“Hybrid?”

  “We have so many projects that we never get done because analysts get pulled onto something for the sales team or for the board, and the engineering team is always swamped with requests. I was thinking more of a project analyst role for you where you could speak the language of the engineers and the people making the requests at the same time.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know that was a thing,” Scarlet said.

  “I’m not sure it is,” he added. “I might have just made it up. But that’s what working in tech is – making a lot of stuff up and seeing what works. You’d still be an analyst. You wouldn’t have any direct reports, and you’d get to work with engineering to code some stuff for us, too.”

  “That actually sounds really cool,” Scarlet replied.

  “Yeah?”

  “I think I’d like it.”

  “Awesome,” he replied. “Let’s get a meeting on the books for the new year to discuss how it could work best for everyone. For now, though, just keep working on the community stuff.”

  “Okay. Yeah, that sounds great.”

  “And you’ve really impressed the marketing team. Dakota was talking non-stop about how you’ve made it possible for us to develop it internally because you get the engineers.”

  “Thank you,” Scarlet replied, leaving out the part about Dakota being her girlfriend.

  She left the office feeling nervous and relieved at the same time because this was an amazing opportunity, but so new, and she wasn’t sure if she’d be all that the role needed to be. When she got into her car, though, suddenly this feeling came over her, and she picked up the phone before setting off to drive. She called her mom, but it went to voicemail. Then, she called her dad, but it went to voicemail as well. A minute later, as she was putting the key in the ignition, she had a text from her mom.

  Mom: Sorry, we’re busy preparing for the party and packing for the cruise. Everything okay?

  Scarlet replied, asking if she could come over this weekend to talk to them in person about something.

  Mom: Honey, is it life-threatening? Your dad and I are swamped right now.

  Scarlet grunted and messaged that it wasn’t, and she’d just see them at the party. Then, she drove home, where she opened the door and found her girlfriend in her kitchen, unpacking their dinner. She smiled softly at the fact that Dakota had let herself in.

  “Hey. How was the meeting?” the woman asked.

  “I might be getting a new job.”

  “What?” Dakota looked instantly concerned.

  “They’re thinking about giving me this role in engineering, which sounds amazing and also means I’d get to move away from Priti, which is just an added bonus. It’s likely more money since I’ll report to a director, and I’ll get to do more coding and still do the analyst work. He told me that you’re part of the reason he’s even thinking about this for me.” She moved into Dakota, wrapping her arms around Dakota’s neck. “Thank you.”

  “I just told him the truth.”

  “So, he knows we’re together, then?”

  Dakota laughed and said, “No, but I mean it. I just told him work stuff, and it’s all true. I didn’t know it would get you a cool job out of it.”

  “Well, it might. And thank you.” Scarlet leaned in and kissed her softly.

  When Dakota’s arms wrapped around her waist and pulled Scarlet into her, Scarlet knew what she wanted more than ever. She pulled back reluctantly, stared into Dakota’s deep brown eyes, and let out a deep breath.

  “Will you come to my parents’ party with me?”

  “Their Christmas thing?”

  “Yes.”

  “I thought–”

  “They moved it up before we go away with your family.”

  “And you want me to go?”

  “Yes,” Scarlet replied.

  “As a friend from work?”

  “As my girlfriend,” Scarlet stated.

  “You’re–” Dakota pulled back a little to stare at her. “I mean, you’re going to–”

  “Come out to them, yes,” Scarlet confirmed.

  “And I’ll be there?”

  “If you’re saying yes,” Scarlet replied.

  “Yeah, it’s definitely a yes from me,” Dakota said, pulling Scarlet back in for a kiss.

  CHAPTER 28

  Dakota rolled her eyes when Priti approached her desk.

  “Hey,” she said.

  “Hi,” Dakota replied reluctantly.

  “Can we talk or something?”

  “I don’t really see why. We’re not working together on anything.”

  “Because I want to apologize.”

