Miranda was doing all the talking, again something unexpected from her. As she spoke, she seemed to gently pull herself in towards Alison with her fingers. Alison stood in place while Miranda wrapped all her fingers around Alison’s, the two holding hands. Alison continued to smile and listen, beginning to rock back and forth on her heels.
Warrington recognized Alison’s uncomforted stance. He stepped away from the hotel wall and began walking towards the two women.
Alison immediately saw him from the corner of her eye. He had barely taken a few steps before Alison raised her hand to wave to him, the hand Miranda had entwined her fingers around, forcing Miranda to release her hold.
Miranda saw Warrington as well, taking a step back from Alison.
“Matt,” Alison called, a look of relief coming over her face.
Warrington was quickly beside them. “Ladies.”
“The meeting over?” Miranda asked.
“Just,” he said, “it ran later than I expected.” Turning to Alison, he said, “Sorry I’m late, have you been waiting long?” He pulled her into him for a kiss.
“No, I barely just got here myself, traffic was terrible. But it’s okay, Miranda has been keeping me company.”
“Yes,” said Miranda, looking awkward. “Anyway, I’m off.” She literally was. As soon as she said the words she was in motion, heading towards the front entrance of the hotel. “Safe drive home,” she said, her words trailing off behind her.
Alison and Warrington were left together, standing beside the sedan. On cue, William was at their side, opening the passenger door to the car. Alison slide in first, Warrington right after her.
As the car turned out of the hotel driveway, Alison turned to Warrington. “That was weird.”
“What’s weird?” Warrington asked, but knew.
“Miranda,” continued Alison, turning to look out the window as the car eased into rush hour traffic, barely crawling along. “I’ve never seen her like that.”
“Like what?”
Alison paused, trying to find the right word. “Cheerful.” She laughed and Warrington laughed as well. “She even held my hand. I don’t think I’ve ever held her hand.”
“What were to two of you talking about?”
Alison turned away from the window, looking at Warrington. “The Lover’s Ball. She’s looking forward to it. Remember last year? She didn’t even want to go.”
“Well, it is her hotel now. Her priorities are different. She has to be there.”
“True, but I got the impression she wants to be there.” Alison looked out the window again. It was raining lightly. All she could see were bleary car lights. She needed to gather her thoughts before saying, “Is there something up with you two, Matt?” She kept her gaze on the bleary images outside the car.
Warrington was surprised by the question. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, are you seeing her again?”
“Why would you ask that?”
Alison turned to look at Warrington. “You two used to be together, before you and me. She’s by herself now. Maybe she’s looking for another Dom to be with.” Alison looked out the window again. “Maybe she wants to be with you again. When I was waiting for you, when we were talking, she kept talking about you. How it was with you, saying she envied me. She seemed overly interested in you and me.” Alison paused. “She said she really hoped we came to the Lover’s Ball tomorrow. She said she hoped we would spend more time together.” Alison looked at Warrington. “Does she really mean you? More time with you?”
Warrington chuckled.
Alison punched him in the shoulder. “This isn’t funny, Matt. Is there something going on? I want to know.”
Warrington got his amusement under control. “You’re right, she does want to spend more time with me.”
“I knew it.” Alison crossed her arms in anger.
“And you.”
Alison, stewing, did not respond.
Warrington pried her arm away from her chest, opening her fingers to hold her hand. “And you,” he repeated. “More so, you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means she doesn’t just want to be with me, she wants to be with you. Definitely you more than me.”
Warrington let the words sink in. He watched Alison’s face as she thought about what he said. The anger dissipated, replaced with a puzzled look.
“With me?”
Warrington nodded.
“Me. Like shopping and stuff?”
Warrington shook his head. “No, I’m talking more intimately.”
Alison’s confusion returned, until it dawned on her. “With me. Me and Miranda, like that?”
“Yes.”
“And you?”
“Yes, the three of us. Me, you and Miranda.”
Alison looked out the window a moment, and then back at him.
“Why?”
“She fancies you. She loves you and wants to explore that a bit more.”
“Matt, I love her too, but,” she hesitated, “but not that way.”
“Why not explore it that way?” Warrington asked.
Alison appeared shocked. “You like the idea?”
Warrington looked at Alison, saying nothing.
Alison looked back. “You do,” she said, incredulous. “You like the idea.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to. I know you well enough to know when something interests you.”
“And what do you think of the idea? A bit of a change might be nice.”
Alison couldn’t believe the question. “Really, Matt? Seriously?” She crossed her arms again, looking out the window. “I like what we have.”
Warrington sat looking forward, suddenly realizing the window between the front seat, where William sat driving, and the two of them in the back seat was down. William could hear their conversation. Warrington wasn’t overly concerned. Over the past few years, he was sure William had heard more daring conversations from other passengers. He’d hired him for his discretion and William had never given him reason to doubt it.
Regardless, he leaned slightly forward, saying, “William?”
“Yes, sir?” William never took his eyes off the road, even though it seemed they were going nowhere, such was how thick the rush hour traffic was.
“Take the long way home.” With this, Warrington pushed a button on the console and the tinted, soundproof glass partition began to slowly rise into place. Alison noticed the
