CHAPTER 13
“You need to figure this out. It’s getting ridiculous,” Arlowe said.
“Shut up,” Violet replied.
“Vi, she’s asking me what’s wrong with you. Stella specifically said you keep asking friends to hang out with the two of you, and then you did it again and invited us to dinner. Not exactly helping your cause there.”
“I need to find a ring, Arlowe. I need to plan the proposal.”
“Well, plan faster. Soon, she’s going to corner all of us and ask if you’re having second thoughts about your relationship or even cheating on her or something.”
“What? I’d never cheat on her,” Violet said before she moved her hands under the hand dryer in the restaurant bathroom.
“Well, she already thinks that something’s up with you. Just saying, it wouldn’t surprise me that she’d go there next.”
“I know. I know…” Violet let the hand dryer finish before she added, “I want it to be perfect, Arlowe. When I ask Stella to marry me, I want it to be perfect. I want her to have the perfect ring, something she’ll remember forever, and–”
“So, you’re just being an idiot, then. Got it.” She shook her head. “Vi, nothing’s ever perfect, and you know that. You work with me, for one.”
Violet laughed at that.
“But if you honestly think that you need some perfect proposal and ring for Stella to remember the moment, you’re being ridiculous.
She loves you, so she will remember when you two got engaged as one of the best moments in your relationship.
You could even ask her in bed one night, and she’d say yes and probably always remember how your hair looked when she did, or what you were wearing, assuming you wear anything to bed these days.
Maybe you two sleep naked; I do not know, and I do not want to know, so don’t tell me.
But she’ll remember, and she won’t need it to be perfect. ”
“How do you know so much about this, exactly?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I used to think about asking Eline, or what might happen if she asked me.
I know nothing else would matter to me. I still remember what she was wearing and how her hair looked the day we met and the day we said goodbye, too.
So, I’d remember all of that if she’d asked me to marry her.
When you love someone and you want to spend the rest of your life with them, the proposal is part of it, yes, but it’s more that you’re taking that step together, isn’t it? ”
“Yes, it is.”
“So, ask her whenever, but don’t try to make it perfect.
Just make it right for the two of you, Vi.
Stella will say yes, and then, you’re engaged, and you get to start planning the wedding of your dreams with the girl of your dreams. That’s what it’s all about: just being together and being married. Right?”
Violet nodded and replied, “I know you’re right. I don’t want to make her think something is wrong just because I’m nervous.”
“Good. I don’t like lying to people, and Stella doesn’t deserve it, either.”
“I know. Let’s get back out there before she thinks I’m up to something in the bathroom or trying to flee dinner.”
Then, Arlowe followed Violet back out to their table for six, where Sarai and Gabi were talking to Stella and Enya. She sat down next to Enya, and Violet took her seat next to Stella.
“We were just talking about the hardware,” Sarai shared to get them caught up.
“Yeah, the prototypes are looking good,” Arlowe said.
“Actually…” Gabi smiled before adding, “I’m a little further along than what I led you all to believe.”
“What? You are?” Violet asked.
“Yes. I printed a new frame design that I based a little on aerodynamics, which might sound strange, but it’s not, and it works.
I was able to add in all the electrical and computing components and– Well, here.
” Gabi pulled a pair of black frames out from under the table.
“The lenses aren’t in these right now, but I’ve also made progress on those, and with this design, they can be a little thinner, which will make the whole thing lighter. ”
“You have an almost-working prototype?” Arlowe asked, taking the glasses from Gabi and looking at them.
“Pretty much. I was going to tell you all tomorrow after I put the lenses in and tested them, but since Violet invited us all out to dinner tonight, I thought I’d bring these with me.
I’ve tested the lenses independently, and they work, so I just need to connect everything together and make sure it all still works. ”
“Wow,” Enya said, taking the glasses from Arlowe. “We could have a wearable soon?”
“Potentially, yes,” Sarai replied before she wrapped her arm around Gabi’s shoulders. “My girl is a super genius. She even made it so that the production would be cheaper.”
“Not really. Just fewer materials would mean that they could be made for cheaper, so we wouldn’t have to sell them for as much. Everything can be 3D-printed for the frames, which is cheaper than other ways to manufacture, so we’ll save some costs there.”
