look myself over in the mirror and adjust my glasses that have slid down my nose. My glasses are big and square and take up most of the top half of my face. I like the nerdy look they give me. I look like I'm ready to lose my nose in a book all day. I chuckle at that, knowing that I am exactly that: a bookworm. However, as much as I would love to sit and read all evening, I'm really looking forward to that margarita. I finish getting ready in record time. Satisfied with my outfit, I slip on my black combat boots, grab Penny's leash, and walk out the door.

I get to Mila's house in 10 minutes and send her a text to let her know I'm here. I notice a few cars in the driveway. The boys night must have already started. A moment later, Mila jogs down the driveway in a matching lavender-colored sweats and hoodie combo.

"That color looks really good with your dark hair," I compliment and give her a quick hug.

"Thanks, I just got this today. And thanks for saving me tonight. Josh was already asking for my lasagna. I swear, being a fantastic cook is a blessing and a curse." She sighs dramatically as she leans down to greet Penny."

I chuckle at her antics. Linking my arm with hers, we start walking down the street. Copying her dramatic sigh, I joke, "What a burden it is to be born which such raw talent. Now you'll never know who is truly your friend and who just wants you for your food"