Not the Marrying Kind

by Jae

  That was impossible. As far as she knew, Sasha was straight. Even if she weren’t, after everything that Holly had probably told her, Ash was sure that Sasha would rather cut the grass on the high school’s football field with a pair of nail clippers than ask her out.

  “Um, no, that’s not what I meant,” Sasha said. “Sure, I’ll be at Johnny’s on Saturday, but I was talking about just the two of us.”

  “Just the two of us?” Ash’s brain was stuck on repeating the words without understanding them. For a second, she was nearly convinced that she had fallen asleep on her couch after work and this was just one of her crazy reoccurring dreams in which someone outed her in public and the whole town turned their backs on her.

  “Well, us and the happy couple, of course.” Sasha laughed. “Or do you think Travis, Jenny, and the others will have any valuable input on flowers and cake?”

  Ash stopped next to the bridge. “Flowers and cake?” She searched Sasha’s brown eyes, which appeared almost black in the light of the nearly full moon. “What are you talking about?”

  A line formed between Sasha’s brows. “Um, me cake, you flowers? I thought Holly and Leo talked to you.”

  “You mean about their wedding? Yes, they did. But what does that have to do with…?” Realization struck. “Oh. They want you to do the wedding cake.” Of course. Sasha was one of Holly’s closest friends after all, so why would they hire someone else?

  “Yes. And they want us to work together to coordinate the colors and design. They suggested we all get together sometime next week or the week after to talk about the details.”

  “Oh.”

  “Didn’t they mention that?” Sasha asked.

  Ash scratched her head. Had they? Today had been crazy busy, and finding out that her ex-girlfriend was going to marry the first woman Ash had ever kissed had been a bit of a shock. But she was pretty sure she would remember if anyone had mentioned that. “Um, no, I don’t think they did.”

  Sasha bent her head and studied her closely. “Is that going to be a problem for you?”

  “No,” Ash said quickly. A little too quickly. “No problem at all. Why would it be a problem?”

  Sasha was still scrutinizing her. She folded her arms over her chest. “I don’t know. You tell me.”

  “It’s not going to be a problem,” Ash said so loudly that Snickerdoodle’s bat ears swiveled in her direction.

  “Good.” It didn’t sound conciliatory but rather like a challenge.

  “Yeah. Good,” Ash repeated.

  They stood next to the bridge in a silent stare-down until Snickerdoodle let out a high-pitched whine.

  Sasha bent down, picked her up, and cradled her against her chest. “I’d better get her home. Frenchies are pretty sensitive to the cold. See you tomorrow at three for cupcakes.”

  Ash just nodded, not knowing what to say. With Casper pressing against her leg, she watched Sasha’s tall shape disappear into the darkness.

  So she and Sasha would be working together to make sure Holly and Leo had the wedding of their dreams. No big deal, right? She had just been caught off guard for a moment.

  They would meet a time or two to make sure Sasha’s fondant matched the color of Ash’s centerpieces at the reception. She had done that before, back when Sasha’s aunt had still been running the bakery, so it would be just business as usual. When they met to talk about the details, she would be the model of cool, calm, and collected.

  With a decisive nod, she turned away from where Sasha had disappeared and strode across the bridge toward home.

  On Friday evening of the week after, Sasha tucked her portfolio under one arm, took the covered tray of cake samples from the passenger seat, and shut the door of her SUV with a firm nudge of her hip.

  Only Holly’s Jeep Liberty and Leo’s BMW X5 were in the driveway as she carried the tray toward the house. No sign of Ashley or her ten-year-old silver GMC Terrain anywhere.

  She hadn’t shown up at Johnny’s last Saturday, and Sasha had been busy in the bakery kitchen all week, so her staff and Aunt Mae had manned the counter, and she hadn’t seen Ashley since that weird conversation at the creek on Valentine’s Day.

  Sasha still hadn’t been able to figure out what Ashley’s problem was. Why the hell would it be such a big deal for Ashley to work with her? Which it clearly was, no matter what Ashley said.

