Tyler #3
I need this. I’ve been looking forward to it for too long. A chance to learn something, a chance to actually think and not just stand around with my shirt off. And if I play my cards right, maybe a chance for a lot more than that.
“What’s this?” Haley pokes the cookie like I’ve offered up a poisoned apple.
“Well, when some flour, sugar, and butter love each other very much—”
“I know how cookies are made.” She snaps off a piece and pops it into her mouth, chewing slowly. “Cookie for dinner seems appropriate for the day, though, so.”
I don’t respond right away. It’s a trick I’ve learned over the years, letting other people fill the silence with their preconceived notions of who I am and laughing it off.
I brace for more of the same insults Haley hurled at me two years ago, more insinuations that there’s nothing but protein powder and dumbbells between my ears.
She breaks off another piece of the cookie and watches me while she chews before she eventually asks in a surprisingly even voice, “Why am I here, Tyler?”
“To talk about Okl—”
“You really want to spend a month in a car with me? They’re long days.” She fidgets with one corner of the napkin and then quickly folds her hands in her lap. “Eight to ten hours is normal, but twelve to sixteen isn’t that unusual.”
“Right.” I draw out the i and eye her over the rim of my cup before taking a sip and setting it down. “You know those are pretty standard set hours, right? I’ll be just fine sitting in an air-conditioned car. Practically a vacation. Maybe I should be asking you if you can handle the long days?”
Haley’s mouth tightens into a thin line, but she can’t argue with my logic.
She shifts in her seat, the motion pushing her sweater entirely off one shoulder.
She doesn’t seem to notice, and I definitely shouldn’t notice the smoothness of her skin.
“I’m just saying, if the reason I’m here is for you to see if we’ll get along, we figured that out two years ago. ”
A decade of media training is the only thing that stops me from scoffing. “Seriously? It was two years ago. Also, that was a big misunderstanding.”
Her eyes narrow to dangerous slits. “So you weren’t parading around the studio with your shirt off?”
“That wasn’t my—”
“And you didn’t ignore me saying how much I hate being called a weather girl and continue to—”
“Oh, c’mon, I was joking around—”
“And you didn’t top all of that by accusing me of sexually harassing you for tripping over your—”
“Okay,” I cut in as my patience rapidly evaporates. “I absolutely did not do that. What I said was—”
“This! This is exactly what I mean!” Haley gestures between us with a rapid back and forth of her hand. “This conversation isn’t any different than the one we had two years ago. You really want to spend an entire month doing this?”
Not even remotely, but no matter how prickly she’s being, I don’t think Haley’s shitty attitude is who she really is.
Maybe I would if I hadn’t already trolled through her social media videos, but this is the same woman who takes the time to break down complex science for the masses in her free time on her personal page.
A woman who is obviously brilliant, and yet just quit her job on live TV this morning.
And then there’s the no one’s weather girl part. It didn’t occur to me until this moment with her sitting across from me in the casual sort of outfit her on-camera persona would never wear, but maybe we have more in common than I originally thought.
I can’t help suddenly wondering if Haley knows something about being valued more for her looks than the thoughts that exist behind her pretty eyes too.
“Of course not. I just figured once you stopped taking out your bad day on me, you’d turn out to be reasonable,” I tell her, hoping my hunch proves true.
“Look, I’m serious about learning as much as I can about storm—the topic.
If you’re serious about teaching me, and you have the background to keep me in one piece, I’m good.
When Emma talked to Dr. Hunt, she said you’d be her first pick as a replacement.
So, we’re back to, is this going to be a problem or not? ”
Something I’ve said throws her. The carefully neutral expression she’s been clinging to since we sat down flickers, her features softening in something that might be gratitude. But then she clears her throat and steely resolve takes over. “It won’t be a problem.”
“Great,” I agree instantly. “Emma will add you to the flight—”
“That’s it?” Haley’s eyes pop wide. “You’re not going to ask anything else before you put your life in my hands? Really?”
I fight the urge to roll my eyes. We’re getting along—sort of. Maintaining the peace needs to be the priority right now. “If one of the leading researchers in the field says you’re good, you’re good.”
A faint hint of pink washes into her cheeks, but Haley is all business. “I guess we’re done here, then.” Popping the last of the cookie in her mouth, she grabs her drink and gets to her feet, finally adjusting the distracting sweater sleeve. “Have Emma send me the flight details. Pack light.”