Page 11 of Steadfast

“Excuse me?” Oakleigh exclaimed. “I donotdrool!” Despite her adamant statement, she still covertly examined the window glass just in case.

Maeve took the truck around the airport pickup circle.

“Oakleigh, if you ever need to talk about anything, I’m here.”

“I know,” Oakleigh answered, giving her a sincere look of gratitude.

Maeve pulled the truck over to the curb as they scanned the small crowd of travelers waiting to be picked up.

“I might be mistaken, and yet I highly doubt it.” Maeve pointed with one finger as she gripped the steering wheel. “That must be Mia.”

Standing in front of the baggage claim was undeniably—

Mia Hollister.

Clothed in a pair of designer jeans, a low cut, delicately wispy sea green top, and a wide brimmed hat with large sunglasses, Mia appeared glaringly out of place among the humble country folk standing nearby.

Oakleigh couldn’t help but giggle at Mia’s startled expression as she saw the truck rattle to a stop in front of her. Mia was no longer just a name on her phone screen, and seeing her again in person seemed to push aside all of the apprehension she had built up in her mind. There was something beautifullycomforting about being in the presence of the one person with whom she had shared so many life experiences.

Pushing the heavy door open, she was immune now to the loud squeal of the rusty hinges. The moment her boots hit the curb, Oakleigh excitedly pulled Mia into a tight hug.

Oakleigh was immediately aware of the contrast in their outfits as her glamorous friend towered over her in designer stiletto heels.

“You traveled in heels?” Oakleigh exclaimed.

“What else would I wear?” Mia muttered distractedly as she pulled her sunglasses down her nose to examine the rusty blue truck. “And—what am I looking at?”

Oakleigh grinned, throwing her thumb behind her. “That’s our ride.”

“I don’t understand.” Mia took an audible intake of breath as she observed Oakleigh lift the luggage and hoist it into the truck’s bed. “Oh, you were serious?”

The driver’s door banged shut as Maeve came around the truck.

Immediately recognizing Maeve’s signature tan cowboy hat and aviator sunglasses from Oakleigh’s viral social media posts, Mia squealed, giving a little clap of delight.

“You must be Maeve?”

“Nice to finally meet you, Mia,” Maeve said warmly, giving her a welcoming hug. “Oakleigh’s told me so much that I feel like I already knowyou.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Mia said, her brow furrowed as she gave Oakleigh a knowing glance.

“Stop, you’ll give yourself wrinkles,” Oakleigh laughed out as she put her arm around her best friend and gave her a reassuring squeeze. “Of course, good things.”

She slid into the middle seat next to Maeve while Mia leaned out as far as she could, using all of her strength to pull the stiff door shut.

“I’d ask Maeve to do the thing where she slams on the brakes and nearly sends us through the windshield –” Oakleigh said, giving Maeve a gentle elbow, “but I have legitimate concerns that the door might just fall off this time.”

“Oh brother,” Maeve murmured, stifling her eye roll at Oakleigh’s theatrics. “Just pull hard, Mia. You’ll get the hang of it.”

With one last feat of strength, Mia managed to pull it closed, the force of the action sending her hard into Oakleigh’s shoulder.

Mia swiped the dust that had billowed onto her jeans from the filthy old seats.

“How was the flight?” Maeve asked as she steered back onto the highway.

“It was the worst,” Mia answered, not bothering to mince words.

“Not economy class?” Oakleigh’s eyes went wide, remembering her own miserable commercial flight on her first trip to Montana.

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