Page 43 of Paradigm

“I thought I was the fifth wheel, and you were the sixth,” Enya teased.

“Sure. I’ll be number six,” Arlowe said.

“Neither of you are… extra wheels of any number,” Sarai replied. “You’re our best friends. We’re all just out to dinner tonight.”

“Except you have your arm around your girlfriend, and she has her hand on your thigh,” Arlowe argued. “And Stella is probably feeling up Vi right about now, too.”

“I was not.”

“Yeah, you were, babe.” Violet lifted Stella’s hand and moved it into Stella’s own lap. “But I liked it.”

Sarai laughed and asked, “Arlowe, do you want to have your hand on someone’s thigh tonight?”

“Yes, I do. Or, at least, around her shoulders,” she said.

“Then, text her.”

“We’re almost done eating,” she noted.

“Tell her that we’re going to the bar, and we can meet her over there. We can all go, right?” Gabi asked.

“Babe?” Violet asked Stella.

“What?”

“Can we go to the bar after dinner?”

“You’re asking me? I would’ve thought you’d just say yes.”

“Only if you’re okay with it,” Violet said.

Stella appeared to think about it for a moment and replied, “Yeah, for Arlowe.”

“You don’t have to go to the bar for me,” Arlowe said. “And you’re all assuming that if I text her now, she’ll just reply right away and agree to come. She might not, or maybe she’s already busy.”

“Then, call her,” Enya suggested.

“You are not helping,” she replied through gritted teeth.

“Stop being such a wuss and call the girl,” Sarai added.

“I’m sorry; you liked Gabi for how long and were a total wuss about it?”

“We lived and worked together. It was different,” Sarai defended.

“And really cute,” Gabi shared before kissing Sarai on the cheek.

“Arlowe, just call her,” Enya said to her quietly. “Maybe she won’t answer, but she might, and then you’ll know.”

“Better to know that now, right?” Stella asked.

“Fine. But if she doesn’t answer or call me back, I’m going to need several drinks, which means one of you is driving me home.”

“We live in the same house. I think I can manage that,” Enya replied.

“All right. I’ll be right back,” she said.

“You’re not going to call her from here?” Sarai asked.