Thank you for the comments. I enjoyed reading all of them, even the ones that questioned my sanity. :) Yes, this is a very angst-filled story but if you can trust me (I said in my most soothing tone) then it should be a fun ride. Hope you enjoy this latest installment.
"Wait? You hooked up with Holly? Was this today?"
A shirtless Chris looked in the mirror at the reflection of Gail, who sat on the bed in the center of the room. Confusion caused his voice to hitch. Gail leaned against the foot of the bed and massaged her temple. She felt drained, partly because of the day she was experiencing, and the rest because of the day she knew was coming her way.
After she exchanged phone numbers with Holly, Gail and Sophie continued touring the center. While Sophie's excitement never waned, Gail's mind was drowning in the mess that was her past and present. Strange did not begin to describe how it felt exchanging numbers with Holly.
For a year after Holly left, Gail had kept the same number in case Holly called. She refused to change it even when her plan required it. Changing her number felt like cutting another tie to the woman who lived a country away but always seemed so close to her in her heart and mind.
Gail finally changed her phone number when she started a family plan with Chris. It was cheaper he argued. When she received her new phone number, she mourned the loss of her old one as she would mourn the loss of a friend. In many ways, it was the same. A lot of the officer's hopes slipped away with that minor change.
Years later, the exact moment she decided to move on from Holly still stabbed at her soul. She thought about sitting peacefully in her room and ruminating on the day and, in general, the weird road her life had taken her. But really she just wanted to sleep, lose the day in a vague dream. But the day had other plans for her.
Just when she thought her day could not get any more stressful, Chris appeared and asked about her day out with Sophie. Her inquisitive husband was doing his absolute best to irritate her. Of course, with Chris, irritation was often par for the course. It was the unwanted visitor that mingled in the background waiting for its chance to strike. Still she loved the guy. After all he helped her get the best part of her life, Sophie.
"When did you meet up with Holly?" Chris asked as he grabbed the bottle of cologne and sprayed it all over his chest. Gail grimaced. She was sure he bought the funky smell at one of the low rated stores he and Nick stopped at routinely during their boys' nights. She wondered if he would get a rash from wearing such cheap cologne. It would not be the first time.
She looked at him and saw his eyes closely watching on her. Gail had seen that look before. She was a cop too. She knew when an interrogation was coming.
"I did not meet up with Holly, Chris. I did not hook up with Holly. Sophie and I ran into her at the Science Centre."
"And now you want us to go to a little girl's birthday party with her?" Chris shook his head, puzzled by what Gail relayed to him. But that was not her fault. Gail knew Chris's attention was split. He was more focused on the night ahead.
"Chris, why would you think I would want to go to a thirteen-year-old's birthday party with Holly? She is the one throwing the party. Or kind of anyway."
"Holly's got a kid?" Chris's head twisted to her in shock. Gail rolled her eyes sending the friendly but clear message that he was a moron.
"The girl is the same girl I told about earlier. Remember Sophie and the rocket?"
Chris nodded and turned back to the mirror. "I don't know, Gail." He shook his head warily as he put on his watch. "I mean this is Holly we are talking about. Why would you want to go to this birthday party? This seems like trouble."
"Sophie wants to go to the party," Gail said.
"Sophie also wants a pony," Chris countered.
Gail rolled her eyes as she watched Chris comb his fingers through his hair. This was the man she had seriously promised forever. And so far, she had kept that promise for nearly four years. She leaned back to get a good look at him.
Gail remembered the exact moment he asked her to marry him. She did not cry from his proposal because she had already been in tears when he found her at the Penny. Her life felt empty, void of meaning and importance.
Chris had promised to give it both when he slid the ring on her finger. He expected her to freak out. Surprisingly she did not. She listened to him as he proposed a different kind of partnership than their usual partners in crime fighting. And after his speech, she surprised herself by saying yes.
