Fate Entwined | ONC 2020

Eight | Rumble In Aisle Nine

Tara yawned and stretched at her desk as she closed out the final chart of the day. She was looking forward to dinner that evening with Michael, her older brother. Chris had rushed off right after their last in-office patient to handle an emergency situation at the children's hospital. He had promised to text Tara later that night with the time he'd pick her up for their date the next evening and instructions on attire.

Tara's phone buzzed with a message. It was Mike. I'll meet you at the Whole Foods by my place. How does chicken parm sound?

With fingers tapping rapidly across her keyboard, Tara replied, That sounds perfect. I'm leaving here in five minutes.

Another buzz sounded shortly afterward. Awesome! See you soon, brat.

Tara giggled, shook her head, and typed back. Whatever, meat head.

Mike responded with an emoji sticking out its tongue.

As much as Mike and Tara teased one another, they had grown up extremely close. Mike was only one year older than Tara, and she had only been a year behind him in school. Mike was popular in high school. Always the ladies' man. He was their school's star running back, but was by far a stereotypical jock.

Their parents would never allow Mike to shrug off his academics for sports. While their dad was a hardcore football fan, and took great pride in his son's athletic prowess, he was a stout realist. Terrance, Tara and Mike's father, knew you needed an education as back up. No matter how great an athlete you were. He was a detective with the Chicago PD, but he'd also been a top knotch running back in his day too.

"Have a great weekend!" Tara called out to Karen as she collected her things to leave.

"I expect details, missy!" Karen shouted in return.

Tara rolled her eyes but gave Karen a thumbs up before slipping away.

Mike's downtown high rise apartment wasn't far from Tara's workplace. It didn't take long for Tara to get to the Whole Foods, and find Mike shopping the refrigerated section.

"Hey there, baby girl! Look at you—" Mike gathered Tara in a tight embrace. "Are you getting enough sleep?" He cocked an eyebrow and stared down at Tara.

"Fuck off!" Tara shoved Mike off of her.

"Hey! I'm just concerned. You look beat up and drained."

"Well, I'm sorry we all can't spend our days getting manicures, pedicures, and facials. All while schmoozing clients at fancy dinners."

"Don't be jealous, Tara. It's not cute," Mike teased.

"Jealous, of what? I love my job. I save lives. You represent big, fat, corporate assholes," Tara scoffed.

"I don't only represent corporate big wigs. I work with nonprofits too," Mike replied in defense.

"I've had a rough week. Okay?"

"So, tell me about it. What have you been up to? It's been too long since we talked." Mike opened the cooler and grabbed a tub of ice cream, tossing it into the cart.

"Work has been swamped. Lots of emergency house calls. Things like that. And—" Tara paused. She wasn't sure she should tell Mike about Adam.

"And?" Mike waited.

"Nothing. Forgot it." Tara grabbed the cart and started walking off.

"No, no. You aren't getting off the hook that easy. What the hell happened?" Mike grabbed Tara by the arm and stopped her.