Page 97 of Push & Pull

“I’ve never written a term paper, so I’ll take your word on it. Shit!” Both of Petra’s fists slammed against the table. “Do I need to go back to school now? Is this expected of me? A B.A. or some shit?”

“That’s for you to figure out.”

“This is too much at once. I think I need to go home and curl up in bed and watch anime. Or blast some Hole.”

“Now you watch anime?”

“Uh oh, you know what anime is?”

Simone folded her arms on the table and lowered her head. “No comment.”

“What kind of anime did they watch in Zeta Nu? No. Don’t tell me.Neon Genesis Evangelion.That’s where they all learned to be absolute psychopathic shits.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“Oh, we should watch it! You’llloveit! Very upbeat and optimistic.”

“I detect sarcasm.”

“Nah.”

Petra grabbed the check before Simone had the chance. After they silently debated over who was going to pay, Petra came out on top when she slammed her card down and watched the waiter carry it away.God, that is painful.If Petra slipped into old habits, she looked around the terrace and counted how many people’s cards she could skim with one flick of her wrist.

“You okay?”

Petra snapped out of her memories. “Absolutely peachy. Once my card comes back, I’ll walk you out.”

Unlike Petra, Simone had driven to the restaurant. The Aston Martin awaited her once the valet was alerted. As Simone hopped into the driver’s seat, she asked Petra if she needed a ride.

“Nope. Walking back to my place.” Petra leaned against the hood of the Aston Martin and pressed her face through the opened window. “You doing anything tonight?”

“I’m not watching anime with you.”

“We don’t have to watch anything.” Petra waited for Simone to finish buckling her seatbelt. “We could go straight to the main attraction.”

Her exaggerated wink was meant to make Simone smile. Instead, Petra’s girlfriend snorted in mild amusement and clamped her hands on the steering wheel. “You know, I’ve got forty-five minutes before I have to be at my lawyer’s office. I was going to stop off at home and freshen up, but now I have a better idea.”

“Does it include me getting in the passenger seat and us making out in your private parking garage?” The one now fortified with more security measures after Simone threatened to sue?

“Making out? I’m not going out of my way tomake out.If we’re heading back together, I want more than merely making out.”

“Are you trying to tell me this is the tower I’m keeping you in?”

“Oh, God, this again.”

Petra lowered her voice while the valet impatiently waited for them to get out of the way. “It’s because you like it, princess.”

“Would you get in the damn car?”

Petra was more than happy to saunter before the Aston Martin and make a flamboyant show of popping open the passenger side door. The moment she landed in her seat, Simone took off, hardly giving Petra the time to snap her seatbelt – or close the damn door!

“Someone’s in a hurry!” she cried.

Simone stopped at a red light that was getting ready to turn green. “I’ve got things to do before I see my lawyer.”

“Kitchen counter or couch?”

“I’m thinking up against the wall.”