“You want me to change?”

“Well, yeah. You have to get out of those wet clothes.” Carmen kept avoiding her gaze. “Um, I’ll just…”

She turned around, pretending to be engrossed in something on the counter that separated her kitchen from her living room. She glanced back after a minute or so, catching a glimpse of Shane’s body. Her knees went weak, and she leaned heavily on the counter. “Oh, fuck, oh, fuck, this cannot be happening, this is not happening. God, don’t think of her abs, don’t fucking think about it!” she thought to herself, trying to ignore the burning sensation spreading across her entire body. She found it incredibly hard to ignore, however, when Shane’s arms were placed on either side of her on the counter, effectively embracing the her without touching her. “I’m done, you can turn around now.” She whispered into the Latina’s ear. “Oh, fuck.” Her brain shot off one more time as she turned around to face her once lover who was now dressed in sweat pants and a baggy shirt.

“You know, I have to, um… Go get something from… From my room, so… I’m gonna, um… go… get… that… thing…” Carmen gulped “OK, bye.” She gushed, rushing out from Shane’s arms and practically running into her room.

She took a deep breath as she pretended to rifle through her drawers. “Get it together, Carmen.” Shane wasn’t paying attention to what was going on in the other room, however, she was engrossed in picking out a CD from Carmen’s vast selection.

“Here we go.” She mumbled to herself, placing it gently in the CD player.

Carmen walked back into the room as someone’s rendition of Can’t take my eyes off you started playing in the speakers.

“Will you dance with me?” Shane asked, grinning.

“I… I don’t know, Shane.”

“Oh, come on, Carm. It’s just dancing. Just… one dance.”

“Fine.”

Shane grinned and took her by the hand, before pulling her towards her and dancing in a swing-like fashion. She rocked back and spun Carmen around, causing them both to laugh. By the end of the song, they were both smiling and laughing genuinely. The song ended, and Shane collapsed onto the couch, with Carmen quickly following, sitting next to her. The song switched to Pretty Girl (The way) by Sugarcult, and the mood sobered.

“See? I was paying attention when you gave me dance lessons.”

“Yeah. That was good. I’m…I’m glad I taught you how to do something other than grind.”

“And there I was, thinking I wasn’t gonna need it for anything.” Shane stated, eliciting a chuckle from Carmen. “Carmen, look, I’m… I’m so sorry.” Shane whispered, stroking Carmen’s cheek with her thumb.

There was a pause as Carmen looked away. She turned back to Shane and smashed her lips into the other woman’s, the force sending her onto her back, being straddled by Carmen. Shane pushed lightly on her chest.

“Carmen, can we… can we not do this? I mean, I love you, and I want to, but… I’m really tired.”

Carmen laughed, tears welling in her eyes.

“Me, too. About the sorry and the love and the want to and the tired. Me, too.”

Shane laughed and smiled a contented smile for the first time in what seemed like ages as Carmen buried her face into her chest and drifted off to sleep.