“I wouldn’t exactly call it that,” Mia said.

“You’re getting carried away, babe,” Kristin said in her stern voice.

Mia studied her phone. She should reply. She was eager to find out if Lou still wanted to go out with her. If the offer still stood, she would give her a resounding yes.

She texted back: Do you need me to bring you some pain killers?

Not even a minute later, the reply came in: Can we meet some time today? I would like to apologize in person.

Mia didn’t know what Lou would need to apologize for. They agreed to meet at the Pink Bean a few hours later. She summarized her text conversation for Kristin and Sheryl.

“Ah, a first date at the Pink Bean. That’s truly the reason we wanted a coffee shop. We’ve done a pretty good job of it so far.” She smirked at Mia. Kirstin shook her head.

Mia had borrowed one of the Jane Quinn books Sheryl had recently bought and sat reading, waiting for Lou to arrive. She saw her scuttle past the big window before she entered the Pink Bean, head held down, as though she had engaged in the most shameful activities last night.

Despite what Sheryl had said, Mia didn’t consider this a date at all. It wasn’t even two friends meeting up for coffee, because Mia wouldn’t go as far as to suddenly define her relationship with Lou as friendship.

“Hey.” Lou gave Mia a limp-wristed wave.

“Sit down and let me get you a coffee,” Mia said.

“Thanks.”

Mia headed to the counter and glanced at Lou while the coffee was being prepared. The way she sat there slumped over was in total contrast with how Lou usually carried herself. It struck Mia and made her consider how luminous Lou looked every other day of the week.

“Here you go.” Mia put the coffee in front of Lou. “Nothing like a cup of Pink Bean coffee to perk you up.”

Lou cradled the mug in her hands. “I feel like I said some impertinent things last night.”

“You did nothing of the kind,” Mia was quick to reply.

“I asked you out.” Lou gave an incredulous chuckle.

“After you told me how objectively pretty I was, so there’s nothing wrong with that. You eased into it.” Mia wasn’t sure Lou was up for a joke, but she didn’t exactly know how to handle this situation, so she went for it anyway.

“Oh Christ. Don’t remind me.” Lou examined the contents of her cup of coffee.

“Good to know you’ve changed your mind about how I look then. That’ll teach me to be so smug about myself all night.” She had a big smile at the ready for if Lou dared to look up.