We left the bar late in the evening so we decided to call it for the night.
When we are walking back to the car, Ross holds my hand.
The Earth stood still. I felt fireworks bursting in the sky. I felt pretty. I floated in air again. I’m wishing the whole world could see me now, especially (him). I wanted this moment to last forever.
He then took me home. He walked me to my building’s door. I kissed him on the cheek as we all Latinos do, thanked him for such a great time, and said my goodnight. He said he would call tomorrow. He’s gone.
The next morning Madelyn called me. “Heeey girl. Where you’ve been??”
“I went out last night with Ross.”
“You did?? Well, get dressed! Dina and I are hungry. Tell us about it during brunch.”
First order of the day wasn’t exactly the ‘early bird’ special.
“So what happened?? You have to tell me everything!” said Dina.
“Nothing extraordinary happened, really,” I said with not such a great poker face.
Dina gave me her ‘I don’t believe you’ look. I hyperventilated yet again. Don’t know why, but I omitted the part that Ross held my hand.
“Not even a kiss??” asked Madelyn. She analyzed my facial expression in full detail and knew I wasn’t telling the whole story.
“No, but he said he would call me today…” I explained.
I felt more I was sitting on the witness stand than in our usual Sunday brunch.
I needed to switch conversation. “So, Madelyn, how is the job hunting going?”
The breakfast continued uninterrupted. I then looked at the two of them. They are my best friends. They’ve been with me through the good, the bad and the ugly.
There are neither artificial ingredients nor plastic components here. No high interests. Our friendship is natural. They have stood by me when so many others turned their backs when I needed them the most.
I can’t imagine them not being part of my life, not now, not ever.