Page 49 of Nocere

"I'm good. How about you?"

"Exhausted, but good."

"Eat something, Stell." Sam gestured to the table. "We ordered too much."

"Hmm. I might. Alice hasn't texted me to tell me the kids are asleep yet. I usually wait until she does to go home. It disrupts the whole routine if I show up close to bedtime," she said, then leaned over to help herself.

"Only three nights a week. They have a different routine when you're home," offered Sam.

"True. I feel bad though. Alice having the girls all day alone. I mean, she takes all three of them to work with her and they have daycare, but I still feel bad." She took a gentle bite of pizza and smiled. "Yum. Good."

"Better than cafeteria food after a long shift," said Sam.

"Oh yeah. So what are you two up to other than horror shows and pizza?"

"Sex in the kitchen," answered Sam. "I'm hoping for sex in the bedroom after. What do you say, little fairy?" Sam crooned against my ear and I nearly died, both from excitement and shyness.

"I say yes." I hid my face against her chest and the two of them chuckled. Sam wrapped her arms around me and a contented sigh left her.

"I see things have changed rather quickly around here," said Stella, her tone gentle. "I'm not sad about it."

"Me either." Samirah brushed her lips across my forehead and I smiled when I peeked up at her before returning my attention to Stella.

"Are you two officially official?" Stella's smile, kind and endearing, made me feel less worried about the conversation.

"We are," answered Sam right away.

"Congratulations on girlfriend status." Stella nudged my knee and I smiled at her. "Sami is a pretty unique woman, Rosie. Think you can handle her shenanigans?"

"I think I really like her shenanigans and I'm ready for the upgrade to malarkey." I hugged Sam's arms and she pressed her lips to my shoulder. It brought a smile to my face and the way she held me, almost possessed me, made me feel more confident in Stella's presence.

"Well then, you can show off your new arm candy at Ainsley's this weekend. Are you ladies planning to attend? It's a kid-free affair, which means all the kids will be at my place with Finn and Eleanor in charge of the masses. A bunch of teenagers in charge of three little girls can't be too risky." Stella finished her slice and set her empty plate on the table after wiping her fingers with a napkin.

"Um…" I looked to Sam and gnawed on my bottom lip.

"We'll think about it. Is she having a larger group?"

"I think so, but a low-key dinner party. Not everyone is coming," answered Stella. "I hope both of you will."

I looked to Sam again and she stroked my cheek.

"We'll talk about it and see how things feel on Saturday. Okay?" she said, offering me consolation.

"Okay." I nodded and she held my hand against her chest.

Stella smiled at us until her phone chirped in her palm. "The lovely wife beckons," she said as she rose from her seat. "Thank you for dinner, ladies."

"Welcome." Samirah pried herself away from me to walk Stella to the door. "I'll let you know about Saturday."

"Good. Enjoy your girl, Sami." Stella winked at me and I waved to her. "She has a special place in our hearts."

"I'm beginning to understand why. Night, Stell."

"Night."

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