Page 14 of Semantics

“It could be a big deal, Jen.”

“Yeah, that’s great. Your date tonight could be a big deal, too. Amber said she really liked you.”

“It’s weird that you’re friends with the woman I’m going out with. Did she text you after our first date was over, or did you text her after me?”

“Neither. I texted her first because I knew you would make me wait and she’d answer me right away when it was over. She said you were hot. Personally, I don’t see it. I mean, you’re all right, I guess, but I’m too close to you to gauge that properly.”

“Gee, thanks,” Stella replied with a little laugh. “She said she wants to cook for me tonight. Isn’t it a little too soon for the cook-for-someone-else date? It’s only our second.”

“Is there a rule for that?”

“I don’t know. It feels like we should still be in that go-to-the-restaurant stage and maybe add a movie this time or something else, but going to her house and having her cook for me is like a whole step, I thought.”

“You said yes. Why did you do that if it’s too soon?”

“She offered, and I didn’t want to be rude. She sent me a long text with, like, a whole menu, asking if there was anything I don’t eat on it.”

“That’s thoughtful, Stella.”

“I know. It’s very sweet. It just feels a little soon. Like, I’m going to her house. Do I bring a bag or, at least, my own toothbrush? Is that too forward for a second date? What is a second date to her, exactly? Is that the sex date? We haven’t even kissed yet, and I’ve never had sex on a second date.”

“These all sound like excellent questions for the woman you’re actually dating,” Jen replied.

“We’re not dating. We’re just going on a date. That’s an important distinction.”

“Fine. Whatever works for you. Just don’t be an asshole because I don’t want to have to choose between you and her if this all goes south.”

“You’d actually choose Amber over me?” Stella asked. “Your best friend?”

“No, but it sounded more dramatic, saying it like that. I’ve got to go. Text me later and let me know how it went?”

“You’ve got to pee again, don’t you?”

“Yup.”

When Jen stood up and carried the food that she was still eating, as well as her giant water bottle, out of her office, Stella refreshed her inbox again, and seeing nothing from Violet but ten other new emails, she decided to get back to work while she finished her lunch.

◆◆◆

“How is it? And please be honest. If you like it, I want to make it again for you in the future, but if you hate it, I want to cross it off the list of meals to cook.”

Stella had only just taken the first bite of the chicken pasta dish that Amber had made for them, and while it wasn’t the best pasta in the world, it definitely wasn’t the worst. It just had a little too much red pepper in it for her taste, and she could see and feel the flakes in the sauce hit her tongue, which wiped out the creamy flavor from the sauce. She didn’t know how to approach this, though, because the meal was fine. She would want Amber to lay off the red pepper and maybe dial back on whatever that other seasoning was that she had added, but she could eat it again.

“It’s great,” she lied before she let out a little cough and reached for the wineglass, wishing there was also a water glass next to it, but Amber had only put out wine for them.

“You coughed. Is everything okay? Too much pepper?”

“Uh… Yeah.”

Stella coughed again and took another long gulp of her wine.

“Sorry, I like things with a little kick to them,” Amber shared. “I should’ve adjusted it for company, and then you could’ve added more.”

“It’s okay,” she replied and cleared her throat. “I’m just not a big fan of spice. I can handle it sometimes, but I don’t even have red pepper flakes at my place.”

“Really? Oh, I love them. I add them to my pizza. Red pepper and parmesan cheese all over the place.” Amber took a bite of the pasta, and once she was done chewing, she asked, “Can I make you something else?”

“Oh, no. It’s good. It’s just a little spicy for me, but I’m okay.”