"How are things going with Connor?" Gabby asked sitting in the back of the rig.
Annabeth sighed looking up from the paperwork she was filling out.
"He's gorgeous, fun, so smart…" She started.
"But not the one?" Gabby asked.
"We went out a few times" She nodded "It just kind of fizzled out, our shifts don't exactly match, he works more hours than me."
"It never seemed to affect Jonah's dating life" Gabby smirked.
"Jonah didn't date, he just, well, you know" She smirked.
"Slept around" Gabby finished for her.
"We both know fine well he wasn't doing much sleeping" She said rolling her eyes setting her list down "Maybe I should have done that with Connor."
"When was the last time you…you know?" Gabby asked.
Annabeth knew she didn't need to answer. Her gaze travelled all the way over to Severide all on its own. She was in the middle of maybe one of her longest dry spells ever. She didn't sleep around but she wasn't a prude either and a woman had needs.
"I can set…" Gabby started.
Annabeth held a hand up before she could finish.
"I love Lemon and all of her efforts and best wishes for me" She said firmly "What I love about you as my other best friend is that you are nothing like Lemon and aren't trying to fix me up all the time."
"Ok" Gabby said holding her hands up in surrender "But I did a good job last time, so if you want to at least have some fun, I'll work my magic."
"What are you two gossiping about?" Kelly asked heading over "Doesn't Casey have anything for you to do?"
"Just the weather" Gabby shrugged standing up "There's been a real dry spell lately, we're hoping it might rain soon."
"Is she ok?" Kelly asked as Gabby walked away throwing a smirk over her shoulder.
"Nope" Annabeth replied shaking her head "I'm worried she might have hit her head on that last call, she's been talking all kinds of nonsense."
Without realising what she was doing she took a step back. She didn't know if she was falling for Kelly again or If it was just the fact, he was the last man she'd been with and it had been months but she was painfully aware of how close he was standing to her. He furrowed his brow but didn't comment on it.
"Is everything ok?" She asked picking up her check sheet again.
"Yeah" He nodded "I just wanted to ask how it was working out with Jimmy so far?"
Annabeth felt the smile pulling at her lips. A lot had changed in the last few shifts. Kelly had gotten Chilli the help she needed but it meant to had left 51. Stella Kidd had started on truck 81, Gabby had done nothing but sing her praises and she seemed like an amazing woman, but Annabeth was still getting to know her. She felt bad that Jimmy had lost his spot, but it was so good to work with someone she knew rather than getting to know a new partner all over again or deal with some of the people in the floater rotation.
"Good" She replied, "I am starting to think I may be cursed though."
"You believe in curses?" He said, his face lighting up with amusement "Why doesn't that surprise me."
Annabeth had to bite her tongue from telling him about the gypsy curse Lemon had put on the Belle's to stop any of them from getting pregnant before her. Zoe had insisted it was a fear response to Lemon that kept them all from conceiving, and she could see that side, she was still relieved when Lemon lifted it all the same.
"It was really great what you did for Chilli" She said changing the subject "You're a good man Kelly Severide."
"Someone looked out for me when I was in a bad spot" He shrugged.
"Modest too, it's a good look on you" She teased.
"Do you want to go to Mouch's wedding with me?" He asked quickly "As friends, or Trudy's going to stick me at a table with all her single friends and I don't know if I can handle that."
Annabeth tried to ignore the pain in her chest at the word friends. Kelly was her friend, there was nothing wrong with that.
She looked up as the bells went off for Ambulance 51.
"Sure" She replied putting on her best smile "I better go."