Intermission - Brainstorming (Part 2).

“Okay, so we’re looking at three floors, at least. Maybe four,” Alice said, tapping the back of her pen on her notebook. She had rough sketches of the three floor plans, trying to arrange the essential rooms to see where the extra ones would fit. “I know Mr. Allen is paying for everything upfront, but we still shouldn’t assume an infinite budget.”

“Yeah, Oliver will need to pay it back bit by bit,” Mila said.

And that’s when their boyfriend popped his head from behind the folding screen. “Yeah, it’s not infinite, but don’t hold back on the planning. We can make cuts when we’re sure we’re over the budget.”

“Hey, should we really be doing this?” Grace asked him again. “It’s your house, you should have a say.”

“Honestly, you’re all better at this than me. All I need is a soundproof room somewhere so I can play music without bothering anyone. So… If it’s not too much to ask…”

“Ah, no, this is actually pretty fun,” Noelle said, giggling. “We’ll run it by you when we’re done.”

“Thanks!”

“Oliver, table seven!” Maria called from behind. “Isabelle, hurry up with those dishes and take out the trash!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

Diana sighed. She could hear the shop getting busier by the moment. “How she’s managed with only one employee so far, I’ll never understand.”

“And the other girl is starting next week, isn’t she?” Noelle asked.

“Yes, but on the days Oliver isn’t here, so Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” Diana confirmed.

“Aw, man…” Sarah grumbled.

Diana smiled wryly. “I get it, but do you really want to encourage him to pay attention to someone else now of all times?”

“Yeah, I guess not.” The blonde rubbed the back of her neck. “Sorry, I think the lack of sex is getting to me.”

“Please, it hasn’t been that long,” Grace told her. “And you’ve done other things with him.”

“Well, yes, but… You get it, right? Knowing you can’t do it makes you want it more!”

“Your idea. See it through,” Diana told her.

“I know, I know. Just venting. Anyway! I want a pool, Noelle wants a game room. What else do we want to have here?”

“I want a special party room,” Mila said. The name she put to what she wanted said practically nothing. It was her mischievous, sultry grin that made them all understand.

“Ooooh,” Grace exclaimed in both understanding and approval. “Meaning…”

“Meaning something like what you’d find at Pleasure Lake Hotel. Hot tubs, showers, beds, dance poles, chairs, sofas, all in soft red velvet.”

“That does sound fun,” Diana agreed, smirking. “Add the common amenities to avoid coming out. Things like a fridge, a small bar, cabinets to keep… whatever you’d need.”

“And a closet for costumes,” Mila added excitedly. “We have yet to try any of that.”

“Alright, then Mila took one for the team to request something we all want. Thanks.” Sarah said.

“Nah, I just really came to like these fancy hotel rooms and want one for ourselves. That and I can’t really think of anything else…” she admitted.

“Dammit, compared to that, my own request is both boring and selfish…” Grace said.

“You’re supposed to be selfish with your request,” Sarah told her. “That’s the point.”

“What do you have in mind, Grace?” Noelle asked her.

“A library. A place to keep our books, to read peacefully and study. Some desks here and there, maybe one desktop computer with a printer. Probably with a fireplace if possible. Would be nice. But yeah, since we’re going to be university students, it will come in handy. Plus I like having my own library.”

Once again, proving he had his ear close to their conversation, Oliver peeked his head and whispered with adorable eagerness . “Will you dress like a sexy librarian?”

Grace smiled at him and winked. “Any time.”

Oliver silently fist-pumped and quickly got back to work. It got a nice laugh out of their group.

“God, how can he be so cute when asking for something lewd?” Grace wondered, sighing dreamily and shaking her head. “Prom can’t come soon enough.”

“Just a few more days, Grace,” Alice told her. “Just a few more days…” she repeated, this time mostly to herself.

“And what about you, Alice?” Diana asked her. “What do you want the house to have?”

“O-Oh, um… It’s… very predictable. I want a garage.”

“But that’s so simple…” Sarah told her.

“I’m talking a big one. Remember, among us we have five cars.”

“Oh, crap, you’re right…” Mila realized. “Hmm… If it’s like that, I might just sell mine.”

“Don’t hurry to a decision like that. You’ll still more than likely need it.” Alice advised. “Anyway, I want a big garage to double as a workshop so I can work there.”

“Oh, alright, I get it,” Sarah said, nodding. “Makes sense. You’ll be even further away from your brother’s shop.”

“Yeah, and I tinker with my car even at home. I’ll be able to take a look at yours, too.”

“Please don’t put a turbo on mine without telling me,” Grace told her.

“I wouldn’t! Not to mention yours in particular would probably explode.”

“So…” Noelle began, looking over at Alice’s notebook. “I want a game room, Sarah wants a pool, Mila wants a party room, Grace wants a library and Alice a garage. That just leaves…”

The five younger girls all turned to look at Diana. The older woman suddenly stiffened with arms crossed, holding both her elbows. She swallowed and looked away.

“Come on, Diana. Just do it.”

“It… doesn’t feel right. I’m not moving in with you all…”

“Yet,” Mila finished for her.

“...” Yet. Mila was right, but it felt rude to just proclaim that she would eventually. She wanted to, but…

“You’re overthinking it too much,” Sarah told her. “Even if you don’t say anything, Oliver will still build you a bar, you know?”

“Nope,” Oliver said, once more peeking his head. “If she doesn’t say anything, we’re not making it.”

Diana’s eyebrows shot upward at the same time her chest froze. She snapped her head back towards Oliver with panic in her face. “But I wan…!”

“...” Oliver just stared at her, face blank, waiting.

Now with her cheeks burning and unable to stop herself from fidgeting like a teen, she admitted it bashfully. “I want a small cocktail lounge…”

Satisfied, Oliver went back to work with a bright smile.

“Yeah, she's adorable, too,” Mila said, nodding.

Diana could have let the world swallow her at that moment.

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