Emma often wished her girlfriend, Mia, would be just a little bit more jealous.
Not too jealous. Not crazy jealous. Just a little bit jealous. She knew jealousy could poison relationships, but Emma had always thought that getting a little annoyed when your girlfriend flirted with someone else was a way of showing you really cared. When Mia never reacted with more than a shrug or a smile, it made Emma slightly anxious. Did Mia not care about her enough to mind the idea of Emma cheating on her? Emma told herself that wasn't true, but she couldn't help thinking it would be nice if just once, she got a rise out of her beautiful girlfriend.
"Hey Mia," Emma said to her girlfriend, who was lounging at the other end of their couch, staring at her phone.
"What is it, love?" Mia replied absently, while toying with her silky, jet-black, waist-length hair.
"That barista was there again, when I was getting my coffee this morning."
"Which barista? The cute one?"
"Yeah." Emma starting tugging on her braid, as she often did when annoyed. "And I think she was flirting with me."
"Really?" Mia still didn't look up.
"Yeah. She remembered my name, and when she handed me my coffee she flashed me this really sexy smile. She's definitely a lesbian. I can always tell." Mia still didn't react, so Emma decided to dial it up. "To be honest, I got kinda flustered. She's just so hot. She's got this really cute pixie cut, and it so does it for me. I had to resist the temptation to ask her for her number."
"Why didn't you?" Mia asked. Emma tugged her braid again.
"Because of you, obviously." Emma sighed. She loved her girlfriend. Mia was so beautiful. She had the pure white skin of an angel, and these huge, wide eyes that Emma could just get lost in, but at times like this she could be completely oblivious. "Wouldn't you be mad if I was flirting with other girls behind your back?"
"Not really." Mia finally looked up, but only to give Emma a happy smile. "I know you'd never do anything to hurt me. I love you."
"I love you too, babe," Emma replied automatically. Why couldn't Mia get just a little tiny bit jealous, just this once? It was so infuriating. As Emma brooded, an idea came to her. It was idea that she'd considered before, but she'd always put it out of her mind because it seemed much too far fetched and manipulative. Now, though, she was frustrated enough to give it a shot. She checked herself in her mirror, fixing her flame-red hair and practising her most innocent look. "Hey Mia," she began. "Why don't we listen to one of your relaxation tapes?"
"Really?" Mia seemed surprised. "I thought you hated those."
Emma did. They were just so bland, all whale songs, seaside sounds and generic, soothing singing. Mia listened to them all the time, and it always got on Emma's nerves.
"Normally. But I've been feeling a bit stressed lately, and I was thinking it might be a nice way to relax."
"OK, I'll put one on then." Mia reached for the remote control to their stereo, and hit play. Immediately, smooth, melodious singing emerged from the speakers. Emma could see Mia's eyelids already start to droop. Perfect.
"Come here," Emma beckoned, managing to keep the excitement out of her voice. "I wanna cuddle."
Wordlessly, Mia put away her phone and crawled across the couch, curling up next to Emma as the little spoon. Emma put her arms around Mia comfortingly, and waited. She'd observed Mia listening to her relaxation tapes dozens of times, and it was always the same. Within minutes, they sent Mia right to sleep. Well, almost to sleep. Mia usually ended up in a strange, unresponsive state that reminded Emma of the hypnotic subjects she'd seen in stage hypnosis shows and corny Saturday morning cartoons. That connection had prompted Emma to wonder: could she give Mia post-hypnotic suggestions? Could she change her girlfriend's thoughts and feelings? The prospect was incredibly tempting. Who didn't want to change just one or two things about their partner? And now, she decided, she was going to try it.
She waited for several minutes, until Mia's eyes closed almost completely and her head lolled to one side. Then she waited another couple of minutes, until she was absolutely sure Mia was in a trance. She gave Mia a tentative prod. A faint murmur was her only response. Emma took a deep breath.
"Mia? Can you hear me?"
"Mmmm." Mia's weak, affirmative groan was all Emma needed to hear.
"Great. Are you feeling relaxed?"
"So relaxed," Mia said sleepily.
"That's right, so relaxed." Emma found her heart was beating faster. She hadn't really planned out what she was going to say, so she did her best to copy the sort of spiel stage hypnotists usually gave. "And no matter what happens, no matter what I say, you're going to stay completely and utterly relaxed. OK?"
"OK..." Mia sounded completely out of it, but she seemed to be following what Emma was saying.
"Brilliant. You're doing great." Emma stroked her fingertips along the curve of Mia's neck, just how her girlfriend liked. Mia made an appreciative sound and nuzzled against Emma's hand. Emma found herself grinning. "I'm your girlfriend, aren't I?"
"Of course." Mia giggled, sounding slightly drunk.
"And that means you trust me, don't you?"
"Of course I trust you." Mia snuggled against Emma even closer.
"Good. And so you know I'd never lie to you, don't you?"
"Never lie to me," Mia half-repeated.
"That's right, I'd never lie to you. That means, if I tell you something, it has to be the truth, doesn't it?"
"It does?" Mia's brow furrowed; she seemed to be having trouble with that thought. Emma waited with bated breath, and was sure she'd failed until Mia finally relaxed. "Yeah, it does."
"That's right." Emma swallowed. For some reason, seeing her girlfriend in this state was turning her on. "Say that again for me, Mia. If I tell you something, it has to be truth."
"If you tell me something, it has to be the truth."
"Anything I tell you is the truth."
"Anything you tell me is the truth." Emma made her repeat it a few more times, until she was sure the idea had sunk in. It had to, if this was going to work.