Ruby grimaces apologetically and raises the phone to her ear as she steps toward the bathroom.
"Hello? May I ask who is speaking?" She speaks quietly, but only so as not to disturb the other customers.
...
"Ahhh... Jack... You're new, right? Hi." -ugh- She'd nearly forgotten about the ley lines. Did she ever get Theo's report? He'd probably never finished it.
Today was too emotional, Ruby brings two fingers to the bridge of her nose to alleviate a rising headache.
"There are... a lot of things we still haven't gone through. But I know, the line map project is a mess and it needs to get done."
She breathes deep, a long exhausted pause.
"We don't have the full report. It never came in, which means we're goin' to have to put together whatever field notes we can find." Those notes has better be in his apartment.
She looks over to Kyle, it would be awful if she had to leave him now.
"I just need a minute or two here, do you have a car?"
... nodding...
"Well, at least that saves us some trouble," she says without relief.
"There's a place called Asia Garden Chinese Diner, it's off of East ((accurate, just slightly vague directions)) and I'll probably be out in ten minutes."
"Just... call again if you have trouble finding me. See you in ten?"
... a world of responsibilities comes crashing back down on her, time doesn't wait for the departed...
"Goodbye."
Hanging up, Ruby returns to the table. The festive placemats are now waterlogged with spilled tea, dreams newly choked with tears.
"Kyle, I'm goin' to have to leave in a bit but I can sit just a few minutes more. Think it's best if we just talk... talk while we can."
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