  Dakota looked up at that and said, “Oh?”

  “I’m sorry, okay? I’ve been kind of an asshole to you.”

  “To Scarlet,” Dakota said.

  “Both of you, but I’m apologizing to you. I guess I have to apologize to her later.”

  “Okay,” Dakota said. “You know where she sits.”

  “Dakota, come on.” Priti pulled up a chair and sat down next to Dakota’s desk.

  “I’m not sure what you want from me here.”

  “You know I like her, don’t you?” Priti said.

  “Yes,” she replied, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Scar and I started on the same day,” Priti continued. “I’ve been into her ever since. I was the only one here who knew she was gay until she told you, or you figured it out. I know she said I didn’t know her, but I do. Maybe not as well as I would like, but Scarlet is special.”

  “I know that,” Dakota replied.

  “So, you can’t exactly be mad at me for trying to, I don’t know, get you to screw up so that she might finally give me a chance. I’ve never even heard of her dating anyone until you.”

  “Did she tell you we’re dating?”

  “No, but I’m not an idiot. You two arrive at the same time and leave at the same time most days. You have lunch together, hang out together, and it’s obvious you like each other.”

  Dakota wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t want to tell Priti they were together if Scarlet hadn’t told her yet, but Priti knew something was going on, so there wasn’t any point in denying it, either.

  “I was waiting, and I guess I waited too long,” Priti added. “So, I was flirting with you, thinking if she saw you were a player or something, she’d come back to me and tell me the sob story, and I…”

  “You’d let her cry on your shoulder?”

  “Something like that, yeah,” Priti said.

  “She thinks you like me,” Dakota remarked.

  “You’re hot, that’s true. And I won’t lie – I’d be interested in something fun with you, but only if Scarlet weren’t interested in me. I’d drop the fun for her, you know?”

  “Why don’t you think she’s fun? Actually, you know what? Never mind. It doesn’t matter,” she said, waving off whatever Priti’s answer might be. “I’m not going to speak for Scarlet as much as I’d like to right now, so you need to talk to her.”

  “Why? She’s too far gone now. Like I said, I waited too long.”

  “Did you ever think that if you’re willing to have something fun with me or with anyone else, you’re not really all that into Scarlet? You say she’s special, and you’re right: she is. She’s so special, you wait for her. You go for it. You tell her how you feel and see if there can be something there because she’s someone who matters, not just someone you sleep with and move on from.”

  Priti nodded a little and said, “I get it.”

  “I’ve got to go,” Dakota stated. “But you should apologize to her and explain things if you want. Up to you.” She gathered her things into her backpack.

  “That wouldn’t piss you off? Me shooting my shot?”

  “No, it would,” Dakota said definitively. “I’m holding in my anger right now, though, because it won’t help anything, and I’m secure enough with what I have to be okay with you talking to her about it. It’s probably good for you two to chat anyway; get things out in the open.”

  “You’re a better person than me,” Priti said.

  Dakota didn’t want to agree with her, so she just nodded. When she saw Scarlet heading over to grab her so that they could leave, she smiled because Scarlet was beautiful. She was also cute with a Twizzler sticking out of her mouth and her hair in a messy top knot that hadn’t been there earlier in the day.

  “You ready?” Scarlet asked, snapping off the rest of the Twizzler and holding it out to Dakota.

  “No way,” Dakota said.

  “Come on. They’re delicious.”

  “No,” Dakota said, laughing at her and shouldering her backpack.

  “Hey, Scar,” Priti said.

  Scarlet nodded at Priti and said, “We’re going to be late.” She looked at Dakota.

  “Yeah, let’s go,” she said.

  ◆◆◆

  Aria and London met them at the restaurant, and by now, Dakota shouldn’t be nervous about meeting Scarlet’s friends, but she still was. She was also trying to warm up to the idea of meeting Scarlet’s parents, brother, and sister in just a few days and pushing any worry out of her mind because she needed to be strong to support Scarlet.

