Page 69 of Paradigm

“I was, but Gabs and I are going to dinner with Chase and Mark, so I just figured I’d pick her up, and we’d leave from here. Shouldn’t you be leaving right about now, too?”

Sarai leaned against the doorframe of Arlowe’s office.

“Yeah, actually. I need to go home and change. I don’t know if we’re going out or staying in, but Eline wants to hang out tonight.”

“Should I assume that the big smile is because of Eline?”

“Yes, you should,” Arlowe replied, nodding. “We had a great first date. I thanked Gabi this morning.”

“Why did you thank my girlfriend for your great first date?”

“Because when we were talking the other day, she mentioned what you two did on your first date. That dinner cruise thing.”

“Oh, yeah. It was great.”

“I did something similar for Eline and me. I rented this boat, and we had dinner and talked for several hours. Then, we kissed.”

“Yeah?” Sarai asked, walking into the office. “And?”

“And we were right to try again. I’ll just leave it at that.”

Sarai chuckled and asked, “Did you two…”

“No, we’re taking it slow. I did stay over, though, and it was so nice, Sarai; like nothing I’ve experienced since being with her the first time.”

“I’m really happy for you, Arlowe. Are you two back together now?”

“Not officially. We’ve only agreed to tonight, but I don’t want anyone else, and I doubt she does, so I think we’re heading that direction, yes.”

“That’s great. I’m really glad you two found each other again, Arlowe. I was worried about you.”

“Worried?” she asked and closed her computer.

“You never wanted to be with anyone else, but I know you wanted a relationship, so I’m glad that she’s back and that you two can finally make a real go of it.”

“Hey, babe,” Gabi said when she walked by Arlowe’s office and spotted Sarai.

“Hey. Are you ready to go?” Sarai asked.

“Yeah, just need to grab my stuff.”

“I’ll follow you,” Sarai told her girlfriend. “Have a good night, Arlowe,” she added with a wink.

Arlowe laughed as she watched them go and then went to close out of her programs, but before she could do that, her phone rang. She picked it up and smiled when she saw Eline’s name.

“Hey, babe,” she said, loving that she could call her that now.

Then, she lost the smile because she realized that Eline was sobbing on the other end of the line.

“Eline? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” she asked.

“I… I…”

“Babe, what happened?”

“I lost my job,” Eline said.

“You what?”