Page 11 of Paradigm

“No, she drinks all the coffee,” she replied with a little laugh. “It’s more that it seems strange to think that we need to keep things no-pressure, considering that I thought she’d propose to me one day, but I get your point.”

“So, you’re going to do it?”

“She doesn’t even know that I live here. I haven’t told her yet. Shouldn’t I start with that?”

“You can put it all in one email.”

“Hey.”

Eline looked up and found the best friend standing not next to, but between their stools.

“Oh, hey. Marissa, this is Eline. Eline, this is my friend, Marissa,” Marti introduced.

“Nice to meet you,” Eline replied.

“Yeah, you too,” Marissa said, but Eline could tell that she didn’t actually mean it. “I just wanted to… check on the food,” Marissa added, clearly lying as she looked her over.

“Wouldn’t they bring it to the table?” Marti asked.

“Yeah. So, are you coming back over, or…”

“We were going to have a drink,” Eline said. “Just getting to know each other a bit.”

She put her hand on Marti’s thigh briefly and watched Marissa’s eyes flit down and practically glare back up at her a moment later.

“Um… Yeah. You two can eat without me. I’m going to hang out here, with Eline, for a while. In fact, if you want to head out when you’re done, that’s fine. I can get a ride–”

“I’ll take you,” Eline interrupted.

“You came with us,” Marissa said.

“I know, but I’ll be fine. Eline will drive me home.”

“Can I maybe talk to you for a second? Alone?” Marissa asked.

“Uh… Sure,” Marti replied.

When Marissa turned away and took a few steps toward the kitchen, Eline winked at Marti, trying to play the part she had given herself, and whispered, “I was right.”

“I’ll be right back,” Marti said, shaking her head.

Eline was left alone then, which meant that she finally had to decide what to do about her response to Arlowe. She opened up the email, hit the reply icon, and began typing.

Arlowe,

I didn’t mention this before, and maybe I shouldn’t now, but I’m not exactly staying up late tonight. I’m actually out at dinner right now, about to get my food, and then I’ll go home to my new apartment because I moved. I don’t live in Holland anymore. I live in the US. More specifically, I live here. Well, I live in the same town as your company’s main office. I guess I assumed that you probably lived here, too. Maybe you work remotely from somewhere else, but I don’t know. If you live here, I’m here, too, and I can look you up on social media, or I can text you, but we could also maybe meet up if you want. Coffee? I know you love coffee. You used to drink it by the bucket and said you loved the coffee in Holland better than any you’d ever had. If you don’t want to meet, I understand. I just can’t believe that we’re finally in the same place at the same time, and I think I’d kick myself for not telling you that or asking if we can meet again.

Eline

She hit send before she could talk herself out of it and turned just as Marti sat back down next to her.

“She wants to take her girlfriend home and talk to me about something,” Marti shared.

“She does?”

“She said it was just supposed to be her and I tonight, but her girlfriend wanted to tag along. They’ve been fighting a lot recently, and she doesn’t see it going anywhere anymore. I think she’s going to break up with her,” Marti said with a smile. “Am I a bad person for loving that?”

“No,” Eline replied with a smile. “You should go, then.”