The Modern Queen

girlfriend

"I know you wanna stab me, but please upgrade from a butter knife," Talitha drawled, eyeing the way Aishlynn's hands tightened around her silverware.

"Shut up before she actually does stab you," Alinora said, stabbing her broccoli with a little more force than necessary.

"This is who you want to spend the rest of your life with?" Aishlynn asked, frowning at Alinora. "You know you can do like... leagues better."

"Hey! Just because it's true, doesn't mean you have to say it," Talitha said, flicking a broken bit of broccoli Aishlynn's way.

She grimaced as she wiped it off.

"We're just dating, Aishlynn," Alinora said. "No one said anything about the rest of our lives." She nudged Talitha's foot under the table, giving her a sly smile. "This is just a trial run."

Aishlynn snorted. "It's your life, I suppose. Just make her behave when she's at my house."

"Don't ask for miracles, Aishlynn."

"I am behaving!"

Aishlynn rolled her eyes. "For you, I suppose you are." She aimed the butter knife Talitha's way. "Do know, darling, that if you do anything to hurt my sister I'll be scooping your eyeballs out with a spoon."

Talitha put her hands up. "Only pure intentions here, I promise." She tilted her head. "Well, okay, maybe not pure--"

Alinora cut her off with a hand over her mouth. "I appreciate the sentiment, Aish." She paused. "And your... blessing? Approval? Acceptance?" She shrugged. "Whatever."

Then she frowned.

"Did you really just lick me?"

Talitha shrugged, eyes going wide in an innocent expression.

"I've had your tongue down my throat, Talitha. What did you think that was going to accomplish?"

"She didn't," Aishlynn said dryly. "She just felt like doing it. You can stop covering her mouth now. But if she says one more impolite thing, I'm getting out the baby pictures her sister gave me."

Talitha pulled Alinora's hand off. "She did what?"