So how long is Vincent out of town?" Elizabeth asked Darcie, handing her the stack of paper cups. Their hands touched for a moment longer than they needed to. Elizabeth looked into Darcie's eyes, those deep, warm doe eyes, and she wanted to draw her close and breathe in her scent. Elizabeth pulled her hand back and turned away. She cleared her throat, to break the spell.
Darcie patted the couch. "Come over her, Liz, sit down next to me. I've got my kids crawling over me all day long. But once they're gone, I get really lonely." Elizabeth crossed the room to join her on the couch, and Darcie snuggled up to her once she sat down, putting her head on Elizabeth's shoulder.
"You're so warm," Elizabeth purred, surprising herself. "I'm so cold all the time, even in a long sleeve sweater and jeans. Look at you!" She gestured to Darcie. "You're in a tank top and booty shorts, and you look warmer than me."
Darcie looked into her eyes again completely unnerving Elizabeth. Darcie had never acted like this before. It felt like they were on a date. "You know how hot I get." She giggled. She reached up and stroked along Elizabeth's cheekbone and jaw, down her neck. Elizabeth drew back.
"What are you doing?" Her heart raced.
"You know I grew up with a big family. We were always very touchy-feely with each other. I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable." Darcie sat back, creating more distance between them.
"It's not that it makes me uncomfortable. I'm sorry. I'm just a little stressed." Elizabeth pressed her hand against her temple, like she had a headache. Was Darcie hitting on her? She must be imagining things. Darcie was married.
"Do you know how long it's been since I've been touched? Like, really touched?" Darcie sighed.
Elizabeth looked at the couch, feeling the seam on a cushion. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, Vince never looks at me. He never touches me. I'm dying with that guy." Darcie stroked her chest, drawing Elizabeth's eye.
"But I have the most wonderful relationship with you two!" She protested. "You guys talk to each other so much, and you're so good together."
Darcie shifted herself on the couch, so that she was sitting cross legged, back arched along the armrest. "Vince is a good guy and everything, and we've been friends forever, but he doesn't even look at me." She put her arms overhead and stretched herself out like a cat on a doorframe.