Twenty minutes later Alice arrived at Dana’s condo. She’d changed out
of the skirt and blouse she’d worn on her date and was now wearing
sweats and an old Pep Boys t-shirt. She let herself in when Dana failed
to answer her door. Alice had seen her Subaru and knew she was home.
The condo was dark and quiet. “Dana? Sweetie, it’s me, don’t shoot,’
she joked lamely.

Dana held her breath when she heard the door to her bedroom open. She
tried to make noises she imagined herself to make when she was
sleeping. Alice listened to this for several moments before snorting.
“Dana. You don’t sound anything like that when you’re asleep,” she
informed her.

Dana stuck to her plan, stubbornly making the weird little sighing noises.

“Fine. Okay, boss. Only move over, I’m not sleeping on your couch. It’s
pretty but it’s hard as a rock,” she informed her faux slumbering,
ex-girlfriend. She lifted the blankets and firmly pushed Dana over to
her side of the bed.

“This is a new wrinkle,” Dana observed. She decided to add her
own. Making more sleeping noises she rolled over and assumed the
position that came naturally to her. Curling up behind
Alice, she pressed into a spoon, and encircled Alice in her arms. Dana
waited to see how this went over.

Alice digested the situation, trying to decide if she should allow it
to continue. It felt like home to be in Dana’s arms again but it
probably wasn’t too healthy. She decided to take a page from Dana’s
book and ignore the complications. ‘I’ll also ignore that throbbing
ache starting between my legs,’ she decided with regret. Snuggling back
into Dana she closed her eyes and whispered goodnight.

Dana’s answering whisper was hoarse, ‘Good night, Alice.”

Her breath on Alice’s neck felt like a caress. Alice swallowed a moan knowing if Dana heard it they’d be in trouble.

THE PLANET (the next morning)

Dana was soaking wet. Her run had been cut short by a summer squall
that blew thru West Hollywood in moments. The athlete was just as happy
to quit early. She looked at her watch, 9:10 am, plenty of time to get
coffee and hang out before showering.

She’d left Alice asleep at her house and wouldn’t mind seeing her and
clearing the air. She’d thought of little else during her run then the
odd series of events that had led to Alice and she cuddling all night.