Jane gave me a watery smile. “Yeah.” she said softly.
It was settled. We were girlfriends. Just putting a title to what we were lifted a weight off my shoulders. As girlfriends we would work together to figure out where we went from here. “We can figure out what to do. I mean maybe, this is a good thing.”
Jane snorted. “How is losing my family, job and home a good thing?”
“Okay,” I giggled. “Maybe not a good thing but I’m moving across the country to go to graduate school. Come with me.”
Jane sat up and untangled herself from me as she seemed to sober at my suggestion. “Come with you? Would you want me to?”
Now it was my turn to snort. “Yes. I don’t want to be away from you. I mean, we don’t have to live in the same apartment if you don’t want to.”
Jane chewed her lip. “I’d want to if you do.”
I smiled as I went on. “I think it would be good for both of us to start over somewhere else. Together.”
Jane began crying again but this time with a smile. “I do too and yes, I’ll go with you!” she squealed then pounced on me. We fell to the ground in a jumble of limbs and laughter. “Stay with me tonight,” she demanded.
“I will stay as long as I can, but I think we need to wait until you’re sober before we have sex.”
Jane’s smile dropped. “I’m not that drunk.”
As I pushed her bangs out of her eyes, I reluctantly told her, “I want our next time together to be with both of us sober. We’ve made too many mistakes to mess this up. I want you Jane. More than anything.” She had no idea.
Touching her body and seeing her perky breasts had me wet and ready but I didn’t want to ruin the beginning of something great by having sex when she was emotionally vulnerable.
Jane groaned then moved a hand between my legs running a finger along my already sensitive pussy. “It’s not like you would be taking advantage of me.”
I held her hand still wishing more than anything for her to finish what she was starting but… “I’d still rather you be sober.”
“Will you at least stay with me?”
“I’ll stay as long as I can. My mother is still at my apartment. How about I help you get ready for bed?”
After untangling myself from her, I pulled her up. Jane’s wobbling reinforced the reason, I wanted us to wait.
Our hands met as I guided her to her bedroom. The moment reminded me of our first time together. But this time, she wouldn’t be leaving for a date and I could call her mine.
After helping her brush her teeth and finish undressing, I put her to bed.
For a moment she panicked. “Don’t go!”
“I’m not,” I said as I pulled off my clothes then got into bed with her. The moment, I settled in, she rolled over and cuddled into me. With her head on my chest, she wrapped her arms around me then tucked a leg between mine.
I had to keep reminding myself that we weren’t going to do anything tonight but cuddle even though feeling her naked body pressed to mine had me on the verge of losing my mind with need.
It didn’t take long before she fell into a deep sleep. As I ran my fingers through her hair, I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was. Here I had an incredible, beautiful woman who cared enough about me to change her whole life. She had no idea, but I would do the same for her. If she wanted to stay, I would.
The way we met was unconventional to say the least. But the way I fell for her in those few hours every week then how she invaded my every thought…this was more than lust.
This was more than infatuation.
This was real.
This was worth fighting for.
7
It took everything I had in me to leave Jane’s warm bed especially with her naked body cuddled next to mine. But my mother was an early riser and I wanted to be home before she woke up. I had something very important to tell her.
I left a kiss on Jane’s cheek and a note by her bedside before heading home.
To my relief, mom wasn’t up yet giving me a chance to prepare what I wanted to say. I hadn’t laid down on the couch for ten minutes when I heard my bedroom door open.
She tipped-toed into the kitchen to start coffee then took a seat at the counter to read on her phone. Probably to check the news since she had done that every morning as far back as I could remember.
When she tsk-ed and mumbled under her breath, I wondered if this was going to be the last time I would hear her morning rumblings.
Would she treat me the way Jane’s parents had treated her? I didn’t think she would go to that extreme but a small part of me feared she would.
I pretended to be asleep as I worked up the nerve to have the most important conversation I would ever have with my mother. It also gave me a chance to think about Jane and last night.
I still couldn’t believe she gave up her family, job, home…life to be true to herself. She was so much more than I had ever assumed when we first met.
She might not have done it for me, but I wanted to do that for her. I wanted Jane to know I was all in and that meant coming out to my family.
Starting with my mother.
Sitting up, I stretched drawing the attention of my mom. “I made some coffee.” She lifted her cup in offering.
“Thanks.” But coffee was the last thing I needed for my nerves. “Mom?” I took a deep breath. “I need to tell you something.”
She glanced over at me with her reading glasses sitting on the edge of her nose. “What is it sweetie?”
I patted the cushion beside me hoping she would sit closer. “It’s about Jane.”
“Is she okay?” Her concern for my friend had me feeling hopeful that she might understand. Placing her phone and reading glasses on the counter, she moved to sit beside me.
“Jane is fine. I…” I swallowed the growing lump in my throat as my heart began to race. My mother put her hand on my leg in concern. “Jane isn’t just my friend, but she’s my girlfriend.”