“That’s amazing,” Violet replied, taking the glasses next when Enya handed them to her.
“I thought we were years away from this, and I’ve been more and more worried that we might miss the boat completely, and by the time we’d have something ready, someone else would’ve come along with a better version. ”
“It’s easier for us because we’re only focused on our app and getting it to work in the glasses.
We’re not making massive goggles that basically operate as someone’s phone on their face,” Gabi said.
“I should be able to get some of these built out soon, and if the employees test them and everything goes well, we might be able to get production up in a few months for the ones we would ship to the school districts and universities.”
“That’s amazing news, Gabi. Really,” Violet said, showing Stella the glasses.
Stella checked them out and handed them back to Gabi before putting her arm around Violet’s shoulders, and that was when Arlowe realized it.
Sarai and Gabi were all coupled up, looking at each other adoringly.
Violet was leaning into Stella’s side, likely trying to tell her girlfriend silently that everything was all right.
Then, there was Enya, who was eating her dinner, and Arlowe felt like a third wheel to the couples, or maybe a fifth or sixth wheel, depending on how she counted it.
That thought had her thinking about Eline, whom she hadn’t heard from in two days and had been missing.
She’d gone twelve years without her, but two days now seemed like too long, so she’d thought about texting her but hadn’t yet, hoping to hear from her first. They’d had such a great night coding and talking, and then Eline had done that hair thing and had stayed for breakfast with her friends.
Arlowe thought she’d hear from her that night after the nap that Eline had mentioned taking, and then, she’d thought she’d hear from her the next day, but she hadn’t.
“You okay?” Enya asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Still haven’t heard from her?”
Arlowe shook her head and asked, “Think she’s changed her mind about us hanging out again?”
“I doubt it. She might be waiting for you,” Enya said.
“I’m pretty sure she told me that she’d text me.”
“You two aren’t going to do this again, are you?” Sarai asked. “Just text her, Arlowe. Don’t wait for her to tell you that it’s okay again or wait for her to message first just because she said she would.”
“I don’t know. I want to, but–”
“She’s right,” Gabi said. “The worst she can do is not respond.”
“Yeah, and tear my heart out again.”
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think she’s going to do that,” Violet said. “I saw you two together. She’s not going to ghost you, Arlowe. Just text her.”
“And tell her what? That I’m playing fifth wheel to you four while Enya eats her dinner?”
“I thought I was the fifth wheel, and you were the sixth,” Enya teased.
“Sure. I’ll be number six,” Arlowe said.
“Neither of you are… extra wheels of any number,” Sarai replied. “You’re our best friends. We’re all just out to dinner tonight.”
“Except you have your arm around your girlfriend, and she has her hand on your thigh,” Arlowe argued. “And Stella is probably feeling up Vi right about now, too.”
“I was not.”
“Yeah, you were, babe.” Violet lifted Stella’s hand and moved it into Stella’s own lap. “But I liked it.”
Sarai laughed and asked, “Arlowe, do you want to have your hand on someone’s thigh tonight?”
“Yes, I do. Or, at least, around her shoulders,” she said.
“Then, text her.”
“We’re almost done eating,” she noted.
“Tell her that we’re going to the bar, and we can meet her over there. We can all go, right?” Gabi asked.
“Babe?” Violet asked Stella.
“What?”
“Can we go to the bar after dinner?”
“You’re asking me? I would’ve thought you’d just say yes.”
“Only if you’re okay with it,” Violet said.
Stella appeared to think about it for a moment and replied, “Yeah, for Arlowe.”
“You don’t have to go to the bar for me,” Arlowe said. “And you’re all assuming that if I text her now, she’ll just reply right away and agree to come. She might not, or maybe she’s already busy.”
“Then, call her,” Enya suggested.
“You are not helping,” she replied through gritted teeth.
“Stop being such a wuss and call the girl,” Sarai added.
“I’m sorry; you liked Gabi for how long and were a total wuss about it?”
“We lived and worked together. It was different,” Sarai defended.
