Callie sits across from me, handing me a paper Dixie Cup with something bubbly in it. “They didn’t have a Perrier, but they do have club soda, which is pretty much the same thing.”
“Thanks,” I say, even though she couldn’t be more wrong. Not all sparkling waters are created equal. But I don’t want to be rude, so I put the cup to my lips and take a small sip.
“You two know each other?” As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I roll my eyes at myself. Of course they know each other.
“We’re both interns at the observatory,” Callie says.
“I came here on an exchange program through my high school in April. Loved it so much, I decided to stay as an intern this summer.”
“It’s all part of our master plan. Next we’re going to convince you to finish your senior year at Blaire High. Isn’t that right, Supernova?” Callie pokes his side teasingly with her finger. He squirms, laughing.
“Supernova?” Gavin quirks a brow up at Brennan. “Because…astronomy?”
“That and because he’s from NOVA—Northern Virginia, that is,” Callie clarifies.
“But also because I’m super,” Brennan adds, flexing his arm for emphasis. And, boy, does it emphasize the appeal of his physique.
“I knew I detected a mid-Atlantic accent.” I delicately tap his hand.
Brennan tips a confirming head at me. “Fairfield, Virginia. Born and raised.”
“And…Calamity?” Gavin asks.
“Don’t you know?” Brennan chuckles. “She’s a walking disaster.”
“I’m not that bad.” Callie laughs along with him. “My full name is actually Calamity Jane Hartford. My parents have a mutual shared love of the Wild West.”
I stifle a snort. That’s the most hillbilly thing I’ve ever heard. But so far what I’ve seen of Callie is nothing but kindness, so I keep the thought to myself. The two of them seem to have some kind of close rapport, like they’re family. Well, not likemyfamily. But what I imagine other families to be like.
“How did y’all meet?” Brennan points to the three of us.
“Callie was nice enough to lend us money at the convenience store when we didn’t have any,” Gavin says.
“Not because we’re, like, poor or anything,” I quickly add. Jesus, is Gavin on a mission to make us look like pathetic losers? Because that’s about the only thing he’s succeeding at right now. “We’re only here for a short while, so we’re not used to not using our phones to pay for things.”
“That’s right. Gavin told me you’re making some improvements on your place to rent it out,” Brennan recalls. “And I totally get it. It took me a minute to get used to not using my phone here.”
“What about you two? How’d you two meet?” Callie asks Brennan and Gavin.
“Gavin was the only one who showed up for the tour today, so he was stuck with me.”
“Honestly I feel like I lucked out. I basically got a private tour of the place,” Gavin says.
“We ended early, so I offered to buy Gavin a drink at Blaire’s finest dining option.”
This janky cafe is Blaire’s finest?
“Just kidding,” Brennan adds, as if he can read my mind. “Blaire’s only dining option.”
I’m about to laugh until I realize Brennan is being serious. “One restaurant for the entire town?” I gape.
“I couldn’t believe it when I got here either,” Brennan says. “But working here has shown me how challenging it is to run a fully functioning business that’s compliant with the National Radio Quiet Zone. With all the regulations, small businesses aren’t able to make a profit in a town like this.”
“Doesn’t the town get assistance from the government?” Gavin asks.
“The observatory gets funding, but it’s not enough,” Callie explains. “That’s why a lot of our stores, like this cafeteria and the convenience store, quadruple to cover all our needs. And because food is expensive to transport into town since we’re so far out of the way, a lot of it is locally sourced. I may be biased, but I think it tastes better than any gourmet restaurant out there.”
“It’s true.” Brennan nods. “They have an extensive menu, and they try to change it frequently.”
