Page 35 of Paradigm

“Because I needed to come here for breakfast.” Violet looked back down the hall before she pushed Enya into the room, followed her in, and closed the door behind them. “I needed some people around, okay? Now that I’ve decided to propose, I’ve been having a hard time acting normal around my girlfriend, and she’s starting to pick up on that. When we woke up, I guess I was acting anxious or something, and she asked me what was wrong. I lied and told her that I’d forgotten to tell her that we were having breakfast over here this morning, so I texted Enya, who agreed to lie for me. Now, you two need to lie for me, too.”

“Stella’s also here?” Arlowe asked.

“Yes. She’s probably in the kitchen, wondering what the hell is taking me so long. So, everyone act cool. Arlowe, what is going on with your hair?”

“Huh?”

“She fell asleep on the floor, so it’s a bit flat back there,” Eline said as her hand went into Arlowe’s hair.

She then did something with the back of it, and Arlowe closed her eyes, taking in the moment. When her eyes opened eventually, Violet and Enya were both staring at her, and Violet smiled at her.

“There. Better?” Eline asked.

“Sure. Let’s go with that,” Violet said.

“You needed me to lie for you, Violet. Remember? Behave,” Arlowe told her as she gave her another look.

Violet nodded and said, “Fine.”

“So, you’re marrying the woman you used to hate?” Eline asked.

“I haven’t asked her yet,” Violet replied.

“When will you, so we don’t have to keep pretending like we don’t know?” Arlowe asked.

“I’m working on it. Right now, I need us to all get in that kitchen and pretend like this was a planned thing.”

“Should I leave?” Eline asked Arlowe.

“What? No. Why?”

“It’s a friend thing.”

“If you have to get home to change before work, I get it, but you don’t have to leave,” Arlowe said. “I can make you something.”

“You’re cooking?” Violet asked.

“Not for you, I’m not.”

“I wouldn’t want you to cook for me anyway,” Violet remarked.

“Um… Guys?”

Violet’s eyes went wide, and Arlowe laughed.

“That’s Stella,” Arlowe whispered to Eline.

“Hey, babe,” Violet said after she opened the door.

“What’s going on? Why are you all in Arlowe’s office with the door closed?” Stella asked.

“Because Arlowe has a guest. Did you two ever officially meet?” Violet asked. “This is Eline.”

Stella’s eyes went wide then, and Arlowe wondered if Violet had somehow trained her to do that because her look was so similar to the one Violet had just had.

“Hello. I don’t think we met back then,” Eline said.

Stella looked over at Arlowe, who gave her a look that, hopefully, told her to play it cool.