That was four years ago. In four years, she rebuilt her life with Sophie and Chris. She embraced her love of being a beat cop, and settled into a calm life with family, friends and work.
Looking at what she had now, a fear of losing it all pressed down on her chest, forcing her to breathe deeply, slowly. She reminded herself, as she often did, that her life as she knew it was not in jeopardy. It was working.
But tonight that reminder strangely felt hollow. The fear increased in her. But Gail could not name the danger. She could not put it into any firm thought. She forced it to remain vague in her mind. But she knew it was there.
Gail felt a warming sense of gratitude as Chris grabbed the new navy blue shirt lying on the bed beside her. She looked up at the small town boy that helped her rebuild her life, her eyes clouded with emotion.
"Chris, I really don't want to go to this birthday party."
His hands stilled from tucking in his shirt. She could see that he heard the warning in her darker yet softer tone. He looked calmly at Gail, scanning her expression for clues.
"Let's not go then."
Gail let out a long-suffering sigh and slid off the bed to her feet. She grabbed the crimped parts of Chris' shirt sticking out of the waistband of his coal black trousers. She gave him a self-depreciating smile, and adjusted his shirt so it was neat and properly placed.
"Sophie wants to go. She gave Jodi a rocket. Your rocket I believe."
Chris shook his head and grabbed her hands to stop her fidgeting.
"You spoil her."
Gail shrugged. "I love her."
Chris made a gruff, disapproving noise before he stepped away from Gail. He grabbed his jacket off the back hanger on the door and slid it on.
"We're going to this party, aren't we?" Chris asked already knowing the answer.
"Yes. It looks like it."
Chris nodded in acceptance, opening the door to their room. The immediate sounds of computer generated laughter filled the house. Gail and Chris guessed correctly Sophie was watching another one of her silly tween-targeted shows. The two shared a smile at how well they knew their daughter and headed downstairs.
"Chris, make sure you have your key this time. If you beat on the door after midnight again-"
"I know, Gail," Chris interrupted her tirade. "I'm not going to wake Sophie up. Here's hoping I won't be home until morning." Chris stopped at the base of the steps and grinned like a teenager going to the playboy mansion.
"You are disgusting," Gail grimaced and punched him in the arm. Chris laughed.
"The ladies apparently like me that way." He laughed harder as the two entered the living room. Sophie heard their laughter. It drew her towards them like a magnet. Her grin fell when she noticed Chris had on his jacket.
"You're leaving?" She whined as she rushed him and threw herself into his arms. At thirteen, she was getting tougher to lift, but Chris did not let it stop him.
"Sorry sweetie." Chris swung the girl into his arms as if she weighed less than a piece of paper. "I have to go. But I'll be back in time to take you to school."
"What about dinner?" She looked at Gail with fear in her eyes. She slid out of her dad's arms, her eyes screaming false fear. "Please tell me mom's not cooking?"
Gail threw out a fake laugh as she gently pressed her fingers into the girl's side and tickled her.
"I'm ordering pizza."
"Pizza!" Sophie cheered. She gave Chris another conciliatory smile. "Sure you don't want to stick around, Dad?"
Chris grabbed his chin dramatically, pretending to really thinking it over.
"Well, you are my favorite girl."
"And mom's your second favorite," Sophie piped in.
"Of course." Chris grinned at Gail. Gail rolled her eyes at his utter silliness.
"I would stay and play..." Chris paused for great effect. He turned pseudo angry eyes on Sophie.
"But someone gave away my rocket!" He rushed toward the little girl earning him a huge squeal. She tried to dodge him but Chris was too swift. He swept her in his arms again, tickling her until she yelled with laughter.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Sophie repeated until Chris finally put her down. Her feet hit the floor, and her arms went immediately around him as she gazed at him adoringly. Chris looked just as lovingly back into those sweet shining eyes.
"No you're not." He replied with a huge grin. "Cause it got you into a birthday party."
Sophie's eyes shuffled from one parent to another. "I can go?"
