Page 51 of Derivation

“Yes, I am. Just moved in yesterday,” Gabi said.

“That’s cool,” Haley replied. “Now, back to me being naked…”

“Yes, please,” Jen agreed, making Haley laugh.

“I’m going to get something to drink,” Gabi told Sarai.

“Okay. I’ll go with you.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ll… be back.”

Sarai wasn’t so sure of that, though, because Gabi picked up her plate before she walked off.

“What did you do?” Jen asked Sarai.

“What? Nothing.”

“Sarai, I saw that woman’s face when you said that she was your roommate.”

“She is my roommate.”

“Sure, she is,” Jen replied with lifted and very much accusing eyebrows.

“We knew each other in Amsterdam, okay?”

“Where Stella met Violet originally?” Haley asked.

“Yes. But it was only a weekend.”

“You had a fling with her?” Jen asked.

“No, we were friends, sort of. Well, not even that, really. Anyway, I ran into her at the bar, and now, she lives with us, and it’s a little weird, okay?”

“Why is it weird?” Haley asked.

“Because she’s…” Sarai looked around and found Gabi talking to Enya now, over by Stella and Violet, who were at the grill. “She’s just…”

“Oh, I get it,” Jen said.

“Can you let it go?” she requested when she turned her head back. “Please?”

Jen nodded and said, “Of course. Can I say good luck?”

“I guess.”

“Good luck.”

CHAPTER 14

“The money came in,” Violet told Arlowe just as Gabi walked up.

“What money?”

“The money we’ve been waiting on.” Violet looked up from her phone. “From Asset Capital. The rest of their first-round investment.”

“That’s great,” Arlowe said. “We expected that, though, right? Hey, Gabi.”

“Hey,” she replied. “Can I be here for this convo?”