“I told you. Next time I go on it. On Friday afternoon just before I leave the office.”

Camille chuckles, then asks, “Tell me about Josephine.”

“Ah, Josephine… Well, you know she works at the Pink Bean part-time. She’s also a PhD student. She and Caitlin are co-writing a book. And, perhaps most impressive of all, she’s the most wonderful singer.” When I think of Josephine singing, I can’t help but smile. “I remember the first time we all had dinner together. The entire group. Josephine was so shy. She clearly had the biggest crush on Caitlin. It took her a bit of time to get over the fact that her crush was mutual. It’s quite a story.”

“And they’re in a non-monogamous relationship?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. Not last I heard, anyway.”

“But you said that Caitlin knew all about non-monogamy.”

“Oh, she does. Caitlin knows a lot about a great many things.” I pull Camille closer to me, wanting everyone we pass to see we are together. “They’ve only been seeing each other a few months. From what I understand, the beginning of a relationship is usually quite monogamous. But really, if you ask Caitlin, she will tell you all about it. She has made a career of talking about things like this.”

Camille leans into me. “I’ve met them both. There’s a bit of an age difference, isn’t there?”

“Oh yes. Josephine is only twenty-eight.”

“That’s barely older than Flo.”

“Yes, well, love knows no boundaries or rules or age, I guess.”

“Or borders, or distance,” Camille adds wistfully.

“I guess we’ll have to see about that.” We’ve arrived at the restaurant so there’s no time to get into the subject we’ve been avoiding like the plague. What’s going to happen next? We’ve made our feelings clear to each other in more ways than one, but concrete talk about the future is, for now, still a bridge too far.

Camille gives my hand a good squeeze before we enter. Caitlin and Josephine are already seated. Maybe Camille and I walked slower without knowing, hoping it would slow time as well.

Greetings and kisses are exchanged and then we sit across from each other. Camille sits opposite Caitlin. I’ll want to hear every word they exchange. Even though I feel like time is slipping away too quickly, I’m also glad to have this meal with my friends. That way Camille doesn’t only exist for me. She will also make an impression on Caitlin and Jo and we can remember this evening together later, when she’s gone. It’s also nice for Camille to be a part of this aspect of my life. To be embedded in ordinary conversations I have with my friends.