Page 107 of Semantics

“I think we’ve already crossed that bridge, don’t you? You’ve gone down on me in the shower.”

“Too much information,” Arlowe said when she walked in to grab the beer she’d left on the table. “Violet has a bedroom, you know? It’s the biggest room in this place. You can go there and continue this very private conversation.”

“Go to the garage, Arlowe. You owe me code,” Violet replied.

“I always owe you code.”

Arlowe took a drink and walked out of the room.

“I love them, I do, but I’m starting to regret the whole living with them thing.”

“No, you’re not,” Stella argued.

Violet tilted her head at her and said, “No, I’m not.”

“So, we’re not starting with sex?”

“No.”

“What are we starting with, then?”

“A date,” she replied.

“You want to go on a date with me?” Stella asked.

“I think so.”

“Well, that’s a little less exciting, Violet. You just think you do?”

“I do,” she said, placing her hand on Stella’s thigh. “I do. It’s just been a while. I’m not good at relationships, Stella. My first one ended horribly, and I haven’t had much practice otherwise because I always put work first, and that’s caused problems. So, I thought sex was a good idea because I could not see you and me ever being compatible in anything other than the bedroom.”

“Yeah, that makes it better,” Stella joked and laughed a little.

“You know what? I like you, okay? I liked it when you were here over the weekend, and you just held me, and I liked it when you helped us with the business, even though it was annoying how you disagreed with pretty much everything I said. I also liked it when you showed up at the club the other night. I was just pissed at Arlowe, and I took it out on you.”

“You like me a little bit, huh?”

“Do you ever want to get laid again?” she asked as she gave Stella a playful glare.

“Yes,” Stella replied softly and very seriously, and Violet laughed before she let it fade out.

“I… I missed you the past couple of days, which is why I called you tonight. It wasn’t just because we needed to talk. It was because I wanted to see you even if we didn’t.”

“Was that really hard to admit for you?” Stella asked and took Violet’s hand in her own again, entwining their fingers.

“Yes,” she admitted.

“Okay. Well, thank you for admitting it.”

“You’re welcome?” Violet asked more than said.

Stella laughed again and asked, “Am I staying tonight?”

“You want to?”

Stella nodded.

“And you’re okay with–”