My mother’s face went white and her hand limp on my leg as she stared at me as if I were a stranger. “What? She’s your girlfriend? Like she’s a girl and your friend, or do you mean…”
“I mean, she’s my girlfriend. What I feel for her is so much more than friendship.”
She pulled her hand away and looked away staring at the far wall. “I didn’t know you were…”
“I’m not or maybe I am. Maybe I’m bisexual. I don’t know.” I didn’t know what word described me. “Jane is the first woman I’ve ever been attracted to and I like her.”
“Like?” she asked looking back at me with a hopeful expression on her face.
“Yes, I like her very much. More than like. I could even see myself falling in love with her.” Though I might already be in love with her.
“How? I don’t understand how this happened. You always dated boys.” I could practically feel the desperation in her voice.
“I know, Mom. I can’t explain it.”
“So, you just decided to be a lesbian?” The desperation changed to confusion. It would have been humorous if it hadn’t been focused on me. But I got it. Having an LGBT child was probably the worst thing she could have imagined for any of her kids.
“Mom, I didn’t decide. I spent time with Jane and the more time I spent with her the more I wanted to be with her. I wanted to date her, kiss her, have sex with her.”
Pinching her eyes closed, my mother covered her ears. “Don’t. I…I need a minute.”
We sat next to one another in silence, but I could almost see the wheels turning in her head.
To give her and myself a break, I went to the bathroom to shower. When I came back, I found her in the same spot staring off.
When I returned to my seat next to her, she finally spoke. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed. You know it’s a sin.”
I refrained from rolling my eyes. “I don’t know that, Mom. There is nothing evil about the way I feel about her. In fact, I never felt so good as
I do when I’m with her.”
“But…” she sighed. “You know your father and I don’t agree with that lifestyle.”
“Mom…” I shook my head was there any point in arguing with her? She grew up with that belief and had even attempted to pass it down to me.
“So, Jane is a lesbian?” She asked.
“Yes.”
Her brows pinched together. “She doesn’t look like a lesbian.”
I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up. “What does a lesbian look like?”
She waved her hands in the air before settling them in her lap. “Like…more masculine.”
I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t help it. “Well she is.”
After a few minutes of silence, she said, “Your dad is going to be very upset.”
“I know. But I’m an adult. I’ve been supporting myself for years now. It’s my life and I want to spend it with Jane.”
Her frown softened. “I would have wished something different for you.”
“I know.” Boy did I know.
“Angel,” she faced me with her hands over mine. “I think I need some time to wrap my head around this.”
“I get it.” I said.
“Maybe I could fill in for you at work today. It would give me some time to let it sink in and give you a few extra hours to study for your finals next week.”
I squeezed her hands. “That would be great, Mom.”
When I stood to get ready for school, she held onto my hand. When I looked at her, I noticed tears forming in her eyes. “I’m not sure I can accept this, but I love you. I’ll always love you, Angel.”
My heart sunk a little, but I expected this reaction. “I love you too, Mom.”
“Angel!” A familiar voice called out to me. I turned to find Jayla quickly walking toward me but without her usual bright smile. “Lisa said that Missy…err Jane isn’t returning to work. Is everything okay?”
“Jayla, so much as happened, I don’t know where to begin.”
“Well you can’t say that and then not explain yourself,” she said with her voice raising with each word.
“I will explain everything but not right now. The most important thing for you to know is that Jane and I are together now.”
Jayla’s smile was a wonderful relief after speaking with my mother. It reminded me that Jane and I weren’t alone.
We might not ever have the support of our family’s, but we had friends that would always be there for us.
“I was just about to go see Jane.”
“Well don’t forget that you need to study between love sessions,” she teased knowing me a little too well.
“That’s the plan.” This was probably the worst timing but then again, timing had always been an issue with me and Jane.
8
After saying goodbye to Jayla, I headed to Jane’s to check on her. A part of me worried that after having some time to think about things, she would realize I wasn’t worth losing her family, job and home. If anything, I wanted to see her and to reassure her that I was all in too.
As I got off the elevator onto Jane’s floor, a woman who looked like an older version of Jane stepped out of her condo.
From a distance, she could have been mistaken for Jane with her tall, thin frame, it wasn’t until up close that I could see the signs of plastic surgery, the pounds of makeup and hair that was professionally colored.
When we passed each other, she held her head high with a tight grip on her purse and ignored my polite hello.
I watched her until the elevator doors closed behind her then knocked lightly on Jane’s door. She opened it immediately.
I expected a teary-eyed Jane but instead, I found her wild-eyed and pissed. I couldn’t help but find her sexy as hell.
Stepping inside, I had to maneuver my way around moving boxes. She had been busy today.
“That was your mother.” I pointed behind me.
“How did you guess? Was it the stick up her ass that reminded you of me when we first met?” Once the words were out of her mouth, she fell into a fit of laughter. “Oh my god, I can’t believe I just said that about my mother. I really have fallen off the pedestal my family put me on.”
