"So, are you going to tell me what happened last night or should I start guessing?" Dakota asks as soon as they settle into their taxi. Maribelle had been planning on going alone today—it's not like she truly had to pay for it, as her work provided the funds for transportation—but Dakota had slipped in right before she left.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Maribelle says, purposely not looking the shorter woman in the eye.
"You slept together! I knew it!" the driver up front doesn't even glance back at Dakota's yelling, but it succeeds in making Maribelle whip around.
"What? No! No, no we didn't."
"I know you didn't," Dakota smirks, "but I had to say something to get your attention. Now, are you going to tell me what really happened so I can stop all that overthinking in your head or not?"
"I hate you," Maribelle grunts and Dakota just cocks her head and that's all it takes for Maribelle to say, "No I don't. Damn, how are so good at this?"
"Just am," Dakota shrugs, trying to be nonchalant, but her eyes gleam mischievously. "Now, stop trying to change the subject and spill."
"Fine," Maribelle sighs defeatedly, "After you left with Akio, Vince, and his boyfriend, Aspen and I went to get more drinks. I was already really drunk—we both were—and I saw some people at the bar doing body shots."
"You didn't," Dakota gasps.
"So, my drunken self suggested we do them, and then Aspen said we'd have to do them somewhere more private," Maribelle grimaces at the memory, "So, then we went back to my hotel room, and well...we did them. She passed out in my room, and we woke up super hungover, and went to breakfast to try and cure the horrible headache."
Maribelle pauses, and Dakota leans in, literally on the edge of her seat. "And?"
"And breakfast was great, but suddenly when we got in the car she was completely cold towards me. And then, she has the nerve to get mad at me after my interview with Maria! Asking about what we talked about and shit like that."
Dakota purses her lips and lets out a big sigh. "It sounds like you're both down for each other, bad."
"Aspen doesn't like me," Maribelle scoffs, "If you haven't noticed she hates me. She was nice to me when she was drunk and that's it. And-hey! I am not down bad."
"Took you long enough to notice that bit," Dakota laughs, tilting her head, signaling that they needed to get out. "But trust me, Maribelle, I'm not wrong about this."
"Well, since we're talking about my "love life"," Maribelle makes sure to air quote love life very dramatically, "When are we going to talk about you and Akio?"
"What do you mean me and Akio?" Dakota asks innocently, as they climb out of their taxi, pausing to pay the driver, and making their way inside.
"Don't act like you don't see it, Dakota. He was all Prince Charming, saying he had to bring you back to your hotel room." They slip into an elevator by themselves. "I should be asking if anything happened between you two."
Dakota doesn't answer as the elevator doors open. She takes one look at Maribelle before bolting.
"I knew it!" Maribelle yells, running after her shorter friend, easily catching up at Dakota's door. "Hey," Maribelle grabs the door as Dakota tries to slip in, "I told you what happened with me. It's only fair."
"Fine, I guess you're right."
"Of course I am," Maribelle smirks causing Dakota to roll her eyes.
"It wasn't much, it's just...when he thought I was asleep he kissed my forehead."
"Not much my ass!" Maribelle yells causing Dakota's neighbor to open her door.
"Shut up and leave!" An old man yells in Italian, flipping Maribelle the finger and slamming his door.
"Maybe we should stop yelling," Dakota laughs quietly. "How about we go to dinner tonight? Just the two of us?"
"Sounds amazing," Maribelle laughs, keeping her voice low too. "But no alcohol today."
"Agreed," Dakota shivers in disgust.
~
"I don't know if I can afford this," Maribelle gasps, stepping into the magnificent restaurant. The building itself was two stories high with hundreds of sleek, fancy tables and a huge crystal chandelier in the middle of it all. They had traveled from the outskirts of Rome, where they had been staying, to the center where all the activity was. It was like the two women were stuck in their book or movie, and Maribelle couldn't believe it.
"Oh, it's on me," Dakota waves her off, cutting past the line of people, and whispering to the hostess. The hostess immediately smiles and begins to take Dakota back. "Come on, Maribelle! What are you waiting for?"
Torn between leaving and missing out on dinner with Dakota, and staying and possibly being stuck with an outrageous-sized bill, Maribelle for once goes without thinking. She pushes past the long line, making sure to say "excuse me" as much as possible, and falls in line behind Dakota.
"Here you go madams," the hostess smiles politely after bringing them up a spiraling staircase that is hidden in the back and to a table facing the windows where they could perfectly see the beauty of Rome lit up for the night.
"Grazie," Maribelle says breathlessly, waiting for the hostess to leave before speaking to Dakota again. "I can't let you pay for this, Dakota! It-it's too much, and-"
"Maribelle," the shorter woman interrupts, "you forget I'm a worldwide known author, writer, and journalist. I'm going to let you in on a little secret," Dakota leans across the table, whispering, "I'm rich. Between my job as a journalist, all the books I've sold, and all the pieces I've written have gotten me pretty rich. For a fat, queer, black woman that is extremely impressive. So, I like to use my money on luxuries that I otherwise won't be able to afford."
"But I've seen you donate to charities all the time," Maribelle questions.
"As I said, I'm very rich, so I can afford both. Now, stop worrying about the check, and let's just enjoy ourselves as we came here to do because pretty soon this is going to be your life too."
"What do you mean?" Maribelle asks with her heart thundering. She knows what Dakota means, but she has to hear those words out loud, because after all those times she got shut down and told she was worthless, Maribelle needed to hear it. She still felt the constant need to prove herself at The Times after she found out she only got the job because the first choice turned down the job.
"You're an amazing writer, and someday Maribelle, someday soon I think you're going to be just like me. Probably even bigger." Those two sentences made Maribelle forget about Vanessa and Aspen and everything else that was troubling her because those two sentences made Maribelle feel invincible.
~
"I can't believe it though!" Maribelle laughs loudly as she twirls a bite onto her fork. The young writer had ordered shrimp scampi and it was the most decadent and delicious thing Maribelle had ever tried in her life.
"Why not? I mean I know I'm a famous celebrity and everything," Dakota winks dramatically and both women burst out giggling. "But I like to mix with the commoners every once in a while."