Chris nodded. "Thank your mom."
Sophie screamed her thanks as she jumped into Gail's arms. She nearly knocked Gail down. Gail and Chris shared a humorous look.
"Yes, you're going." Gail kissed her forehead. "Now go back to the living room. Your show is coming on."
Sophie spun towards the television. Chris picked her up before she could run and gave her one more kiss. He then sat her feet down on the floor. Sophie ran back to the sofa and her favorite show. Chris and Gail watched her, their eyes full of love. The moment was broken when Chris's phone beeped. He looked down at it and smiled.
"That's Nick. Stephanie and Joanne will be there."
"Horn dog." Gail whispered, elbowing Chris. He pretended to feel the pain, then shrugged with a lecher's smile.
"It's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it." He kissed Gail's forehead and skipped to their front door. Gail chuckled at the nut-ball she married. How was this guy her best friend? He opened the door and stepped out, then peaked back through the door before closing it.
"Don't wait up." Chris waved his eyebrows then closed the door. Gail laughed. Awful clothing. Horrible cologne. And Nick as his wingman. Gail wondered how he ever got laid. She rolled her eyes. Their marriage was not the most conventional, but it worked for them. And she would keep it that way, no matter what.
Gail gave another fleeting look at the closed door, making sure it was locked. She then made her way to her laughing daughter, thinking of their pizza order as she picked up the phone.
Gail quietly counted to ten to ease the fast beating of her heart as Chris knocked on the front door of the extravagant two-story house. Whoever lived in the home definitely had taste. From the lush green front yard to the roman style entrance, the home was obviously a statement of a grandiose life.
As the door opened, Gail clutched Sophie's hand in hers. She felt Chris give her shoulder a gentle squeeze and realized she must look as nervous as she felt. She silently reprimanded her nerves for feeling nervous. It was just a kid's birthday party. There was no reason to feel anything but dread.
Her fast beating heart dropped when she saw an unknown brunette open the door. She was not the brunette Gail was expecting. This woman was taller than Holly, willowy and annoyingly beautiful. And she was smiling.
"Welcome. Come in. Come in." She ordered, not wasting any breath. Her smile was so open and genuine enough that it made Gail want to wretch. Gail tried to remove the twisted expression from her face but found that it was plastered well in place. Luckily Chris had the manners Gail sorely lacked.
"Thanks." Chris said as the three of them stepped into the foyer. "Sorry we're late. I think we missed the turn a couple of times."
"Four times, Dad." Sophie chimed in innocently. "You remember you kept saying a bad word. And mom reminded you I was in the car."
"Thanks sweetie." Chris muttered, hugging Sophie to his side. His cheeks turned red with embarrassment. Gail smirked at his discomfort. She decided to save him from his awkwardness although she was enjoying it.
"Sophie baby, it sounds like the other kids are playing out back." Gail could hear their yelps and gleeful laugher just past the doors.
"Yes! You should join them. They are through the side doors to the left," The mystery woman supplied, pointing in the direction she described. She did not have to tell Sophie twice. The little girl handed Gail her wrapped gift and rushed towards the backyard. The three adults watched her enthusiasm with a smile.
"So that's Sophie. We have heard so much about her and the rocket." The woman chuckled as she took Gail and Chris' coats. "I'm Meagan, Holly's girlfriend. Rachel would have opened the door but she had a little emergency."
"That's fine. I'm Gail and this is Chris, my wacky little husband." Gail said wryly. Chris shot Gail a look, warning her to cool it before she had even begun.
"It's so nice to meet you." The woman's smile widened. "Holly has told me a lot about you as well."
Gail shared a glance with Chris as the air in the room tightened. Questions worked through her mind. Just how much Holly had shared with the woman? She did not have to wonder for long.
"Holly speaks so fondly of District 15. I know she worked for the morgue, but she considered you all to be her colleagues as well.