  “Bathroom?” London asked.

  “I’m okay,” Aria said.

  “I’ll go with you,” Scarlet said. “Be right back,” she added to Dakota, who smiled at her.

  Aria and Dakota watched their girlfriends as they walked toward the restroom.

  “She’s freaking out, isn’t she?” Aria asked.

  “Sorry?”

  “Scar. She’s literally tied her cloth napkin into knots.” Aria pointed to Scarlet’s napkin, which the woman had just placed on the table.

  “Oh, shit,” Dakota said. “Yeah, she’s rehearsed the coming-out speech with me a few times.”

  “Me too,” Aria said. “And the rest of us, too, over the years.”

  “I think maybe I shouldn’t go,” Dakota admitted. “I mean, I want to be there for her. If they say anything bad to her, I want to be there to scold them on her behalf and hold her if she needs to cry, but I’m worried I might be making it worse; like she’s got this pressure on her to tell them because I’ll be there now.”

  “She invited you. She wants you to go,” Aria stated.

  “I know, and I love her for that, but–”

  Aria’s eyebrow lifted while Dakota’s eyes widened.

  “I meant that–”

  “I think you meant what you said,” Aria interrupted. “Be good to her.”

  “She doesn’t know yet.”

  “I won’t say anything,” Aria replied. “But if I can give you some advice based on personal experience…”

  “Yeah, definitely.” Dakota leaned in.

  “Don’t wait too long to tell her.” Aria sighed. “I spent more than a decade without the love of my life because we were both too scared to say it. Granted, we were teenagers, but I think the lesson still applies.”

  Dakota had heard the story of how Aria and London had met in high school, became fast friends, and then, London disappeared only to show up in town earlier this year.

  “I think it’s too soon. I’m her first girlfriend, you know? We haven’t even…”

  “I know. She told us she hasn’t had sex. I wasn’t surprised, really, but didn’t know for sure. Scar has this way of blending in when she wants and standing out when she wants to. It’s actually a really cool superpower.”

  “You don’t think me telling her I’m in love with her right now is too soon?”

  “No idea,” Aria replied, shrugging a shoulder. “You’d know better than me on that.”

  “I worry it’s too much. I’m meeting her parents, and she’s coming out. Then, we’re spending a week with my family. It’s been six weeks, but it feels like six months already, and I don’t want to risk losing her if I’m going too fast.”

  “Has she said you’re going too fast?”

  “Not specifically,” Dakota said.

  “Then, maybe just ask her.”

  “Hey,” London said, wrapping her arm around Aria as she stood next to her. “We were thinking about ice cream since we skipped dessert here. Interested?”

  Scarlet walked over to Dakota and wrapped her arm around her in the same way.

  “Sure,” Aria said.

  “Babe?” Scarlet asked. “Ice cream?”

  “Sure.”

  There was something different about Scarlet tonight. The last time they’d even mentioned having ice cream, she’d blushed a little and got awkward. Now, she was standing over Dakota with a smile and looked confident and in control.

  “Banana split?” London said to Aria.

  “Will you share with me?”

  “Maybe,” London replied. “We’re going home. You know that, right?”

  “After ice cream?”

  “No, we’ve got ice cream at our place. And Scarlet wanted Dakota to see the dishwasher, for some reason.”

  Dakota looked up at Scarlet, who was laughing silently.

  “Really?” she asked her.

  “What?” Scarlet chuckled. “They have a see-through dishwasher. It’s really cool.”

  “You like dishwashers?” Aria asked.

  “No. It’s a long story,” Dakota replied, standing up. “She’s basically making fun of me right now, though.” She wrapped her arms around Scarlet’s waist and pulled her into herself. “She’ll pay for this later.”

  “After a banana split,” Scarlet replied. “London’s making them.”

  “If you like kitchens, the pantry in Aria’s house is insane. I’m in love with it.”

