Page 107 of November

“Ten minutes. Okay,” India said.

Maisie disappeared into her bathroom moments later, leaving India to check the oven every minute or two because she didn’t know Maisie’s oven and didn’t want to burn the pizza. When it looked done enough, she pulled it out and set it on the counter. Not knowing where Maisie kept the plates, India decided not to look through her cabinets and sat down on the sofa in front of the modest television, checking email on her phone until she heard the bathroom door open.

“Sorry,” Maisie said when she came out wearing only a towel. “I forgot to bring clothes in there with me.”

India cleared her throat loudly and looked back down at the phone. Maisie laughed, found the clothes she wanted, and returned to the bathroom to put them on.

“Do you want to stay over? Tonight, I mean. To sleep. I mean, to sleep.”

India smiled and looked up as Maisie walked out of the bathroom again.

“You want me to stay over?”

“Yes. But you should know that my bed is pretty uncomfortable because I need a new mattress, and sometimes, after I drink, I snore.”

Maisie flopped down onto the sofa with still-wet hair.

“You’re really selling it, huh?” India laughed.

“Do you want to or not?” Maisie asked, laughing back.

“Yes, I’d love to,” she replied before Maisie stood up, grabbed the plates for them, put slices of pizza on them, and carried them over to her.

After that, Maisie returned to the kitchen, and to India’s surprise, she pulled down her wineglasses and got out a bottle of red from another cabinet.

“It’s not your stuff, but I got it at a wine shop. I was told it’s good,” Maisie said. “Want to open it for us?”

“You got wine?”

“Yes, but I didn’t spend hundreds of dollars on it. I just wanted to have something here for when you were over. I have this one and two other bottles. We can try any of them if you don’t want this one. It’s a merlot.”

India walked over to her and looked down at the label.

“This is a good brand. I’ve never had their merlot. Are you sure you want this with me? I can’t finish the bottle.”

“I’ll have a glass with you, yes.”

“Won’t that make you snore more?” India teased.

“Sounds like you’ll be finding out in about two hours or so,” Maisie replied.

India laughed a little and poured wine into glasses. She always preferred to decant her wine and let it breathe properly before she took the first sip, but this would have to do.

“Hey, I know the answer to this question already, but no wine decanter, right?”

Maisie laughed as they sat back down on the sofa and said, “No.”

“Can I buy you one?”

“Forthiswine? I doubt it’s really worth the expense.”

“All wine is worth it, even the cheapest reds.”

“What about the stuff in the boxes?”

“Oh, God,” India said and rolled her eyes while Maisie laughed. “Do you know why you aerate wine?”

“I’ve heard it makes it taste better.” Maisie shrugged.