Page 81 of The System

“It bothers you?”

Carina nodded and then added, “I liked it every time you corrected someone when they called you his wife or his last name was used. And it’s petty, but it’s the truth. He’s planned a life with you. He’s had a life with you. I only just met you.”

Kieran smiled and said, “Tinley is annoying.”

Carina laughed loudly and said, “She is. But she wasn’t always that bad. She’s going through some stuff right now, but it’s not stuff I want to be a part of, so we’ve gone our separate ways.”

“I’m going through some stuff…”

Carina cupped Kieran’s cheek then and replied, “Yes, and this is stuff that I very much want to be a part of. I’ve wanted to be there for you with this Marin thing the whole time, but I couldn’t until now.”

“You still work for the place that’s prosecuting her.”

“Yes, but now I can just be on a date with you, and I can talk about the case without worrying that I’m going to do something stupid in court.”

“Can we not talk about it tonight, though? First date and all that.”

“Yes, we can talk about everything but that.” Carina let go of Kieran’s cheek then. “Will you tell me what you’re comfortable with doing tonight?”

“You mean sex?” Kieran asked a little louder than she expected to, causing Carina to laugh.

“No, I mean when we’re out in public. I do hope that sex comfortability question comes later, though.”

“You mean with PDA.” She nodded, understanding now.

“Yes.”

“I like when you touch me,” Kieran confessed.

“I like that, too, but we’re alone in here.”

“I don’t care if people see me on a date with another woman, if that’s what you’re worried about, Carina. Hell, you’re a gorgeous, successful woman. I have no problem with people seeing me with you. I’m wearing a T-shirt meant for a high schooler, though. Are you sure you–”

“Yes,” Carina interrupted. “And how about you just tell me if anything is too much, and we go from there?”

“Okay. That sounds good. Where are we going, by the way?”

“To see the movie we didn’t get to see the first time we were in a theater together,” Carina replied. “It starts in thirty, so we should go.”

???

Carina held Kieran’s hand in her lap for the drive. It was the first time her hand had been in another woman’s lap, and Kieran kept glancing over at their joined hands as if it was crazy that she was in this car and on a date with this elegant woman who wore her hair down just for Kieran tonight.

“You’re sweating.” Carina let go of her hand, laughing a little, and wiped her own hand on her pants. “Nervous?”

“Oh, shit. Yeah. Sorry.” Kieran went to quickly wipe her hand on her own pants and kept it there.

“No way. I want it back.”

Carina took Kieran’s hand back into her own, and it was placed in the spot it had only just left. Kieran now felt embarrassed for sweating that much, but she still smiled through her blush as Carina swiped a thumb over her hand repeatedly.

“Popcorn with extra butter?” Carina pumped the fake butter into the giant tub of popcorn.

“Yeah, I have a problem,” Kieran replied as she grabbed them napkins from the holders at the concession stand.

“I don’t mind a little extra butter, but you should know that while I do have some gym equipment at home, I’ve yet to use it, so if we do this a lot, I’ll be putting on a lot of weight.”

“I couldn’t care less,” Kieran said. “When I say you’re beautiful, it’s not just because you’re all perfect with that blonde hair that looks really soft to me and those blue eyes that just, like, pierce through my soul. It’s because you helped me with Marin when you shouldn’t have, and you always make me feel… just… good. You make me feel good with who I am and safe with you.”

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