Alice looked at Dana, fearing what she might hear but knowing that she
needed to ask it anyway, “So… does that mean… do you still have
feelings for her…? I mean, do you need time to—”

“NO!” Dana interjected a little too forcefully, perhaps. But she
couldn’t help it! She didn’t want Alice to misinterpret this at all.
Talking with Lara was definitely closure with Lara. Maybe when she was
with Tonya, someone could’ve asked Dana if she’d get back together with
Lara given the chance and she would’ve said yes. But now… now that
she was with Alice, now that she knew what it felt like to be loved by
Alice, Dana was sure she never wanted to remember what it felt like to
not be loved by her again. Granted, she and Lara had some sort of
connection, but she’s not Alice. That was the thought that keep going
through Dana’s head when she thought of Lara, *She’s not Alice…
there’s no one like my Alice.*

Dana looked at her girlfriend with the
same intense look she’d given her at the table, trying to convey more
than words could say, and spoke more softly, “No, I don’t have feelings
for Lara. I don’t have feelings for anyone. I’m completely
feelings-free towards anyone else. No signals or anything to anyone
else. Not a blip on this radar. Nuh-unh. Zip. Zilch. Well, that is… I
mean, except for you, of course. Yeah, just one ship on the radar… no
others. In fact, the radar is not even “on” because it’s got no other
ships to receive from or send signals to. Yah! I’m an “off” radar with
just one ship—”

“Dana…” Alice drawled out her name, smiling affectionately at her
babbling method of coherence. “I get it… for some strange reason, I
get it. And I agree, actually. I think it would be good for the two of
you. I promised you I’d be waiting, didn’t I? I’m just happy you told
me. I don’t want there to be any secrets between us. It just messes
things up.”

Remembering what she’d seen at the table among the contents of Alice’s
jean pocket, Dana saw her opportunity. Holding up the guitar pick that
she’d swiped from the table at Alice and stuffing it in the blonde’s
open palm, she teased, “Speaking of secrets, when were you gonna tell
me that you started playing again, huh?” Dana crossed her arms over her
chest, pretending to be annoyed. “I mean, YAY – you still play! But I
cannot believe I am being deprived of seeing the nimble fingers at
musical work!”