be happy for her. I will be excited, even though it feels like all my friends are growing up faster than I am. They’re moving on with their kids, husbands, and fiancés and here I am, scraping together my pennies for the fifty cent drafts at Stella’s. My life has seriously gone off the rails.
With that thought, I think I’ll take off early today. I close all the windows that are open on my computer and shut it down. I shut off the lamp on my desk, grab my phone, keys, and bag and start for the door. I lock my office behind me and then make my way through the shelter. The sound of barking fills my ears as I make my way down the hallway and into the front lobby. Jenna is standing behind the desk, her attention on the computer screen. When she hears my footsteps, she looks up. “Taking off early today?”
“Yep, I’ve just had all the fun I can handle,” I tell her, leaning against the counter with my keys and phone in each hand.
“Any plans? Got a hot date or anything for the weekend?”
I roll my eyes. “No hot date, not yet anyway. My friend just got engaged so we’re going out to celebrate. Fingers crossed I find a hottie there.”
She giggles and I wink. “See ya Monday.”
“Enjoy your weekend, and try not to catch any diseases this weekend,” she jokes.
I laugh. “Same to you, my friend. Same to you.” I push my way out of the swinging doors and head for my car in the parking lot.
I open the door to my blacked out Jeep Wrangler and climb behind the wheel. I drop my bag into the passenger seat and drop my keys into the cup holder as my foot presses the break and my finger finds the start button. The motor turns over and purrs to life. The air that blows out of the vents is hot from sitting around all day so I roll down the windows until it cools off. Summer is just starting and already it’s unbearable.
I click my seatbelt and shift into drive. Looking both ways, I pull out onto the nearly empty street. As I drive, I can’t help but to feel more alone than usual. Maybe it’s because my only single friend is now on the marriage train. Her and the girls will be doing married lady things and I’ll be forever alone and left out. On the sidewalk across the street, a man and a woman walk hand in hand. He looks at her and she looks back with a smile. He tugs her to him and they kiss. I roll my eyes and scoff. “Oh come on! Get a room,” I mumble to myself.
I guess I should get it all out of my system now. I have to be happy and excited for Cora. I can’t let my bitterness and jealously ruin this for her or me. This could be one of the last nights we get to party together. Soon, she’ll be consumed with wedding planning and then married life. Maybe it’s time I find a few unmarried women to kick it with.
Fuck that. I need to stop thinking about marriage altogether. I’m twenty-four. I have a full-time job making very little money. In fact, more than half my income goes to paying my car and bills. Luckily for me, I don’t eat much. And I date a lot so I get free meals, but still. Does that scream ready for marriage and kids to you? It doesn’t to me. I need to grow up before I can think of settling down with anyone. I need to be more responsible before I think of having kids. Or…do I even want kids? Maybe I can find a man like me, always ready to have fun and doesn’t want to be tied down. Now, that would be the life. But I’m sure my girlfriends would disagree.
I pull into the driveway and park my Jeep. I shut the engine off and grab my things as I unbuckle. I hop out and before I get to the door, I can hear the dogs barking with excitement from inside. They’re my kids, for now anyway.
I unlock the door and let myself in. Four dogs greet me and I fall to my knees to play with them in the doorway.
Bob licks my face. Gizmo is jumping all around, wagging his tail and beating me to death with it. Juno