“Oh! Let me pay for that,” a female voice, that sounds vaguely familiar, says from behind me. I turn to see the last person I ever expected to pay for my coffee standing there.
Mara.
“Oh. Mara. Hi. You don’t have to do that.”
“No, no, no. I insist! I think we got off on the wrong foot.”You mean you got off on Chadd’s dick in the flight deck when you weren’t supposed to be in there? Yeah…I’d say that’s getting off on thewrong foot. “Let me get your coffee. I’d like to apologize for earlier, and…catch up. Join me? I was just ordering another.”
I think about the literally ticking time bomb sitting in my apartment, my stomach still rolling from what could be waiting when I get back. “I really should get going. It’s a big day.”
“Just one coffee. Please?” She places her hand on my arm. “I really want to make it up to you. I don’t have a lot of female friends, and with you and Chadd working together, I’d like to at least be on good terms.”
Shit.I really don’t want to talk to her, but…goddammit,why did she choose today to be nice?Ugh. I suppose I should not be a total bitch and just hear her out.
“Sure. One coffee won’t hurt.”
“My table is right over there by the bathroom. Seriously…go have a seat. I’ll grab our drinks.”
I smile politely and walk over to where I see her laptop and her infamous sunglasses.I cannot figure this girl out.But, then again, I had very preconceived notions about my own man at one point, convinced he was the furthest thing from what he really is. I tap my fingers on the table.Maybe I should give her a chance, too.
She sets our drinks down and takes a seat across from me. I take a sip and Grilled Cheesus, this coffee is glorious, even if it’s a little bitter today. They probably switched to a dark roast, but I don’t even care. This extra shot isexactlywhat I need. I need coffee like I need oxygen.
“Thanks for sitting with me for a bit. I just wanted to apologize for what you walked in on with Chadd and me. We got caught up in the moment, and…you know how it is traveling with someone you’re seeing. Sometimes you just can’t resist.”
A smile sneaks out before I can stop her from seeing, thinking back to how I’ve dreamed about mounting my own boyfriend in the flight deck on multiple occasions.
“I get it. And I appreciate the apology. Most people wouldn’t do that. How are things going with you and, um…Chadd?” I ask, barely able to say his name without bile rising in my throat.
“Oh, fine. He’s really helped me out a lot. As I said, I really don’t have many friends here in town, so he’s helped me kill time and have someone to hang out with. And he’s helping with a little side project I have going on.”
I let out a loud yawn, not realizing how tired I was when I walked over here. I take another huge gulp of my coffee, obviously needing a stronger dose of caffeine.Maybe I should have gotten two extra shots in this.
“Sorry, it’s not you, I’m just tired from a lot of travel lately. He’s helping you with a project? He doesn’t seem like a DIY type of guy.”
She grins, something hidden behind her eyes.
“We have a few similar interests, so it works out. How are things with Jordan Boucher? I have to admit, I’m a little jealous. You guys seem to be pretty serious.”
I grip the coffee in my hand a little tighter than usual. But despite my irritation with her saying she’s jealous, I still can’t help the way my heart pounds thinking about him. “Yeah. It’s pretty serious. He’s amazing.”
“Amazing, huh?” She taps her lip, her gaze sharp. “Interesting. That’s not a word I would have ever thought to use with Jordan.”
I let out another yawn. God, I am so fucking tired all of a sudden. I pick at the sleeve on the cup, fighting to stay awake. Not to mention it’s a nice distraction from the near certainty that I’m not walking back to a negative result with this sudden exhaustion. “Yeah. He’s not quite what?—”
As soon as the words leave my mouth, my stomach churns, and the room starts to spin.Oh God, this is a repeat of what happened at Walt’s.
“Kennedy…are you okay?” Mara asks in a concerned voice.
Fuck, I amnotokay. “I’m…you know, I’m not feeling well. I think I should be going.”
“You look really pale. Let’s get you in the bathroom. It’s right here. You look like you might be sick.”
She’s fucking right. “Yeah…I do feel like I might be sick.”
“Here, let me help you up,” she says, helping me from my chair as she walks me down the hallway toward the bathroom. I can’t even keep my eyes open.What is happening?And just as quickly as we approach the door to the restroom, it passes by, and she leads me outside the back door of the coffee shop.
“Mara…” I fight to drag my heels, but my body is not cooperating. “Where…where are we going? The bathroom was right there. Whose car is this?” I can barely finish my sentence as she opens the car door.
“I think you need to go to the emergency room,Kenni.You don’t look like you’re feeling very well.”
