I turned, and smiled when Martin, one of our supervisors, waved at me.
“Hey, so I know it’s last minute,” he began, “but can you lock up tonight? Make sure things at 20 are all set, too.” He glanced at his watch and began fidgeting with its band as he faced me again.
“Uh…” I straightened my glasses. “Can you gimme a minute?” I pointed at my phone.
He gave me a grin that was very unlike him. It was wide and toothy and a little wobbly. It confused me.
“Hey, uh, babe?” I said to Gallan. “I gotta go. Martin wants me to lock up tonight, so I’ll have to get to work now if I wanna make it to you in an hour. I’ll call you as soon as I’m done here, okay?”
Gallan sighed. “You sure you don’t want me to come over? I’ll be there in twenty.”
I smiled. “Nope, I’m good. You get some rest. I’ll call you once I’ve finished locking up.”
“Okay.” Pause. “Be careful, alright?”
“I will.”
“I love you, Zaira.”
“And I love you.” I disconnected the call and slid my phone into the back pocket of my jeans before making my way over to Martin, who was still acting a little out of context to his personality.
“Hey.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “Where’s Larry?” I asked.
Martin gestured behind him with a thumb. “He left out the back door. Said he had some work to do at home.”
I tilted my head to the side. “But I thought you and him were going to lock up tonight, especially after Ross’s strict instructions of getting everything done perfectly. I didn’t peg you one for leaving such a responsibility to one of the juniors.”
He pushed hisLakerscap further down his forehead. “Umm, well Larry isn’t here anymore, and I can’t stay long because my girlfriend isn’t feeling too well. She’s having these contractions that are scaring her.”
“She’s due in January, though, isn’t she?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but she’s been having issues lately. I’ll have to take her to the doctor’s.”
Well, that explained his agitated behavior.
“Okay, I’ll lock up. You go take care of your girlfriend.”
Martin looked at me with an expression that made mereallylook at him. Like, stare at him for a solid minute or so.
Was it regret in his eyes, or was it hesitation on his face? I honestly couldn’t tell. All I knew was that it didn’t sit well with me.
“Thanks, Zaira; you’re the best,” he said, and then jogged past me and towards the exit.
“Martin?”
He stopped and looked at me. “Yeah?”
“Do let me know what the doctor says about the contractions,” I said to him.
He nodded, and with another stiff wave, walked out and headed for the crew parking lot.
I turned and looked around the equipment-filled, wire-flowing room. “Oh boy…” I muttered, and then, with a scowl on my face, I spat a few curses into the air and got to work.
