Page 29 of Semantics

“I’ve recently come to the conclusion that the reason I disliked you so much was actually that I wanted to sleep with you.”

Violet’s eyes went wide at that.

“I know. Surprised me, too. I mean, it did, and it didn’t. You’re an attractive woman. I had just come out then – or recently enough, at least – and while I was in another country, away from everyone I knew, there was this pain-in-the-ass woman in my program who kept rambling on about her girlfriend back home. So, even though you weren’t available, I knew you were into women. Don’t worry; it was just lust. I didn’t actually want to date you. It was more like I wanted to fuck you up against a wall or something to shut you up for just one single minute.”

Violet didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then, she closed her own computer and looked over at Stella.

“Well, that is new information.”

Stella laughed loudly and said, “I imagine so, yeah. You never thought about it? You and me just going at it, releasing all that built-up tension we had?”

“I didn’t… know for sure that you were… into women. And I had a–”

“If you say, ‘girlfriend back home,’ one more time, I’m throwing used napkins at you,” she joked.

“It’s true.”

“Well, I don’t see a ring on your finger, so I guess you two didn’t work out. Or, at least, you’re not married.”

“Oh, no,” Violet said with a little laugh. “We broke up right when I got home. She was sleeping with someone else the entire time I was away.”

“Whoa. Seriously?”

“Yup… The whole time I was bragging about having a girlfriend to, apparently, everyone who was within earshot, because she was my first-ever girlfriend and I felt like I could finally brag about having one, she was sleeping with her statistics tutor. I didn’t know it at the time, but not only the said tutor was in the room for some of our phone conversations, but, in some cases, she was in the bed with my girlfriend.”

“Jesus. How did you find that out?”

“She told me when she confessed to the cheating. She lied to me for months and then got incredibly honest all at once. It was not fun for me.”

“Shit. Sorry,” Stella offered.

“Maybe I should have let you fuck me against a wall or something after all. She wasn’t exactly faithful.”

Stella’s eyes got big then.

“I don’t know why I just said that. I don’t… I mean, I didn’t–” Violet scrambled. “I should go.”

“Why?”

“Because we shouldn’t be talking about this. I might be your customer.”

“You said no to the price earlier.”

“I don’t know what would happen with that just yet, but I do know that this is a very weird conversation that I’d like to get out of, so I think I’ll take my coffee to-go now.” Violet shoved her computer into her bag. “I’ll have to order three more drinks before I leave, though, so if you could return to your work and pretend like you didn’t see me here, I’d appreciate it.”

“No way.” Stella laughed. “Why are you getting three more drinks? And how are you, of all people, a mocha drinker with extra everything? I had you pegged as a black coffee or a double shot. Something plain.”

“I like chocolate. And I have to go. Goodbye, Stella.”

Stella laughed and told her, “Hey, I’m going to Buddy’s tonight.”

“Okay. Well, that’s…”

“I’m telling you so that you know that I’ll be there. I’m meeting someone for drinks. Since you go there sometimes, I thought you might want to know so that you could… stay away,” she teased. “Since you clearly can’t stand the sight of me.”

“It’s not–” Violet stood up. “You know what? They can drink coffee at home. I’ve got to go.”

Then, Stella watched a very flustered Violet hurry out of the coffee shop.