Wild Card

by Elsie Silver

“Gosh, I had no idea. I haven’t read the rule book to being stuck in an airport overnight. Do you have it on hand?”

“Thank you, thank you. I’ll be here all night.” My head pops up, and I wink at him. “No, literally, I’m fucking stuck here.”

I lean toward Clyde with a stage-whisper loud enough that Bash can hear. “He reminds me of Oscar the Grouch sometimes.”

Clyde nods solemnly. “Bash, we understand. This is your trash can, and we’re just living in it.”

He takes one look at the food laid out and then pulls up a seat beside Gwen. “I wish Bash were in love with me. Then maybe he’d make me nice breakfasts too.”

“Surprise!” everyone yells, popping up from beyond the island—except for Clyde, who’s seated on his usual stool at the countertop, rolling his eyes. “You fools all parked in the driveway. She knew you were here.”

“You’re my limes, Bash. I’m the tequila. You and me? We’re gonna spend the rest of our lives making margaritas, okay?”