Page 83 of The System

“Can I see this robot alarm?”

“Yes, when you stay over at my place. It’s loud, too. Annoying as hell, but it makes sure I wake up. I named it Carl.”

“It has a name?” Kieran laughed. “Your robot alarm has a name?”

“So I can yell at it when he’s being extra annoying.”

“How did Tinley feel about it?”

Carina turned on the car and replied, “I didn’t use it with her.”

“Why not?”

“Because I…” She sat back against her seat. “I don’t know that I was ever comfortable enough with her.”

“Did you fart in front of her?”

“What?” Carina laughed.

“Well, that’s a true sign of being comfortable with someone. Did you fart in front of her?”

“Oh, my God. We are not talking about farts on our first date.”

“Carina?” Kieran asked seriously, and Carina’s laughter began to fade.

“Yes?”

“You can fart in front of me if you want.”

Carina’s laughter started back up again, and she said, “And you can wear your cute little mouth guard and nose strip with me if you want.”

The drive home was spent talking about things other than farts, and it was easy conversation. Still, when Carina pulled up and parked, Kieran grew nervous, so she carried the bottle of wine from the back seat, twisting her sweaty hands around it as they walked to her apartment door to try to cover up her clammy palms, which she shouldn’t have because Carina hadn’t minded them earlier.

“Hey,” Carina spoke once they were inside the apartment, and Kieran closed and locked the door behind them.

“Yeah?” Kieran asked and set the wine bottle on the kitchen counter, which was within arm’s reach of the front door.

“I had a really nice time tonight.”

“You’re leaving? I thought–”

Carina moved into her then and held her by the hips.

“No, but I wanted you to know.” She stepped a little closer. “And if you’re okay with it, I’d really like to kiss you now.”

“Now? I thought we were going to talk or drink wine.”

“We are,” Carina replied and dragged a fingertip over Kieran’s lips. “Tell me no, and I’ll stop.”

Kieran opened her mouth to say something first, but no words came out. Instead, she surprised herself and nodded.

“Yeah?”

Kieran nodded again. She was about to kiss a woman for the first time, and she couldn’t remember if she’d had a breath mint or gum after the popcorn in the theater. Before she could process all that fully, though, Carina’s lips were pressing to her own. It was light and sweet and brief. It was too brief. Carina was pulling away.

“What the hell was that?” Kieran asked.

“Sorry?”

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