“You’re welcome to join us,” he said, although from the sounds of it, he clearly didn’t expect her to. “There will be gaming, some new stuff Abraham’s bringing over. Rumor has it there will be Quidditch pong. Whatever that is.”
Tess smiled. “Thanks. I’ll, um, think about it.”
“Just wanted to give you a heads up.” He waved to Ani, then closed the door again.
Tess spun on Ani. “Like our girl here?” she asked. “Really? Really?”
Ani grinned wickedly. “If that guy was in the house with me,” she said, “I’d ride him like a ten-speed.”
Tessa shook her head. “You suck, Ani.”
“I’m sure I would,” Ani purred.
“Perv,” Tess said, finally laughing. “Anyway, I’m not going after Adam.”
“Fine,” she relented. “But I’m serious, Tess. When you decide you want something, you go for it. I know how hard it was for you to pay for college, and get the degree, and get the job. I know you’ll get your goal of being an engineer, if you want it badly enough. You are relentless.”
“Thanks,” Tess said, warming at her friend’s support.
“But it won’t be enough,” Ani continued. “You need more people, more connection, even as an introvert. If you won’t be that dedicated about getting into a relationship, at least broaden your circle. I worry about you.” She smiled sadly. “Maybe you should put some of that focus on people, not just programming. For your own sake.”
“I’ll be okay, but thanks.” Tess smiled.
“Promise me you’ll go hang out at that party a bit.”
Tessa’s smile dropped. “Wait, what?”
"Seriously. Promise me you'll go down to that party. I will check up on you and hassle you mercilessly when I see you, and I’ll know if you didn’t. You suck at lying.”
Tessa rolled her eyes. "Fine," she said. Ani had called her relentless, but Tessa knew better. Ani could out-relentless Genghis Khan.
"But don’t go wearing that," Ani added.
Tessa looked down at her T-shirt—something she'd gotten from The Bloggess, with the statement: Feeling Stabby. "Why? What's wrong with this?"
"If I have to explain it, you won't understand," Ani said. "Wear something that puts the goods on display, okay?"
"I'm an A cup. I don't have goods."
"Just wear something that looks like you meant to wear it!" Ani groused. "And would it kill you to wear makeup?"
"I am not wearing makeup to play Quidditch pong."
Ani paused. "Good point. All right. Go forth, get your flirt on. And report back."
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