Age talk

Ironic. Aaron was quite certain he was the youngest among the group and the poorest, yet he was the least drunk and seemingly the most responsible. As they got into the limo, he popped the question. The results weren't surprising.

"He's old old," Tam said, gesturing at her brother. "Thirty. Can you believe it?"

"I'm probably the oldest," Iman added. "I'm thirty two."

"You are way too comfortable giving out your age," Jaina responded. "The mystery of age adds to the allure of a woman."

"As if," Hadiyah rebuked. "I'm thirty as well. Nothing to be proud or ashamed of. It is what it is."

"Anyone want to guess my age?" Tam asked. She batted her eyelashes at Aaron.

"She's twenty-five, almost twenty-six this February," Jace said. "That should be obvious, to be honest–"

"Jace!" Tam huffed in annoyance, slipping glances at Aaron.

"Where are we headed, by the way?" Aaron asked in an effort to switch the subject.

"Hold up, hold up," Jace said with a knowing smile. "We'll tell you once you answer with your age."

"Twenty-five," Aaron responded dully. There was a flash of shock across everyone's face.

"Wait, wait…are you the youngest here? When is your birthday?" Vol asked. The dumb blond was finally speaking and as expected he wasn't the most sociable. "You look like you're nearing your thirties."

"I'm definitely not," Aaron said flatly. "Iman used to do lectures at my university."

"I will be honest," Iman began. "Despite remembering that, I assumed you were older."

Aaron's face levelled. He didn't understand how they could possibly be this emotional over his age. He was stoic and anti-social but that didn't mean he was old.

He was told they were headed to a fancy bar. Hadiyah was evidently uncomfortable and requested to be dropped off. Aaron did the same.

"Are you sure?" Jace asked Hadiyah. "We're not going to make you drink."

"I'm alright. My place is far away so just drop me off here. I can call a taxi. Plus," Hadiyah gestured at Aaron, "he'll walk me home."

'I will?'