“You’re here early.”
“Couldn’t sleep,” Gwen said, forcing a half smile.
“What’s this new PTO request I’m seeing? I didn’t know you even knew how to submit PTO,” Melinda teased.
Gwen hesitated. “Maggie’s college friends are having a bachelorette weekend in Vegas.”
Melinda raised an eyebrow. “The ones from Denver that I forced you to see last week?”
Gwen nodded.
“You’re willingly attending a bachelorette party?” Melinda gave her a blank look, like she was trying to envision it.
“It’s a queer bachelorette party. There will be spreadsheets. And backup snacks. Possibly helmet rentals. It’s not that kind of party.”
“Uh-huh.” Melinda slid her hands into her pockets. “Just make sure someone else covers the rezoning call Monday. You going to need more days off before or after?”
“No,” Gwen said. “Just this weekend.”
Melinda studied her a moment longer, then gave a short nod. “You look like someone who could use it.”
Once she was gone, Gwen stood, stretched, and grabbed her phone. Her brother, Logan, had called twice yesterday. She owed him a conversation.
She stepped outside, letting the glass door thump shut behind her, and wandered to the edge of the plaza across the street. The sun was already hot, casting sharp shadows along the pavement. The firm’s building was sleek, modern, glassy… and completely lacking warmth.
Across the street, the old red-brick church stood stubborn and lovely, its steeple a jagged silhouette against the sky. Gwen had once biked past it nearly every day during undergrad and then her early years at the firm. She hadn’t even realized she’d missed that until now.
Her phone buzzed.
“There she is,” Logan said, voice wry. “You finally remembered how phones work.”
“Hi,” Gwen said. “Sorry. It’s been a week.”
“It’s Monday morning at 7:32 a.m.”
“Exactly.”
Gwen started pacing slowly, heel to toe along the concrete planter. “I did something.”
“Oh god. Did you murder someone at work? Do I need to google how to hide a body on a burner phone or something? Where do you even buy a burner phone?”
“The internet?” Gwen guessed. “Or, I don’t know, you live in Manhattan, I’m sure there’s a back alley with a guy in a trench coat lined with burner phonessomewherenear you.”
“I am not googling ‘where to buy burner phone NYC’ on my personal device immediately before you’re arrested for murdering a coworker,” Logan said dramatically.
Gwen grinned, rolling her eyes. “Okay, it’s worse than murder. It may possibly result in my own murder.”
“Worse than murder… Did you finally say yes to Jude wanting white-kid dreadlocks?” Logan asked.
Gwen laughed. “God, no. No, I mean, I said yes to going with Maggie’s friends on a bachelorette weekend in Vegas.”
There was a pause.
“And… Maggie is also going? The friends you’ve complained about not knowing you’re separated?” Logan clarified slowly.
Gwen made a noise of affirmation.
“Gwen…” Logan said softly, like he was waiting for more.
