Page 78 of Semantics

“It’s two, Vi. I’m not going to be late for dinner, which is at seven, if I stay a little longer.”

“No, it’s fine. We have to really focus on this now.”

“And we weren’t focusing before?” Sarai asked, snapping into some beef jerky.

“You’re making me hungrier,” Enya said.

“The kitchen is right there,” Sarai replied as she chewed.

Stella looked over at Violet, who was staring at her and seemed contemplative again, like she was weighing something in her mind, and that something involved Stella.

“Maybe you’re right. I should go,” Stella said.

Violet seemed surprised by that, but when she opened her mouth to say something, no words actually came out, so Stella stood, gathered up her things, and slung her bag over her shoulder.

“I’ll walk you out,” Violet offered.

“Great. Thanks,” she replied, and they walked out of the garage and through the kitchen in silence.

“So, you have plans tonight?” Violet asked once they were in the living room.

“Yeah.”

Stella was hoping that Violet would ask her what those plans were, but Violet only nodded while she pulled open the front door.

“You?” Stella asked.

“Just more of this, I’m sure,” Violet replied, motioning to the house.

“You need breaks, Violet. They do, too.”

“We don’t have time for breaks, Stella. We have to get this money.”

“I know you do. I want that for you, too. I just know what I see in there because I see it at work with our product team and engineers when they’re mid-sprint and our CEO gives them yet another thing to build without adjusting the deadline. I have seen one of them actually pull some of their hair out.”

“Yeah, well… We don’t have a whole engineering or a product team. We have Arlowe and Enya.”

“I know. That makes it worse, doesn’t it?”

“It’s not your thing to worry about, though, is it?” Violet countered.

“Hey, I know. I get it. I’m only trying to help.”

“We don’t need your help, Stella.”

“Violet, come on… Just be honest with yourself for a minute. We had a good conversation last night, and today, we were in there for hours and didn’t even realize it because we were making good progress.”

“There are no consequences for you, Stella. It’s different. I appreciate the help, I really do, but you can say whatever you want in there and not have to do any of the work or live with the consequences of your decisions. The rest of us don’t have that option.”

“I get it. I was only trying to help.”

“I know. And I appreciate you coming over last night, even though you didn’t get laid.”

“Violet, I–”

“Have fun tonight with whatever you’re doing,” Violet interjected.

“It’s just dinner with a friend, Violet. I will be home by nine and in bed by eleven at the latest.”