Page 84 of Guys Can't Write Romance
“That’s not true,” Daisy protested, but her voice lacked conviction.
“Oh yeah? Then why are you trying so hard to convince yourself that being bored is the same thing as being grown-up?”
As they reached the summit, Daisy took in the panoramic view of Los Angeles. Somewhere down there, Ethan was probably already at his desk, planning their perfectly proper future. And somewhere else, Chad was probably out for his morning surf with Rhino, or maybe jotting down story ideas on whatever scrap of paper he could find.
“Now, can we please finish this hike?” Chloe said, adjusting her neon headband. “I have a pottery class to teach, and unlike some people, I plan to act very immature while doing my very adult job.”
As they started their descent, Daisy couldn’t shake the feeling that her best friend might be right. The thought scared her more than she wanted to admit.
“Just promise me one thing,” Chloe said as they neared the bottom of the trail.
“What’s that?”
“When you finally admit I’m right about all this, I get to say ‘I told you so’ at your wedding to Chad.”
“Chloe!”
“What? I’m just planning ahead. Isn’t that what adults do?”
Back at their apartment, Daisy soaked in the shower, letting the warm water wash away the soreness from her muscles; but it did nothing to quiet her thoughts. The hike had been physically demanding, but Chloe’s words had been even more exhausting. They’d rattled around in her head the entire way down the trail, refusing to be ignored.
You can pay your mortgage AND belt out ‘Sweet Caroline’ in public.
If you’re not living a life that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning, what’s the point?
As she climbed from the shower and wrapped in a robe, she heard her phone buzz on her dresser. She walked over and saw it was a text from Ethan:
‘Would like to take you somewhere special tonight. Pick you up at 7:00? I have some big news I know you’ve been waiting for.’
Daisy’s heart stuttered. Big news? Her damp fingers trembled slightly as she read the message again. And again. Each time, those two words seemed to grow larger, more significant.
“Chloe?” she called out, her voice higher than usual. “Are you still here?”
“In the kitchen!” Chloe shouted back. “Making my post-workout smoothie. Want one? It’s got kale, which makes it very adult and sophisticated.”
Daisy padded into the kitchen, still in her robe, holding her phone out like it might bite her. “Ethan just texted.”
“Did he schedule a thrilling evening of organizing his tax receipts?”
“No, he...” Daisy swallowed hard. “He says he has ‘big news’ and wants to take me somewhere special tonight.”
Chloe’s hand froze on the blender. “Big news? Like...”
“Like maybe a ring?” Daisy’s voice cracked slightly.
“You think?”
“I don’t know.”
They stood in silence for a moment, the only sound being the steady drip of water from Daisy’s wet hair onto the kitchen floor.
“Can I ask you something?” Chloe said finally, her usual playful tone replaced with genuine concern. “And I need you to really think about it before you answer.”
“What?”
“Do you want that to be the big news?”
Daisy opened her mouth to say ‘of course,’ but the words wouldn’t come. Just an hour ago, they’d been talking about spark and joy and not dimming your own light. About karaoke and beer coming out of her nose and messy planners and...
