“Okay. I should get inside and get to work, then. Are you coming?”
“I’m going to say goodbye to Iro. I’ll be right in.”
“Fine,” Zara said tersely again and walked inside.
“What isupwith her?” Arwen asked and let go of Iro in order to face her.
“I don’t know. Maybe she’s upset about something.”
“Like what?”
“Sounds like you were pretty insistent she get checked out, and she did and found out that she’s fine, so maybe she’s mad that she had to spend all morning at the doctor’s office.”
“Could be. She hates doctors and being sick. I think she hates feeling like she has to depend on people to help her, but some people love her andwantto help her.”
“You’re a good friend, beautiful Arwen. And I really do not want to have to say goodbye now, but I have to go.” Iro kissed her forehead. “Tomorrow night, I’ll pick you up?”
“I can’t wait,” Arwen replied with a smile. “Can I get a real kiss, though?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Iro said and leaned in.
Arwen knew they couldn’t get away with much out here; people she worked with would be returning from their own lunches. Still, she wasn’t ready to go more than twenty-four hours without kissing this woman now that she knew how good it felt to have their lips pressed together.
“God, maybe I can push my work off until tomorrow. And Zara’s clearly fine, too. Want to go out tonight instead?” she asked with her eyes still closed.
Iro laughed a little and replied, “I’d love to tonight, but I have a work dinner, even if you’re available. Plus, I have that surprise planned for tomorrow night.”
“You know you don’t have to keep surprising me, right?”
“I kind of like the idea ofalwayssurprising you,” Iro said and kissed her again. “I have to go, but I’ll text you later.”
“Okay. Drive safe.”
“I will,” Iro said. “Or,hewill.”
Iro hooked a thumb at her driver, who had gotten behind the wheel already.
Arwen watched Iro drive off before she actually went inside, and when she didn’t see Zara at her desk, she went into her own office and found the tulip and an empty glass. Walking into the kitchen to add water to it, she saw her best friend standing there, holding on to the counter and seemingly staring at the cabinets ahead of her.
“Zara?”
“Yes?”
Arwen heard her sigh before she turned around to face her, plastering a clearly fake smile on her face.
“Are you really okay? You seem different today.”
“I’m fine. I told you, I went to the doctor. They checked me for whatever they could without taking my blood and getting the results back, but I even told them they could do that. He said there was no need; clean bill of health.”
“And I’m glad, but that’s not what I meant. In general, are you okay?” she asked as she filled the glass with water and set the tulip in it.
“From Iro, I take it?”
Arwen smiled down and said, “Yes. She’s ridiculously sweet.”
“I can see that.”
“She’s planning some kind of special second date for us tomorrow night. Another surprise, but at least this time, she told me to dress casually, jeans and a coat, which is helpful.”
