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Patricia clears her throat and her cocky smile from minutes ago transforms into one of those goofy ones she can't control when Carlota looks at her that way.

"Yes, I've been thinking about it for weeks. I'm not saying we should do it right now, but if you want to, we could start thinking about it and move in together in a fewmonths, when we find something that works for you, me, and Coco."

Patricia's heart pounds in her head when she finishes speaking. She feels she might suffocate if Carlota takes too long to answer, but the volunteer seems to lack that indecision that affects Patricia with everything related to important steps, because she doesn't take even a second to respond.

"I would love to live with you and Coco," she says enthusiastically.

"Really?" Patricia asks stupidly before hugging her.

"See? It wasn't that hard," Aida says, rolling her eyes.

Patricia glances at her sideways and winks.

"Now tell me what you were laughing about before," Carlota breaks away from Patricia's embrace.

This time it's Aida who lets out a laugh, stepping back again and positioning herself right next to the woman who spoke to her earlier.

"Mind if I wait my turn with you?"

The woman looks at Aida, and she feels how that penetrating gaze pierces through her, causing a sudden current that leaves her breathless. Aida furrows her brow, the woman is older than her, maybe fifty?

"No, but don't try to cut in line, because I'm the type who bites," the woman responds.

Aida no longer cares about her age.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Patricia asks Carlota while watching the two women.

"Don't change the subject," Carlota insists, and this time Patricia turns to her and grabs her by the waist.

"Fine," she finally agrees, "I was remembering the day we got trapped in the shelter and I discovered you were reading Writers."

"And what about it?" Carlota doesn't understand.

"You turned red as a tomato and started saying a bunch of silly things like you were only reading it because someone recommended it or that you didn't even know who the writers were."

Carlota blushes just like that day and Patricia smiles, pulling her closer with more determination, bringing her lips to her ear to whisper.

"That's when I started suspecting you liked women and, even though at that moment I was determined to be angry with you, there was a part of me that was overjoyed that was the case."

The kiss with which Carlota responds to Patricia's words is so heartfelt that even the writers themselves have to stand up from their chairs to see what's happening when those present start whistling and clapping, inspired by Aida and her mysterious companion.