Page 79 of February

“I’m sorry. He told me you wanted me here,” Bridgette said when Aaron excused himself to go to the restroom after their entrées had already arrived. “He got my number from your phone, I guess, and texted me this morning.”

“It’s not your fault. He just wanted to thank you again,” Monica said as she sipped her wine.

“Then, why would he tell me thatyouwanted me here?” Bridgette asked.

Monica stared at her from across the table, wishing they were in the booth from last night so that she could be closer to Bridgette.

“He’s got something in his head about us.”

Bridgette’s eyebrow lifted at that.

“I keep telling him to knock it off.”

“He knows about us?”

“What is there to know, exactly?” Monica asked.

“Well, you did kiss me last night, and pretty thoroughly at that.”

“I remember.” She smiled.

“And you called it a perfect ending to the day, so…”

Monica took a deep breath and said, “He thinks you’re pretty, smart, nice, and that you laugh at my apparently awful jokes.”

“Your jokes aren’t awful.”

“That’s whatIsaid,” Monica replied.

“They’re more, like, bad or maybe mildly terrible.” Bridgette appeared to actually be considering how to categorize Monica’s jokes.

“You’re being cute. Don’t be cute right now.”

“I’m cute?” Bridgette asked with a smile.

“Yes.” Monica laughed. “So, stop it.”

“Why?”

“Because Aaron will be back in a minute.”

“Are we going to talk about what happened?” Bridgette asked.

“Not right now,” Monica said. “He leaves tomorrow. Can we just…” She looked at the bathroom door. “Wait?”

“Fine. But I was kind of looking forward to another kiss goodnight,” Bridgette told her.

“We shouldn’t,” she replied.

“Why not? Aaron? I didn’t mean that he’dseeit.”

She turned back to Bridgette and replied, “Because I’m leaving.”

“You are? When? The deal’s not done yet. I thought–”

“No, I don’t mean that I’m leaving right away. Just that Iwillbe.”

“Oh,” Bridgette let out as she leaned back in her chair. “I know that.”

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