  Sasha might not be the popular girl next door that Ashley was, but she generally got along with everyone, and her friends told her she was fun to be around. So why would Ashley act as if working with her was a huge inconvenience?

  She had racked her brain but couldn’t think of any reason. Unless…

  Sasha paused on the broad veranda. Had Ashley somehow found out about that stupid, little crush Sasha had on her back in high school? Was that what made her appear so uncomfortable any time she was around Sasha?

  Nah. That couldn’t be it. That had been fifteen years ago. She was no longer that smitten sixteen-year-old who had admired Ashley from afar. Ashley had probably been clueless anyway. She had hung out only with Leo and the popular crowd, without paying Sasha any attention.

  But if that wasn’t it, what else had made Ashley as twitchy as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs?

  The front door swung open before Sasha could find an answer or ring the doorbell.

  Holly stood in front of her, an amused smile on her face. “Are we having our cake consultation on the veranda?”

  “Haha.” Sasha gave her a one-armed hug and carried the tray past her into the house.

  She’d been a regular visitor since Holly and Leo had moved in, but the house and what they had made of it still took her breath away each time she came by. She especially liked the living room, where Holly led her now. With its high ceiling and the fireplace that dominated one wall, it managed to be both spacious and cozy. Two overstuffed chairs and a tan couch invited you to curl up and relax, and Chance—the red tabby that ruled the house—had done exactly that. He barely lifted his head when Sasha entered.

  “Where’s your future wife?” Sasha asked as she set down the tray on the coffee table.

  An affectionate smile curled Holly’s lips. She pointed to the sliding glass doors that led out onto a deck overlooking the large, tree-lined backyard.

  A motion-activated light flared on as Leo stepped out of the former guesthouse that they had converted into a music studio. She crossed the backyard, slid open the glass door, and immediately slung one arm around Holly as if she hadn’t seen her for weeks. “Hey, Sasha. Sorry. I sometimes lose track of time when I’m composing. Am I late?”

  “Just a little,” Sasha said. “And so is Ashley. Isn’t she coming?”

  The sound of the doorbell interrupted them before anyone could answer.

  “Speak of the devil,” Leo muttered.

  Holly nudged her, whispered something that sounded like “New beginnings, remember?” and went to open the door.

  Seconds later, Ashley rushed into the living room, holding out what was probably her portfolio as if it were a peace offering. “I’m so sorry, guys. I swear I left on time, but my car wouldn’t start, so I had to walk all the way.”

  She looked more as if she had run all the way. Her cheeks were flushed. She must have either lost or forgotten her hair clip, so her nearly waist-long, blonde hair cascaded down her back in loose waves.

  Damn if that didn’t make her even more attractive. Sasha cursed her libido for even noticing.

  “Don’t worry,” Holly said with a quick pat on Ashley’s arm. “We haven’t started yet. Sasha just got here too. Take a seat.”

  Leo and Holly took the two overstuffed chairs, which stood side by side, leaving the couch for Sasha and Ashley.

  Sasha folded her frame between Ashley and the cat. Since Chance had somehow managed to take up half the couch, they were forced
to sit close, so much so that Sasha could sense Ashley’s warmth against her thigh and shoulder.

  Under the pretense of putting down her portfolio on the end table, Ashley slid a little to the side, her entire body as stiff as a board.

  Jeez. Does she think I have Ebola or that my queerness is contagious?

  If Ashley even had a clue that Sasha wasn’t straight. Sasha didn’t hide her sexual orientation by any means, but since she hadn’t dated in years, it wasn’t exactly common knowledge in town either. As the owner of the only flower shop in Fair Oaks, Ashley probably heard a lot of gossip, though. Maybe someone had told her that Sasha appreciated a good-looking woman as much as a handsome man, and that was what was making her so uncomfortable around her.

  Sasha decided to ignore her and focus on the brides-to-be instead. “So, where will the ceremony and the reception be held?”

  “What dresses will you be wearing?” Ashley asked at the same time.

  They looked at each other, then away.

