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"What friend?" Eve asked, entirely distracted by how good Charlie looked with tipsy blushes on her cheeks.
"The one who stood you up."
"Oh, that one. Right." Eve had barely thought of the friend she was supposed to meet once Charlie had sat down. It was hard enough not to stare at work when Charlie's nice body was hidden in the baggy overalls but she looked banging in her shirt and tie.
Eve loved a good tie, especially on a woman, and Charlie wore the garment like it was made for her.
"What about your friends?" Eve wondered as she hugged herself. "They just left without you."
"Oh, they'll get an earful later," Charlie muttered darkly. "Meddling witches."
Eve wondered if she should be insulted but decided she wasn't. Charlie could've left at any moment, including when her friends made a big show of leaving. Even now, instead of parting ways, they were still standing in front of the bar with their feet pointing at each other.
"So what now?" Eve wondered out loud, her head light from the alcohol and the company.
"Depends. Are you in the mood for a cheeky kebab?" Charlie asked, her eyes sparkling.
"How specific. Count me in," Eve said, grinning. It could've been so easy to go their separate ways but since Charlie was seeking out reasons to spend more time together, Eve was going to consider that as a sign of interest. It made her glad too. She was enjoying her evening, likely more than if her friend had shown up, and she didn't want it to end yet.
"There's a good place around the corner," Charlie said as she set in motion. "I want to eat an entire kebab log-thing. I don’t actually know what they’re called but it’s Elise’s fault."
Eve fought the unwarranted jealousy bubbling up inside of her. "Elise is one of your friends, right?"
"Yes, she talked about kebabs before, claimed she could eat a whole log by herself. She's always full of nonsense like that," Charlie said, the affection shining through in her voice.
"And she’s just a friend?" Eve inquired, realising she had no idea whether Charlie was single or not. She hadn't heard any rumours or whispers that Charlie was taken but they did work with men. The lack of office gossip was both a blessing and a curse.
"Yeah, we've been friends since third grade. We all hang out every few months or so, when Tash and Elise can get away from the kids."
Eve hummed as they continued on to the kebab shop. "That's nice. So does that mean you're single or...?"
A confident grin appeared on Charlie's face, one that made the tipsy blushes on her cheeks stand out even more. "I am. What's it to you?"
"Just making sure I'm not hitting on a kept woman," Eve said. Despite her hushed voice, the admission was loud enough to fill the space between them.
More blushes appeared on Charlie's cheeks and she didn't say anything, just stared. There was an intensity and hunger in her gaze, like she wasn't looking at anything else in the world but Eve.
It made Eve feel warm and fuzzy and a little bolder than usual. It made her want to be daring.
She reached for Charlie's arm and gave a slight tug, bringing the other woman to a standstill. She could see the question in Charlie's eyes and decided to answer in a way that erased all ambiguity.
Gently, she cupped Charlie's face and moved closer, pausing for a moment as their faces were mere inches apart. Just like when they were in the bar, this was the perfect opportunity for Charlie to bail, but she remained exactly where she was with just the slightest hint of a smirk on her face.
Eve nervously wetted her lips before pressing them on Charlie's. Sparks exploded in her stomach and the world around her became a blur until it disappeared, leaving just Charlie and her warm mouth. She tasted sweet, like strawberry and lime from her cocktails, and every so slightly salty from the crisps she ate earlier.
As tempting as it was to linger, Eve made herself pull back. Desire tickled her stomach and every atom in her body wanted more, but it wasn't fair to overwhelm Charlie with what could possibly be very new information.
Eve extended one last moment of intimacy by brushing some of Charlie's loose hair back before she stepped away. The breeze was just as cold as before but she didn't feel it anymore. Instead, there was a heat inside her that was keeping her warm.
She took a breath and smiled. "So... Kebab?"
Charlie blinked slowly before nodding. "Yeah, sounds good."
"Great." Eve smiled as they set in motion again. She didn't know whether anything was going to come from this but at least now she'd made her intentions clear. If Charlie wanted something to happen, all she needed to do was reciprocate.
And Eve really hoped she would.
Nine