Ah, coworkers. Gail internally rolled her eyes. She was pretty sure this Meagan had absolutely no idea how close Holly had gotten to a particular "colleague".
Gail nodded slyly. "Well, we were just one big ole family."
She thought about sharing more with the grinning woman when Chris flashed her another look. He knew what she was thinking, the bastard. Gail frowned but accepted that Chris was right. She would control her darker impulses.
Gail worked out what bland story to share, but she did not get the chance to share it. They were interrupted by a very out of breath Holly, who entered the house giggling to herself. She looked at them and grinned.
"Sophie started a conga line outside while the adults were busy. I have no idea how she talked so many people into it so quickly." Holly laughed.
"Look at her parents, Holly." Chris said proudly. "She's bound to know the charmer's art of persuasion."
"I've seen you in action. She gets it all from me." Gail joked as she gave Chris a small shove. Chris shook his head. She could see he was still very proud of himself.
Chris went into a story about the last dance line he started, defending himself from Gail's assertion. Gail paid him no attention. Her eyes had drifted to Holly and she cursed herself for it. Because now that they were on her, she struggled to get them to move.
They traveled down Holly's body, refusing to overlook any part of her. The world around Gail began to slow down and fade as Holly took over her complete focus. She could hear Chris talking beside her, but it sounded like white noise coming from a great distance.
Holly wore a thin white blouse and simple light blue slacks. Gail thought she looked amazing. The lighter colors seem to create a playful yet sexy aura around her. It also helped that the whistle she wore around her neck slip seductively under her neckline. How had she gotten hotter with time?
Gail's eyes drifted until they fell on Holly's curious ones and held. They had caught each other looking. Neither of them felt guilty of their scrutiny of the other. Gail could see in Holly's eyes what she was feeling.
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. At the center the day before, she'd had trouble reading Holly, and she blamed it on time. But now, when she looked into Holly's beautiful brown eyes, she had no trouble guessing the her state. Maybe her relationship with Holly was like riding a bike for the first time in years. There was a period of adjustment but eventually everything would right itself.
Gail saw her own nerves reflected in Holly's eyes. She warmed at the realization that she could still cause some emotion in the doctor and offered her a small smile. Holly bit the back of her bottom lips and returned the gesture. And Gail melted inside. She let herself get lost in the moment before Chris barking out her name ruined it.
"Gail."
Gail twisted her head so sharply towards Chris, she felt a fleeting pain in her neck. She told him what she thought of his interruption with her sour expression.
"What?" She bit out.
"Don't you think it's time to join the party?" Chris raised his eyebrows at her, silently reminding her of where she was. Gail needed to come to her senses. Only she did not want to.
"Chris, I don't think we are actually joining the party, unless you plan to jump in the castle with the kids." Gail saw his interest jump exponentially.
She turned back to Holly and Meagan with a frozen grin and found them both watching her, one with a more inquisitive gaze. The other set of eyes caused her stomach to do awkward little jumps.
"There are plenty of adults out there," Meagan offered stiffly. She looked from Gail to Holly with questions in her eyes. "We're planning a get to know you game later."
The idea of participating caused Gail to wince. Holly saw it and chuckled.
"I think Gail would rather be in the bouncing castle."
"Or you could just point me to the nearest coat closet." Gail groaned. Holly shook her head while continuing to giggle. Gail smiled, enjoying the sound.
"I don't understand. I already have your coats." Meagan frowned. Gail restrained from rolling her eyes when Holly patted her girlfriend's back and leaned into her ear.
"Inside joke," she whispered.
"Oh." That knowledge did not remove the sour expression on Meagan's face.
Gail pushed herself to appear aloof yet friendly, something she had learned through years of being a Peck. Her push strengthened as she watched Meagan slide her long hands along the back of Holly's neck. She kept her mask on although the sight made her want to punch a wall. Cool it Gail, her mind ordered her emotions.
Meagan grabbed the string connected to the whistle, pulling it over Holly's head. "Why don't I hang these coats up, then take over the party? You talk to your friends."
