Free In Her Way by Eryn Scott Page A

time in college if we had parties and someone else was crashing in one of ours," I say, trying to explain the situation (but having a really hard time understanding why I should have to).
    "Or when there was a storm," Em adds.
    Neve and Sarah look to me, as if to ask, "You?" but I shake my head and point back at Em, who shrugs.
    "What can I say? I'm scared of lightning."
    The table erupts in laughter again, except for once again, Kaylee.
    After Em signs the bill, we head out, walking down the quiet, street-lamp-lit sidewalks, and soaking up the cool breeze coming off the water. She slips her arm in mine and we walk side-by-side. At the parking lot of our building we say goodbye to the girls, but instead of getting into our cars and heading home, we unlock the front door.
    We turn on the lights and head into the back, splitting up so we each get to sit in our own dental chair. Separated by a half wall, I can only hear Em as she squeaks around on her chair and then the sounds stop as she settles back. I do the same and take a deep breath. In the silence my heartbeat sounds deafening. I place my hand on my chest and close my eyes.
    "Tomorrow." Em's voice echoes in the quiet.
    "Tomorrow." I nod.
    "I might be seeing your point about Kaylee," Em says tentatively.
    I suck in air. "Yeah." My mind cringes as I remember the awkwardness of the restaurant experience tonight. "But there's not much we're going to do about it right now."
    "True," she says. "I'll watch her tomorrow. I know you won't be able to."
    "Thanks. Yeah, we'll definitely want to keep an eye on her.”
     
     
     
    First thing the next morning Kaylee comes bouncing in with her purse in one hand, a balloon in the other, and a piece of toast clutched in her teeth.
    She squeals when she sees me and hands me the balloon. One hand free, now, she takes the toast out of her mouth and says, "Happy opening day!"
    I smile (no, it's definitely not forced at all) and look up at the bright ball of air. It's shaped like a frog and reads, "Hoppy Birthday!"
    "Oh! Thanks!" My right eye squints a little in confusion.
    Kaylee slaps me lightly on the arm. "Well, they don't sell any that say, 'Happy opening of your dental practice day' silly!"
    Which I get. Totally. It's the birthday of my business. I have no problem with that. What I do have a problem with is when she motions for me to hold my arm out and when I do she puts the toast back in her mouth, tying the balloon to my wrist.
    Um... does she think I'm going to wear it around all day?
    I laugh and untie it slowly. "Let's put it over here, so we can all enjoy it." I walk to the staff room, Kaylee following at my heels, and tie the balloon onto one of the chairs.
    She nods emphatically. "Good idea!"
    I point to the toast she's now munching away at. "Aren't you not supposed to have gluten?" I know, I'm being bitchy, but I feel like after the huge stink she made at the restaurant, I just can't let it go.
    She chews for a second, then swallows instead of talking with her mouth full like I always do (my mama sure would be proud). She shakes her head. "This is wheat bread."
    My head moves forward as I wait for her to say something else, but that's it. "You know wheat bread has gluten, too, right?"
    She laughs. "No it doesn't. Only white bread."
    My eyelids drop closed out of sheer exhaustion and not-wanting-to-deal. "What? No. Bread has gluten. It's not the type of bread, it's the flour. Wheat."
    Kaylee's eyes go wide and I feel rotten, like I've just told a child that there's no Santa Claus (shit, I hope I didn't just ruin that for any of you).
    "Oh. Wow. I guess..." She stops and looks like she's about to cry.
    "Look, I didn't mean to --." My hand shoots out and lands softly on her arm.
    She scrunches up her nose for a second, shakes her head, and then replaces her red teary face with a smiling one. "Totally. I -- that's -- it's fine."
    I bite my lip and watch her as she turns to leave.
    She stops before she's out of sight and asks, "Do