Rearview Mirror

by B L Clark

  “You can ask me anything,” Nicole said.

  “The show is in six weeks. I’m wondering if you could come up earlier than just before the show. I know you have responsibilities here, but I really want—no, need—you there with me.”

  “When do you want me to come? I mean how early?”

  “Three weeks…” Amber said sheepishly, knowing that Nicole had obligations here.

  “Hey, remember, we’re each other’s safe spot. You don’t have to ever hide from me.”

  “Okay…um…my confession is that I’m scared that by leaving you I’m going to lose you. I know I told you we weren’t going to be out of each other’s life and everything, but it scares the shit out of me, too. Part of me is afraid that once I leave, you’ll have time to think about things and resent me for leaving and not coming back for so long.”

  “I have the same fears. I’m afraid you’ll go back to New York and forget about me and this place because the bad memories are going to outweigh the good ones.”

  “Oh, Nic.” Amber turned so she was facing her. Amber stared at Nicole for a long minute before bringing a hand up to cup her face. “Sweetie, you are the best thing in the world that has ever happened to me. I wouldn’t have survived all those years of abuse and the years of loneliness had it not been for you…knowing that you were a part of this world is how I survived.”

  “Amber,” Nicole breathed as tears rolled down her face. Nicole couldn’t make her mind work. She was suddenly overcome with emotion. Sitting in front of her was the woman she had loved since before she knew what it meant to be in love.

  Amber pulled Nicole to her and held her as she allowed her emotions to come out. After Nicole calmed down, Amber got them out of the tub and dried off before moving them into the bedroom and onto the bed.

  “How is your shoulder?” Nicole asked.

  “Better.”

  “Amber, help me forget the world out there exists,” Nicole said.

  Their gazes locked, and Amber knew what Nicole needed. Amber felt the pull deep inside her, and she hungrily captured Nicole’s lips. Amber pulled Nicole’s body to her own and ran her hands up and down Nicole’s body, feeling the flesh beneath her touch. Nicole was groaning and moving with Amber’s touch. Every sound from Nicole only increased Amber’s need and wanton desire. It wasn’t long before they were both completely consumed with each other.

  Nicole and Amber isolated themselves from the group until Friday afternoon, wanting to spend as much time as they could together. Both were dreading Sunday. They had worked out that Nicole would come to New York in three weeks. This would allow her to be at Amber’s last doctor’s appointment and allow her to see what Amber’s life was like.

  While in their self-imposed isolation, Nicole and Amber went through the photo albums that Amber’s mom had put together, and they reminded each other of stories revolving around the pictures.

  “Remember this one?” Amber pointed to a picture of her, Nicole, Jill, and Erik dressed up for Halloween when they were about eight years old. They were dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz.

  “Ugh, yes. Jill made a good Glinda. Erik was so cute as the Tin Man. He got in a lot of trouble for taking his dad’s funnel for putting oil in the car. You were so gorgeous as Dorothy.”

  “I loved how the green makeup made your eyes stand out. You were the cutest Wicked Witch of the West.”

  “What about this picture?” Nicole said, smiling. The picture was from just before Nicole and Amber started dating. Nicole had sneaked into Amber’s room to surprise her and found her asleep at her desk. Amber had been studying and had put her head down and fallen asleep. Much to her dismay, she was a drooler, and there was a big puddle of drool next to her head.

  “Where did my mother find that? I thought I burned all those and the negative,” Amber said.

  Nicole didn’t say anything, she just had a smug smile on her face.

  “What did you do?”

  “I had a copy hidden. You looked so cute, and I had such a crush on you…”

  “So, are there other photos I need to be aware of?” Amber teased.

  “None that I’m going to own up to at this point.” Nicole laughed.

  They continued going through the album and reached ones from after Amber had left.

  “Tell me about this one.” Amber pointed to a picture of her mother and Nicole all dressed up.

  Nicole left the room and returned with a small award statue. “That was taken the night I won this.”

  Amber took the statue from Nicole and saw the plaque said Entrepreneur of the Year and Nicole’s name.

