by Sabrina Kane
Alone except for Rachel.
That thought had made her stop what she had been doing (in this case, deciding which kitchen cabinet her air fryer would go in) and puzzle over why her mind had decided to make that particular thought pop up.
Trying not to make such a big deal of it, Ainsley had considered that, sure, Rachel was going to end up spending time here. They were a couple, after all. Perfectly reasonable Rachel would be here.
From time to time.
On occasion.
Here and there.
But her mind and her heart were nagging her by telling her, deep down, that, no, silly…Rachel was going to be here lots.
Ainsley had shaken her head, trying to force her mind back onto the problem of where the air fryer was going to live. But her mind was being pesky and her heart was playing right along also.
It’s only been three weeks, she reasoned to herself, using another part of her brain not so easily swayed by emotion. Way too soon to start imagining…certain things.
But three weeks wasn’t the correct number, was it? She pondered. Actually, she and Rachel had only been having sex for three weeks. They’ve known each other now for five weeks. And, Ainsley further pondered—feeling that happy-but-scared queasiness she felt whenever she was on the cusp of something momentous—didn’t she always know that there was something special about Rachel from the first time she saw her?
Besides, she realized it was fun imagining…certain things. And before she knew it, she was smiling to herself after deciding on the perfect cabinet for the air fryer, daydreaming about Rachel here in the kitchen with her, pulling out that very same air fryer as they prepared to make a meal together. Not tomorrow. Not next week. Not next month. But for the next…
No, no, no! Brakes! Put on the brakes!
***
“Hey!”
“Hey,” Ainsley said into her iPhone, smiling.
“So, I’m back at my place,” Rachel told her.
“How was your day?” Ainsley asked.
“Great. The open house was a bit exhausting but at least I got four solid offers. The showing went well also even though I suspect that even four-hundred-thousand might be a bit out of their price range. No bother, though; I still have plenty of other listings I can show them. Now, how was your day?”
Ainsley told her how much she had gotten accomplished. There was still scads to do but at least she’d had gotten the bedroom more or less sorted and so she’d be able to actually sleep in her new house tonight.
“By the way,” Rachel began, “I totally understand if you want to spend it alone.”
Ainsley thought about that. It was not only a considerate suggestion but a good one. She needed to know what it was like to sleep in this new (to her, anyway) house by herself. She needed to know what it was like to be at her most vulnerable in this new space, with the house dark and her hearing all sorts of strange new noises…
But, damn, it would be nice to have Rachel beside her in bed. Even if they didn’t have sex, Ainsley just wanted Rachel beside her.
“I’ll think about it,” she told her girlfriend.
“Okay. So, you want me to come over and help out?”
Ainsley sighed.
“Actually, I’m kind of done with this for the day,” she replied. “I was thinking I’d love to be irresponsible and go to La Vida Mocha for coffee.”
Rachel laughed.
“Cut yourself some slack. It’s not irresponsible. You worked hard today.”
Ainsley smiled even though Rachel couldn’t see it. But she couldn’t help it.
“You want me to come pick you up?” Rachel asked.
“Actually,” Ainsley began, “why don’t you meet me there? I want to stretch my legs and I also want to see if I know how to find the place by walking to it from my house.”
“Good idea,” Rachel said. “So, I figure it should take you ten minutes or so. Any longer and I’m calling the Boy Scouts to come find you.”
Ainsley laughed.
“Why not the Girl Scouts, traitor?” she asked.
“Please. The males of our species are better at directions, everyone knows that,” Rachel answered.
They agreed that Ainsley would text Rachel when she left the house so that Rachel would know when to show up at the coffeeshop, and in less than twenty minutes—after taking a quick shower and throwing on denim shorts and a racerback tank—Ainsley did just that.