  “No dress for me,” Leo announced. “I’ve been put into enough sexy dresses and uncomfortable shoes to last me a lifetime. It’s a lesbian wedding, so I’m taking full advantage of that fact and will dress comfortably.”

  Sasha grinned. “Phew. I take it that means no hideous pink taffeta dresses for the women in the wedding party either?”

  “Well,” Leo drawled, “that depends on how nice you are to us.”

  “I’ll be very nice. I’ll even make you the most beautiful wedding cake you’ve ever seen. Have you thought about what you want?” She slid her portfolio across the coffee table and invited them to take a look at the photos from previous weddings. “Three tiers? Four? Or something completely different? A lot of couples are doing cupcakes instead of a traditional cake right now.”

  Holly paused on a picture of a three-tiered wedding cake. “I want cake.” She looked at Leo, who immediately nodded. “Something traditional, but also something that is just…us.”

  One thing immediately came to mind. “How about a three-tiered vanilla sponge cake with apricot-orange filling and either vanilla buttercream icing or ivory fondant? It would practically be a wedding cake version of your favorite scones.”

  “Perfect,” Leo and Holly said in unison.

  “That was fast. Looks like we won’t even have to do a cake tasting. Well, I’ll just take my cake samples back with me, then.” Sasha pretended to reach for the tray.

  With a growl, Leo snatched it away and cradled it protectively against her chest. “Don’t you dare.”

  Sasha laughed, and even Ashley smiled at her antics.

  “Let me get us some plates so you two can stay and look at Ashley’s flower options.” Sasha squeezed past Ashley and walked over to the open kitchen, which was separated from the living room by a U-shaped island. She knew where the plates were kept but had to look around for the forks, which gave her an opportunity to watch her friends and Ashley.

  “So where will you have the reception?” Ashley asked while Leo and Holly flipped through her portfolio.

  “We booked the ballroom of the country club,” Holly said. “Our moms are already up to their necks in wedding planning, eagerly flipping through bridal magazines, so we’ll probably be able to give you a good idea of the décor soon.”

  “And the ceremony?” Ashley asked. “Do we need flowers for the church benches and the altar?”

  “No,” Leo answered. “Even if the reverend were willing to perform the ceremony, neither Holly nor I are particularly religious. Maybe we’ll just go to the courthouse and have someone there perform the ceremony.”

  “You know that’ll start rumors,” Ashley said quietly.

  Leo chuckled. “Of what? One of us being pregnant, so that’s why we’re getting married quickly?”

  “No, but people might say—”

  “Why would they care what people might say?” Sasha put the plates and forks on the table and plopped back down on the couch.

  The impact of her heavier weight nearly made Ashley bounce off the couch.

  Sasha hid a grin. Maybe it would jostle Ashley out of her constant concern about what people might think. “It’s their wedding, so who cares what anyone else thinks?”

  Ashley looked down at her hands that lay folded on her lap.

  “You know where I’d really like to have the ceremony?” Holly asked before the silence could grow too tense.

  Leo grinned at her. “I don’t think we can have it up on my mother’s roof, sweetheart.”

  They laughed together.

  “No, that’s not what I meant. I was thinking of our spot at the creek.” Holly looked over at Sasha and Ashley. “That’s where Leo asked me out for the first time, where I came out to her as asexual, and where we had our first date.”

  “And our first argument as a couple,” Leo added, but she was smiling and reached over to take Holly’s hand. “The creek would be the perfect spot, so yes, let’s make that happen.”

  “I could decorate the railings of the bridge with the flowers of your choice. The classic option would probably be white roses, but if you want a more modern touch, you could also have calla lilies or—” Ashley continued listing options.

  Sasha stopped listening because flowers weren’t her thing. She reached for the stack of plates, removed the aluminum foil from the tray, and put several of the small samples on each plate.

  When she handed Ashley her plate, their fingers brushed.

  The slight roughness of her skin was a surprise—and so was the tingle that ran up Sasha’s arm. It was probably just because Ashley’s hands were rough from working with thorny stems all day, so her touch tickled, Sasha told herself. Or maybe all that wedding talk was making her a bit hormonal. Any good-looking person would have made her react like that, and Ashley was admittedly pretty, even if she did have a stick up her ass.

