"Melissa..." Erika started, a little hesitant. "I need to get home to check on my dog Max, I can't leave him alone for too long."
"Already? But everybody's coming over this afternoon and you said you'd be here..." Melissa said with a pout.
Erika remembered now that Melissa had invited a bunch of her friends, including Erika, to a sleepover this Saturday night. The plan was to play in the swimming pool the afternoon if the weather allowed it, and watch movies and do other girl things on the evening. She couldn't say no now, plus it would look suspicious if she refused to see Melissa after what had happened between them.
"I... I really need to go home now, change my clothes and all, but I'll be back later sure."
"You can bring Max and his bowl and kibble if you want too!" Melissa added happily.
Cole got up. "Well girls, I'm meeting with a friend so I'm out of here too." He exited the kitchen, giving Erika a discreet wink. She waved at Melissa and left the room to pick up her stuff before heading home. Cole whispered to her in the corridor:
"Just wait for me in the street five minutes, I'll get dressed and you can tell me about the salve on the way to your place."
Outside, the weather was warm and sunny; the storm from last night had passed, though the ground was still a bit wet from the rain.
Erika waited on the other side of the gate, making sure Melissa wouldn't see her from a window. After a few minutes, Cole came out. He was wearing blue jeans and a red plaid shirt rolled up to his elbows.
"Let's go now" he said, looking around vaguely to make sure Melissa hadn't seen the two of them together on the streets.