Easton’s smile returned, a softer, dimmer version of it. Again, she looked off into the shop as if she was searching for the right thing to say. “I wasn’t happy.”
It was a simple statement. It was also far from the whole story. Bella was trained to recognize these things, and she saw that as clearly as if Easton had said it out loud.
Taking a deep breath and blowing it out, Easton redirected the conversation. “Tell me about your dog. Wait, dogs. You said you had two, didn’t you?”
“I did. Good memory.” Bella could feel herself relaxing a little at a time, though she didn’t want to admit it. “Lucy and Ethel were together at the shelter. I only went to look.”
Easton let out a snort. “Silly, silly woman.”
“Right? Anyway, I saw Lucy first, all curled up in the corner. She lifted her head and just looked at me and she was so deceiving, this intimidating-looking animal with her huge square head. But her eyes were so sweet and soft.” Bella swallowed, emotion welling up a bit as she recalled the moment she’d fallen in love with her dogs. “She stood up to come to the front of her kennel to see me, and that’s when I saw that there were actually two of them. They’d been curled up so tightly together that they looked like one big dog when there were actually two medium-sized dogs.”
She remembered that day like it was yesterday. “My friend Heather was with me. Her job was to make sure I didn’t adopt the entire animal population of Junebug Farms. Let me tell you, it was tempting. Seeing so many homeless pets? God, it’s heartbreaking. I wanted every last one of them.”
“I can imagine.” Easton had also seemed to settle back into her seat. The two of them were now arranged like old friends who met for coffee all the time, each with her back against an arm of the love seat, one foot on the floor, a leg bent up onto the cushions so they faced each other. It was alarmingly comfortable.
“Anyway, Lucy sauntered up to the kennel door very slowly, like she was sizing me up as she did so. In the meantime, Ethel finally noticed me, jumped off the bed like she’d been ejected from it, and shoved right past Lucy to get to me first.”
“Uh-oh.”
“I know, right? I only wanted one dog. One!” Bella held up a finger for emphasis.
“Famous last words.” Easton grinned, then sipped, her eyes never leaving Bella’s face. Bella could feel them even when she wasn’t looking.
“I was in the midst of trying to figure out if I could possibly just take one when the adoption manager came over and told me their story. They were sisters, had always been together since they were born. They were five at that point. They belonged to an older gentleman who lived alone and loved them to bits. When he died suddenly of a heart attack, there was nobody to take them. I’m pretty sure I could actually feel my heart breaking in my chest a little bit. He had no children, only an older sister who’s in an assisted living facility that doesn’t allow pets. The adoption woman said it broke the sister’s heart to have to send them to the shelter, but she didn’t have the knowledge to find them a home or a place to keep them while she tried to figure it out. The shelter didn’t want to separate them if they could help it.”
“And along came you.”
“I wasn’t even wearing my hat that says I’m A Sucker that day, either.”
Easton’s laugh was light, feminine, contagious. “So, you took them both home.”
“I did. Haven’t regretted it for a second. They’re great dogs. I can’t imagine my life without either one of them.”
“How come you only had Ethel at the park?”
Damn, she has a good memory. “I said they were great dogs. I didn’t say they were similar dogs. If I didn’t know they were siblings, I never would’ve guessed. They’re so very different.”
“Really?” Easton wrinkled her nose. “I was going to say that’s surprising, but I’ve known lots of people—myself included—who have siblings they’re nothing like. I guess it makes sense that animals might be like that, too.”
With a nod, Bella explained her babies’ personalities. “Ethel could chase a ball until she dropped. Actually, I’m pretty sure she would if I didn’t monitor her and take it away when she starts to slow down. She lives for Tennis Ball. Now, Lucy? She couldn’t care less about the ball. Or any toy. Can’t be bothered. Food, on the other hand…” She let that dangle in the hopes of getting another peal of laughter from Easton. She did. “Food and sleep. Those are the things Lucy lives for.”