  Sasha pulled her hand away and busied herself with her own plate.

  Ashley slid her fork into the first mini-cupcake and took a bite. Her eyes fluttered closed, and her face took on a look of rapture that made Sasha wonder if that was how she looked when she enjoyed the other pleasures of life.

  She pushed the thought away.

  Then Ashley took another bite, and a low, almost sensual moan escaped her lips.

  Not helping, Ashley! How was she supposed to get over the last remainder of her stupid teenage crush if Ashley continued to make erotic sounds like that? Abruptly, Sasha stuffed an entire mini-cupcake into her mouth.

  Leo let out a moan too. “Mmm. Good thing we’ve already decided on our cake. It would be impossible to pick one. They’re all so good.”

  “Better than sex,” Holly mumbled around a mouthful of cake sample.

  Ashley paused with her fork halfway to her mouth and looked as if Holly had slapped her.

  Just because Holly had made a joking remark about sex?

  A lot of the people in town were like that—they were fine with their lesbian neighbors as long as they weren’t confronted with their sexuality. But Sasha had hoped Ashley wouldn’t be like those people. It would make working together uncomfortable.

  Finally, after more cake had been eaten and more wedding plans made, Sasha and Ashley packed up their notes and their portfolios and walked to the door. Sasha hugged her friends goodbye, and Ashley followed her example but didn’t look exactly relaxed about it.

  Come on. Get over yourself, Ashley. Sasha shook her head behind Ashley’s back and walked toward her car.

  Only when Ashley continued on down the street did Sasha remember her car problems. It was completely dark and cold outside, and while the most dangerous crime being committed in Fair Oaks was a couple of teenagers stealing beer from the mom-and-pop grocery store, Sasha would have felt like an ass if she had made Ashley walk home.

  She tossed the empty tray into the back and opened the passen
ger-side door. “Want a ride?”

  Ash turned and looked at Sasha across the roof of the SUV.

  Sasha was holding the passenger-side door open invitingly, but her body language and her tone said something else. Clearly, she didn’t want Ash to ride with her either. Not that Ash was eager to get into the car with her. The last hour had been uncomfortable enough, since she’d been sitting pressed up against Sasha on the couch.

  Sasha had seemed just as awkward. She had jumped at the chance to get the plates from the kitchen as an excuse to get away from her. A few times, she had seemed downright grumpy—but only when she was talking to Ash. Now who had a problem working together?

  Ash shook her head. “No, thanks,” she called over to Sasha. “It’s not that far. I can walk.”

  “Don’t be stupid. It’s on the other side of town.”

  Stupid? Was that what Sasha thought of her? Ash gritted her teeth.

  Leo and Holly’s neighbor walked past with his dog. “Hi, Ash. Hi, Sasha.”

  “Hi, Joe.” Ash waved, then turned back to Sasha, who still stood waiting, the passenger-side door wide open. If they continued to discuss this for longer than the ride home would take, people would start to wonder what was going on. “Okay, fine. I’ll ride with you. Thank you.”

  She walked around to the passenger side and climbed in.

  Sasha closed the door before getting in on the other side.

  They rode in silence for a while.

  When Sasha braked at the town’s only traffic light, she glanced over at Ash. “It’s really great that they’re getting married, isn’t it?”

  Ash nodded.

  “I’m so happy Holly finally found someone who understands and accepts her. Not like those assholes she dated before.”

  A wave of heat shot up Ash’s chest and made her cheeks burn. She clutched the door handle so tightly that her fingers started to cramp. Was that why Sasha had offered her a lift? So she could finally get her long-held resentment off her chest and accuse her of treating Holly like shit? “Listen.” She tried to speak very calmly, but her voice came out sounding like crunching gravel. “I know you don’t like me because you think I’m one of those assholes. But what happened between Holly and me is complicated and, frankly, none of your business. So can we please forget about it and just work together like two professionals?”