Meagan leaned in and gave Holly a long kiss, pulling Holly into an embrace. Gail rolled her eyes at the display. Instead of watching them, she walked further into the home. When Meagan was finally able to pull herself away from Gail, she gave a small nod at everyone and disappeared deeper into the home, presumably to put up their coats.
"That was some goodbye." Chris whistled as he and Holly followed Gail into the house.
Holly chuckled uncomfortably. "She's just very affectionate."
"So is a puppy." Gail grumbled snidely. "That's what the rolled up newspaper is for."
Chris stifled a laugh. The snide remark fell on deaf ears though when it came to Holly. She ignored it and pointed to the bar.
"How about I make you guys a drink?"
Gail' ears perked up. "Forget about hello. Holly, you had me at that."
Gail finished off her third sample of the bourbon hidden behind the bar with a smile on her face. She did not know where the homeowners had imported the smooth liquor from, but it was really the best she had ever tasted.
She noticed a calm come over her as she leaned against the bar. She had stayed inside the home for this reason. She relaxed while Holly and Chris went on a tour of the home then joined the party. Gail did not know what the two talked about as they walked the homes hallway, but she noted their strained expressions when they headed outside.
The laughter and general noise from the gathering drew Gail's attention out passed the side doors once. But it was an excursion she regretted immediately. Within minutes she had been forced into an idiotic conversation with a bunch of suburban moms, then had to watch what she considered to be a ridiculous amount of acts of affection between Holly and her girlfriend. Gail retreated back to the safety of the bar. Because who really needed to see Holly and Meagan doing the twist? Not Gail!
Safely back inside, Gail heard a deep bellow of a laugh that could only belong to Chris and shook her head. She was sure he was leading a pack of kids through the backyard as they ripped apart everything they saw. And Sophie would be on his shoulders cheering him on. Chris was just a big kid himself. One of the many reasons Sophie loved him.
Gail knew she should probably be out there with them. But she also knew that Chris and Sophie would understand why she stayed away. Both knew she hated people, everyone besides them at least.
She tried to pinpoint when her family had become her number one priority. She really did credit Chris with bringing them all together, though she would never tell him that. Gail had been distraught when the judge ruled it would be in Sophie's best interest to go with a new family. Gail never really had the proper living arrangements, employment and support system to win his approval.
After the hearing, she spiraled out of control. She lost the love of her life to become a mother. But after nearly five months of trying, she lost her chance at becoming a mother. A deep depression settled in. A depression Chris recognized and understood. His own brief brush with parenthood had left a huge hole in his life, a hole not even drugs could cover.
After several months of late nights drenched in alcohol at the Penny, Chris turned to his wing woman and proposed a second chance for her and for him to have the family they wanted. There was no sweet speech on bended knee. No romantic declarations for all to hear. Just two people, a string of empty glasses and a promise to make it work.
And that was what they had been doing ever since. When Sophie's perfect family returned her to state's custody, Chris took a desk job. The judge could no longer complain about Gail's dangerous job and how frequently she was required to be away from home. Chris would be there.
They moved out of the apartment they shared with Dov and into a home together. Their first year living together, they shared a room to meet the requirements for the state inspections. They stuck with it when Sophie raised concerns about Gail moving into the guest room.
They created their own definition of a family and it stuck. Every morning Gail looked in the mirror and reminded herself that her life was working. What was not working for Gail however was the empty glass in front of her. She poured herself another sample of bourbon.
As Gail tipped the bottle over, the slide door to the backyard opened, startling Gail. She knocked over the bottle, spilling the bourbon all over the floor. Cursing under her breath, she grabbed a hand cloth that was on the back of the bar and drop to the floor the clear up the mess.
"I think you are completely overreacting." Gail froze as she heard Holly agitated voice drift over the bar. She thought about standing and making herself known. But the doctor sounded completely frustrated and Gail really wanted to find out why.
