Their giggling echoed up the dimly lit stairwell as they tromped to the apartment’s front door. Daphne and Tana each carried several plastic grocery bags hooked at their elbows and wrists. Their discussion at the sandwich shop had spilled into the street, around the nearby park at the edge of a forest and, from there, to the grocery store for party supplies and snacks.
Tana had insisted on paying for everything, which secretly relieved Daphne. She hadn’t left home with much cash. In exchange, she paid Tana back with as much truth as she could muster.
“I can’t believe that cop actually dragged you back to the station,” Tana tittered.
“Yup. Handcuffs, uncomfortable plastic backseat and all.”
“Was he cute?”
Daphne laughed and pretended to look shocked.
Tana adjusted the plastic bags on her arms as she dug through the pockets of her shorts for her house keys. “I mean, if some strange guy’s going to handcuff and rough you up, he should have the decency to be roguishly handsome.”
“He was like forty!”
“Ah, I see.” Tana nodded, understanding something that Daphne didn’t. “Manther territory. Nice.”
Daphne gaped.
“You know, manther!”
“Shockingly, saying it a second time hasn’t helped.”
“Like a cougar but instead of a sexified lady looking for younger prey, it’s a dude.” Tana wiggled her dark eyebrows suggestively before shouldering open the door and stepping into the apartment’s kitchen.
“Whatever makes you happy, Tana,” Daphne said as she followed her cousin inside. “I just don’t want to think about my arresting officer like that.”
Tana laughed off Daphne’s comment.
They hefted the grocery bags onto the wide oak table and separated the items out by snacks and decorations.
From the open door to her bedroom, Jordan called, “That you, Tana?”
“Yup. We’re back.”
“Hey, Jordan,” Daphne called.