Keira was standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes. Her dress fell and touched on points of her to just indicate the soft curves beneath. She glanced to me when I came back in.
“Is everyone gone?”
“Yep. I just forgot my book.”
Keira had a sometimes sarcastic, sometimes faux-fed up, teasing tone that she used to rib you and joke with you. It was always barely concealing a layer of glee and affection–it was to show that she liked you enough to bother teasing you rather than being polite. It was immensely likable. In a blip of that tone she said, teasing, “Excuses for extra time with me.”
Which I knew was a joke, and not her actually requesting more time with me. It was late. We were tired. I laughed, picked up the book and turned back to the door. “Got it. Thanks again Keira, that was so, so fun hanging out with everyone.”
She’d turned from the sink and was grinning, “Ian, have you ever had a girlfriend?” *Teasing*.