“That’s so funny.”
They were quiet for a moment, their coffees almost drained, and neither seemed in a hurry to go anywhere. Interesting.
“Where is Emma tonight? Babysitter?”
Easton shook her head. “Connor has her Wednesday through Saturday.”
At the mention of Connor Douglas, Bella’s relaxed demeanor stiffened just slightly. “You guys went to school together?”
“Since eighth grade, yes. Isn’t that crazy?”
“I’ve never met high school sweethearts before.”
Easton made that snorting sound again, half scoff, half sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, we were way too young. We waited until after college, so we were both twenty-two, but…” She shrugged. “Yeah, still too young.” She set her empty mug down on the table and returned her gaze to Bella. “You married?”
“Me? No.”
“Ever been?”
Bella’s turn to shake her head. “Nope.”
“Do you want to?”
“Are you proposing?” It came shooting right out of her mouth before it even partially registered in her brain, and it took every fiber of energy Bella had to play it off as a joke and not look as horrified as she felt. Thank God, Easton burst out laughing, too.
“Not yet. I’ll have to get to know you better first.”
And something about that response set off a flurry of butterflies in Bella’s stomach. She smiled softly at Easton and finished her coffee.
“More?” Easton pointed to the empty mug.
Bella hesitated—actually hesitated! “I should probably get home to my girls.”
“Ah, yes. They’ve been cooped up all day, huh?”
“Pretty much, yeah. They could use a walk.” Bella glanced outside. It was dark but clear. She’d stroll around the neighborhood with the dogs a bit.
“If you ever want company on dog walks, I’m your girl.” Easton’s expression was open and warm as she stood, and Bella got the instant impression that she was looking for new friends. While it wasn’t unusual for a person fresh off a divorce to feel she needed new people in her life, it was unusual to think of the popular Easton Evans from Framerton High looking for friendship from somebody like Bella. Hell, looking for friendship at all. Bella had some trouble wrapping her brain around that, despite her background as a therapist.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Thanks for indulging me,” Easton said as the two of them gathered up their things and strolled toward the door. “I had a good time talking to you.”
“Same here,” Bella replied, holding the door for her. And she meant it, which was strangely unexpected.
“Maybe we can do it again next week.” The brightness of Easton’s smile increased.
“Maybe we can.” That response? Also strangely unexpected.
They’d parked in opposite directions, so they parted ways and Bella watched as Easton walked away, the way her free arm swung down by her hip, the way her hair gently swished from one side to the other along her shoulders.
Once more, the thought ran through her head. God, she’s pretty.
Eyebrows raised, lips rolled in, Bella watched for a few more seconds before heading home to lie awake all night thinking about the past sixty minutes.
***
“Seriously?” Shondra’s voice was an octave higher than usual when Easton answered her cell. They’d been texting, but Shondra often got frustrated with that medium. She claimed she talked faster than she typed, which was very true, and would rather just call. “You actually a
sked the woman to coffee?”
“I did.” Easton was absurdly pleased with herself after hearing Shondra’s reaction.
“Girl, I am so proud of you right now, I don’t even have the words.” Easton could hear the fridge open and close, and assumed Shondra was making lunches for the kids. “How was it? Did you have fun? Is she gay? I need details!”
The laughter burst out of Easton. She couldn’t help it. Shondra’s excitement was contagious. “It was nice. Yes, I had fun. I still don’t know if she’s gay. It’s not like I just blurted out the question.”
“Why the hell not?”
“I’m sure that would’ve gone over well. Hi there, want to get coffee with me? Have a chat? By the way, do you like girls?”
“I don’t see what’s so hard about that.”
Easton shook her head as she picked up one of Emma’s toys and walked it to the toy box in the family room where her things lived. “How was your day?”
“Oh, no. Nuh-uh. We’re not done talking about your date.”
“It wasn’t a date, Shon.”
“The hell it wasn’t. Tell me about her.”