"How can I overreact, Holls? As you keep telling me, there is nothing to react to," the woman Gail recognized as Meagan said.
Gail held in her inner glee while listening to their biting remarks. She noticed that Meagan sounded significantly less chipper than she had when she greeted them at the door. Gail heard a clattering of dishes from the kitchen right next to the bar and guessed both of the women had moved into that room to continue their not so private conversation.
"I saw the looks," Meagan said sharply.
"There were no looks Meg. There was nothing." Holly sighed. "Meg-"
A loud clang of a dish hitting the sink cut off the rest of her sentence. "Holly I didn't exactly fly all of this way to watch you make eyes with your straight ex. An ex that, by the way, you neglected to tell me about until we were well into the party."
"That's because it was five years ago and I really didn't want to rehash it." Holly seemed to be losing patience. The usual steady calm in her voice began to fray.
The pause that followed her sounded deafening to the hidden cop. Gail never wanted to be the reason two people argued, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't enjoying their spat. She guessed Holly would have rather waited to have this conversation. She knew from experience Holly was not someone who cared for drama especially in public.
"Is she the reason why you are so eager to move back?" Meagan asked flat out. Gail sharply inhaled. Holly was moving back in town? She did not know how the process the news.
"I'm not eager to move back." Holly groaned. Her patience was wearing thin.
"We have been dating for almost three years." Meagan countered. "Yet you refuse to live with me. You physically cringe at discussing marriage, let along any talk of kids. You seem content to live in your own world, with me at a distance. And out of the blue last week, you say you are thinking of moving back."
"Thinking. I'm only thinking about it." Holly's voice peaked a small amount before dropping back down.
Gail slowly slipped from her knees to sit on the floor. She needed to get comfortable. Who knew how long this would last.
"I'm not trying to push. I just want to know what's going on. Why don't you want to share your life with me?"
The pain in Meagan's voice almost made Gail feel sympathy for her. If this had been a different situation, maybe Gail could have scrounged up some empathy. She had been in the same spot asking the same questions. Not with Holly though. She could only imagine the intensity of her feelings had it been Holly.
"It's not that at all. I've just been feeling home sick. This trip was exactly what I needed." Holly earnestly said. She spoke in her rationalizing voice. A weapon she only pulled out when she could not see another way to calm a situation. It was a voice Gail had gotten familiar with in their relationship.
"But is it enough?" Meagan asked softly.
Gail did not hear Holly's reply but it must have been in an affirmative. Because Meagan sighed, then silent. Gail guessed they were probably kissing yet again. She definitely was not standing to see that.
"The kids should be ready to eat," Meagan finally said something. "I'll take the food to the kids. Can you grab the punch?"
"Sure," Holly replied sweetly.
Gail heard retreating footsteps and leaned back against the bar. It sounded like Holly was not moving back to Toronto. An overwhelming feeling of disappointment swept over her. If she hadn't been on the floor she would have been brought to her knees by the crippling emotion.
Gail brought her knees up and rested her forehead against them. She reminded herself that she loved her life. It worked for her. Still, sadness settled in her. She struggled to breathe. She needed a drink.
Gail stood, making sure she missed the puddle of bourbon on the floor. Luckily she had already poured a glass. Gail reached for it but it was not there. Someone else was holding it, namely one Holly Stewart.
"Nice of you to join me," Holly said smoothly as she took a sip from Gail's glass.
"I was cleaning up." Gail stuttered awkwardly. Her eyes shifted to the bar. She had never felt more uncomfortable in Holly's presence. She could not even meet her eyes. She wanted to give the woman a hard time as usual, but she could see by Holly's white knuckles and balled fist against the bar that she was already having a hard time.
Holly looked passed the bar and to the floor. She frowned at the brown puddle near the bar.
"So that's where the bourbon went. No wonder it smells like a distillery over here. I was starting to worry about you."
