Page 37 of Flying

twenty-six

Lily

December 25th

It’s only6:45 a.m.!Someone better be in a serious pinch because nobody should call me this early.Something is ringing non-stop. In surround sound. I roll over to try to grab my phone off the nightstand but accidentally knock the damn thing on the floor. Across the room my tablet and laptop are making noises too. It’s like I was dropped into the middle of the alarm clock torture circle of hell. I throw off the covers to try to find a device and make this noise stop.

This is the worst week of the season. Christmas week. When every guest is here with family, every staffer wants to discuss what they are missing about their family, or their family visits, or they leave to see family. Family. Those of us left behind end up having our own sad party, usually with too many drinks. One benefit of Denver is making friends happy to smoke a bowl, turn on a comedy, and eat snacks before going to sleep. I shouldn’t be so cranky after doing exactly that last night, I just have never been a morning person when there isn’t something exciting on the other side of the alarm.

Oh my gosh, the ringing needs to stop. Who the…River?

Stretching my arms overhead, I pick up his video call grinning like a fool before I notice his slumped posture.Oh no, maybe someone ishurt?His hair is mussed showing obvious signs of stress finger combing, he’s blushing, and his gaze almost sheepish. He takes one arm overhead to scratch at the back of his neck. I try not to drool when it causes his arms to flex and show off the corded muscles that he’s honed hauling boxes.

“Hey.” His voice is soft, almost breathy. “Umm, so, our troublemaker friends gave me my gift at closing the other night. It’s a ticket to Denver.” He is definitely blushing.

“There’s a handful of breweries and cool places I’ve wanted to check out that way for how to make more improvements to The Featherweight, and I’ve heard really good things about Voodoo Donuts, and well… are you up for a visitor?”

“Of course! Why do you look so overwhelmed? When is the trip? I bet I can get you set up with a room, maybe even borrow the car if you need. I’ll even look over the list of places you want to go. But why are you so overwhelmed? Why so early… it’s six forty-five.” I pause, trying to reel myself in.

I’ve gone from half-asleep to sitting up and as excited as a kid on, well, on Christmas morning. Am I being too enthusiastic?

River gives another hesitant breath. “Well, that’s the thing. The ticket is for—it’s for the first thing in the morning. I’ll be there tomorrow. Would that totally ruin your week? Is it okay if I come from the twenty-sixth to the thirtieth?

A tiny part of my lizard brain takes him asking to come from tomorrow until just before the New Year and wants to flirt. Thankfully, the part of me who can see his anxiety wins out and I beam a megawatt smile and try to give reassurance.

“Ruin my plans? There’s nothing to ruin. I don’t have many shifts this week because I worked on Christmas Eve and later today. No, I can even try to switch the few shifts I do have to be with you most of your trip.” I pull up my calendar to confirm and nod aggressive affirmation. He’s still hesitating.

Finally, he works up the nerve to say, “What about, um, I think we did okay when you were here. Can you handle a roommate for a few days?”

It’s my turn to get nervous. My gaze darts around the room: a lumpy full size mattress day-bed doesn’t compare to his comfortableking. It’s going to be a really tight fit.I don’t know if he’s okay with that. Am I okay with this? Do I want to ask him? I’m too scared to find out. We can make it work, it will just be extra snuggly.

The questions start to flow as I look around. Kitchenette:Do I keep real food beyond snacks here, ever?There are dishes in the sink. Eyeing a growing pile of laundry on the floor, because I never bothered to buy myself a hamper, I wonderis the laundromat even open today?Oh shit!The battery powered boyfriends are hidden under my pillow. Need to move those.

Can I have River Hendrix in my space for multiple nights? Will this add up to a complete disaster?

Before my brain can tell my mouth what to do I hear myself saying, “Absolutely, I can’t wait!”

As soon as we hang up, I switch on music and rush to clean up, dancing as I go. This is officially the best Christmas I’ve had in a very long time.

Group Chat: Bad Bitches [Stef Santos Manolo, Lily Long, Delia Shane, Nessa Rabin]

Lily:

I don’t know why you did this, and I don’t know if this is a terrible idea. But thanks?

Delia:

He actually called?

Stef:

Clearly!!

Nessa:

Merry Christmas, I’m going back to sleep before the movies with my siblings

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