Page 89 of Fly with Me

Olive grinned at the name on her phone screen.

“Hey, how’s it going? Did you get back early?” Another check on her watch had told her that Stella was still supposed to be in the air.

“No, I’m really sorry. Bad weather. The flight’s delayed until who knows when. There’s a line of really bad thunderstorms with high winds coming through. Probably won’t be back in time for us to go to Ashburn.”

Disappointment settled in her stomach. At least she’d be able to hang out with Joni and Derek tonight instead. “Where are you going to stay if it’s canceled?”

“Airport hotel, probably. It won’t be too bad. Not as fun as Disney.”

“I’ll really miss seeing you tonight.”

A pause.

Shoot. That wasn’t the emotionally independent Olive she needed to be.

“Same,” Stella said finally. “Think you’ll still go try on the dress?”

“I might try to order it instead.” Olive sighed. “I better go get back to work. I leave in an hour. I’m…” Olive hesitated, but then went for it. “If you get back late, I’m meeting some work people at this bar The Blue Side. Just if you happen to get back in town. I’d love to see you. But like no pressure. I’m cool. We’re cool. Everything’s—uh—cool, either way.”

Olive could tell being not emotionally needy was getting off to a spectacular start.

But inviting her wasn’t weird. Platonic friends who were pretending to date invited other platonic friends they were pretending to date to their work happy hours, right?

“I’m not sure I’ll make it back, but I wish I could.” Stella’s voice still sounded stiffer than usual.

“Thank you,” Olive said again, rather stupidly. “I—uh… yeah. I wish you could too.” Why was this all suddenly so awkward? She hadn’t wine-vomited all her feelings into the phone last night. Everything should be the same, yet nothing about that call seemed like the usual playful Stella.

OLIVE

I guess I’m coming out tonight.

DEREK

Excellent

Derek’s hip bumped Olive’s, and he handed her a beer. They clinked bottles together, turning their high-top stools to watch a country singer kill it on the stage with a cover of “House of the Rising Sun.” Most of the unit had shown up tonight. Since Derek and Olive had taken over as day charge nurses, they tried to organize a few events per month.

Olive put her head on Derek’s shoulder. “I like this place. Why haven’t we come to this bar before?”

“Because we’re creatures of habit.”

“You said Joni picked?”

“Joni’s sister loves it.”

“Maybe we should branch out more often.” She turned back to her plate and took a bite of her salad. She pulled out her phone, but it was one of those phantom vibrations that happen when you’re waiting for a message. Not that she was actually waiting.

“Hey.” Joni pulled Olive into a hug and then gave Derek one as well. “This is my sister. Suzanne.”

Suzanne grinned. “I feel like I should kiss the hands of the people that helped me get my sister out to a bar.” Suzanne was very pretty. Joni was beautiful, so this wasn’t surprising, but despite being twins, they looked nothing alike. Suzanne was tall and slender with hazel eyes and dark brown hair.

Olive laughed. “We all agree, then, that Joni needs to have more fun here because we want her to stay.”

Suzanne winked at Olive. “I’d cheers to that, but I don’t have a drink yet.”

“I can fix that.” Olive took a step toward the bar. “What do you want, Suzanne?”

“Raging Bitch, please.”

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