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While Aly thanked people for coming, Lola waited in the cookbook section, the roses growing heavy in her arms.

“Come here often?” Aly said as she finally made her way back to Lola.

Lola laughed. “Actually, no.”

They kissed lightly, as though they were slightly unsure of how to act around each other now that Aly had bared her soul.

“I rode my bike here,” Lola said.

“I can ride on your handlebars.”

“That is literallysounsafe,” Lola cried. “I’ll just walk it back.”

“Up to you.” Aly shrugged, a mischievous grin on her face.

They were quiet on the walk back to their street. Lola ran through things she could say—where have you been all dayorI liked your readingorplease don’t ignore me anymore—but everything felt trite. Aly seemed to feel the same way. Every now and then, they smiled at each other but quickly looked away. It was like a first date.

Finally, they reached their two houses. “Yours or mine?” Aly asked.

“Mine,” Lola said and stashed the bicycle against the side of the house. A big box from Amazon sat on the porch. Lola was confused for a minute before remembering it was her sewing machine. She pushedit to the side and held the door open for Aly.

In the living room, they sat on the sofa side by side, only a few inches between them.

“Lola, I—” Aly started.

But Lola cut her off. “Me first, okay? You already had an audience.”

Aly laughed and gestured for her to go on.

“I like you so much,” Lola said. “I can’t remember the last time I felt like this.”

“Same,” Aly interjected, and Lola shushed her.

“I want you in every way possible. I don’t care that you’re a bitch when you’re moody or that you’re still friends with your gorgeous, tiny,super-mean ex-girlfriend. I don’t care that you ruined my life once already. I just want you. I want to be with you.”

Aly raised an eyebrow. “Be with me, or bewithme?”

“Withyou,” Lola confirmed. “But you have to accept me for me too. And I’m sorry that I’m not a lesbian. I’m sorry I’m not even bisexual. I know it would be easier for you if I were. It might be easier for me too, or at least less confusing. But it’s not like I want anyone else. And shouldn’t that be what matters?”

Aly was quiet, her hands folded in her lap.

Lola continued, “Maybe one day, I’ll feel differently. Maybe there’s a word for me that I haven’t encountered yet. But all I know is how I feel, and how I feel is that I can’t lose you. I won’t.”

“You’re not going to lose me,” Aly said. She took both of Lola’s hands in hers. “And you’re right. It doesn’t matter. I know that you care about me. I don’t need you to be someone you’re not.”

“Really?” Lola said, in shock that Aly had agreed so quickly. “Are you sure?”

Instead of answering, Aly kissed her, long and deep. Lola leanedinto it.

Aly whispered into her mouth, “I’m sure.”

Lola pounced on her, happiness filling her body, coursing through all those places that had been empty and sad all day, knocking them both backward onto the couch. She kissed Aly’s neck while Aly gripped her ass. “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you,” Aly said, and then she flipped Lola over and pulled her jeans off.

She kissed up Lola’s legs, her hands tight on Lola’s thighs. Lola didn’t bother trying to be quiet.

When Aly finally put her mouth where Lola was wettest, it was all Lola could do to keep from screaming. Aly’s tongue swirled into her with the exact right pressure. But she didn’t want to be the sole recipient of pleasure. She wanted Aly to feel what she was feeling while she was feeling it. She sat up.