Page 33 of Gates of Tartarus

“Kailani’s going to be joining Gaia?” That might be fun; although, I think with a pang, would I really want to leave the guys?

“That’s what I’m hoping. She, like you, needs some time to think it over, and you two can now commiserate about how pushy and nosy I am; but, I’m afraid in my position, one gets used to asking upfront and not taking ‘no’ for an answer. Gaia wouldn’t have survived otherwise. But that’s enough shop talk. How do you like living in London and what do you miss about San Francisco?”

The conversation slips comfortably into a discussion of British versus American culture, our backgrounds and families, likes and dislikes. Elizabeth is intelligent and well-traveled and has a knack of putting people, well, women at least, at ease. I can see why she’s been so successful. I can tell she’d be a good boss, and by the time I leave, I’m seriously considering her offer.

Magic 8 Ball

Thursday, 8 November – Kailani

Wednesday was a nothing day, surprisingly, with Walker and Maddox gone, busy briefing their Babylon contact. The whole day felt like a lot of hurry up and wait. To their credit, Madds and Walker both seemed unhappy that the rest of the team wasn’t allowed to join the meeting, but since none of us had signed onofficiallywith Babylon, rather than in “advisory roles”, so to speak, we weren’t fully allowed into the club, which is pretty understandable to be honest. Jonah and Deo and I spent the morning training – our working out together is routine enough now that it’s fun. We’ve learned each other’s weaknesses, and it makes it more exciting to spar, especially since Jonah’s stopped babying me.

The rest of the day was spent reviewing information, planning for Friday’s “date”, and working on some new meditation techniques Hideo had been reading about. He spent a lot of his down time doing research into things that could improve my abilities, as well as my shielding. He wanted me to try “one-word meditation”, which was a universal disaster for all three of us, and we gave up, leaving work early since we had no word from the other two. It was raining hard enough that Jonah dropped me off at the ferry, and Gemma and I ended up spending a quiet night reading books by the fire.

This morning I wake with the rain still pouring and curse my choice of living in Seattle.Why the fuck hadn’t I settled on someplace like Hawaii?I think, pulling my covers over my head and groaning. Riiiiight. The plane ride. And the possible distant family. No. Too much for this early.

“Gemms?” I call out pathetically, brain still foggy from sleep and strange dreams, and she bounces in while tying back her bright hair.

“Sup, girl?” she asks.

“Can I have a ride to the ferry? My bike’s still at work.”

She nods thoughtfully, clearly working through some rearrangements of plans in her head. “Yeah,” she replies slowly. “I wasn’t due in until ten or so, but I can go in early and get some paperwork done.”

“You don’t have to,” I reply, voice muffled under my blanket. “I can walk. I think we have an umbrella.”

“No!” she says, clearly having made up her mind and warming to the idea. “If we leave in ten, we can grab brekkie before! We haven’t done breakfast in the city in ages! What’s on the way to your place? I haven’t been in months.”

“We can go to that place by the bus stop. You can drop me off there.”

She flings her body dramatically on the bed beside me, wriggling under the covers, then pulling them back over both our heads. “No,” she says softly. “I’ll take you the whole way. I’m not used to this new schedule – you’re going in every day instead of your contracted days; you’re getting back late at night; you’ve been exhausted from shielding all the timeplusthe amount of work you’re doing. If you didn’t seem... not happy exactly, but at least interested or excited about your work, I’d be more on you to take a break. And I know I’ve been a little... um… busy… with Hook lately. So girl time would be awesome.”

I waggle my eyebrows at her and do a poor imitation of Groucho Marx: “Busy, yeah? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

She blushes, bright pink even under the covers. “Well, I haven’t had a boyfriend in a while. I’m trying to do it right this time.”

“You’re doing great,” I assure her. “He’s really nice, butyou’rereally amazing, and he’s lucky to have you.”

She smacks me lightly, obviously a little embarrassed but also clearly thankful for the support. “Aaaaaanyways,” she begins, clearly changing the subject, “what’s near the office that has a decent breakfast and outside seating?”

“Frangipanes?”

“OOoooo! Almond croissants! Yes, please! Get dressed, you lazy bitch! Let’s go!” She pops out of bed, pulling the covers with her, and runs to get ready. “Up, Up, Up!” she sings cheerfully from the hallway, and for a brief second, I have to remind myself of why we’re friends.

???

After breakfast Gemms drops me at work, and as I walk in, my phone dings with Lachy’s ringtone. Glancing down, I check the message he sent and smile in spite of myself.

Time to stop avoiding me. Movie night Saturday with Gemma and Hook? Don’t make it weird.

I laugh quietly. We used to say that to each other all the time when we first started living in the cottage. After the first time I baked for him, it became a routine thing; but I was so uncomfortable in the beginning with anyone other than Gemma that I didn’t know how to handle his honest “thank you’s”. The first time I’d dropped off beignets and he’d been effusive in his praise and gratefulness, it had made me feel so awkward I’d just muttered, “Don’t make this weird” and scuttled away like a little crab. I blush even now thinking about what a cave person I’d been at the time.

Not long after, he’d had Gemma and me over for a movie night, and I’d passed out in his chair again. When I’d woken up I’d been super apologetic, and he looked at me very seriously and said, “It’s fine. Don’t make it weird.” And ever since then it’s been a thing between us.

Fine,I write back.But Gemma and I pick the movie.

There’s a long pause, where he’s clearly deciding what to type, the three dots lighting up and disappearing, but his final answer makes me grin.

The magic 8 ball says outlook uncertain.