Page 93 of Love on the Main Stage
It was the sort of possessive I didn’t expect from her, but craved.
“You know, we don’t have to get all boxed in andquiteso heteronormative, my love,” I said. “That’s the beauty of this. Itdoesn’t bother me if you flirt with other people. Just come home with me at the end of the night and we’re good.”
“What? Do you get off on it? I know people who do. I don’t think I’m like that, for what it’s worth. I think I would break a table if someone moved in on you. Not like in a toxic way, but… I don’t like to share when I’m in love with someone.”
“I am a serial monogamist and a walking stereotype,” I said. “You will not get any lip from me. I don’t mind other people staring, though. You’re right. Itdoesrev my engine.”
As we finished drinking, Betty asked, “Who is the blonde?”
I answered, “I know her.”
Betty’s face lit up. “Know her how?”
I snickered, “Not like that. There aren’t that many of us here, but I do know her as a friend of a friend. She’s not even my type.”
“Why?”
“Am I the lesbian oracle?”
“I know nothing, so yes. I mean, Leah and Lourdes havetriedto hand-hold me, but… I don’t like asking them since they’re the cool kids.”
“And I’m not?”
“No, you are, but you’re mine, so I am allowed to ask you all my stupid questions.”
You’re mine. The words melted me.
I cleared my throat, not trying to show how she made me swoon. “Uh… well, for starters, I’m more into femmes. I know, I know, but… you are much more my type… even if you’re much too peppy. Second, she’s a holier-than-thou gold star and that’s not my vibe, as you kids would say.”
“I am not a kid, Marit,” she insisted in Swedish.
“Oh, stop speaking Swedish,” I giggled. “You keep doing it.”
“I know it makes you want me.”
“It’s not sexy. It’s fucking adorable and melts me,” I said, kissing her. “Yeah. I’m not into that whole thing.”
“Can I ask another stupid fucking question?”
“Anytime, skatt.” I sat my beer down on the barter.
“What does gold star mean? Did she fight in combat? Because sometimes, it means like… you lost someone in action.”
“No,” I laughed. “God, no! Uh… generally it’s a lesbian who has never fucked a man and is pretty holier-than-thou about it. Since many people my age didn’t deconstruct until their twenties and thirties, it feels sort of marginalizing and gross.”
“Oh, it’s like people who swear they cannot eat normal food to maintain ketosis and are really just suffering through diet culture endlessly?”
I cocked my head. “Who the fuckareyou? What does that even mean?”
“Internet fuckery. Let’s dance!”
She pulled me onto the dance floor while I tried to figure out what sort of Internet corner she’d fall into. It never occurred to me that royals browsed online, but I supposed they did. After all, didn’t people her ageliveon their phones? I was bad enough but avoided endless scrolling to save my sanity.
We danced until a song that requiredactualdancing came on. Somehow, I lost Betty to a man who moved his hips in a way I couldn’t even imagine. She could properly dance and went off with him. Pure joy flooded from her. I couldn’t help but smile as she lived it up.
“Your girlfriend is adorable,” the guy who had been dancing with Betty’s new friend said.
“She is,” I agreed. “I have no idea what she sees in me.”
