PERMISSION

me earlier t

appened. A soft, deliberate knock. Like she already knew she

n, his phone still in his hand, my fingers curled a

could tell he wanted to say something but di

d forwar

Standing with her coat still buttoned, a calmness to her posture that unnerved me. She had red lipstick on

e?" sh

ded.

ust barely. "

e it before. Not rushed. Not hesitant. She moved like someone

s mouth parted like he meant to

be Ethan,"

ended a hand. "Th

k it. "O

ed in your head. We'd pictured her. Talked about her. I had imagined her voice, her presence, ho

Nice place. High ceilings.

d. The words slipped out b

s time, her smile reached her e

moved to the k

se and tailored pants. Nothing showy. But everything about her seemed intentional. Sh

the sound of the wine spilling into glass louder than I wanted it to be. Everythin

. She didn't sip immediately. She stu

ook ne

a

ed at Eth

ged. "I'

. "Good. Th

e first swallow hit h

o this is

ed. "But it doesn'

ou been doing th

mean bein

es

and off. Not always with couples

my lips.

st people don't know how to ask for hunger without turning it into a perf

ed in m

ped the counter. "We

this still has to be s

I mean, I asked.

ean for him?" she as

ns he w

a beat. "And fo

It means I sto

Not quite sympathy. Not amuse

d place to st

e kind that makes you aware of every move, every glance

hing simple," she

osed it. "Because I c

looked at him again. "A

k to her. "Because I didn

slowly. "That

because something in your message told me there was more happening beneath the

on the glass. "Th

y. "But I need to ask

looked

you're okay when you're not. This doesn't wor

han gave a q

me now. Her knee brushed mine. Her eyes se

ant to be seen.

I couldn't move. She didn't to

nt. His jaw clenche

a strand of hair behind my ear. Her fingers lingered, th

enough that I coul

. Soft and unhurried.

issed h

d. When she pulled back, I stared at

r tonight," sh

ked. "

or her coat. "Next time,

irst time in minutes.

s isn't about teasing you. It's about read

"What did

That you want this. But e

hut before either

d, I realized something had shi

and his eyes narrowed. Not with fear, but with som

poured more wine into his glass, the

d, without l

ke her more tha