“And it’s only going to get longer.”
“I’m making coffee. Do you want one?”
“I would love a coffee.”
“Anyone else out here want one? I can do a round.”
“Hang on.” He lifts the radio. “Let me check in. I’ll let you know in a minute. You go back inside. I’ll text if there are more takers.”
“Okay.” I nod.
He gives me a quick smile and lifts the radio to his mouth.
I turn and head back through the doors.
That’s it. That’s all I get?
Then again, he’s at work. We are both at work. This isn’t a date. He doesn’t owe me anything.
I keep telling myself that as I head back to the kitchen, and it mostly works.
I put a couple of clean mugs on the tray, and I’m just reaching for the sugar when my phone vibrates on the counter.
It’s Flint.
Two more coffees, please. Black for both. Thanks.
That’s the whole message. Not even a smiley face?
I stare at the screen for a second, then I put the phone down on the counter and finish making the coffee.
I take the mugs out to the loading bay on a tray. Flint is on the radio again when I push the door open with my hip. He hangs up and comes to me. Two of the other guards drift over from where they’ve been doing perimeter sweeps.
“You’re a lifesaver,” Flint says as he takes a mug. He winks at me. “Thanks, Carla.”
“Don’t mention it.” I keep my voice light.
The other two guards grab their coffees, thank me, and head back to their positions. Flint takes a sip and lets out a small noise of approval, and for a second his eyes hold mine over the rim of the mug. Then his radio crackles and he turns half away to listen.
That’s my cue.
“I’ll be inside if you need anything,” I say.
“Thanks so much. You’re a star.”
A star.
Right.
I go back through the doors.
I take my own mug back to my desk and sit.
I yawn and take a sip of my coffee, looking through Robyn’s emails. Best I get tomorrow’s work out of the way, or I won’t be able to go home.
“Tired?” a deep voice to my right says.
I jump.
