Page 78 of Derivation

“Oh, that’s where she went?” she asked.

“She said she was going out to clear her head. I asked her to bring me coffee. She said no.”

Gabi shook her head and laughed.

“But she’ll bring me coffee.”

“I made coffee. It’s in the kitchen, if you want some,” Gabi told her. “We’ll be in the garage.”

Then, she and Violet walked through the kitchen and into the garage, where Gabi closed the door behind them and locked it.

“I don’t think that door has ever been locked before,” Violet noted.

“I just don’t want to risk anyone overhearing,” she replied. “Sit. Please.”

“What’s going on, Gabi? Your text had me worried.”

“It’s not a big deal. I just have a question for you that I don’t want the others to hear because they’ll ask me a million questions that I don’t want to answer yet.”

When Violet sat in her desk chair, Gabi rolled Sarai’s over and sat down next to her.

“Is it about the hardware design?”

“No, nothing to do with that. In fact, Enya and I are going to talk later today about what I’ve been mocking up so far. I’ve been having a lot of fun with it.”

“Okay… Then, I don’t understand why I’m here on a Sunday morning.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I thought you’d reply to my text that we could talk tomorrow, but then, you said you’d just come over.”

“Stella wanted to sleep in, and I was restless. This way, we both win. What’s going on?”

“I know the lease to this place is actually in your name, and the landlord lets the rest of us sublet through you because you’re a longtime tenant.”

“Yeah, that’s true. What about it?” Violet asked.

“I know I signed a yearlong lease, but I was wondering if you would let me out of it.”

“What? Why?” Violet asked, looking concerned now.

“I think I’d rather live alone. I haven’t started looking yet, and I had a hard time when I did before, but I’m hoping that I can find something if I keep looking.”

“And what’s the real reason?” Violet asked her.

“That is the real reason.”

“Come on, Gabi. I know the whole having roommates thing is an adjustment, but you love living here. I can tell. So, what’s really going on? I know Arlowe can be annoying, and Enya is there one second, gone the next, but–”

“It’s not their fault at all. I just think it would be better if I lived somewhere else. That’s all. I’ll still work for the company and come by and stuff to do that.”

Violet squinted at her and said, “It’s Sarai, isn’t it?”

“What? No, I told you, they haven’t–”

“What happened between you two?” Violet interrupted, leaning back in the chair.

“How do you all know?”

“Because it’s obvious. I see how you look at her. Everyone does. Well, everyone except Sarai, because she’s… Well, she’s Sarai.”