Author's Note: I am open to feedback. I read every comment.
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It's just a movie, Celina reminded herself. She had stared at her closet for too long. Casual. No-pressure. Just wear what you usually wear, she told herself.
Kenny let out a sharp bark from his spot on the bed, as if to chastise her for her indecision. The little terrier mix stood up, sniffed her leg, and flopped back down with a huff.
"I know," Celina muttered. "Not a big deal."
Jo's legs were tucked under her on the couch, as she thumbed through a book she wasn't actually reading. Her eyes flicked up when Celina walked out of their bedroom, pulling on a black hoodie.
"What movie did you choose?"
Celina thought for a moment. She had forgotten the name. "That one about the girl stranded on the island surrounded by sharks."
"Are you the shark?" Jo teased.
"Funny". Celina crossed the room and leaned over the back of the couch, pressing a kiss into Jo's sleek, black hair. "I could cancel. Stay in. Watch you pretend to read." Her eyes flicked over the front cover, The House of Impossible Beauties.
Jo tilted her head back to look up at her. "No, you couldn't. You've been fidgeting all afternoon."
Kenny jumped onto the couch next to Jo, onto the blanket Celina's mom had given them so he could sit on the couch. She scratched behind his ear absentmindedly.
Celina smiled. "You sure you're okay?"
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not jealous."
"I didn't say jealous," Celina said softly. "I said okay."
"I'm fine," Jo said, firm but kind. "She's sweet."
"And she's new to all this," Celina murmured.
"You think she needs protecting from me?" Jo responded.
Celina didn't flinch. "Yes."
Jo blinked.
"You're irresistable, babe," Celina said, brushing Jo's hair back from her face. "She wouldn't know what hit her."
"Flattery will get you everything." Jo replied.
"All I'm saying is, I just know how easy it is to get pulled into your orbit. She's still figuring herself out." She lightly kissed her on the lips. "I love you."
"I love you too." Celina rested her forehead against Jo's. "I'm not worried. Just... intrigued."
Celina stood back up. "You sure?"
Jo smirked. "If I wanted her, I'd already have her."
By the time Celina reached the theater, Dani was already waiting out front, one hand in the pocket of her green hoodie, the other playing with her phone.
God, she's cute, Celina thought. And she's not even trying.
"You're early. Trying to show me up?" Celina said.
Dani put her phone away, eyes lighting up when she saw her. "No, I just don't want to miss the previews. If this movie sucks, they'll be the best part." She grinned.
Inside, the theater was dim and nearly empty, as they walked to their seats in the middle. The trailers began playing. Dani leaned in and whispered, "I don't usually do horror."
"I figured. You flinched at the popcorn machine." Celina replied.
Each time Dani jumped--once at a cheap scare, twice at the real ones--Celina rested a steadying hand on her arm. By the final act, their shoulders were touching.
As the credits rolled, Dani let out a breath. "That was... actually good."
"Told you," Celina said, stretching. "Fear's just adrenaline with a soundtrack."
They grabbed ice cream and wandered the quiet streets, talk flowing easily from the movie into something deeper, neither of them ready to end the night.
"So Celina, what would you do if you were alone on a desert island?"
Celina glanced over. Dani's arms were tucked inside her jumper pockets, her shoulders relaxed. Very different to the office. Of course, everyone was a little looser outside of work. It was kind of nice, though. "Is there Wi-Fi on this island?"
Dani laughed, licking a drip from her cone. "Nope. Just coconuts. And shark-infested waters, like in the movie."
"Well, in that case," Celina said, kicking at a loose pebble on the sidewalk, "I would find a way to become friends with the sharks."
"Is this based on the true story of how you moved up the corporate ladder?"
Celina let out a startled laugh. "The audacity," she said, eyes wide with amusement.
Dani looked momentarily unsure. "Too much?"
"No," Celina said, still grinning. "You're usually so quiet. Shy. I didn't know you had that in you." She took a spoonful of her salted caramel icecream.
Dani shrugged, trying to play it off. "I wouldn't say that at work, you know."
"Oh, I know. You and Jo have a weirdly similar sense of humor. Dry and sneaky. Like you both enjoy saying things that sound like compliments until you think about it."
Dani blinked, then laughed. "Is that... good or bad?"
"Oh, it's definitely dangerous," Celina said. "You're both shit-stirrers."
They walked a few more steps before Dani asked, "How did you and Jo meet?"
Celina smiled to herself. "We were traveling. Same tour group--backpacking through Spain."
Dani looked over curiously. "Really?"
"Yeah. We were the only two queer people in a group of, like, fifteen. Mostly frat-boys. Every guy on that trip tried to hit on Jo at some point."
"Yeah, I can see that happening to Jo."
Celina laughed. "Right? She barely said a word to any of them. But then one night, after too many cheap cocktails, I ended up in Jo's bed. I remember the guys looked like their brains had short-circuited."
"They couldn't believe that she hadn't picked one of them." Dani reflected.