Page 61 of Paradigm

“I’m an engineer,” Arlowe replied. “You?”

“Commercial landscaping.”

“That’s cool,” Arlowe said. “And you’re Marissa?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re Marti?”

“That’s me.”

“And you’re both here at Eline’s because…”

Eline felt like that was probably her cue to walk out, so she turned to the living room and spotted Arlowe standing there with her friends.

“Wow,” Arlowe said softly. “You look…”

Eline smiled and replied, “You too.”

“I think we’re going to…” Marti pointed to the door. “Have fun tonight. We’ll pick up… that thing another time.”

“What?” Eline asked before she remembered that they needed an excuse for them being there at the time of her date with Arlowe. “Yes, sounds good. Thank you.”

“Anytime,” Marti replied with a smile. “Come on, gorgeous,” she added to Marissa and pulled on Marissa’s hand. “Take me to that special dinner you’ve got planned.”

“So, hi,” Arlowe said once the two women were gone. “Am I early? I thought we said seven.”

“No, you’re… not.”

“Oh, okay. So, you had friends over right before our date? I mean, that’s fine, obviously. Just–”

“I needed help picking out what to wear.” She motioned to her dress, deciding to be honest. “I was nervous. I am nervous. I met Marti and her girlfriend the day you and I emailed for the first time, and Marti might be my only friend in this country outside of you and maybe your friends, if they consider me a friend. I was so nervous that I took two showers, did my hair after each one, and then I lost track of time when I couldn’t pick out what to wear, so I called Marti and asked her to come over and help, but I didn’t know it was already close to–”

“Hey,” Arlowe said softly as she walked over to her and held out a red tulip, which reminded Eline of home. “You’re doing that cute ramble thing, and I can’t kiss you until the end of the night, so I’m going to need you to hold off on that until I drop you off later.”

Eline took the flower, glanced down at it with a smile, and looked back up at her date.

“You can’t kiss me now?”

“Nope. That’s breaking a second first date rule, and I’m all mature and grown-up now, so I don’t break rules.”

“Liar,” Eline teased with a little laugh.

“You look beautiful,” Arlowe said. “I would’ve loved you in jeans or sweats, too, though.”

“You’re not wearing a blazer tonight,” she pointed out, just now noticing it.

“I didn’t have the need for the extra pocket tonight, so I went with a button-down and my best pair of black pants. Enya said my butt looks good in these.”

“Why is Enya looking at your butt?”

“I asked her to,” Arlowe replied. “I needed help getting ready for tonight, too, Eline. I’m just as nervous as you are, if not more.”

“You can’t be more.”

“Are you sure? I had to plan the date, and I have no idea if I got it right or not.”

“Arlowe, I don’t care where we go. I just want to go there with you.”