Page 34 of Derivation

“Chocolate?” Arlowe asked, suddenly interested.

“Whatever kind you want,” Enya replied.

“Cool. I’m going to bed. I’ll wash my dish later, Sarai.”

“Thanks, Arlowe,” she replied, glaring playfully at her friend.

Arlowe rose and dropped her plate off in the sink. When Sarai turned to see what Enya was going to do, she was already gone.

“Garage. I’m starting to get used to how she just disappears like that,” Gabi said and sat down in Enya’s chair. “So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?”

“Probably just working.”

“It’s Saturday, Sarai.”

“I usually work at least a little on the weekend.”

“Or, you could try getting out of the house.”

“I do that sometimes, too,” she replied, smiling over at her. “Want a cookie? Enya made them this morning.”

“I’m okay.”

“You know it’s okay to eat our food, right? You haven’t really wanted to unless you were here for the parties that we, apparently, have now.”

“I feel bad. I want to contribute.”

“You will. We’ll steal your food, too.” Sarai winked.

Gabi chuckled and said, “Hey, I think I should be done with most of my unpacking by tonight because I need to be able to sleep on my bed.”

“That’s good,” Sarai replied.

“Yeah. I was going to maybe go out.”

“You don’t have to tell us when you go out, you know?”

“I mean that I was going to grab a drink.”

“With your friend, Chase?”

“No, he and his husband have other plans. It’s their date night. So, I was going to go to that bar again where you and I met… again. And I just said again twice, didn’t I?”

Sarai picked up a cookie and said, “Have fun, I guess.”

“Do you want to go with me?” Gabi asked.

“To the bar?”

“Yes, Sarai, to the bar, where we’d have drinks and maybe some food.”

Sarai wasn’t sure what was going on here. Gabi was inviting her out on a Saturday night, but she hadn’t exactly said if it was a hangout or a date. It was probably just a hangout because Gabi wouldn’t be asking her out on a date. They lived together now. They were roommates and couldn’t – or, at least, shouldn’t – date each other, even if she was totally jealous of Arlowe and Gabi hanging out on Gabi’s bed earlier.

“Um… Yeah. Sure. Let me see what Enya is doing tonight. I might be able to catch Arlowe before she falls asleep and check with her, too, before you have to go. That way… you’d know if we’re in or not and can make other plans if you need to.”

“Oh,” Gabi uttered, looking a little confused, and Sarai didn’t know why. “I was… I thought it could just…”

“Just what?”