Page 35

The bustling fast-food place was loud, bright, and it didn’t smell great.

Zara sat across from Tess in a corner booth, the initial disappointment of losing their table at the fancy restaurant fading quickly. She was just glad the date was still going.

She’d been slightly worried the problem at The Eclipse had screwed the night completely. But nothing could seem to stop it.

Tess glanced around at the cheesy décor as she ate a few fries. ‘Somehow, it makes sense that we ended up here,’ she said, shaking her head at the garish neon signs.

Zara nodded, swallowing a nugget. ‘Yeah, a calamity at The Eclipse followed by fast food feels pretty on brand for us.’

Zara laughed, leaning in. ‘Just wait until the kids hear that story. “Mummy, how did you and Mama meet?”

“Well, it all started with ketchup packets and a dream.”’

Tess laughed nervously and sipped her shake.

Zara realised what she’d just said. ‘Oh, no… I’m not trying to get ahead of myself. It was just a joke.’

Tess shook her head. ‘No, I wasn’t… You didn’t scare me or anything.’ She paused. ‘Wait, do you want kids?’

Zara’s mouth fell open. ‘Uhh….’

‘Oh, wow. Look who’s freaked out now,’ Tess laughed.

Zara had to laugh. But it was a big question, hence the slight panic. ‘Actually, no. I don’t think kids are for me. You?’

‘I don’t have time for it.’ Tess explained. ‘I work constantly. And when I’m not at work, I’m thinking about work. Kids are nice enough, but I wouldn’t bring one into the world to make them second place to a building.’

Zara nodded with total understanding. ‘I feel the same.’

‘So that’s the kid question taken care of,’ Tess said. ‘Really hitting the ground running, aren’t we?’

‘We’re busy people. Why not get to the nitty gritty?’ Zara said.

Tess ate a fry. ‘True.’

‘OK,’ Zara said, her eyes dancing. ‘Rapid fire. Let’s do all the big questions.’ She sipped her Coke, getting her throat ready for some serious talk.

Tess finished off her fries and raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ‘You’re serious?’

Zara chuckled, leaning back. ‘We’ve handled a minor cinema crisis and checked off the kids question. Go big or go home, right?’

Tess smirked. ‘Alright, let’s play.’

Zara jumped right in. ‘Marriage?’

‘Not a necessity,’ Tess said, without missing a beat. ‘But I wouldn’t rule it out if it felt right. You?’

‘Same,’ Zara replied. She liked how this was going so far.

‘Religion?’ Tess asked.

Zara tilted her head, considering. ‘I was raised Catholic, but it never stuck. I’m somewhere between agnostic and atheist.’

Tess nodded, feeling another point of connection fall into place. ‘Straight up atheist.’

Zara could feel the tension between them building with every answer. They were aligned in ways that felt almost too good to be true, but she wasn’t questioning it. It just felt right.

‘Tell me about your upbringing,’ Zara said.

Tess took a moment to gather herself. ‘Well, let’s see… I started with two parents, but then my dad left just after Fi was born to pursue his dream of being a useless fucker. I ended up picking up a lot of the slack. Then my mum died when Fi was fifteen and I was twenty-five, a heart attack. It’s been me and Fi and The Eclipse ever since.’

Zara knew that Tess had taken on a lot when she was young, but she didn’t realise quite the extent of it. ‘Christ, that’s a lot.’

Tess half smiled. ‘We’re doing you now.’

Zara rolled her eyes. ‘OK, fine. I’m the eldest of five siblings. My mum and dad are still together.’

‘Eldest of five?’ Tess asked. ‘That makes so much sense.’

‘Does it?’ Zara asked.

‘The oldest bears the strain, always comes to the rescue. That’s you.’

‘It’s also you,’ Zara said, aware she was deflecting a bit.

‘But you had four other kids younger than you. I’m gonna bet you ended up being a third parent from the get-go.’

Zara smiled. It was true. Her brothers and sisters had come to her before they’d ever thought of their parents. Zara had come to like that. She liked the feeling she was the only one who knew how to fix things.

‘Alright,’ Tess said, leaning forward, her voice lowering. ‘Biggest fear?’

Zara hesitated, wondering if she should make a joke. But it was against the spirit of this. She wanted to be truly honest, even if it made her nervous. ‘Missing out. On life, on people… spending so much time focused on the wrong things and realising too late that I missed the important stuff.’

Zara could tell from Tess’s face, her honesty had hit deep. ‘Same. But mine’s more about failing at the things I care about—like, not being capable of keeping them alive.’

Zara’s eyes locked on hers. ‘Some definite overlap there.’

They sat there for a moment, just looking at each other, the weight of their conversation settling into something that felt intense.

Zara decided that the feeling had only one place it could go. She decided to be a bit brave. ‘You want to go to my place?’ she asked. ‘I’ve got wine.’

Tess picked up her milkshake and sipped until it was dry. She put it down. ‘Let’s go.’

***

Zara unlocked the door to her place, throwing a glance over her shoulder at Tess, a look that was part invitation, part dare. Tess didn’t look away.

The door opened and Zara led Tess in.

‘Nice place,’ Tess observed.

Zara looked around her. Her open-plan flat was as sleek and precise as she was, all clean lines and muted tones. She hoped Tess wouldn’t think it characterless.

‘I don’t spend a lot of time here,’ she said apologetically.

‘I would,’ Tess said. She blinked. ‘I meant if I were you.’

Zara nodded, laughing softly. ‘I knew what you meant.’

Zara went to the kitchen area to retrieve a bottle of wine. But as she pulled it from the cooler and set about opening it, she wondered how much of it they were actually going to drink. She poured two glasses anyway, setting them on the marble countertop, and leaned back, studying Tess. The silence hung between them, heavy with anticipation.

‘So… will we need another coin tonight?’ Zara asked dryly.

Tess didn’t answer, not with words. She walked over to Zara and took her hand, pulling her in. She kissed her—hard. Zara responded immediately, her hands grabbing onto the back of Tess’s silky neck as if anchoring herself. The kiss was heated, urgent, with Tess tilting her head to deepen it, Zara yielding and matching her intensity. The soft brush of lips gave way to a clash of mouths and tongues, their movements frantic and unrestrained.

Zara’s fingers slid down from Tess’s neck to her back, down further, nails grazing just enough to make Tess shiver. Zara pressed into her; no space left between them.

When they finally broke apart, breathing hard, Tess rested her forehead against Zara’s, their lips still a whisper away. A low, almost teasing smile played on Zara’s face. ‘We’re not stopping here, are we?’

Tess smirked, her hand moving to Zara’s jaw, her thumb brushing her bottom lip. ‘Not a chance.’

The wine was left untouched on the counter as they moved deeper into the apartment, their bodies fitting together, their connection intensifying with each step.

The night stretched ahead, brimming with promise, the start of something raw, thrilling, and inevitable.