Page 45 of Sparks
Her eyes narrowed. “It was that skinny fucking bitch, Beth, wasn’t it? I know you wouldn’t do that, you little doll baby.” She leaned forward and squeezed my cheeks. I shut my eyes tightly as she shook my head around and then kissed my nose.
Viola let me go abruptly and moved down the long hall, griping about Beth and how people couldn’t keep their hands out of her stuff. “What the fuck do I gotta do? Get a fucking lockbox for my cereal?” More griping as she went into the room and shut the door.
“Manager, please!” Rhea whispered.
Holly and I literally had to grab hold of one another, pressing our lips together against laughter. I closed my eyes because if I looked at either of them I would lose it.
We finally calmed down and Holly said, “I’d hate to be Beth.”
“Pff.” Rhea waved a hand, jangling the bracelets at her wrist. “Beth won’t care. She’ll laugh it off. We need to say something to her.”
“Yeah, she takes what she wants and never feels bad,” Holly said. She peered at me. “Rhea told me all about last night. Can I see a picture of him?”
“I already deleted him,” I said. “Sorry.”
“He was hot,” Rhea said, then glanced at me and cringed. “But a dick. Sorry. How are you today? You’re on call tomorrow, right?”
“I’m okay. And actually, I checked before I left and I’m working at six AM. A two-nighter. And listen to this—the dispatcher said Silas requested me to be their FA.” I made a face like,isn’t that weird?
Rhea and Holly caught eyes across me.
“What?” I asked.
“I mean, are you surprised?” Holly asked. “He freaking adores you.”
“I was kind of surprised,” I said. “I didn’t know pilots could request crew members. And yeah, I mean, we get along great so I guess it makes sense. He doesn’t want to get stuck with a sky muffin he doesn’t like.”
Oh, my gosh. They looked at each other again! Another bad feeling slithered through me, and I felt myself getting defensive.
“Why are you looking at each other like that? I would never mess with Silas, you guys. And you know he’s loyal to his wife.”
“We know, boo,” Rhea said gently. “It’s just that…have you ever noticed how you’re the only female who’s allowed to touch him?”
“What?” I flew forward, throwing the blanket off Rhea as I stood to face them. “I don’t touch Silas!”
Both of their eyes widened as they stared at me. My heart was racing.
“I didn’t mean inappropriately,” Rhea said. “I just meant, like, you could touch his shoulder, in a friendly manner, and he wouldn’t budge. But if one of us touched his shoulder, he would shrug away or move.”
Holly nodded, and I felt like I was going to puke. I pressed a hand to my stomach. “It’s not like that.”
“We know,” they both said. So, then, why were they saying it? What was the point? They stood simultaneously, moving forward as if to calm me, but I pulled away. I didn’t need these thoughts. I didn’t want any of this.
“I’m going to bed.” I speed-walked down the long hall, past all of our clothes.
“It’s only eight—” Holly began, but I closed the door hard and fell onto my pallet. Vio was humming something off key as she sat on her bed, so I shoved my earbuds in.
Silas was my friend. Maybe he felt more comfortable with me than the other girls. He knew I would never make a move. He trusted me to keep it professional, and it bothered me that my closest friends felt like there was something deeper going on there. God, I felt so gross. And whatever this thing was with Shawn, I needed to end it tomorrow when we talked. I couldn’t do this anymore.
I fumbled in my plastic drawers and pulled out my bag of CBD gummies. I shoved two in my mouth, then plugged my phone in, set my alarm for four AM, and rolled over, chewing hard.
A group text came through from Holly with Rhea on it.I’m sorry. I swear I didn’t mean anything by it.
Rhea immediately texted as well:Me too. I know you guys are just friends.
I’m sorry, you guys, I said.I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m feeling too sensitive.
It’s okay, Holly wrote.Get some rest.
