Girl’s Night In

Written for https://lindaghill.com/2023/09/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-2-2023/

Sometimes Stevie found it hard to choose, whether it was getting dressed in the morning, or what she was going to have to eat at night. The problem was, being on her own, she wasn’t used to making the right choices. Finally she picked out a meal for one, putting it in the microwave. It turned around, spinning like a record on a turnstile. She held on to her coffee cup, swirling the remnants at the bottom of the cup, hoping it would reveal a better future.

Her mobile buzzed on the counter, moving across the black and into her hands. It would be her boss, wanting to know if she was going to do more hours. That choice was easy – press ignore and continue watching her food heat up. Trouble was, she didn’t really fancy any of the food in her cupboard.

A knock on the door, took her out of her musings.

‘Stevie! Stevie! Stevie! it’s Sarah, just let me in will you, it’s bloody freezing out here!’

She padded across the hallway, opening the door, to find her best friend wrapped in nothing but a coat, and her pyjamas. ‘What are you doing here? I thought you were having a quiet night in with your husband.’

‘He has gone out with his mates. I was going to stay in, but then I thought. Sod it! Two can play that game. I was thinking, I could order a take-out for the both of us. I brought a Halloween DVD, and some popcorn.’

Ushering her in, the microwave pinged out in readiness. A take-out, that sounded nice. It was an easy choice. ‘Let’s go where it is warmer, I’ve got a large bottle of wine with our name on in.’

This night was going to be better than she expected; They hadn’t been on a girl’s night for months. She half expected a conversation, but for now all she wanted to do was make her best friend happy.

‘Sounds like we should have an extra large pizza, on your husband. What do you say?’

‘I say bring in the glasses.’

‘Girl’s night in, that’s what I say.’

Settled on the sofa, the call made, and the DVD put in, they piled pillows around them. A good night, with no choices apart from – how many pizzas should they buy. Friends since college, the talking could happen when her bestie was ready to talk.