  “Sweetie, that’s amazing.” Amber set the award next to her and kissed Nicole.

  “Thanks. I took your mom as my ‘date’ for two reasons. One, she had been so supportive with my business and helping me. Two, it felt like you were there with me. Well, a part of you at least.”

  They continued going through the albums for a long while. Amber loved hearing the stories regarding the pictures of Nicole and her mother after she left. It also served as a reminder of how much she had missed. Nicole held Amber while she read her mother’s journals and cried at the loss of such an amazing woman.

  Friday arrived, and Nicole and Amber knew they were going to have to go to Jill’s for the group farewell party. It wasn’t that they didn’t want to see everyone, but they were enjoying the time with just the two of them.

  “Jill said we should come over around four today,” Nicole said as they were making lunch.

  “Okay,” Amber said quietly.

  “What’s wrong, baby?” Nicole wrapped her arms around Amber and leaned her chin on the uninjured shoulder.

  “The reality that I’m leaving soon is setting in. Plus, I’ve really enjoyed our alone time.”

  “I know, but I’ll be coming to New York in three weeks,” Nicole said before kissing the side of Amber’s head.

  “I know, but I’m still going to miss you.”

  “No more than I’m going to miss you.”

  The couple finished their lunch and then went to pack the stuff they would need for the night. Once they were done, they cuddled on the lanai until it was time to leave.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Slumber Party Fun

  Nicole and Amber were almost asleep cuddled together on the lanai when Nicole’s phone alarm went off, notifying them that it was time to head over to Jill’s. Nicole shut the alarm off as Amber cuddled closer and nipped at Nicole’s neck.

  “Mmm, that isn’t going to make going to Jill’s easier,” Nicole said.

  “I wasn’t trying to make it easier. I was enjoying where we are now,” Amber said as Nicole turned her head and pressed their lips together.

  After kissing for several long minutes, they pulled apart, and Nicole looked into Amber’s eyes and saw the sadness there.

  “What’s the matter, baby?” Nicole asked.

  “This feels so perfect, and I’m going to miss it when I leave,” Amber said.

  “I’m going to miss it, too. We’re just going to be apart for three weeks, and then I’ll be coming to visit you.”

  “I know, and trust me when I say that knowing that will be the only thing that will keep me going.”

  “How about I promise that we’ll talk daily, and we can even video chat?” Nicole ran her hand through Amber’s hair.

  “That helps.”

  “Let’s get over to Jill’s, then when we get back tomorrow, we can come in here and cuddle again.”

  “Okay.”

  They got up, got their stuff, and headed to Jill’s house.

  “Jill, do you have everything?” Erik called as he finished setting up the living room for the party.

  “I think so.” Jill finished up in the kitchen.

  Jill and Erik had decided that they were going to go all out. They wanted Amber to know it wasn’t just Nicole who loved her and was going to miss her. Jill had gone out of town to a restaurant they used to frequent and gotten a
ll their favorites. She picked up decorations, and Erik had come over and helped her decorate the living room with banners and streamers. There were even a few helium balloons with We’ll Miss You and We Love You written on them.

  “Jill? Erik?” Heather called as she entered the house.

  “In here,” Jill called back from the kitchen.

  Heather entered the kitchen, carrying a large cake in her arms. Erik took it from her and set it on the counter. He looked at the cake and saw there was a pond and tree that looked like Old Miller’s Pond, a collection of paintings and a paintbrush, and Don’t forget how much we love you written across it.

  “Where’d you get this?” Erik asked.

  “Sidney’s aunt makes special order cakes, and Sid talked her into doing a rush order cake for me.”

  “Amber is going to love it,” Jill said.

  “What time are they supposed to be here?” Heather asked.

  “Any time now.”

  Just then, they heard a car pull up and made their way to the front door to greet the two women. The first thing they noticed was the sullen mood they were in.

  “Hey, Amber! Hey, Nicole,” Erik said as they walked up to the door.

  “Hey,” they said.

