Page 100 of Semantics

“Tiers. There’s the top tier, where I’ve got two women who I think would be the best matches for you based on their profiles, but I didn’t want to discount the maybes, so there’s the mid-tier and the lower tier, too. Less likely to be perfect matches, but I didn’t have enough information to count them out, either. I can send you all their–”

“I said in a few months, Jen.”

“I can’t guarantee they’ll all still be single in a few months, Stella.”

“That’s fine. I am willing to take that risk. I don’t want to show up to some first date still thinking about Violet. I’d want to be ready to give it a real chance.”

“Well, that’s good news, I guess.”

“Just hold on to them for me, and if I need them, and they’re still interested in meeting your lame, loser best friend who can’t find her own dates, we’ll talk when I’m ready.”

“You’re not lame.”

“But I am a loser?” she joked.

“Shut up.” Jen laughed.

Stella’s phone dinged, and she looked down at the table where she’d set it to keep an eye on the possible call from the would-be client that they were still chasing.

“It’s Violet.” She quickly picked up the phone. “She’s calling me.” Stella slid her finger across the phone to accept the call. “Hey,” she greeted.

“Hey. Do you have a minute?”

“Um… Yeah. What’s up?”

“I’m sorry about the other night. And last night, too. I know I said that we could talk. I promise, I wasn’t trying to put you off or delay whatever we need to say to each other. They just needed so much information. I had to get some bank records from our old bank, and they closed down three years ago, which was why we left them, and–”

“Vi, it’s okay. I understand.”

“Tell her you miss her,” Jen whispered.

“What was that?” Violet asked.

“Nothing. It’s just Jen. We’re out at dinner.”

“Oh. I’m interrupting. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. She was just showing me pictures of her new girlfriend.”

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Jen said a little more loudly and through gritted teeth.

Stella laughed, and she heard Violet’s small laugh come from the other side of the phone.

“Anyway… How is it going?” Stella asked.

“It’s taken us some time, but I think we finally have everything organized, at least. I was thinking that, if you were free, you could come over, but you’re at dinner, so–”

“I can leave. We just finished eating.”

“You don’t have to rush,” Violet told her. “We’re not doing anything. It’s just the four of us hanging out in the living room, watching a movie to try to unwind from the stress of it all. Arlowe’s going to open some beers, and that’s the extent of it, so feel free to stay there and enjoy your dinner that probably isn’t from a bucket.”

“What?” Stella laughed.

“We ordered fried chicken,” Violet explained. “I forgot to mention that part, didn’t I? I am very tired.”

“Can you save me a leg?”

“You just ate dinner.”