And I do.
âYou're going to laugh.â
âProbably.â
âIt's because I can't hear things.â
âWhat kinds of things are you trying to hear?â
âI don't know. Strange noises and thingsâ¦â
âStrange noises?â
âDo I need to spell it out for you?â Sheâs trying to sound annoyed, but I can hear the smile in her voice.
âApparently, because I have no idea what you're talking about. What kinds of strange noises are you going to hear? I usually turn my TV up to block out all the strange sounds like the neighborâs kids and the lady behind me that sounds like Fran fucking Drescher.â
âYou know who Fran Drescher is?â
âMy mother was a big fan of that stupid show she was in. Stop changing the subject. What are you listening for? Hayden wonât sneak out.â
âWhat if someone breaks in?â
âYou're not serious.â
âOf course I'm serious!â
âWhat do you do all night?â I ask.
âWork,â she admits. âWell, usually I clean, and then I work.â
âIâm coming over.â
âYou canât.â
The panic in her voice doesnât make her sound upset about the idea, but afraid.
Is it because she likes me?
âWhy not?â I ask.
âItâs like nine o'clock.â
âAre you about to turn orange and sprout a stem?â
âThat and I'm not wearing a bra, if you must know.â
âSo put it back on.â
âYou don't understand. That's like saying put your jeans back on.â
âI am in jeans,â I lie just to get a reaction out of her.
âWhat is wrong with you?â she cries.
âWhat's wrong with jeans?â
âThey're stiff and uncomfortable. Wearing jeans all day is basically equivalent to walking on sandpaper. But at least you guys have pockets that will actually hold something larger than a thimble and donât ride up your ass.â
Mariah grew up in a tiny town outside of Portland, Oregon where she spent most of her time immersed in the pages of books that she both read and created.
She has a love for all things that include her family, good coffee, books, traveling, and dark chocolate. Sheâs also obsessed with Christmas ornaments and all things Disney.