“Hold on Carrie, I’ll be out in a minute,” Austin yelled from his bathroom. She had entered with her own key. From the misty steam in the apartment she could tell that he was in the shower. Austin always took a long time to get ready. He defied the stereotype that women took longer than men when it came time to go out.

“I thought we were just going to a chicken joint!” she shouted.

“We are but I take pride in how look Carrie! You know how I am!” he shouted back.

“Don’t make me have to drag you out of there, Austin!”

Austin wished that such an imaginary scenario could become reality. The honest truth was that he always looked his best and smelled his best around her. Though he was her best friend, he was not at all blind. Caroline was very attractive, and all he wanted at the time was to run his fingers through her long brown wavy hair and to look into her dark eyes and have his way with her in the shower. These sexual feelings weren’t at all new but they first became apparent around the time junior high came around.

Here they were, lifelong friends at the mature age of 36 and contrary to popular belief, they had never been intimate with each other.

Austin finally emerged wearing sweatpants, a wife beater and a pair of sneakers. He looked simple but perfect to Caroline.

“Ready to get going?” he asked with his now matured voice.

“Took you long enough,” Caroline said power walking out. Austin stared at her slim body as she sped past him. She was perfect. She wore long blue skinny jeans and a tight fitted pink shirt. It was simple but she looked amazing in it. As always, she smelled of vanilla and flowers.

“Come on, what’s the hold up?”

“Hold on to your bra, I’m coming,” Austin said, not realizing that he had been ogling his friend for so long.

“Yeah, yeah,” she playfully replied back.

The Flying Chicken had been their meet up spot starting in their teen years, when their parents had finally allowed them to start going off on their own. They had the best milkshakes in the state.

“Yes, one chocolate and one strawberry milkshake with the buffalo wing platter please.”

“Will that be all?” the young waitress asked flirtatiously.

“That’s all,” Austin said, paying her no mind.

“She is all over you,” Caroline joked. Inside she was a bit envious. She never liked competition when it came to Austin.

“Shutup Carrie, she just wants a tip,” Austin said, showing his bright smile.

Caroline knew that was far from the truth. Girls always wanted Aussie. He was gorgeous, down to earth, smart and had a great sense of humor. These were qualities only one could find in a 90’s coming-of-age film, not in real life. It was true, Austin was the real deal.

“So how are you doing Carrie?”

“I’m fine.”

“Really?” he said, pretty much knowing the answer. “You might as well tell me now before I shake it out of you.

“Oh, to be grabbed by you,” she thought to herself. Sighs, “Dad’s not that sick but I’m scared.”

“I know you’re scared but everything will be okay.”

“It’s not only that.”

“Go on,” Austin says wide eyed with folded arms.

“I’m 36 Austin...we’re 36.”

The waitress stops by to leave their food. Seeing that they are in serious conversation she doesn’t engage with the two attractive customers. Instead she tells them to “enjoy” and makes her way across to pick up another order and serve the next group.

“We’re 36 and not married. We don’t have children and I have no prospects.”

“Carrie, it’s never really been a real pressing issue for you unless you’re going through a breakup,” he stares at her.

He knew her so well.

“It’s not a breakup this time. It’s a matter of life and death.”

“What do you mean, Carrie?”

“My dad wants me to get married, that’s what I mean.”

“Doesn’t every parent want that for their child?”

“But it’s his dying wish, Aussie,” she says hopelessly. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. I have no prospects.”

“I don’t see the huge deal. I’m in no rush to get married and I feel fine.”

“Because you’re a guy!” Caroline shouts a little annoyed her best friend.

This was the downside to being best friends with the opposite sex. Differences and the subconscious lack of empathy.

“Well let’s fix it.”

“How?”

“How about I ask Jeanine to talk to one of her friends? Some of them are single.”

“I’m not fond of the idea but what options do I have?”

“Me,” he thought. “None. Let’s go home and come up with a plan.”

“Oh god, please don’t tell me this is fun for you.”

“Sure it is!”

He wasn’t excited at all about searching for someone for his best friend. He liked that Carrie was available. He couldn’t stand any of her boyfriends. He didn’t like to share. Though he was in love with Jeanine, there were spots that she couldn’t reach that Caroline could. One thing was certain, he would rather help his friend than see her drown in self-pity.