"I'm not trashed, Holly." Gail shook her head at the ridiculous notion. Her daughter was at the party. She would never do that.
"But," Gail admitted with a sigh, "It is a good thing I'm not driving myself home." She shrugged. "It's a party."
"It's a thirteen year's old party." Holly gave a sarcastic smile.
"And don't you have punch to get to the kiddies?" Gail reached for her glass, but Holly held it out of her reach.
"So you were eavesdropping?"
"Of course I was," Gail huffed. "Do I seem like the type to give people their privacy? And you guys weren't exactly being quiet."
"But you were, as quiet as a nosy mouse," Holly gave her a reprimanding stare. Gail tried not to shrink under it.
"Mice are disgusting, Holly. I'd rather be compared to something that doesn't live in its own feces." Gail grabbed the nearly empty bottle of bourbon and emptied its contents into another glass.
"Sorry." Holly smirked. "I'll try to think of something a little more fitting for you."
"Good. That's not asking too much."
Holly chuckled as she shook her head. Gail struggled to keep the smile off of her face as she took her own sip. A comfortable silence fell between the two women as they imbibed their drinks. Both of them were in their own heads.
Gail was mostly wondering what Holly was thinking. The expression on her face was a wistful sadness. She did not care for the expression at all.
"So you're thinking of moving back?" Gail's heart stopped as the words slipped out of her mouth unexpectedly. She did not want to take them back, though she was scared of the answer.
"I don't know," came Holly's hushed reply.
"What's to know?" Gail said nonchalantly, or at least she was hoping for a casual vibe. But internally, every one of her senses was on alert. Gail tried to tell herself it didn't matter. But it did. It mattered. It worried Gail just how much it mattered.
"You either know if you're moving back or you don't." Gail reasoned.
"It's more complicated than that." Holly rested her elbows on the bar.
"Why? It took you a week to decide to leave me." Gail sniped. "I don't know why it would take you any longer to figure out if you want to come back."
Holly tilted her head and glared at Gail. The blonde could see an argument in the brown eyes hardening before her. Gail stiffened her defenses for whatever was to come next. But Holly simply downed her drink and stepped away from the bar.
"I don't think either of us wants to have that conversation." Holly said tiredly.
"I forgot how good you are at avoiding tough decisions." Gail scoffed. She also tossed back her drink. "And I have personal experience with that."
Holly drew her lips into a thin line. "If you have something to say, just say it, Gail."
"I thought I was, Holls." Gail's delivery obviously mocked the earlier conversation she had just ease dropped on. She cocked her shoulders and gave Holly best asshole smirk.
Holly shook her head and turned to walk away. She took a few steps before she stopped. Gail watched with questioning eyes as she stood in that spot for what felt like minutes, hours even. Her eyes were locked on the door but Gail could feel that her mind was on something else. When she turned back around, there was a new toughness was in her eyes.
"Forgot something?" Gail asked sarcastically.
"No. And that's the problem." Holly declared in a tone devoured of emotions. "You and I are going to a talk."
"We are?" Gail raised an eyebrow at Holly. Her order did not leave much room for question.
"Yes, we are. Because obviously you have something to say and I want hear you. And I have something to say. And I want you to hear me."
Gail would have thought Holly was joking if not for the serious tone and stern face.
"Here?" Gail asked incredulously. Holly looked around the room as if she was seeing where they were for the first time.
"No. Not here."
She ran her fingers through her hair and exhaled harshly before looking at the door. "Maybe at the Penny? Tomorrow night?"
Gail reached for the bottle of bourbon, then remembered it was empty. Her actions could have been considered a stall tactic cause they were. They gave her a chance to think. Only no thoughts came. She was not expecting the invitation. She did not know how to take it.
Finally she gave up on trying to have a coherent thought. She held up her empty glass in a silent salute.
"To tomorrow at The Penny then."
She saw Holly's smirk return before she walked away. Gail groaned and went in search for more alcohol.