Page 17

Crew

I don’t know why I did it. I don’t know why it matters that I sat beside her last night. Comforted her. I just… saw her… and I knew the anguish written on her face. I know what it’s like to be there. I know grief, and she was painted in it.

I couldn’t accept it. But now I’m contemplating whether I should have.

It’s Thursday which means that come Friday night, it will be my first full weekend shift, and it’s a busy one. Olivia has two weddings, and with how late the first ones were, I can only guess my entire sleep schedule is going to be fucked.

As if it isn’t already.

Olivia hasn’t come out of her room. I usually hear her wake at six or seven, but it’s nearing nine and her door only now creaks open. She softly pads to the bathroom as I finish my oatmeal and eggs.

It’s an odd routine to get ready in someone else’s house. To use their things and memorize their space. The thought dissipates when the bathroom door opens again and she creeps into the living room.

Chesna trails behind her, and I clear my throat when I realize Olivia’s wearing nothing but an oversized tee-shirt and a tiny pair of shorts. I avert my gaze from her bare legs, shoveling food into my mouth. She opens the hallway closet to scoop a cup of kibble into Chesna’s bowl.

“Good morning,” she calls softly.

“Morning.”

Do I acknowledge what happened last night?

At my silence, her gaze lifts and she smiles as she tracks into the kitchen behind me. She toys with the coffeemaker for a few moments before I hear her voice. “Do you want any?”

“I’ll have mine later. Thanks… Taylor is taking over early today. I have a couple of errands to run before this weekend.”

She hums in response, shrugging her slightly mused hair over her shoulder while digging around in the fridge for some creamer. Every sound, every lingering moment of silence, hangs in the air.

“About last night,” she begins, facing me as the coffee machine whirs.

“You have nothing to apologize for.”

She cocks a small smile. “I know. I just felt like I should explain. Or I did… but it happened. I wanted to say thank you.” She twists a golden strand of hair between her fingers, nervously. “For being there- and not expecting an explanation.”

It’s my job , I want to say, but it wouldn’t be the truth. I wouldn’t have done what I did last night for anyone else. The thought is jarring, and ultimately, I just don’t have an answer for why.

I settle for nodding. “You’re welcome.”

She smiles again- this time, it very nearly looks like a real smile- just as her brew finishes. She busies herself fixing her coffee.

Chesna finishes her food before jumping onto the counter across from me. Tail swishing, sunlight fans her face, sending a glow over her dark feline eyes.

I can’t say I’ve ever thought about having a pet of my own. I’m still fairly opposed to the idea of a cat as it is, but I down the last of my eggs before steeling my resolve.

“Why Chesna?”

Olivia’s eyes widen. I remember one of our last conversations:

“Take it or leave it.”

She smiles as if remembering it too.

My question is a white flag.

“It means ‘at peace.’ I forget where I heard it, but she’s always brought me that.” Olivia leans her hip against the counter. “That means you owe me a question now.”

“It does,” I say decidedly. “Use it wisely.”

Her eyes light with something devious. “What are you wearing tomorrow night?” The question catches me off-guard, and she must see it because she laughs. “To the wedding.”

“I have a uniform, Ms. Hughes.”

“Is it negotiable?”

“No. Is that really how you want to use your second question?” I huff a laugh, standing to my full height and flipping on the sink. I scrub my dishes as Chesna strolls over, watching me.

Olivia shrugs. “I’ll have other questions.”

“Well, I have one more,” I say, not bothering to test the waters any further. “When did Aleks ask you to plan his wedding?”

Her brows knit together, and I watch her mask slowly slip back into place. One moment, there’s the slightest glimpse of the vulnerable girl I saw last night. The next, she’s replaced with the other Olivia- the one I still can’t quite read.

“I saw him at an engagement party recently. He asked me then… and I said yes. We’ll meet later this week and hopefully set some things in stone.”

I nod, turning the information over in my head. The announcement was rather sudden.

“You’ll have to let me know how that goes.”

She blinks at the words, finally nodding with a curious smile. “Yeah. I guess I owe ya.”

My next question is cut off by the sound of Taylor keying into the flat. He smiles at us both, and when Olivia sees that he’s on a video call, she waves. “Hi, Lydia!”

Over the phone, Lydia squeals, and I grab my bag and exchange keys with Taylor as they go off on a tangent. Taylor shakes his head as Olivia holds his phone, listening to Lydia describe the new routine with the pregnancy and all. The two have become quick friends, and Taylor grins as I grab my helmet from the room.

“Here, I’ll give you back to your husband. I commandeered a bit, I’m sorry!”

“We’ll talk again soon, Liv! I’m actually going to nap. Love you, Bear! Have a safe shift.”

Taylor and Lydia say their goodbyes, and it isn’t until they hang up that Taylor grins at me. “Another hot date?”

I swat his shoulder. “Don’t be a dick.”

Olivia pours herself another mug of coffee, glancing at me curiously. “Her name’s Winter, right?”

For some reason, hearing the name from her mouth makes my heart stall. But it’s not grief that makes me narrow a look at Taylor.

He’s stirring shit up.

“It’s not a date. I visit her grave sometimes," I clarify, squeezing his shoulder as I pass. “Listening to him will get you into trouble.”

She considers the information silently, and when her eyes flicker between us, I don’t quite know what to make of the sudden understanding there. I take that as my cue to leave.

“Have a good day.”

“Bye,” she smiles smally, and when she strolls toward her room, I try my best not to watch her as she goes.