Page 22 of Origins of Eternity

“You’ve never dated someone like her in all the time I’ve known you.”

“I know. I can’t explain it. She justdoessomething to me.”

“You two didn’t… I mean, all you said was that she took you home.”

“What? No. She kissed me on the cheek, and we held hands. That’s all.”

“You held hands?” Zara asked.

“Yes. She stood up in the bar and held her hand out to me like she was about to escort me to the dance floor. It was very dashing. Is dashing the right word to use?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t there, so I didn’t see it.”

“She said she’s old-fashioned and wanted to go out first, so we’re doing that, which is great because I’m not a one-night stand kind of person. I’m honestly barely even a dater. I want someone I can meet, and we automatically agree that it’s just the two of us from the start, so we can get to the place where we stay in, watch old movies as we snuggle up on the couch, and share inside jokes that no one else knows.”

“Thatdoessound nice,” Zara said.

“So, can you come over and help me find something in my closet? It won’t take long unless I freak out because I really do have nothing to wear.”

“Why don’t you just text her and ask where she’s taking you? Then, you’d know what to choose.”

“She said she wants to surprise me. I have never had a woman want to surprise me on a first date unless you count that one who surprised me by wearing a strap-on all night and thought she’d get to use it when we got back to my place.”

“At least, you said no.”

“Are you feeling too tired to help? I’d understand, Zara. I will continue to tell you to go to the doctor to get checked out, though, because it’s been four or five days, at least.”

“Well,you’renot sick, and I spend most of my time with you, so whatever it is, it’s not contagious. You’ll be fine.”

“I’m not worried aboutme,” Arwen replied, looking at her friend with a more critical eye now, after Zara’s tone had gone a tad harsh. “Zara, what’s really going on?”

“Nothing,” Zara said as she stood. “I need to get back to work, but you’ll be fine, I’m sure. Go with a dress. Maybe that black one. It’s simple, strapless, and you look great in it. Don’t take that purse, though.” She pointed to the purse on the floor by Arwen’s desk. “Small clutch. If you don’t have one, run to any store and buy one. It just needs to be black, and you’re good. Leave that giant Mary Poppins bag at home.”

“It helps me carry all my stuff,” Arwen protested.

“On a date, you don’t need legal pads, your laptop, and, like, sixty-eight pens. You’ll be fine.”

Arwen laughed and replied, “You know me well.”

“Yeah, I do,” Zara said wistfully. “I’ll see you later.”

Zara then left her office, and Arwen felt like she should press her because this wasn’t how her best friend usually acted. Zara had been distant all week, had wanted to talk about workonly, and hadn’t asked anything about Iro and the date that Arwen was about to go on, when they’d always been able to talk to each other about the women they were seeing. On top of that, Zara had been sluggish. When Arwen had asked her questions about a case, Zara had been pretty slow to respond or hadn’t known the answer, whereas usually, Zara was even ahead of her. Arwen decided that if her friend didn’t get better soon, she might call the doctor to book her an appointment herself.

“Arwen?”

She looked up, seeing Zara standing there with a delivery guy, who was holding flowers in a blue vase.

“Can I help you?” she asked him.

“Arwen Lam?”

“That’s me.”

“These are for you. Can you sign, please?” he asked and walked over to her desk, where he set down a massive bouquet of flowers she didn’t recognize.

“For me?” she asked and stood to sign for him.

“Yeah.”