16. Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Peyton
M y latest opportunities are pushing me from Atlanta, and I can find no reason to fight them. This weekend I will visit The Snazzeh Institute while my ex-STIMP takes his ex-girlfriend on a date. Fighting where life is taking me would be a waste of energy. And I’ve always found I do my best when on my own, anyway.
At the airport, I make myself comfortable at the gate, selecting a seat facing a television suspended from the ceiling while waiting for my flight to be called. Not too much later, someone sits beside me, which is annoying with the number of available seats around. As I shift my bag at my feet to make room, I recognize the brown leather shoes that are somewhere between an Oxford and a Converse, and realize it’s Harris.
I look over at him. “I didn’t know you were going as well.”
“Indeed, I am.”
“You must be disappointed to see me here,” I say.
“No, I knew you were going. Why—are you disappointed?”
“Honestly, after this week, I guess I am.”
He puts a hand over this heart. “I thought we were good.”
“I’m not sure I’d use the adjective good. We’re civil.”
This makes him chuckle, which seems like an appropriate response if we were actually good, but lacking in judgment since we’re only civil.
“Well, then I’m sure you’ll be delighted that I had them book my seat beside you.” This confession seems to delight him, but my continued stoniness quickly sobers him. He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. When he looks at me, I think I see genuine remorse. “I’m sorry. I’ve been jealous and acting like a jerk in general, but that’s over. You’re a great primatologist and I respect you.”
I never would have imagined pain in the neck Harris could manage such a sincere compliment. His words are so completely unexpected, I’m unable to come up with even the simplest response.
“When they emailed our introductions with our graduate work, I was intimidated by your experience. I was afraid I wouldn’t measure up in the internship, so I started hoping you’d mess up, and I’d win by default.”
“But this isn’t a competition.”
“Isn’t it though?”
“Maybe in the short-term, but never in the long-term. Everybody needs as many allies as they can get. Or at least this is my perspective.” An announcement is made that boarding will start soon, so I pause until it passes. “This is a small community. Who knows where things will take us, but it helps to have people put in a good word for you, who don’t think you’re difficult to work with, who aren’t afraid you’ll stab them in the back.”
“True. You’re right.” He puts out his hand. “I’m sorry. But let’s start again. This time as allies.”
People around us shuffle to their feet, while arranging their bags to prepare to board. I should make him sweat through the flight, make him propose how he can be a worthy ally, but like everyone else around us, I’m ready to move on.
I take his hand and shake it. “I’m willing to see if you’re capable of this.”
“Challenge accepted.”
I roll my eyes at his joke, but I do think he’s sincere. Neither of us came out looking great in the Snazzeh snafu, so I imagine he’s just as happy to put it in the past as I am.