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Happy birthday!

Thank you! So far it's been a really great day.

I’m glad to hear it. Do you have plans for tonight?

And did you get the present I sent?

[It’s a very pretty designer dress. She can help a little with the wardrobe.]

I have the night off from the restaurant and me and my friends are going bowling.

And I did! Thank you, it's absolutely fantastic. Now I just need to find the right occasion to wear it.

Is it some kind of cool Vegas-spin on bowling?

And I'm sure an occasion will turn up. One always does.

I think so? Walker booked a VIP bowling suite at Red Rock. I didn't know they had such a thing but it has private lanes and catering.

[Laughs.]

You can even have them play your own music.

Do not ask what I had to do to acquire this.

[He sets a wrapped box down in front of her; the wrapping paper has cartoonish animals like giraffes and zebras and rhinos all over it.]

That sounds ominous. But thanks for thinking of me.

[She slowly opens the present, not sure now if she should be excited or nervous for what's in the box.]

[The wrapping paper's around a box, and inside the box is a burlap bag with a pound of premium Jamaican coffee.]

Hopefully not too ominous, Tash. I'm not really trying to scare you or nothing.

This is really, amazingly nice of you.

[Who didn't enjoy a good cup of coffee before starting a work day? Especially if it was really good coffee. Tasha smiled and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.]

Thank you. How was your day?

[He blushes warmly when kissed on the cheek, ducking his head slightly.]

Not too bad. Still job-hunting. I applied for a position as a janitor at an aquarium--watching the fish while working might not be too bad.

I'm going out tonight. Bowling and some Chinese food.

[She's just back at her condo to get changed before meeting the usual suspects. Not too late because she does have to work tomorrow.]

Walker rented some VIP bowling suite. It's a whole private party.

Sounds like a grand old time. Will you text me when you get home?

[If she's allowed to worry about him getting healthy food into his body, he's about to worry about her going out partying. It's only fair.]

Sure. It won't be that late though, I think everyone who's coming has to work tomorrow.

[Tasha still had a restaurant to run, and when the guy throwing the party was the general manager of Park MGM people would notice if he missed work the next morning too.]

It's just a couple of us. Rob and Jessica, Ross, Walker and I invited David. Everybody else is running the restaurant so I can take the night off.

Sounds like a great time.

[There's a part of him tempted to ask if he can tag along, but he definitely doesn't have the clothes for such a party and...well, he doesn't fit in with all of Tasha's crowd. So he just nods and gives her a fond smile.]

Oh, remind me later, I need a recipe for some sort of dessert with honey and apples. But that's so very not a tonight problem.

It will be. Turns out Ross is an expert bowler.

[An amused smile. Ross had been hiding an unexpected skill under those tailored suits and perfectly coordinated ties.]

If it's dessert-related I'll ask Rob. You know he's better with desserts than I am. He's the pastry chef. Is there some kind of special occasion or just because?

The holiday season's here.

[By which he means the Jewish high holiday season; apples and honey are traditional for a 'sweet' new year.]

Oh, right. Well, I'll ask Rob, desserts are his department.

[Don't mind her, she's just stepping into her bedroom to change her shirt and coming back out.]

We could grab lunch later this week? Ross thinks he owes me a date but other than that my social calendar's open.

Lunch would be awesome. Text me sometime, we'll figure out when's good.

[He gives her a bit of an appraising look as she comes back out of the bedroom.]

You look great. Have fun out there.

Thank you, but I'm going out with a guy who has his suits tailored and a bartender who has women swoon over him on a regular basis, I'm just happy to fit in.

[Tasha laughs. She dated the bartender so she would know.]

I'll text you later. Want me to save you some cake?

Only if it's not chocolate cake. But you enjoy it if it is, anyway.

I don't know what it is. Walker's doing that too. This is the same guy who asked me to build a working slot machine cake for our anniversary party.

[She never knew with him. But Tasha had politely asked her boss to cool it for her birthday, and he was normally good at listening if she said no.]

Happy ~~belated~~ Birthday!

Happy birthday.

Thanks! It was an excellent day.

Thank you very much. I don't feel 35 at all.

Are you supposed to feel different after 35?

Well, I'm a lot older. I still feel like the 27-year-old I was when I opened my restaurant.

I'd think I'm technically older than you. But it's like comparing apples to oranges really. I'm glad to hear that you feel healthy. I've been going through several low points myself.

My boyfriend is 41 and he looks like he's 31. Everyone's different.

But I'm sorry to hear things haven't worked out for you.

I've been active for 50 years. But then I'm an android. Not human.

Things have been looking up since.

I know plenty of people who kick ass well past 50. My parents, for example. Andrew Horne. Andrew frightens me.

But good for you. Keep working at it and things will keep improving.

Well... it's not exactly the same. Why are you afraid of this "Andrew Horne"?

It's a matter of circumstances changing for me. The work I put it was more... metal, than physical.

He's 6'8" and has a very emphatic personality.

It sounds like you've got a story someone needs to listen to.

I suppose height can be scary but I'm not sure how an empathic personality may.

My story is a long one that continuously repeat. It wouldn't be fun to listen to.