Page 88 of Statler

“That’s also mine if there are any leftovers,” Tonka called from where he’d hunkered down on a large crate of bolts, eating like a rabid dog.

“In your dreams,” Dizzy scoffed, and promptly took two cups of the soup.

Tonka glowered, but didn’t start a fight.

Eliza hadn’t expected one.

They all talked a big game, but there was a lot of love in this group.

Once everyone had been served, Eliza turned her attention back to Blue.

“I think today’s meal is a big hit,” she said, looking around at all the happy faces…with the exception of one that was still missing.

Blue swallowed, then said, “I hope you’re sticking around to have some with us, today.”

Blue sent her a look that Eliza interpreted as “don’t be a chicken”, before the woman walked away to sit on the lowered tailgate of her truck.

Eliza gave in with a nod.

“Okay. Fine,” she called over. “I got to the office an hour early today, so I’ve got a few minutes.”

Eliza selected a bowl of soup, then went over to sit next to Blue, who—once Eliza had settled—gave her a gentle elbow to the ribs. “Good. Maybe you can say a few words to Statler when he shows up. He’s been pouting.”

“No, he hasn’t,” Eliza immediately rebutted, but her chest fluttered.

Had color worked its way up into her face?

“Oh no?” Blue snickered. “Then why has he asked, every night for the past couple weeks, what it is we talk about when you drop off lunch, huh? And why is he hella butt-hurt that you’re getting all your progress reports from everyone but him?”

Eliza ate a spoonful of her soup, but didn’t actually taste it as she pondered the question.

Could what Blue asserted, actually be true?

“I… He…” Eliza sighed.

She’d gone over her true feelings with Blue, privately before, and lowered her voice to a whisper, now.

“You know I like him too much, Blue,” Eliza admitted for probably the dozenth time. “I’m afraid I’ll make a fool of myself either fawning all over him if I get to close, or becoming tongue-tied, so he’ll think I’m an imbecile.”

Blue snorted. “Not a chance. You could mumble gibberish and he’d happily nod his head and agree with you. I’ve told you before, I’ve never seen him this focused on any woman, and that bodes well for however you want things to play out.”

Eliza bit her lip.

How did she want things to go?

She prevaricated. “He said he has things to…work out before he makes any overtures toward me,” she reminded Blue.

“Yes,” the woman agreed, “and he said you told him the same. So let me assure you, he’s almost finished what he needs to do.”

“How can you know?” Eliza questioned.

Blue looked uncomfortable for a moment, but maybe it was a trick of the light, because before Eliza could focus on that, Blue was rolling her eyes.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m kind of like the bossy big sister to all these guys. They either tell me what’s bugging them because they know I’m a straight shooter with my responses, or they succumb to my nagging, and let me know what’s eating at them after I bitch them out to cut the shit. So, yes. I’m privy to Statler’s…schedule, and he’s close to being…more available.”

It sounded possible.

And Eliza soooo wanted to believe Blue.