Page 72 of Paradigm

“Shit…” Arlowe took a deep breath. “That’s not much time.”

“No, it’s not,” Eline said, shaking her head.

“What can I do right now? What do you need?”

“You. I know there’s not a lot of time, but I can’t focus on anything other than being here with you tonight.”

“I’m here,” she said.

“Arlowe, if we can’t find a way in time, will you…”

“I’m here,” she interrupted and looked Eline straight in the eyes. “Baby, I’m here. I’m not making the same mistake twice.”

“You say that now, but in seventy days, with that ten-day grace period, I might–”

But Arlowe cupped her cheeks then and moved into her. Eline shifted to lie under her, and Arlowe let go, holding herself above her instead.

“I’ll say it then, too, if it comes to that.” She pressed her forehead against Eline’s. “You are the only woman I’ve ever loved. I’m not letting you go this time.”

Eline nodded as a few more tears fell and asked, “Will you stay tonight?”

“Of course, I will,” Arlowe replied and kissed her. “Of course, I will,” she repeated.

“Can we just lie here?”

Arlowe nodded and moved until she was beside Eline. It took a second, but Eline shifted, too, and finally, Arlowe was flat on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling, and Eline was half on top of her, holding on to her tightly. As they lay there in silence, Arlowe squeezed Eline’s back and placed kisses to her head every few minutes, wondering what they were going to do. She had money, but not a lot. She could at least help her pay her bills here, or Eline could always move into the house to save on rent. There were options, and her mind was running through them for several minutes until she realized that Eline’s breathing had slowed. It was just after eight o’clock, but Eline must have been so emotionally wiped that she had fallen asleep. Arlowe really didn’t want to wake her, but she also didn’t want her to have to sleep on the sofa, hurting her back, so she gently nudged her awake and helped her to her bedroom.

There, she found Eline some clothes to sleep in, sat on the bed while Eline went to the bathroom, and when she came out, Arlowe had pulled down the blanket for her and helped her under it. Then, she took care of her own tasks in the bathroom, having grabbed some clothes to borrow, and climbed into bed next to Eline, who immediately moved into her.

“Are we going to be okay?” Eline asked softly against her neck.

“We will be,” she said, determined not to lose the love of her life twice.

CHAPTER 22

“Hey, babe,” Arlowe said when Eline walked out into the living room.

“Hi,” she replied, rubbing her eyes. “What are you doing up?”

“It’s eight o’clock. I have to…”

“Right. You have to go to work,” she said, walking into the kitchen, where Arlowe was pouring a cup of coffee.

“I’ve got a nine o’clock meeting, but I’ll come back as soon as I can,” Arlowe told her. “I just have to be there in person this morning. We’re meeting with some school districts that are interested in piloting the glasses, and they’re local.”

“It’s okay,” Eline replied. “Can I have a good morning kiss, though?”

Arlowe smiled at her, leaned in, and kissed her, but it was a quick one and not one meant to be savored.

“Sorry, I have to go home first. Enya put her car in the shop yesterday, and I offered to take her in this morning. I’ll be able to change into my own clothes that I didn’t wear yesterday, too.” Arlowe cupped her cheek. “I’ll come by around lunch, if that’s okay.”

“You don’t have to, Arlowe. I know you have work.”

She rubbed Arlowe’s stomach over the shirt that she’d borrowed.

“I can work from here, and we can talk.”

“Babe, just come over after you’re done, if you want,” Eline told her and kissed Arlowe once more. “I need to talk to that employment attorney who they gave me ten hours with over the next thirty days to see if he can help me extend my existing visa. I don’t know how long for, but I think that’s the best thing for him to prioritize, and I’ll just be trying to find companies with jobs that might sponsor me. At least, I’m already here, so they wouldn’t have to wait for me to start working or pay for me to relocate here.”