Page 181 of Glitched Play

Birdie: We officially love her.

Annika: To be fair to Maci, all of you have said your Dad taught you everything he knows.

Sutton: Friends for life!

I lock my phone.

Maci is still standing there in an oversized charcoal Synatrix hoodie. We’re remodeling the office so it’s casual for the next few weeks. Her sleeves cover half her hands, pink hair escapes her double braids looking absolutely horrified that she'd accidentally questioned an O'Ryan's football knowledge.

She catches me smiling. "What?"

"Nothing."

"That's not true."

"It isn't."

She walks around the desk. "So?"

I stand and straighten one of the hoodie strings that somehow ended up tucked beneath her hair.

"I was just thinking..."

"We can’t do that desk thing we did at home." I wink and even I can’t believe it.

She smiles.

"You solve problems nobody else even notices. And sometimes…" I brush a loose strand of pink hair behind her ear. "...you accidentally create new ones."

She laughs, leaning into me for just a second.

"I guess you'll have to help me solve those too."

"I was planning on it."

thirty-six

. . .

Maci

Encrypted Voicemail Rune

Misunderstandings seem to grow fastest in silence. I guess you’re busy.

The spreadsheet on my monitor blurs. I blink a few times, rub my eyes, and take another sip of coffee that's gone cold. Inwardly, I chuckle because Witt says, “That’s dessert.”

Three knocks tap against my open office door. I glance up and Dara stands there with a leather portfolio tucked beneath one arm.

"Do you have a minute?"

"Of course."

She steps inside, smiling the way she always does. "I found three apartments I think you'll like."

I stare at her.

"...Apartments?"