Gwen & Art Are Not in Love

by Lex Croucher

“I’ll walk you out,” Bridget said in a low voice, putting her hand on Gwen’s arm; the contact made Gwen’s breath catch. She couldn’t quite pinpoint why this felt like being claimed, and why being claimed felt so explicitly good, but she wanted the walking-out to be extended as long as possible—far beyond the length of the room.

“Can’t see why,” Arthur said, leaning back in his chair and looking rather smug. “Because he kissed me back.” Sidney gaped at him. “In the bird shed?” “You’re awfully fixated on the bird shed.”

“Tell me it was a one-time thing.” “Definitely,” Arthur said. “Absolutely. He’s not—you know. He barely talks. He reads books.”

No good could come of spending more time with Bridget, no matter how much she wanted to. And learning to fight, with all the physical exertion involved, the intimacy and the sweat and seeing Bridget up close as she expertly handled her weapon …

Arthur pulled away first. “Well?” Gwen bit her lip and then shook her head. “Nothing.” “No. Me neither,” Arthur said. “Shame.”

“I made you a false mustache!” Arthur said, outraged. “I did crafts for you! The least you can do is act grateful.” “Thank you for my cat-hair mustache,”

When I talked to you about it, even when you were being a bit of a nightmare, you always made me feel like it was … completely ordinary. Something I should be allowed to want and to have, without question.