  “Our house,” Aria corrected London, standing up.

  “Anyway,” London continued. “It’s massive, and I just bought milk chocolate, white chocolate, and dark chocolate chips, so we can mix and match tonight.”

  Aria took London’s hand and said, “You better help me work off all those calories later.”

  “After we leave,” Scarlet added as Aria and London walked by them toward the door. “After, Aria.”

  “Ellie stopped by unannounced,” Aria argued loudly.

  “What is she talking about?” Dakota asked.

  “Ellie walked in on those two getting it on in the hot tub.”

  “For real?”

  “Yeah, she’s still scarred by it,” Scarlet said, wrapping her arms around Dakota’s shoulders.

  “She only heard sounds,” Aria remarked.

  Scarlet laughed, and Dakota pulled her in for a hug.

  “I like your hugs,” Scarlet said.

  “Even in the middle of the restaurant?”

  “I don’t care where,” Scarlet replied, pulling Dakota in tighter. “Is it okay? Going to their place for ice cream?”

  “I’m only going for the dishwasher,” she joked.

  Scarlet laughed, kissed Dakota’s neck, and pulled out of the hug.

  “Fine. I won’t split mine with you, then.”

  Dakota leaned in and gave Scarlet a quick kiss.

  “You two, let’s go,” Aria said loudly.

  “We’re coming,” Scarlet told her.

  God, Dakota wished that were true. She took Scarlet’s hand, and they walked out of the restaurant together.

  CHAPTER 29

  Scarlet had two consistent thoughts. One was about work and the possibility of this new job. She’d already met with the Director of Engineering, and the woman seemed like a great boss. Scarlet had also worked out some of the role details with her current manager and thought that it might just be the perfect job for her. Her first project, providing she accepted, would be to monitor the new customer community and own the data and the relationship between Dakota and the engineers. That had Scarlet smiling. Her other thought was about the fast-approaching Christmas party she’d already invited Dakota to and now had to actually go through with.

  Scarlet could pretend to be sick or not feel well so that they could skip it, but that would make it likely that Dakota wouldn’t go to her own family ski trip to stay with Scarlet and take care of her and her made-up illness. That wasn’t an option. She could just tell her girlfriend that she was chickening out; that she’d rather come out after the holidays because there would be less pressure. Scarlet sighed as she sat at her desk, unable to focus on what she’d been building a second ago. The pressure hadn’t been there for the past decade or so, and she still hadn’t come out to her parents. That wasn’t the answer, either. Scarlet knew she needed to get this over with, pull it off like a Band-Aid, and hope for the best. But, God, it was hard.

  She had to contemplate the possibility that her parents might tell her that they never wanted to talk to her again. It had happened. Sure, some of her friends had parents that were supportive. London’s dad, though, still wasn’t talking to his only daughter and had actively tried to keep Aria away from his daughter when they were teenagers. Scarlet was an adult. She didn’t live at home or depend on her parents financially, but she loved them. They’d always been so supportive of her in every way. And now, she risked that changing.

  She turned to see that Dakota was sitting at her desk, working. Scarlet smiled and thought that Dakota was worth it. She was beautiful and kind. She made Scarlet laugh and had been so patient with her. She lit Scarlet up; that was the best way Scarlet could describe her. Dakota lit a fire in her that no one else ever had, and that meant something. Scarlet was in love, and she wanted the two most important people in her life to know. She’d have to suck it up and figure it out already because Dakota deserved to be in her life all the way.

  “Can we talk?”

  Scarlet had just removed her headphones to head to the kitchen for a snack and turned to see Priti had sat down next to her without her knowing.

  “Yeah, I’m almost done with this. I’ll send it to you to check–”

  “No, I don’t mean about work,” Priti said.

  “Oh,” Scarlet uttered.

  “Can we take a walk or something? I don’t really want to do this here.”

  “Do what?”

  “Scarlet, please,” the woman requested softly and looked a little embarrassed.