SSS(SS) - Part 25

Once Sal realizes her mistake and corrects course, things smooth out. Athena’s delighted to talk about literally anything other than CCL, the presidency, and Meri. The date goes late, but plenty of lights are still on when they pull up to CCL House. Sal was a little afraid that Athena might suffer a little of the Sunday blues at their arrival, but she still seems chipper.

On the porch, Athena pauses and faces Sal.

“Thank you for a lovely evening,” she says ironically.

Sal’s not completely terrible at reading people. She looks into Athena’s eyes, waiting. As the seconds march by, she smiles.

“You aren’t going to formally invite me upstairs?” she asks. “Is it my sweatshirt? Too sexy for you?”

Athena laughs. “No. You’re hot like Josh Brolin in the Goonies.”

“I have no words.”

“I can’t invite you up,” Athena says, brushing some wrinkles from the front of Sal’s sweatshirt. “I’d never hear the end of it from Meri.”

“Right. Fair enough.”

“But if you were to carry me in your big strong arms, I don’t think I could stop you,” Athena adds, reaching out with a finger to run it gently down Sal’s bicep.

Sal snorts. “All right.”

“I’m kidding. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“You don’t get injured when you do things the sensible way,” Sal says, hands on hips.

“Then sensible way?”

Athena shrieks as Sal easily lifts her onto her shoulder.

“No way!” she screams as Sal opens the door and carries her into the foyer. “I was kidding!”

“The fuck?” Yuki is just emerging from the kitchen with a pint of ice cream in one hand and a spoon in the other. “What is happening?”

“Oh my gosh!” Athena wiggles, kicking her legs, embarrassed. “I’m wearing a dress!”

“Well, I can’t see your panties,” Yuki says helpfully.

Sal plants her hand on Athena’s rump and gives half a shrug to Yuki.

“I’m Tarzan. She’s Jane,” Sal says.

Athena howls with laughter.

Yuki blinks a few times. “Is she drunk?”

“No, actually,” Sal replies, carrying Athena to the stairs.

Safely in Athena’s room with the door shut and locked, Sal sets Athena down. The CCL president’s face is red and her hair is messed up, but she can’t hide how much she’s enjoying herself. She faces Sal again and clears her throat, but there’s nothing she can do about how she looks.

“Well,” she says, once more avoiding Sal’s gaze and finding wrinkles to smooth on the sweatshirt.

“Maybe I should take a shower,” Sal suggests.

“Maybe you should shut up.” Athena lightly grasps the sweatshirt and uses it to tug Sal closer. She finally meets her eyes. Sal can take a hint. Kissing Athena is hesitant and dignified for about two seconds. Then Athena wraps her arms around Sal’s neck, and without a word, her lips tell the story of all her pent-up stress, frustration, and need.