“And really cute,” Gabi shared before kissing Sarai on the cheek.
“Arlowe, just call her,” Enya said to her quietly. “Maybe she won’t answer, but she might, and then you’ll know.”
“Better to know that now, right?” Stella asked.
“Fine. But if she doesn’t answer or call me back, I’m going to need several drinks, which means one of you is driving me home.”
“We live in the same house. I think I can manage that,” Enya replied.
“All right. I’ll be right back,” she said.
“You’re not going to call her from here?” Sarai asked.
“And watch you all judge what I say? No way.”
She got up and walked toward the entrance to the restaurant, where she pushed the door open, headed out to the sidewalk, and pulled her phone out of her pocket. Then, she took a deep breath and dialed Eline’s number.
“Arlowe, hey,” Eline greeted.
“Hey. Uh… Is now an okay time to call?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. What’s going on?”
“You just said that you were going to text me, and you didn’t. I wanted to give you a couple of days, but I also don’t want what happened with us before to happen again, so I figured I’d call and check on where you might be with that… sending me a text message thing.”
Eline laughed softly and replied, “I’m sorry.
That night, after work, I called my dad and fell asleep right after.
Then, I got called into work early yesterday morning because there was an issue, and they needed all hands on deck.
I was there until after eight, and I wanted to text you, but I also needed some sleep.
I thought I’d text you after work tonight. ”
“And?”
“And I’m still at work,” Eline shared.
Arlowe pulled her phone away from her ear and checked the time.
“It’s after seven.”
“I know. We had an email compliance issue. Some bad actors got our email list and sent messages acting like us to all of our customers and leads, and we’ve been dealing with the data breach on top of angry customers.
I’m finally about done with what I can do, at least. Legal is handling most of it now. ”
“Shit,” Arlowe said. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
“I was going to ask you if you wanted to come out for a drink with me and my friends, but I’m guessing you’d prefer to go home and sleep for the next several days.”
“A drink?”
“Yeah. And don’t worry, it’s not at that fancy place. It’s at a local one that we like. They only have six-seater booths, so we’d have to bring over a chair for Sarai.”
“Why for Sarai?” Eline laughed.
“Because she’s annoying me tonight.”
Eline chuckled again and said, “I’d actually love to get a drink with you and your friends.”
“You would?” she asked.
“I could use one after the past couple of days, and I can go to bed after, right?”
“Right,” she replied. “We’re out at dinner right now, but we’re about to pay and head out. When can you meet us?”
“I can leave here in ten and be there after that,” Eline said. “Can you send me the info?”
“I’ll drop you a pin. Want me to get you a drink when we get there?”
“Whatever you’re getting is fine. We always had similar tastes in alcohol, so I trust you.”
Arlowe smiled at that and said, “Okay. I’ll send you the location, and I’ll see you there in maybe about thirty?”
“I’ll be there,” Eline said. “And, Arlowe?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry I didn’t text you right away. I know it takes a second to send a message, but it wasn’t that second that was the problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s the minutes and hours I would’ve wanted to talk to you after I sent the message that would’ve been a problem.”
Arlowe smiled widely and said, “I get that. I’ll see you soon?”
“I’ll be there,” Eline replied.
They hung up, and Arlowe quickly sent Eline the location via text message before she walked back into the restaurant and found her friends looking down at the check for their meal.
“You’re twenty-four fifty-two, Arlowe,” Sarai said and put her credit card on top of the receipt.
Arlowe pulled out cash, because it was always easier to bring cash when they were all splitting a check, and handed it to her.
“There’s thirty,” she said.
“So?” Enya asked.
“Yeah, are we going to the bar?” Gabi asked next.
“We are going to the bar,” she stated.
“She answered, huh?” Violet said.
“And she also had a good explanation for not texting, so we’re going to meet her there.”
“That’s great news, Arlowe,” Violet replied.
“Now, are you going to tell her that you want her back, or are you going to be a chicken again?” Sarai asked.
“I was right,” Arlowe said, nodding.
“Huh? Right about what?” Sarai asked.
“Right about the fact that you’ll be dragging your own chair over to the booth and sit on the end of it because you’re annoying.”