Housemates

Chapter 50

Ellie found the bathroom. While she was washing her hands, she looked up, into the mirror, and noticed a bruise on the side of her neck. She stopped, and looked more carefully, and was pretty sure she knew what it was.

She went back into Mia’s room, and said, “Dude, you gave me a hickey.”

Mia looked over at her, surprised, then started to smile.

Ellie suddenly wondered if it was a mistake just to barge in and announce like that. Mia seemed to have stopped laughing, but probably only just. Doing something dramatic might make her start again.

Mia didn’t seem to be, though. “Oh yeah,” she said, and looked at Ellie’s neck, and actually seemed a little bit smug.

“That isn’t cool,” Ellie said. “It’s too high up. It’s going to show.”

“Sorry,” Mia said.

“Shit,” Ellie said, almost irritated because Mia wasn’t taking this seriously. “It’s really obvious. It’s going to be kind of awkward for work and stuff, that’s all.”

“I know,” Mia said.

“And what if Mark asks?”

Mia looked at her. “Why would Mark ask?”

Ellie thought about, then said, “Yeah, I don’t know.”

“And if he does, you don’t need to say it was me.”

“I know,” Ellie said, wanting this just to stop. “Forget it, okay.”

“I am sorry. I didn’t mean to. I kind of didn’t realize…”

“You forgot you were sucking on my neck for ten minutes?”

Mia shrugged, and grinned, both at the same time. “Kind of.”

“Oh,” Ellie said, and looked at her. She decided Mia was serious.

“Just you seemed into it,” Mia said. “So I didn’t think. But you’re completely right. I should have stopped.”

Ellie felt better, now Mia wasn’t grinning at her.

“I should do you,” Ellie said.

“Can if you want.”

“Won’t you care? Won’t people at your work care?”

“Probably.”

“But you’ll let me anyway?”

“Yep.”

Ellie thought a little longer.

“Want to?” Mia said. “You can if you want. All the way around and up to my ears, so I can’t possibly hide it.”

Ellie hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. “Of course not.”

“Thank fuck,” Mia said, and did actually looked relieved. “There’s bruise concealer on the dresser somewhere, if you want it.”

“Why do you have bruise concealer?”

“In case I’m bruised…” Mia said. “Obviously.”

“Does it work?”

“For that,” Mia said. “Um, it’s kind of deep. I wouldn’t have thought so.”

Ellie looked at her, then sat down on the bed.

“I am sorry,” Mia said. “I didn’t think.”

“It’s fine,” Ellie said. “And you’re right. I liked you doing it, so yeah…”