Infallible sociology wisdom. Anyhow…
She left the message dangling, retrieving her mug and pouring a healthy stream of oat milk into it, swirling the liquids together in irreversible thermalization.
Bannister
Are you trying to guess how I drink my coffee?
Erin
Maybe. Unless you drink it black. Then—don’t tell me.
She took a sip and waited…
Bannister
No. Definitely not black.
Bannister
You?
She added a second splash of oat milk.
Erin
I sometimes spike my creamer with coffee.
Bannister
Lawless.
Erin
My brothers tell me I’m a menace.
Bannister
I’d guess that you wear their warning with pride.
Erin
Absolutely right.
She crunched an apple at that, considering her next move until a new conversation arrived to yank her focus from her screen.
“Any good fishing this weekend?”
She spun around. “Fish—what—oh. Martina.” She exhaled.
Her friend shambled into the kitchenette, yawning a greeting. Despite being ringed with deep lavender shadows from a Sunday night shift, Martina’s eyes shone with mischief. She bumped her hip against Erin’s while she slotted a mug into the coffee machine. “Or maybe I should ask: anymoregood fishing?”
“I’m vegetarian.” She returned the hip check a bit harder than necessary.
“Shame. No raw…sushi… for you—”
“Martina!” Hot coffee went straight up her nose. She sputtered and grabbed a napkin. “Ugh—that’s—that’s just… no, but wait: why are you here? If you’ve finished your shift in the control room, shouldn’t you be heading home to a date with your bed?”
Undeterred, Martina handed her another tissue. “Why am I getting an espresso shot? Aside from the joy of seeing you snort coffee at sexual innuendos? Because Idohave a date this morning. But it’s with the Menlo Park city council. They’re trying to bulldoze the pocket park by our house to make room for some pricey outdoor exercise studio.”
