The sun had long dipped below the horizon, but Valerie and Laura had yet to tire of the evening. It had started innocently enough—a quiet dinner at the same bistro, a second chance to sit across from Michael, to feel the warmth of his presence, to try and understand the space between them. But after all that, after the goodbyes and the lingering looks, Valerie had retreated into the familiar comfort of Laura's presence.
“Are we seriously doing this again? I am already tired of your games, you are also so smarter than me” Laura’s voice rang out, filled with mock dismay, as she shifted on the couch, kicking off her shoes and grabbing the remote. “Aren’t we supposed to be grown-ups or something?”
Valerie smiled softly, her mind still lingering in the haze of her date with Michael. But she c
