Page 76 of One Last Run

Kiera rolled her eyes. "That's what you're focusing on?"

"You've been talking to Izzy about... me?" Danica asked as she uncorked the bottle. Her hands were shaking with a sudden jolt of nerves.

"About you and Pete. You're our best friends," Kiera said like it was an obvious statement.

"This feels more like a Meddling Maggie thing," Danica said, pouring the wine.

"Oh, believe me. She's been in on it, too."

"And what if I don't want to be in on whatever it is? Or if Pete doesn't?" Danica asked gently, picking at a speck of invisible dust on the countertop. How could Pete ever forgive her for slipping away without a word, especially after Pete had opened up about wanting a future together? Danica felt like a coward, and she’d be shocked if Pete ever found it in her heart to forgive her. She lifted her wine glass to her lips, but paused. "Wait, what has Izzy said about Pete? Hypothetically."

"You know, that's the interesting part. I thought Pete would run off and spend a year in Zambia or something," Kiera said, drumming her fingers along the stem of her wine glass. "But sheseems to be settling down in Seattle. Traveling less. She bought a houseplant."

The pain that she was still making assumptions about Pete felt like a punch to Danica's solar plexus. She rubbed at her sternum. But what had Danica expected? That Pete would show up with a boombox outside her window? That Pete would show up and beg her to reconsider their future together? That Pete would move to Denver without her knowing and they'd run into each other at Jazz in the Park? All of these daydreams, playing out since her return home, left her with a childish, immature feeling, a sense of longing for something she couldn't quite grasp. Who needed to grow up now?

Kiera sipped the wine, watching Danica’s expressions closely. "She and Izzy are leaving for a three-week-long trip to Costa Rica tonight. The first few days are basically just a fun, relaxing part of the trip, I think.”

Danica nodded again. "She and Izzy?"

"She's training Izzy to take over some of the international travel duties," Kiera said, giving her a pointed look.

"Okay?" Danica said, not quite understanding.

"Pete told Izzy that she wants to travel less. You know, really have a life in one place," Kiera said.

Danica snorted in disbelief.

Kiera gave her a challenging look. "She seems serious about it. Anyway, she and Izzy have a layover in Denver."

"Oh?" The sound came out as a tiny squeak.

"Yeah, they'll be here for about three hours starting at..." Kiera glanced at the clock on the stove. "Well, in thirty-four minutes."

"What are you saying?" Danica asked, standing up straight, her brain feeling fuzzy.

"I'm saying, Costa Rica is really nice this time of year. It's the dry season, so there’s lots of time to lay on the beach."

"Yeah, must be nice for those of us who don't have work," Danica said, lying.

"Do you remember that year I went with you as your date to your work Christmas party? Before you started dating Eddie?" Kiera asked nonchalantly.

Danica raised a brow, confused.

"Somewhere around the third espresso martini, Annie and I became friends on Insta. We still message occasionally. Her grandkids are really cute. Anyway, I asked her to secretly figure out when you'd have a few days off, you know, just in case. She double-checked for me a few days ago, so I know you have the next six days off."

Why did Danica suddenly feel like Kiera was moving a chess piece across a board? She gave her friend a questioning look.

Kiera glanced at her phone. "Oh good. Izzy was able to reschedule her flight for later in the week," Kiera added. "She had a bit of a stomach bug this morning so she is going to meet Pete later. Poor Pete is going to spend a few days in Costa Rica all alone."

Danica frowned with a dubious expression. "Why are you telling me this?"

Kiera looked tentatively hopeful. "Look, I fucked things up in Telluride. And so did you, leaving without a word. Let's make it right."

"So, let me get this straight. Pete is sitting at DIA waiting to get on a plane to Costa Rica where she has a few days of relaxation, and Izzy is pretending to be sick so that she'd be there all alone? And now you're suggesting I... what... buy a last-minute ticket to Costa Rica and join her?”

"Maggie bought you a cheap ticket so you can get through security. It’s in your email.”

Danica let out a surprised laugh, shaking her head. “You’re all crazy.”

---