Considering her comment about her mother, I was no longer worried that she changed her mind, but I was worried she was about to drink herself silly again. “Is everything okay?”
“Fine.” Jane rolled her eyes and huffed. “She just came over to try give me a guilt trip for being selfish and ungrateful. Luckily, right now, I don’t give two fucks. I’m not giving up my life,” she pulled me to her, wrapping her arms around me in a tight hold. “or you.”
A chill ran down my spine at her confidence and the way she stood up for herself. Jane had never been sexier, and I wanted her, really wanted her, but we still needed to talk. But we had time to at least kiss.
And we did. Her lips met mine in a surprisingly lazy kiss considering the passion I felt from her just moments ago. We took our time, tasting one another and holding on to each other in a tight hold. I don’t know how long we made out but eventually, I pulled away just enough so we could talk.
“As much as I’m enjoying this, I need to tell you something.”
Jane smiled and took my hand and pulled me to her couch where we sat close, never releasing our hands. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even ask how your day was.”
“I told my mother about us this morning.”
She sat up straighter as if she were bracing herself. “How did she take it?”
I shrugged. “It could have been worse.”
“Come on, you listened to me yesterday. Let me be there for you…but without alcohol.” Jane bumped my leg with a half-smile.
“Well, she’s upset, and I think a big part of her hopes that it’s just a phase.”
Jane slumped back against the couch. “So, not good?”
“Not good but not as bad as it could have been.” Jane nodded. She was well aware that it could have been worse.
“I’m sorry.” She squeezed my hand.
“Don’t be. At least she told me she still loved me.”
“I’m glad for that. Maybe she’ll come around.”
Shaking my head, I didn’t even want to hope for that. “Right now, all that matters is that we’re together. Finally. Right?” I asked to be sure.
Jane’s smile grew. “Right. I’m yours and you’re mine. We’re in this together. Speaking of…” Jane hurried to her table and returned with a stack of papers.
When I got a closer look, I noticed they were house listings. “You mentioned struggling to find a place to live and well, I got in contact with a realtor and she sent me these. Some are for rent and others are for Sale.”
Shocked, I took the stack from her and began looking through them. She was looking for housing for us. I bit my lip at my excitement but it quickly died when I noticed the pricing. “These are way too expensive. I couldn’t even afford to pay half the rent on these.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
I choked on a laugh. “Don’t worry?”
“Yeah. I was actually thinking about buying one and then you wouldn’t have to worry about paying half.”
“But what about your mortgage. I can’t let you pay for my housing.”
Jane’s smile brightened. “You can thank my grandparents. They left me a hefty inheritance.”
“But…” I tried to chime in.”
“I have enough money that I don’t HAVE to work.” Jane quietly let those words sink in. “I talked to my attorney today and he said my parents can’t touch the money so I’m good. I of course want to work but…” Jane waved her hand around. “Anyway, I can pay cash for a small house for us.”
“I don’t want to be a mooch.” I stated to be clear.
“You’re not. Otherwise I would be too since I didn’t earn that money either.”
She had a point.
“Plus, can’t you picture us relaxing in our own backyard maybe with a dog or two?”
I could. And I loved the image that it conjured up.
“Let’s do this.”
Jane bounced on the cushion next to me. Before I could keep looking through the stack, she took them away from me. “We can look at them later. Don’t you have some studying to do?”
“I do.” But then I glanced around and noticed the half-filled boxes everywhere. “But don’t you need some help?”
“Nope. I’ve got this. You are welcome to go into my office and study while I pack. When you’re hungry, let me know and I’ll order us food.”
Reluctantly, I picked up my backpack and began to leave. But before I could head off to study, Jane planted another kiss on my cheek. “Angel, I’m really glad we’re doing this.” My heart swelled with emotion at her sincerity.
“Me too.”
I studied until my eyes burned and the words blurred on the page. Jane had checked on me every hour to make sure I had something to drink.
I could never put into words how good it felt just being in the same space as her. With all the craziness of the past few weeks, just being near her calmed me in a way I never expected.
I couldn’t wait until we were living together. Not only because she took care of me but because I wanted to take care of her. I wanted to make sure I supported her in any way I could.
As much as I wanted to be intimate with her, I really did need to study. My future depended on it and the fact she supported my needs meant a lot to me.
Stepping out of the office, I found Jane lying on the couch with her feet up on the armrest reading a magazine.
Her hair that was in a messy ponytail earlier was now splayed out making an inviting picture. I imagined having her long legs wrapped around me but then I got a glimpse of her bare skin between her shorts and t-shirt. How could one sliver of a skin be so sexy?
God, I needed to be tangled up with this woman…naked. I needed to have my mouth on her, I needed the taste of her pussy on my tongue, I needed her to touch me until I screamed her name. I needed…
Her Client- The Complete Series Page 19