She paused, and I thought I saw a softening underneath her frosty exterior.

"What?"

"Can I call you?"

She exhaled and searched my eyes, for what I don’t know. I knew I was wearing that expression that used to always get to her, the one like I was half human, half puppy or something.

"I don’t know…"

"Please?"

"It’s not a good idea." She whispered.

I gazed into her eyes, willing her to say yes.

Suddenly, a voice from the bedroom. "Al?  Where are my blue boxers?"

"I think there in the wash, babe." She called back without taking her eyes from mine.

Then, so softly I thought I’d imagined it: "Alright."

"Yeah?"  I couldn’t help a big smile emerging on my face.

She nodded once. "Now go!"

I pulled back and continued to watch her as the door shut in front of me. As I walked out of the building my initial feeling of elation starting to lessen and all the complications started to fill my head. I was a mess. On the one hand I was still reeling from the kiss we’d shared and dammit she wanted me to call her!  On the other I was feeling guilty as hell about Lara. I loved her, I really did and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt her but I also knew I couldn’t hurt Alice again. I had to figure things out and fast. Easier said than done.

The next day Shane dropped by… Ostensibly to invite us to a party at Wax for Carmen’s birthday but it wasn’t long before her other agenda became clear. 

"You busy?"

"I was just about to go to the gym."

"Cool, I’ll walk with you." I eyed her warily.

"I was going to jog." 

She didn’t bat an eyelid. "I can jog."

"Oh-kay."

Shane’s idea of jogging turned out to be faster walking and we had only got a couple of minutes down the road when she got to the point.

"So what’s going on, Dane?"

I paused to do a few leg stretches.

"With what?"

"No, with who."

She gave me one of those I-can-see-right-into-your-soul Shane looks. I played dumb.

"Sorry?"

"Alice. What’s going on with you and Alice?"

I jogged speedily ahead and called back over my shoulder: "I don’t know what you mean!"

She half-ran to catch up with me and then settled back into her usual laconic stroll.

"Something’s going on. Something was off at Jenny’s dinner and then Alice called me-"

I stopped and looked at her.

"Alice called you?"

"Yeah, she tore a chunk out of me because I told you she might be missing you."

"Really?" My voice got an octave higher.

"Yep." She paused. "I hope you know what you’re doing."

We were facing each other and Shane put her hands on my shoulders.

"Cos it was really bad, I mean, really shit back there. Not just for you two, for all of us."

I looked down and nodded.

"I know, I know."  I tried a smile. "It’s nothing, ok?"

She sighed and pulled back, cocking a finger at me.

"Just be careful. Please."

I made a sound of agreement.

"I’ll catch you later and don’t forget about the party."  With that she sloped off and I ran all the way to the gym, trying not to think about anything or anyone.