Page 70 of Derivation

“So, that’s why you go out and kiss as many women as possible?”

“First of all, kissing women is amazing, so no, that’s not the reason.”

“Is it part of the reason?” Gabi asked.

“Yes.” Arlowe nodded. “So, want to come with me tonight and be my wingwoman?”

“What about Enya and Sarai?”

“Enya is going to some seminar. She’s a nerd. I don’t know what Sarai is doing, but given how she’s been craving alone time and not really hanging out much with us this week, I’m guessing she doesn’t want to come out of her room.”

“Are you inviting Violet?”

“No, because I actually want to have fun,” Arlowe joked.

“So, just you and me?” she asked.

“Yeah. Is that a problem?”

Gabi decided that now was probably the best time to bring this up. They were working alone in the garage, and she needed to know if she’d been reading into Arlowe’s behavior around her or not. It had been a few weeks now, and she could swear that Arlowe was still flirting with her.

“Hey, can I ask you something? Might be awkward, but I need to know.”

“Sure,” Arlowe said.

“Are you flirting with me? Oh, have you been, I mean, since I saw you all at the bar, and you asked me if I wanted to rent the room?”

“Oh, yeah. For sure,” Arlowe admitted with ease.

“Really?” Gabi asked, surprised that Arlowe would just toss it out there.

“Yeah. But I do that with everyone. Well, most lesbians.”

“Not the other two lesbians who also live here. And I’ve never seen you flirt with Violet. I don’t know if you did before she started dating Stella, though.”

“I didn’t. I’ve never even remotely been attracted to any of them. It’s weird. It’s like we all met that day and just figured it out: we’re supposed to be friends.”

“Sarai said the same thing,” Gabi said, smiling.

“She would. We all felt the same way back then: instant connections, but not in a romantic way.”

“But you feel something for me?”

“No.”

“I’m confused,” she said.

“I flirt with a lot of women. Helps improve the odds. I can’t turn it off sometimes. I will admit that when I suggested you move in here, I just blurted it out, more to have the possibility of seeing you again because I do think you’re attractive, but if I do it now, it’s more accidental. Eventually, it’ll fade because I’ll be more used to you being my friend.”

“So, you’re not into me now?”

“No,” Arlowe replied.

“But you were then?”

“Not really. You’re hot, but I didn’t know you, Gabi.”

Gabi laughed and asked, “So, now that you do, you can’t stand me?”