  Erik wrapped them both in a hug, being careful not to hurt Amber’s shoulder and collarbone. They hugged for a minute before he released them, and Heather wrapped them into a warm hug. Heather, while hugging them, whispered that she loved them both and she knew how hard this was, but she knew it would just make them stronger. When they pulled back, Amber wiped a tear away and looked Heather in the eyes and gave her a smile. Jill hugged Nicole and then Amber before blindfolding them both and escorting them into the living room. She removed the blindfolds, and the two gaped at the fully decorated room.

  “This looks amazing,” Amber said as she looked at the banner, the balloons, and the pictures of their childhood strewn around the room.

  “You guys were busy today.” Nicole laughed.

  “You have no idea.” Erik beamed.

  “Why do I smell Dante’s Grill?” Amber asked.

  “First off, how in the hell did you recognize Dante’s food?

  “Jill, I moved to New York, I didn’t die. And if the food tastes the same as it used to, it’s my all-time favorite and you never forget that.” Amber laughed. “Now why do I smell Dante’s? I know the one here closed.”

  “Because I went there and got all our favorites.” Jill smiled, seeing the shock on Amber and Nicole’s face.

  “That’s a three-hour round-trip drive,” Nicole said.

  “Not really. You see, when you turn on that loud siren thingy and those pretty flashing lights on top of my car, it cuts the time down considerably.”

  “You abused your power as sheriff for me?” Amber feigned shock.

  “Damn straight.”

  “She is not, and stop trying to make her that way,” Nicole joked, pulling Amber into her arms and kissing the side of her head.

  “Yeah, am not, and you can’t make me.” Amber stuck her tongue out at Jill.

  “That’s such an old and horrible joke,” Heather said.

  “So.” Nicole stuck her tongue out, too.

  “Mmm, Nicole tongue,” Amber said before quickly capturing Nicole’s tongue with her teeth.

  “Mmm.” Nicole groaned.

  “Ew, nasty.” Jill turned and went into the kitchen to get the food.

  Everyone laughed and then found places to sit. Heather in one of the oversized chairs. Erik on the loveseat. Nicole and Amber curled up together on the couch. When Jill returned, she set the food on the coffee table and handed out plates. Everyone filled his or her plate.

  “I can’t believe you went and got all this.” Amber looked over the spread.

  There were beer-battered onion rings, French fries, steak sliders with grilled onions, chicken strips, cheese curds, fried pickles, grilled cheese, jalapeño poppers, and potato skins.

  “Well, at least I’m a paramedic. With the amount of fat and grease in this, someone’s arteries are hardening.” Erik laughed.

  “Well, it is a special occasion, and it’s allowed,” Heather said.

  They ate, and Jill said she asked one of her deputies to order and then she went to pick up the food. She said the man who took the order laughed so hard he was crying when she arrived to pick up the food. He said he expected some big burly man and instead he gets a petite woman with a sheriff’s badge, nonetheless.

  After they ate, Jill put the leftovers in the fridge to keep until later when they were looking for munchies.

  “So, are you getting excited about your show?” Heather asked.

  “Yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun. And I’m going to have the hottest date there,” Amber said, and Nicole blushed.

  “What do you mean?” Jill looked between the two women.

  “Amber invited me to come up to New York as her date for the art show.”

  “That’s cool,” Heather said.

  “I’m actually going up there in three weeks and staying through the show,” Nicole said.

  “You are?” Erik was surprised by that. “Isn’t the show in like six weeks?”

  “It is,” Amber said. “I want Nicole to get a chance to see what my life has been like and for us to spend some time getting to know each other out of the shadow of fear and memories we have here.”

  “I don’t know what to say. I mean, I’m glad you two are going to take the time to rebuild your relationship, and I know you still love each other, but, Nic, does this mean you’re moving to New York?” Erik looked at Nicole.

  “No, it doesn’t mean that. We haven’t discussed anything further than we love each other. I have commitments that are going to keep me here for a while anyway.”

