A Night to Remember with Mr Stranger

Clara

I want to hook up tonight.

Bella distributed a round of tequila shots while Nita giggled.

I threw back the shot, twisted my mouth shut, and pushed out my tongue in an effort to hold back a cough. I groaned as I uttered, “It’s so bad,” my throat stinging from the alcohol.

Nita pushed a lime slice into my mouth and said, “Here.”

I had pretty much established that I wasn’t any better at downing tequila shots today than I had been in college after our second (or was it third?) round of them. I was resolved to recover some of my youth with my two best friends before I officially turned thirty at midnight, even though I knew that I was probably too old to do tequila shots.

Bella handed me a Corona this time, wishing me a “happy birthday, Clara.”

We clinked bottles, and Nita grinned, “Cheers to being thirty.”

I took a hefty swig and said, “Thirty and homeless.”

Shaking her head, Nita. “You’re not a stranger. You simply do not possess a place to dwell.

Because of Bella’s unwavering positivity, Bella and I laughed.

A few weeks ago, my flatmate sat me down and informed me that I was being evicted since she had recently gotten engaged. I started to feel sick as I remembered our talk. Evidently, she and her new fiancé didn’t want me to constantly be the third wheel. Even though it was understandable, I was still disappointed to have to leave my rent-controlled apartment, which was close to my favorite coffee shop and frozen yogurt business. You are aware of the saying. Location. Location. Location.

“How’s the hunt going?” Do you want a lime wedge in your beer?” Bella inquired.

I took a sip and continued, “I put a deposit down on a flat this week.” I only need to make sure the landlord isn’t a psychopath by going to look at it tomorrow.

I’d located the flat via an online advertisement. It was promising; it was roomy, well-lit, and had a cute nook where I might set up an office. Since I worked from home and had a successful weekly gossip column, having a relaxing spot to write was a crucial component of my living area.

Nita threw her arm across my shoulders and said, “Enough adult stuff.” We are here to rejoice.

After one more beer, I’ll be legally drunk, Bella said as she scanned the establishment. Which means that we need to locate you a guy right away before the beer haze sets in.

In college, Nita, Bella, and I shared a room. When we were twenty-four, Nita, a serial monogamist, married, and the previous year, Bella married her longtime partner. They have attempted to hook me up with essentially every available male within a fifty-mile radius ever since they said, “I do.”