Page 77 of Derivation

“Can you maybe put work aside for a minute and think about the fact that you and I liked each other about eleven years ago, somehow made it here, and still like each other?”

“I want to, Gabs, but we’ve been working toward this forever.”

“I get it; I do. But I’m not even a real employee.”

“You still live here, and… I don’t know, Gabi. I…”

Gabi let go of her hands and said, “Yeah, I got it. Understood.” She stood up. “I’m pretty tired, Sarai. I think I’ll just go to bed.”

“Gabs…”

“Can I ask you something else?”

“Sure.”

“Is that it? The house thing? The work thing? Are those the only two reasons you don’t want to try?”

“I can’t risk it,” she said.

“That’s not really an answer, Sarai. What can’t you risk? Making things around here a little more complicated if you and I don’t end up working out? Or your heart to someone who’s pretty much wanted to protect it since she was eighteen years old?”

Gabi didn’t wait for an answer. She nodded seriously for some reason and walked down the hallway toward her room. After she closed the door, the front door opened, and Arlowe walked in.

“I thought you went home with someone,” Sarai said.

“I couldn’t go through with it.”

“Need to talk?”

“No, but… thank you.”

Arlowe looked at the floor before she walked down the hallway herself.

CHAPTER 21

“Violet, go home!” Arlowe yelled.

“Are you hungover?” Violet asked when she sat down on the sofa next to her.

“Yes. Why are you here? I can’t handle a work meeting right now.”

“I asked her to come over,” Gabi said, walking in from the kitchen.

“Oh. Wait… Why?” Arlowe asked.

“I needed to talk to her about something.”

“So, we don’t have to work right now?”

“No, Arlowe,” Violet said, chuckling, and patted her on the knee before she stood back up. “Garage? Or are Sarai and Enya out there?”

“No. Sarai went out. I don’t know what for. Enya’s in her room.”

“What do you need to talk to Violet about and not the rest of us?” Arlowe asked.

“If I told you, wouldn’t that be construed as a work meeting?” Gabi replied.

“Point taken. Where is Sarai with my coffee?”