And then, there was Marla. My Em. My best friend. She snored softly on the couch, and I couldn’t help but smile. I walked over and perched on the edge of the couch next to her hip, fully intent on just watching over things.
Until she peeked an eye open.
“Sorry,” I muttered as I reached out and rubbed her leg. “Didn’t mean to wake you.”
She grunted as she pushed herself upright. “You didn’t.”
I giggled. “You looked pretty asleep.”
She smoothed her hair away from her forehead. “One eye open, and all that.”
I tilted my head. “You worried?”
She shook her head. “Just miss him, that’s all.”
“Me, too.”
She smiled tiredly at me. “Yeah? You miss Doc?”
I smiled back at her. “Yeah, I do.”
She kicked me playfully with her foot. “I like you two together. He really complements you.”
“I could hear him rattle on about anything any day of the week.”
Em shoved herself in my direction until we sat next to one another. She laid her head on my shoulder and yawned. “I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve talked.”
I nuzzled my cheek against her head. “I know. Things have been so crazy lately.”
“We’ve been in the same damn house living together with all of these other women, and we still barely talk.”
I snickered, but her words had my heart heavy. “I’m sorry.”
She linked her arm with mine. “Me, too. I’ve been a bit wrapped up in Ranger and?—”
“Hush now,” I said before I kissed her head mindlessly. “No justifications. Ranger’s a good guy, and he’s good for you.”
She picked her head up and looked at me. “You think so?”
“I know so. I see how he looks at you. How he dotes on you. How he still worries over you, even though, according to Doc, you’ve healed quite well.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself, you know.”
I flicked my hair over my shoulder a bit. “Well, I do try.”
We leaned our heads together and I closed my eyes. The silence with my best friend was nice. Sometimes silence was how we connected. Just sitting with one another felt like such a productive activity. Like parallel play, but for adults.
I couldn’t help the question out of my mouth, though.
“You think they’ll be back tonight?”
Marla snuggled down against my shoulder. “I hope so.”
“Do you think they told anyone their plans?”
“No, I think they’ve kept it in between the crews this time.”
“You think that’s why Anna’s so worried? Because she doesn’t know what King’s up to this time?”
