“No, no plans. Why?”
She might regret it later, but they probably did need to talk before the kids returned at the weekend.
“I’m going to that screening I was telling you about and I was wondering if you wanted to join. Avery messaged to say they kept two tickets aside for me. If it’s not your thing, it’s cool, I just thought while the kids were gone it might be a good opportunity to…hang out.”
Eliza pushed down her initial disappointment at the fact that Rowyn didn’t want to do something alone with her and replaced it with the fact that Rowyn was asking for her company for no reason other than wanting to be around her.
“I’m finishing up some stuff here, but I can meet you there in an hour. I have clothes here I can change into, and the cinema is not far from the office. Does that work?”
The line was silent for a moment.
“That works. I’m looking forward to it.”
Rowyn sounded surprised, as if she hadn’t expected Eliza toagree.
“See you then,” Eliza said before ending the call.
She didn’t have time for this. The kids were back on Sunday, and Eliza would be traveling for work next week and needed to have all of her presentations prepared before she landed. She would have to work most of the day Saturday to make up for it, but saying no to Rowyn hadn’t been an option. Maybe it would be good for them to go do something together surrounded by other people. There was no denying the chemistry between them, but that chemistry could be potential for a good friendship and strong working relationship if they found a way to put what happened before aside. Had they not slept together before knowing who each other was, it was likely this simmering attraction would never have taken flight.
But we did sleep together. And there’s no unknowing the mind-blowing pleasure Rowyn brought.
Eliza shook the thoughts from her head and set an alarm on her phone for thirty minutes later. She would work on finalising this report, and the alarm would ensure she didn’t get lost in work focus mode and run late. It would give her time to get ready and make the short journey to the cinema. Work had always been able to clear her mind of everything else, and it needed to do the same right now. No more thoughts of Rowyn, for the next thirty minutes at least.
Eliza was grateful that Rowyn was waiting outside the cinema when she arrived. Despite being excellent at meeting new people in a work environment that had clear expectations and rules in place, Eliza hated meeting new people socially. Especially people she had no frame of reference for. People asa whole were unpredictable, and Eliza often had no idea how to figure out what to say or do around strangers. Having Rowyn there would make it easier. It was obvious from the first night they met that Rowyn did not have the same issues socially, and Eliza could follow her lead.
“Hey. Thanks for coming,” Rowyn said as Eliza drew near.
Rowyn was genuinely happy to see her, and Eliza forgot all about her mounting workload at the smile on Rowyn’s face.
“Thanks for inviting me. I haven’t been here in too long,” Eliza replied.
They headed inside and Eliza hung back a little as Rowyn scanned the seats. Her face lit up as she spotted someone waving them over. They were tall and beautiful, which became more obvious as Eliza drew nearer. With warm brown skin, tight braids, and a dazzling smile, she had no doubt that this was Avery, the person they’d be seeing on screen this evening.
“Avery, this is Eliza. Eliza, this is Avery,” Rowyn said as Avery pulled Rowyn into a tight, but thankfully quick, hug. Eliza ignored the pang of jealousy that she had no right feeling as Avery pulled back and waved at her. Eliza waved back and sat into one of the two seats Avery had saved for them as the lights began to dim.
“I’ll introduce you to everyone else after,” Rowyn said beside her when the screen lit up with the usual advertisements before the movie began.
It baffled her how Rowyn was already on hugging terms with someone she had met a handful of days ago. Then again, considering what Rowyn and she had done the first time they ever met, Eliza had no room to judge. The jealousy flared again at the comparison, and Eliza focused on the screen to ignore the irrational feeling.
The movie was an emotional tale of young, queer love and someone finding their identity. It was beautiful, and Eliza hadto admit that Avery was exceptional. Their part was small but significant in the overall story and had made a clear impact on the audience. Eliza was a fan of art and talent in all its forms, and there was no denying that Avery had an abundance of it.
As the credits rolled, the cinema broke into applause and the actors and crew from the first two rows smiled brightly. Eliza joined in on the well-deserved appreciation. She quelled her discomfort as Avery hugged Rowyn once more, trying to keep in mind that they had hugged the other people closest to them too. It was nothing. And even if it was something, Eliza had no room to begrudge either of them. Maybe it would be a good thing if Rowyn’s interest was piqued elsewhere—it would leave no room for confusion between them.
Eliza wasn’t one to lie much, even to herself, so the thought was dismissed as soon as it entered her head. Confusion wasn’t going to be resolved by bringing even more people into this mess they had created. One way or another, they needed to talk about what was happening, and it needed to happen this week.
“You were superb. The whole movie was. Thank you for letting me join,” Eliza said to Avery as the crowds around them began to disperse.
“Thank you for coming along. Most people here know someone involved, so we usually don’t get outside opinions until the blog posts land. You really liked it?” Avery asked.
“Anyone who knows me knows I don’t give praise for the sake of it. If I say it, I mean it. You captured the emotion perfectly.”
Avery beamed as Rowyn nodded along beside her.
“She’s not lying when she says she doesn’t give praise willy-nilly. I’ve been trying to get some for weeks now and nada,” Rowyn said with wide eyes.
Avery laughed as Eliza glared at Rowyn.
“Willy-nilly, really?”
