AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, but I can’t go.”
“Why not?” she cried.
“Because I just delivered a baby, Heidi!” I exclaimed. “I’m needed at the hospital.”
“Indiana is, but not Ana. Ana would never have made it through SEAL training. She can go get drinks with coworkers.”
“First of all, excuse you,” I said indignantly, “butneitherme was in SEAL training. And we shouldn’t even joke about that. It’s super hard and prestigious. And stuff.”
“It is. My brother washed out of it. You have to be cold. And wet. And like, sit in swamps and crawl through mud. But Patrick didn’t say he’d been a SEAL, just that maybe they cover obstetrics in training.”
“Why would they do that?” I cried. “Is the battlefield full of people giving birth? Whatever. I can’t go. It’s the worst idea. I’m two people now, Heidi! I’m this,” I said, gesturing down at myself, “and I’m also a man who can do anything. Not that I don’tlikebeing this”—I gestured vaguely at myself again—“but it’s not doing me any favors right now. And the man me is the one who’s gotten all the accolades and recognition. It’s not fair. I want to meet my team. I want to get to know them, and I want to get promoted on my own.”
“I bet Indiana can’t code like you can,” she said.
I blinked at her. “Heidi.We’re the same person.Of course he can code like I can. I mean,Iam the coder. This isn’tInception.” I rubbed my temples. What was wrong with everybody?
“I know. That’s what I meant,” she said. “I get it. But you have to work within the system you’re given. And this system has given you piercing eyes and, you know, male privilege.”
Kill me now.I turned away, but she grabbed my arm. “We’re going tonight. You’re right, youdodeserve to meet your team. Just show up and talk to them as Ana. And take it from there.”
“We?” I asked.
She averted her eyes. “Well, I just learned that your team has a babysitter named Shane, and I bet he has so many fun Melvin stories…”
I sighed, warring with myself before making up my mind. I wasn’t going to let Melvin Hammer’s love-hate relationship with the two of me stand in the way of experiences with my team and living my own life. I was ambitious, sure, but I alsoreallyloved to talk about coding. That normally got you kickedoutof parties, not invitedtothem.
“All right,” I relented. “We’re going. But no talk about how you and Other Me used to date. Got it?”
She stood up straight and saluted me. “I’ll do my best. Patrick is going to be so excited.”
Patrick would be there, too? Awesome.
Chapter 6
Cisco’s bar felt like a minefield. Heidi and I met at the entrance. The bar had been Indiana’s, or rather,mysuggestion for where to meet. Everyone there knew me as Ana, and I was comfortable there, so it was as good a place as any. I’d dressed more like myself, choosing a black shirt and jeans, and let my hair dry naturally, curls everywhere. Dressing to impress as Ana clearly hadn’t worked.
It was kind of dark, and the rock music was a little loud, but both of those worked in my favor. I saw a few of the Artemis people sitting at the bar and was scanning the crowd for other familiar faces when I heard, “There they are!” Patrick. Of course.
He gestured wildly from his seat at the bar, where he appeared to be in deep conversation with a man whose back was turned. As Heidi and I made our way over, my heart stopped. Patrick grabbed me and pulled me into his side. “Ana! I hear you’ve met my bestie Shane.”
I grimaced as Patrick squeezed me, refusing to let go. “I thoughtIwas your bestie,” I said. Patrick chortled a little drunkenly and finally releasedme. Did Patrick really have to find Shane, of all people? And when he was a little tipsy?
“Shane here was just telling me about how you two met in the elevator bringing me my bougie coffee, and then we got to bitching about the Melon—”
I winced and smacked Patrick in the chest, glancing around quickly.
“I don’t think he’s going to show,” Shane said, leaning forward to be heard over the music. “This kind of ‘fraternizing’ isn’t usually his thing.”
“I’m glad it’s yours,” Heidi interjected, blinking at Shane in an exaggerated way.
He smiled politely. “Are you a friend of Ana’s?”
“No.” She tittered. “Ana is a friend of mine.”
“I think we need drinks!” Patrick said brightly. He waved the bartender over. “Margs, please!”
When the drinks arrived, Patrick turned to Heidi and grabbed her hand. “Heidi, there’s a bunch of stuff I need to show you.”