She pointed herself in the direction she guessed was the simplest way to go and started walking. She purposely avoided pulling out her cell and looking at Google Maps, wanting to test her sense of direction, knowing it wasn’t really much of a challenge. Carlsbad is a fairly simple town to get around in. All she had to do was head towards the Village, which was what the downtown area was called. She was reasonably certain it was in this direction and that the Boy Scouts could suck it. She even increased her walking pace, trying to see if she could beat Rachel to La Vida Mocha.
“I guess you didn’t get lost,” Rachel said a few minutes later when she encountered Ainsley waiting for her outside the coffeeshop.
Ainsley, a smug expression on her face, said, “Nope. In fact, I’m wondering what took you so long.”
Rachel stuck out her tongue.
“I hit a couple of red lights, smarty.”
Ainsley pulled Rachel to her, wrapped her arms around the shorter woman’s waist and gave her a kiss.
“I missed you today,” Ainsley said.
“Mm, me too,” Rachel replied.
“Let’s just spend the rest of the day together,” Ainsley went on. “The rest of my unpacking can wait. Are you free?”
“I am,” Rachel answered. She then kissed Ainsley’s neck. “So…were you thinking of spending the rest of the day together indoors or outdoors?”
Ainsley laughed, knowing what Rachel was leading up to.
“Definitely outdoors!” she said. “I’ve spent too much time cooped up inside today.”
Rachel pouted but Ainsley could tell it was only for show. She captured Rachel’s lips again for another kiss.
A couple of young guys walking by wolf-whistled.
Ainsley rolled her eyes and said to Rachel, “Come on, I want coffee.”
Inside La Vida Mocha, that super-hot barista was working again. Vanessa, she remembered the barista introducing herself the first time Ainsley came in here. The woman really was something else and Ainsley decided it wasn’t too traitorous to Rachel to enjoy the view while they waited on the ordering line. Some things just couldn’t be helped: Drooling while watching Rachel McAdams in Disobedience, for example. And appreciating the vision that was Vanessa.
She nudged her own Rachel and inclined her head towards the counter.
“She’s, like, always here. Is she the manager or something?”
“Vanessa owns the place,” Rachel told her. “And no, I don’t mind you ogling her,” she added. “I’ve even started doing that in light of recent events.” She paused. “Actually, now that I think about it, I ogled her even back when I sure I was one-hundred percent straight.”
“Is that so?” Ainsley asked, laughing.
Rachel nodded.
“Amy calls it The Vanessa Effect. And it’s totally real.”
Ainsley could believe it. She took a look around the shop. It was a pretty eclectic crowd but it was also obvious that a fair number of lesbians patronized this shop. This must be the place Krissy and Becca had told her about. If so, Ainsley guessed that Vanessa was her own best form of advertising.
“You’re becoming a regular,” Vanessa said to Ainsley when it was their turn to order, flashing an unbelievable smile.
Ainsley smiled back.
“Well, I just moved to town and it’s my girlfriend’s favorite spot,” she said, putting her arm around Rachel.
“I knew there was a reason why I kept letting her in here,” Vanessa said with a wink at Rachel. “Now, what can I get you two?”
After they placed their o
rders and as Rachel was paying, Ainsley, noticing a distinct change in the air in the coffeeshop, looked around again…and felt a chill go up her spine. Nearly all of the women in La Vida Mocha were staring at them. They weren’t even being subtle about it.
Turning to Rachel, she whispered, “Why is everybody staring at us?”
Vanessa, who had overheard, said, “Oh, don’t mind them. They’re just imagining you and I together. Happens every time you come in here.”
“What?” Ainsley exclaimed, in a little louder whisper.
“You and Vanessa are the new lesbian dream couple,” Rachel said matter-of-factly.
Vanessa nodded.
“There are even Facebook groups about it now. And there’s a Twitter hashtag too.” She looked at Rachel. “What is it again?”
“Hashtag VanessaAndThatNewBlonde,” Rachel provided.
Vanessa looked at Ainsley.
“They don’t know your name yet,” she said. “Anyway, it’s stupid, I know, but, hey…lesbians.” She shrugged.
Ainsley blinked.
“And you’re not bothered by this?” she asked Rachel.
