"That's it."

12.37 PM

Stella tossed her keys on the counter as she waited for FaceTime to connect. After the millionth ring, Veronica picked up the phone. An expression of annoyance riddled across her face.

"So glad you could grace me with your presence, your highness," Stella remarked sarcastically. She grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with water from the kitchen sink.

"Sorry, Malorie was over exaggerating her workday and, as usual, forced me to listen to her undying rant about it," Veronica replied. She pinched the bridge of her nose, forcing herself to calm down. She feared the woman would have a stroke after Veronica picked up Stella's call, cutting her off mid-conversation. Then again, she would have done simply anything to silence her incessant whining.

Stella chugged the glass of water. Ever since Tré agreed to their get together, later on, Stella's been suffering from cottonmouth. Wonder what that's about.

"Are you listening?" Veronica snapped, turning her attention back to Stella. She ran her fingers through her hair, exhaling.

Stella nodded sharply, swallowing the remaining water before speaking again. "Yes, I did. Unfortunately," she added before pressing her lips together. "Listen, it sounds like she wants someone she can rant to that's all. What's the harm in letting her do that?"

"Thank you!" Malorie shouted from the back­ground.

Okay, Stella had no idea she had been listening, let alone in the same room as Veronica. That would have been a nice heads up. She scrunched her face, she hated when they pulled her in the middle of their arguments. Ever since they became a couple, they always tried to blindside her with them despite her endless talks with them keeping her out of their ceaseless spats and disagreements. And Stella fell for it every time. "Veronica, where are y'all at the moment?"

"Not important," Veronica replied quickly. "The harm is she's talking my ear off," she continued answering Stella's previ­ous question." Every day, every single day, she complains about it. As if I'm not in the same work environment as her. The part that pisses me off the most is that she never asks about my day. Nope. And the rare occasions, she does. Well, she gives it maybe thirty seconds before returning the attention back onto herself. And it's infuriating."

Stella furrowed her brows; she leaned against the kitchen counter. "This conversation is infuriating," she muttered softly placing her face in her hands.

"What was that?" Veronica quizzed.

"Nothing," Stella said, shaking her head. She lifted her head up once again. "Veronica, where is all of this coming from?"

"A pent up angry place. From what I can tell," Malorie surmised.

"Oh, like you would know," Veronica yelled. "Stella, she can be such a prick sometimes. I swear I think it's better off being alone."

Oh, Stella could only imagine how it is over there at the moment.

"We were in a meeting, and I kept thinking about you. How you met someone new and it being amazing to learn everything about them. Especially since it's been a year since Liza, and I'm proud that you're considering dating again. Because honestly, I have no idea how you could go that long without sex," Veronica rambled.

"How do you know I haven't had sex since Liza?" Stella demanded, defensively. She gripped her phone a bit tighter than necessary. Her heart picked up in pace, and heat rose from her neck to her face. "And weren't you the one who said being alone is better."

Veronica laughed. "Oh, honey, I know you. That's all," Veronica replied. "And that was then, besides, I love Malorie even when I don't.

"Even I knew that," Malorie added, getting in front of the camera. Standing next to Veronica, they were shoulder to shoulder. She turned and kissed Veronica's cheek, "I love you too, honey."