“But how do you separate stress from anger? I was also angry.”
“The hormones matter, not so much the specific feelings,” Larissa replied.
“For your dissertation, maybe; not for your book. People who don’t care about the names of the hormones won’t want to read something about how it’s cortisol or adrenaline. You can give them a few paragraphs about that, I guess, but they’ll be more concerned with the actual emotions and how that can prevent them from falling in love. You should consider that foryour book. Maybe instead of cortisol, you talk about depression that an overexposure might cause and how that could get in the way of them falling in love with someone.”
“Maybe,” she replied.
“Anyway, enough about this,” Aggie said. “How’s Harlow? Moved out yet?”
“No,” she said, laughing. “It hasn’t been that long, and I don’t mind having her there. Plus, she’s a great cook, and you know I’m terrible.”
“Yeah… I’m not sure how I got the cooking gene from Mom and Dad, but you didn’t. Maybe it skips a generation in your case, but not mine.”
“Then, we’ll never know because I’m not having kids.”
“Mom wants more grandkids. Help me out here.” Aggie chuckled.
“You gave her two.”
“Yes, and those two are growing up. She wants more.”
“She’s not getting them from me,” Larissa replied. “So, up to you and Henry.”
“Please, I had him get that thing taken care of. I’m also on the pill to be extra cautious. I donotwant to be one of those couples who thought the vasectomy took, only to be vomiting in the morning all over again.”
“Really don’t want a third kid, huh?”
“I just got those two off to daycare and school. No, I don’t want another one. Mom will just have to deal.”
“Yes, she will,” Larissa said and ate one of her fries.
“So, Harlow and her ex are really over?”
“Yes. She moved out; that’s what that means. Why?”
“She just… seems to have a hard timestayingmoved in with someone.”
“They broke up. It happens.”
“Maybe she should trynotmoving in and see how that goes.”
“She doesn’t move in with every girlfriend, but yeah, I get your point. I may have suggested that to her, too.”
“Is she dating again?” Aggie asked.
“No, I don’t think so. Why?”
“No reason. Just making conversation.”
“Well, she just got out of a two-year relationship. I don’t think she’s going to start dating tomorrow or anything.”
“She might, though,” Aggie replied.
Larissa tucked her bottom lip into her mouth and said, “She might, yeah. I doubt it. She’s pretty busy with work and helping me with this study.”
“Plus, she’s cooking you dinner, apparently.”
“Sometimes,” Larissa corrected. “Not every night.”
