Page 16 of Origins of Eternity

“Oh. I guess. But not so that they don’t have to. It’s because they won’t.”

“I will be better, if that helps.”

“You will?” Arwen asked, looking hopeful.

“Yes. I’ll do my best not to fly private and maybe take trains more when I’m in Europe. It’s much easier there than it ishere, in America. What is it with this country’s aversion to mass transit?”

Arwen laughed and said, “I have no idea, but yes, it does make it difficult. I try to walk or ride my bike whenever I can, but I have to drive for work most days. There’s not exactly a station near my place, and the bus stop is pretty far away. I don’t like having to load my bike onto the front of a bus. It takes time for me and for everyone else on the bus who has to wait for me to do it, and I can’t exactly show up sweaty to a meeting with a client because I rode my bicycle all the way in. We have a shower at the office because a lot of our staff does that, and it’s specifically a firm for environmental law, but if I’m at another attorney’s office for that meeting or in court, I need to at least look presentable.”

“You look very presentable to me,” Iro said.

“You’re really good at this.”

“At what?”

“Picking up women.”

“What makes you think I’m trying to pick you up?”

“Oh,” Arwen said, looking embarrassed now, and Iro watched that red flush sweep up her cheeks. “You’re not? It felt like you were flirting with me.”

“I am.”

“But you’re not trying to pick me up?”

Iro leaned in closer and let her hand move to the back of Arwen’s neck. She cupped it, gave it a little squeeze, and began massaging it. Arwen’s eyes closed, and Iro used that as her opportunity to look down at full lips she wanted to meet with her own.

“You feel tense here.”

“I’malwaystense.”

“That’s unfortunate,” Iro said.

Arwen opened her eyes then, and Iro stared into them, seeing the gold flecks again.

“I’m not picking you up, Arwen, because that makes it sound like I’m only interested in one thing.”

“Sex?”

Iro smiled and gave her a nod.

“So, youdon’twant to sleep with me?”

“I saidonlyone thing. I’m interested in taking you on a date, getting to know you better, and seeing where things can go from there. I’m a bit old-fashioned like that.”

“You want to go out with me?”

“Yes, I do. Very much. I am very attracted to you.” Iro moved her hand to the side of Arwen’s neck and slowly ran a thumb over her pulse point. “Ihavebeen since you walked through that door. You are incredibly beautiful.”

“So are you,” Arwen said. “How did you know?”

“That you’re beautiful?”

“That I’m gay,” Arwen clarified.

“I didn’t. I only knew that you looked back at me when you caught me staring at you, and when I couldn’t pull my eyes away, yours seemed to have the same problem.”

“You’re…” Arwen swallowed, causing Iro to feel it in her fingers as she continued to caress Arwen’s neck. “You’re so different than who I’m usually interested in.”