“So…” waggling her eyebrow suggestively, Zoey grins as she hikes up her shorts, eyeing Rumi hopefully across the bed. “That was a little bit delightful. Would you do it again?”
Rumi’s breath catches, her expression crumpling for just an instant before she wipes her face clear, meeting Zoey wearing an elegant mask of polite apology, shrugging softly as she offers a tight smile to soften the blow. “S-sorry, I don’t…” she sighs, grimacing slightly as she gently snaps an elastic off her wrist to re-tie her hair into a lazy, loose braid. “...it’s just not something I do.”
Reaching beneath her pillow, she tugs out a faded, long sleeve shirt, tugging it over her head before she sits up, folding her legs beneath her almost protectively. “It’s a personal policy - no dates, and no second times.” With a sigh, she offers Zoey a sympathetic shrug. “You seem lovely, and I wish things were different… but you deserve someone who can give you what you deserve, and I promise that isn’t me.”
Trying to fight the flush that licks up around her ears, Zoey shrugs on her own shirt, pocketing her bra before digging around in her jacket for her car keys. “Oh, yeah, totally. I get that, personal policies, who doesn't have ‘em. Like, my grandma? Definitely has a personal policy against girl scout cookies. Hates ‘em, and the kids selling them, too. Sometimes it’s pretty funny, her neighbour swears he’s seen her get out her walker to chase them off the lawn.”
Rumi snorts with laughter, suddenly looking deeply sorrowful as she scans Zoey for a sign of… something. With a resigned sigh she reaches for the glass of water on her night stand, a slight tremor in her wrist before she steadies her cup in both hands. “Thank you for understanding. And for doing… this.” Breaking into a tiny, aching smile, something cheeky dances beneath the hurt shining from Rumi’s eyes. “This was wonderful. Truly. Good luck out there, and I hope you find what you’re looking for.”
Zoey offers her the world’s most awkward fingers guns, quietly reflecting that she definitely reeks of sex, praying that her mom is too busy to notice when she finally makes her way back home. “No prob, Bob! Just doing my service to the disabled community.”
Breaking into a shout of laughter, Rumi rests her glass in her lap as she claps a hand across her mouth, eyes shining with delight. “Oh my… Zoey. Okay, go, before I keep you. Are you okay to see yourself out? If you hold the door until it chimes, it’s self locking. I’m just a little…” gesturing at herself, Rumi breaks into a wry grin. “...well. Lets just say you made good on that promise to fuck me until I couldn’t walk. Thanks.”
With a furtive glance at the crutches resting beside Rumi’s nightstand, Zoey nods, trying to swallow down her disappointment as she offers a scrunchy smile and a final awkward wave. “Of course. Good luck with… everything. It’s been really cool to meet you.” Internally cringing at her painfully transparent sincerity, she dips her head in a shallow bow, a sharp pang catching in her chest as Rumi breaks into a reluctant, wobbly smile, a faint blush of pink dusting lightly across her cheeks as she waves.
“Bye, Zoey. Thanks.”
