Page 130 of Semantics

“Night,” Enya replied with her eyes closed.

“Oh, my God. Come on. I’m walking you to your room before Arlowe and I have to carry you like last time,” Sarai stated and stood, holding out her hands to Enya.

Violet just smiled at her friends, happy that she hadn’t missed these ridiculous moments with them, and she was also happy that these ridiculous moments had given her an opportunity to refer to Stella as her girlfriend. Now that the initial panic was over because Stella seemed to be fine with that, Violet felt like she could try and stop that fast breathing that she hadn’t noticed starting up to begin with.

Stella picked her bag up off the floor and held her hand as they walked down the hall and into Violet’s bedroom. Violet closed it behind them, making sure to lock it, and leaned back against it, letting out a deep breath.

“So, you’re my girlfriend now,” Stella said with a smirk as she moved into her and placed her hands on Violet’s hips. “Are you standing there for any particular reason? I know we just told them that we were going to chill, but I’ll happily–”

“As much as I would love that – and trust me, I would – I do not have the energy to have sex right now. We’ve had sex every night this week. You’ve exhausted me in the best way, and I need at least six hours of sleep tonight.”

“So, does that mean my chances at morning sex are also zero?” Stella teased.

“I didn’t say that.” Violet kissed her. “But I feel like I might have distracted us from my first point.”

“The girlfriend point,” Stella said with a nod.

“Yes, that one.”

“It’s only been a few weeks. Technically, only one where we were actually dating. Are you sure? We can go as slowly as you need to, Vi. I don’t want to rush anything here. I know how we started might make that statement seem like a lie, but it’s not. I want this with you. I don’t want anyone else, but–”

“Honestly, out there, it did just kind of slip out,” she admitted, wrapping her arms around Stella’s neck.

“Oh, okay. We can just keep dating. I–”

“Stella, hold on.” She chuckled a little. “I was trying to explain; that’s all.”

“Oh,” Stella repeated and looked at her expectantly.

“Out there, it was an accident. But in here, it’s very much deliberate, okay?” Violet pressed her forehead against Stella’s. “You are my girlfriend. I don’t want anyone else, either.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she confirmed. “It’s been a while since I’ve had a girlfriend, though, so you might have to help me out a little here.”

“No problem,” Stella replied. “So, now that we’ve said that we only want each other and that we’re together, we kiss. It’s going to be one of those long, slow kisses, like at the end of a movie. Then, I’m going to move us to the bed, where I’ll get on top of you, and we’ll continue to make out until our lips get so swollen that we have to stop. We’ll change into our pajamas, I’ll put on the show for us, and we’ll snuggle up. I’ll be behind you, with you leaning back into me, and we’ll talk through the show because we’re alone and we can, and we’ve seen it a million times. After that, we’ll brush our teeth, take care of everything else that we need, and we’ll go to sleep. I’ll hold you until you eventually get too hot and push me away.” Stella smiled, and even though Violet’s eyes were closed, she could still feel it. “Then, tomorrow, we’ll wake up together – in fact, we’ll do that at least three to four times a week, if not more – and we’ll go from there. How does that sound?”

“Perfect,” Violet replied with a smile. “Can the kissing start now?”

Stella didn’t answer. Instead, she leaned in and captured Violet’s lips.

◆◆◆

“I thought you were bringing coffee and bagels,” Sarai said the following morning when Violet and Stella walked into the kitchen.

“What? Why did you think that?” Violet asked.

“Arlowe said it last night when we all got home.”

“If Stella and I had stayed at her place, you all would’ve expected us to bring something for the morning meeting, yes. That’s what we were talking about.”

“So, there aren’t any bagels?” Enya asked, walking in behind them.

“No, there–”

“Make way for the hero!” Arlowe said, swiftly moving around Enya and then Stella and Violet before she set a bag of bagels, as well as four coffee cups in a holder, on the kitchen table.

“Did you forget that Stella was joining us today?” Violet asked, worried that Arlowe hadn’t gotten Stella a coffee.