Page 17 of Origins of Eternity

“How so?”

“Earlier, before you approached, Zara pointed out to me – and she was right – that I’m usually attracted to more…” Arwen cleared her throat. “Well, femmes, like me.”

Iro nodded and asked, “And what would you call me?”

“Butch,” Arwen answered directly as she smiled. “And I’ve got to tell you, it’s really working for me.”

Iro smiled and replied, “I’m glad. Will you permit me to take you out sometime this week?”

“Permit you?” Arwen asked, smiling still.

“I told you, I’m old-fashioned. I’d like to take you to a nice dinner and then walk you to your door at the end of the night.”

“That’s refreshing,” Arwen said.

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes,” Arwen replied. “I’ll give you my number.”

Iro pulled out her phone, unlocked it, and handed it to Arwen. She missed the days of knowing everyone who lived in a small village. Of course, by the time she had been born in London, it was no longer a small village, but she had lived in many after turning, and they hadn’t needed cell phones or technology of any kind. They could simply arrive at a door or send a thoughtful letter. In today’s world, there were text messages, and some people even sent them without actual words, only those little figures they called emojis, which Iro hated.

“There you go,” Arwen said. “Can I text myself so that I have your number, too?”

“Of course,” she replied.

Arwen sent herself a text message before handing Iro her phone back, and when Arwen’s phone pinged in her purse, which was next to her in the booth, she made no move to get it. Possibly, it was because she knew exactly what that notification was, but Iro hadn’t seen Arwen reference her phone once since arriving. Even her friend, Zara, had pulled outherphone. A busy attorney like Arwen surely had plenty of emails and messages to check, but she didn’t seem to care about anything other than the fact that she was here with Iro.

Iro had dropped her hand from Arwen’s neck when she had handed her the phone, but she needed contact again, so her arm moved back around the booth and rested on Arwen’s shoulder this time. She wasn’t touching skin, only the sweater Arwen had on over her dress, but that had to be enough because she wasn’t about to take things too far and mess this up.

“So, when?”

“Sorry?” Iro asked.

“When do you want to go out?”

“Oh,” she replied with a smile. “This week sometime, if you’re free. I’ll need to check my calendar.”

“Is that to make me not worry if you ghost me after this?”

“No, Arwen. It’s because I just moved back to America from Paris, so I’ve been incredibly busy, but I will prioritize this date with you because I have no plans onghostingyou.”

“Why does that word sound funny with you saying it?” Arwen giggled.

“Can I please take you home to ensure you get there safely?”

“I’ll be okay,” Arwen replied. “I can leave my car in the lot and–”

“I can take care of that for you,” she interjected. “Just say yes.”

“Um… Yes?”

Iro smiled again, unsure she had smiled this much in a very long time. Then, she picked up her phone and dialed her driver.

“Yes, Ma’am?”

“Bring the car around, please. And can you get me someone to pick up another car and follow us?”

“I’ll get someone in security to do it. Three minutes?”