Rachel scoffed.
“Are you kidding me? I went from being invisible to being the girlfriend of one of the two hottest lesbians in Carlsbad. I’m the second Megan.”
“Wait. Who’s Megan?”
“My fiancée,” Vanessa answered.
Rachel went on.
“Aaaand…being the second Megan has advantages. Sometimes women in here buy my coffee for me.”
Vanessa nodded.
“It’s true,” she confirmed. “Speaking of Megan, she’s next door at the gallery; you should say hi.”
Ainsley turned to look where Vanessa indicated.
“That’s a gallery?” she asked. She had noticed the door which obviously led to a space next door on previous visits but she hadn’t bothered investigating it. “Like an art gallery?”
“Yep,” Vanessa said.
“Megan’s stuff is amazing,” Rachel said.
“Can we go look after we get our drinks?” Ainsley asked Rachel. She had a new house, after all, with plenty of wall space to hang stuff on.
“Go now,” Vanessa said. “I’ll have Luli bring your drinks to you in there.”
Once through the door which connected La Vida Mocha to the charming gallery beyond, Ainsley instantly started trying to decide which of her credit cards she was going to use to buy some art.
The works on display were all poster-sized black-and-white drawings and were obviously drawn by an artist who has an appreciation for the female form. The artist—Megan—also obviously had a thing for ballerinas, as most of the works depicted those dancers in various poses which not only showed the grace and fluidity of the art form but also the strength of the women who practiced it.
A somewhat-past-middle-aged woman greeted them. Ainsley guessed she might be a retiree who worked the gallery in order to get out of the house and away from her husband. Rachel told her they were friends of Megan’s.
“I’ll go get her,” the lady said pleasantly before heading towards the back.
“Isn’t this fabulous?” Rachel asked.
“I see two already that I want to buy,” Ainsley informed her. She pointed. “That one.” She pointed again. “And that one.”
“That one,” Rachel said, pointing at the first selection, “would look great in your front room”
Ainsley smiled.
“Exactly what I was thinking,” she said, pulling Rachel closer, always liking it when they displayed signs of synchronicity.
Movement caught her eye. Looking to her right, she saw the same older lady emerge from a back room, this time accompanied by a really pretty auburn-haired young woman. She was about Rachel’s height but didn’t have Rachel’s bust or hips. Taking a quick peek at her left hand, Ainsley spotted what looked like a rather impressive engagement ring on it.
Megan.
“Hi Second Megan,” Megan greeted Rachel.
“Hi First Megan,” Rachel returned. Laughing, the two women embraced.
“Am I the only one who was completely unaware of this?” Ainsley asked.
Letting go of Rachel, Megan gasped.
“Is this her?” she asked, and when Rachel nodded, approached Ainsley and said, “Hi, I’m Megan. It is so nice to meet you!”
“Ainsley, and it’s nice to meet you.” Ainsley was instantly won over by Megan. The woman had such a pleasant and open demeanor and her smile was out of this world. Even after only knowing her for a few seconds, Ainsley could understand what Vanessa found appealing about her.
“You’re famous,” Megan said with a laugh.
“I’m starting to understand that,” Ainsley said. “What sucks is, I never wanted to be famous; at least not for that.”
Megan shrugged.
“Lesbians,” she said in a what are you gonna do? tone.
“Anyway,” Ainsley said, “I love your artwork!”
“Thank you! It still doesn’t pay the bills but I can’t live without it.”
“Well, maybe I can help pay one or two bills,” Ainsley replied. “I’d actually like to buy two pieces. That one and that one.” And she pointed to each. “I also have a thing for dancers.”
“Aren’t they amazing?” Megan said, in a tone positively dripping with innuendo. “All that strength and poise and yet they’re still so…”
“Yummy?” Ainsley provided.
“Exactly!” Megan said, all three of them laughing. “Anyway, this is so cool! No one actually buys things when I’m around! Usually, Claudia here just sends me an email telling me she made a sale. I have prints of those available, by the way, in case you actually don’t want the originals.”