  “Okay, this is going in a direction that is not going to help us at all. Let’s move back to the fun,” Jill said.

  “I agree. So, have you heard from Zach since he’s been back?” Heather asked.

  “Yeah, he’s been whining via text daily.”

  “What’s he whining about?” Erik asked.

  “The fact that he’s trapped in a room with boring people mostly. We all share a large room, and there aren’t many that have a sense of humor. Okay, it’s only Zach and me. So, when the other is gone, life is very boring.”

  “That sounds horrible,” Nicole said.

  “It can be. We just try to schedule our vacations at the same time,” Amber said.

  “Okay, movie time.” Heather jumped up and grabbed the three movies they had rented for the night. “We have Jumanji, Much Ado About Nothing, and—”

  “Much Ado!” Nicole and Amber said.

  Heather popped the movie in, and everyone got comfortable and started to watch. It wasn’t long before Amber started nipping at Nicole’s neck while she was lying in front of her on the couch.

  “Behave,” Nicole said quietly.

  “Do you really want that?” Amber ran her tongue up Nicole’s neck and sucked on her earlobe.

  “No.” Nicole turned to face Amber and captured her lips.

  The two lay there kissing for a long time before they heard three loud coughs.

  “Some things never change.” Jill laughed, remembering all the times when they were teens and they would start a movie and Nicole and Amber would end up making out.

  “You realize you two aren’t still teenagers, right?” Heather joked.

  “We have a lot of time to make up for.” Nicole pulled away from Amber’s lips and heard a disappointed whine.

  “Plus, I’m leaving soon,” Amber said as Nicole started to pout.

  “Well, I think it’s dessert time,” Jill said.

  “I’ll get it.” Erik jumped up and skipped out of the room.

  He returned with the cake. Amber was surprised by the detail that was put into the cake and loved it. Amber and Nicole took several pictures before they carved it up and ate it. After the cake, they decided that Nicole and Amber couldn’t be tru
sted not to go back to making out if they watched another movie, so they pulled out Life and Monopoly. Amber chose Monopoly. They sat down to play, and Nicole was the banker. As the game progressed and properties were bought, houses and hotels were added, Amber got low on funds. She landed on one of Nicole’s properties that was maxed out with a hotel, and Nicole smiled.

  “You owe a lot for that,” Nicole said.

  “How about I work it off in some way?” Amber said seductively.

  “Maybe we can work something out.” Nicole waggled her eyebrows.

  “Nuh-uh, no way! That is not fair,” Erik said.

  “If you two are going to make those types of deals, they have to be available for everyone,” Heather said.

  “That’s fine. You, Jill, and Erik can have the same deal.” Amber laughed.

  “Ew,” Jill and Heather said in unison.

  Heather tossed a house at Amber, who flung it back, and it bounced off Heather and hit Erik. After a minute, someone grabbed a pillow, and things escalated into a full-on pillow fight. Nicole and Jill ganged up on Erik until they got his pillow away from him, then they went after Amber, who was quickly subdued due to her injuries, allowing them to turn their attention to Heather.

  “I don’t think this is fair. Two against one…” Heather pleaded for their sympathy.

  “You didn’t seem to mind when they went after Erik and me,” Amber said.

  “That was different,” Heather retorted. “It wasn’t me they were going after.”

  Before anyone could say anything else, Nicole and Jill pounced and pinned Heather down and tickled her. Heather squirmed and tried to get away but couldn’t. Nicole and Jill had always been a troublesome pair when they worked to get someone. After a while, they eased up and let Heather sit up. She had tears in her eyes from laughing.

  “You all are mean.” Heather pouted, crossing her arms.

  “And yet you still love us,” Amber said.

  “Maybe,” Heather said.

  The board game forgotten, the group turned on the Xbox and played video games to pass the time.

  Amber challenged Erik to darts. He won, but barely. They all played a few games of bowling. After several hours of video games, they decided to call it quits and get some rest. Nicole and Amber slept on the air mattress again, while Heather and Erik each took a guestroom upstairs, and Jill had her room.