Page 52 of Talk Data To Me

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.”