Page 45 of Awaiting

“It’s boring stuff,” Bexley said, booting up her computer.

“Not toyou.”

“Are you actually interested in this stuff?” Bexley turned to her.

“Yes, I am. I like learning about what you do. I don’t have a job like this, so I’ll pretend I have yours for a bit.”

“You have a job.”

“Not in the same way you do,” Alex said before the flight attendant dropped off their drinks.

“This is real glass,” Bexley noted, looking down at the clear glasses in front of her on the tray table.

“Yes, it is.” Alex laughed. “And when you’re reviewing the patient files, what are you looking for?”

“The quality of work of some of the newer therapists. We’re teaching centers.”

“What does that mean?”

“Have you heard of teaching hospitals? Doctors intern there and get trained up.”

“Yes.”

“Where I work, that’s what we do. We have a program for students in their graduate program. They have to earn a certain number of clinical hours. I like to check on their progress when I can.”

“No one else can do that?”

“No, they can. I’m just kind of a control freak.” Bexley smiled at her. When the seat belt sign came on, she buckled up, and Alex did the same. Then, Bexley asked, “And why do you think your parents wish your brother was born first?”

“Oh, wow. We just went right in for the deep stuff.” Alex took a drink. “Shit. Hot.” She put the glass back down quickly and coughed a bit.

“You okay there?” Bexley asked, rubbing Alex’s back as she bent over the table.

“Your Royal Highness, we are–” the flight attendant started and stopped. “Oh. My apologies, Ma’am.” She turned to go.

“It’s okay. Are we taking off?” Alex asked as Bexley removed her hand from her back.

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Thank you,” Alex replied.

Bexley watched the attendant, who had had an interesting expression on her face a second ago, and wondered if the woman always worked on this plane. Had she seen Alex bring a lot of women on board to fly them to exotic destinations where she, undoubtedly, gave them the best sex of their lives before flying them home?

“So, back to your work,” Alex said.

“You don’t like talking about your family much, do you?” Bexley asked.

“Not much to talk about,” Alex replied, turning away toward the window. “You should drink your coffee. They’ll be here to take it away soon.”

“Take it away? I just got it.”

“We’re taking off. They’ll bring you another one.”

“I just wasted a whole cup of coffee?” Bexley said, lifting the cup to her lips and taking a drink. “Fuck. That’s hot.”

Alex laughed and began rubbingBexley’sback this time as the flight attendant returned and took their drinks. Bexley hadn’t coughed, but Alex rubbed her back anyway. It was nice. Bexley almost didn’t want to sit back in her chair because then the hand would go away.

“Areyouokay?” Alex asked.

---