Ainsley scoffed.
“No, what you need to understand about me is, if I see something I really like, I want to make sure no one else can have it.” Ainsley looked meaningfully at Rachel, who blushed fire-engine red.
“This is awesome,” Megan said. “Thank you so much! Claudia can arrange to have them delivered. Oh, by the way,” she exclaimed, turning to Rachel. “Did Amy tell you about the party?”
“Nope,” Rachel replied. “Not yet.”
Megan explained…
Earlier today, Amy had been in the coffeeshop and got to talking with Vanessa and Megan. When the conversation was over, it had been decided that La Vida Mocha would close for a private party on the night Sally’s new lesfic book was released, in two weeks.
“Did you know her best friend is engaged to Jillian Ashley; well, engaged to Sally who is Jillian Ashley?” Megan asked Ainsley.
“It’s actually the only reason I’m dating her,” Ainsley said with a straight face.
“I figured,” Megan said, also with a straight face.
“The both of you can kiss my ass,” Rachel said.
“Anyway,” Megan said. “Party. Release night. La Vida Mocha. If you don’t bring Ainsley, you can’t come in.”
Yep, Ainsley considered, I really like Megan.
***
“I really like your friends,” Ainsley told Rachel later, when they were at a bar having cocktails.
“Well, I kind of inherited them by being friends with Amy,” Rachel said. “But I’m slowly getting absorbed even more into their cult. Especially now that I’m no longer the oddball straight girl but am actually dating a woman also.”
Ainsley laughed.
“Uh-oh,” she began, “now you’ve messed up their quota and they have to find another straight friend.”
Rachel laughed.
“I have plenty of them to choose from,” she said.
They enjoyed their drinks in silence for a while, the quiet not at all awkward.
After a while, Ainsley said, “You know, I’m impressed by something you did earlier.”
Rachel raised her eyebrows.
“Do tell,” she instructed.
“It was when we met at La Vida Mocha. We met up outside and you let me kiss you out there in p
ublic like that.”
Rachel frowned slightly.
“We show PDA all the time,” she said.
Ainsley made a face showing that she didn’t one-hundred percent agree.
“Kinda/sorta,” she said. “It’s mostly when we’re with our volleyball buddies, if you think about it. And when we’re in the car, sure. Or in San Diego.”
“So?”
“So…” Ainsley began, taking Rachel’s hand. “I thought it was super cool that you let us be like that here in your hometown—where people know you; where maybe even some of your clients live. It wouldn’t have surprised me if perhaps you had been a little more hesitant. Does any of this make sense?”
Rachel nodded.
“Yeah, I think so. The people who know me in this town know me as straight…”
“Right.”
“…and by kissing you on such a busy street, it was kind of like…coming out in a way and announcing, ‘Hey, I’m not quite who you thought I was.’”
“Exactly,” Ainsley agreed.
Rachel smiled.
“Well, guess what?”
“What?”
“I’d like to do a little more coming out again right now, if you don’t mind.” And Rachel leaned over and kissed Ainsley deeply.
***
That night, Ainsley was alone in her new house.
Throughout her day and evening with Rachel, Ainsley had battled with herself about whether or not she really wanted to spend her first night in her new home alone. She just hadn’t wanted her time with Rachel to end. But it was Rachel who insisted she do so.
“Get to know your house,” she had told Ainsley. “Houses like to reveal themselves to us at night and this first night is a special one. It’s part of the bonding process.”
And so Ainsley had gone home by herself and spent the night continuing to unpack and letting the house “reveal” itself as the night grew longer. She paid attention to the little creaks and snaps the structure made as the temperature outside continued to drop. She noted which rooms got pitch black and which only got somewhat dark due to the streetlights shining through the windows. She realized that at night her bedroom got chillier than her living room for some reason, and that past ten o’clock, the tile of her kitchen floor suddenly became so cold that she wanted to put fuzzy socks on her bare feet. And a host of other things.