Emily nervously tests the boundaries

[NOTE: This chapter happens in parallel with Jake's narrative.]

Emily rolled her eyes and laughed. "I should ask and find out. That's good! Leave it on me to make the next move."

Abbie smiled. "I like a world where people pursue what they want. You can't take anything for granted."

"And yes," said Emily, "you won't give me a straight answer about whether or not I could get your number."

Abbie shook her head. "You're asking the wrong question."

"How's that?"

"Instead of asking what I'd do if you asked for my number ... just ask for my number."

Emily chuckled to herself. "Maybe boys are the better option. Girls play too many games."

"Oh, I'm not trying to play you." Abbie looked into Emily's eyes. "Seriously, I'm not. I don't mess around like that."

Emily sighed and smiled. "Okay. Well, step one, you're gorgeous. Step two, you did that thing with my hand, and I don't know what it was except that it was really amazing and I kind of want you to do it again."

Staci laughed a little. "You've always liked someone paying attention to your hands."

"I'm a pianist," said Emily. "My hands are everything."

Melanie's eyes widened. "You're a pianist? So cool! Staci, you have very cool friends!"

Emily smiled and blushed a little. She looked back at Abbie. "So step three, I don't care about getting your number, because your style is direct contact. Isn't it." The last thing she said wasn't really a question but a confirmation.

Abbie nodded. "I think you're right."

"So the question isn't can I have your number. The question is do you want to hook up later and do that hand thing again."

Abbie bit her lip and looked at her. Emily felt Staci and Melanie staring at her, but didn't take her gaze from Abbie.

"Was that actually a question?" asked Abbie.

Emily laughed. "I guess it wasn't. Not quite." She took a breath and smiled at Abbie. "So the question is ... the question I'm asking is ... Abbie, would you like to hook up later and do that hand thing again?"

"I would love that," said Abbie.

Emily released a huge sigh. "Oh my god, I feel like a teenager asking someone to the prom or something, like there's huge stakes involved here. But no, I'm just asking a girl at a bar to massage my hand, and my heart is going like a million miles an hour."

Staci giggled. "Emily, I haven't seen you so flustered in years!"

"Staci, my heart is pounding. Feel this!" She pulled Staci's hand to her chest, but at the slightly awkward angle, wound up placing Staci's palm almost directly on her breast.

"Emily?" said Staci, unsure of why she was groping her friend.

Emily seemed somehow unaware of where Staci's hand was. Or if she knew, she wasn't doing anything about it. "I know! Racing. My heart, it's racing." She exhaled sharply. Staci pulled her hand back.

"Hey Em," said Melanie. "Let's go get in line at the buffet. It looks like they've put out some of the actual lunch food."

"That sounds good," Emily agreed. "Hey, Abbie -- sorry if I suddenly seem like a crazy lady."

"Not crazy at all," said Abbie cheerfully.

"No, but I mean before. You don't have to do that hand thing to me again."

Abbie looked at her, puzzled. "Why not?"

"You mean, you'd want to?"

"Sure!"

Emily again looked at Abbie more steadily. "I'm saying I was probably a little drunk there, and need some lunch. I don't know what came over me."

"Emily, you don't need to apologize." Abbie shifted her weight, and in doing so, the energy of the conversation. "I loved learning that you're a pianist. Your hands are obviously special. And holding them felt ... very satisfying." She smiled, and her voice softened a little. "I liked it a lot."

Emily blushed. "You did?"

"I did." Abbie and Emily began walking toward the buffet, a little ways behind Melanie and Staci. "If there's one thing to know about me -- here, on this first day you've ever met me -- it's that I'm always completely honest."

Emily nodded. "Okay. Okay, I believe you. So do you really want to do that hand thing again?"

"Mm-hm."

Emily smiled. "Wow, there goes my heart again. Seriously, Abbie, I don't know what it is."

"New feelings?"

"Yeah, maybe new feelings."