Easton plopped onto the gray couch and blew out a breath. Her brain took her back to the coffee shop, to sitting a mere foot away from Bella. She liked being that close to her; she realized that now. She liked being able to make out all the different colors in her eyes. At first glance, they were light brown. But up close, they were more hazel, with little flecks of green and gold sprinkled in them. The most unique eyes Easton had ever seen, no lie. And the way her face lit up when she talked about her dogs? It was beautiful.
“She’s beautiful.” Easton had said it out loud to Shondra before she even realized it. The surprising part was, she didn’t want to take it back. It was the truth. Bella was a very beautiful woman.
“Wow. That’s quite an endorsement.”
“She is. She’s beautiful and she’s smart and she’s funny. She asked me a lot of questions and I really felt like she listened to my answers, you know? Not like she was just being polite. Like she was interested.”
“No clues about who she dates, huh?”
Easton scrunched up her nose. “Not really. She’s never been married, but that doesn’t mean anything. She has two dogs, but that doesn’t mean anything either. We actually talked much more about me. Which embarrasses me now that I realize it.” It was only in that moment that she remembered Bella was a therapist. Getting people to talk was probably a specialty of hers.
“You people need a secret handshake or something.”
Easton feigned a gasp. “‘You people?’ How dare you?”
Shondra’s laugh shot out of her like a bullet. “You know what I mean.” She was quiet for a moment, then asked, “What are you doing on Friday night?”
“I feel like you’re plotting something. This feels like a trick.”
“Just answer the damn question.”
Easton squinted as she thought. “Pretty sure I’m free.”
“Good. Stay that way. I’ll get back to you.”
They hung up several minutes later, and Easton reached for the remote to watch something on her DVR. She chose a legal drama and settled in but found her mind drifting back to Perk, to the love seat there, to the company. She had a feeling Bella Hunt was going to be making herself comfortable in Easton’s head. Easton both liked that idea and was terrified by it. She hadn’t been this distracted by somebody—by a woman—in a long time.
Not since Olivia.
Chapter Seven
Yeah, I’m gonna need alcohol tonight. The text was from Amy on the three-way convo. And dancing. Definitely dancing.
Bella looked at her watch. 3:45 p.m. on Friday. She had one more appointment, then she was free. A night out with her girls didn’t sound like a bad idea. Maybe it would help her focus on things other than how many more days there were until Wednesday, when she’d see Easton again. She hated that this was where her brain was, so she hadn’t confessed to either Amy nor Heather. No, this was information she was keeping to herself. At least for the time being.
I’d be down for a drink or two, she typed.
DANCING was Heather’s one-word, all caps response, followed by a dancing dog emoji that made Bella giggle. Heather was Queen of Emojis.
Are we dancing it out tonight, Amy?
We are. If I don’t show up, find bail money and come get me because I’ll be in jail for killing one of these fucking little high school pricks! Taking a cue from the Queen of Emojis, she followed her plea with the wide-eyed, shocked face emoji.
It was okay to chuckle at Amy’s comments because Bella knew her well. Nobody loved her job—nobody loved her students—more than Amy. But let’s be honest, they were teenagers, and teenagers could be giant pains in the ass. Once in a great while, Amy had to let loose and call them every name in the book. She only did that with Bella and Heather. It was her outlet. Her release. That and dancing it out, like on Grey’s Anatomy.
It had been a crazy day, and Bella usually liked that. She liked when she moved seamlessly from one appointment to the next, from one meeting to another. It kept her brain engaged and focused on work. She’d seen Arielle, her patient who really, really needed to leave her sham of a marriage—and Bella was sure she knew it—but was having trouble pulling the trigger. She’d been seeing Bella weekly for nearly a year now. Bella had also seen Jonas, a man in his late twenties whose girlfriend had left him several months ago. It had, quite simply, wrecked him. He just could not understand, couldn’t wrap his brain around the why of it. He spent most of his sessions with Bella crying. Or at least tearing up. He was one of her tougher cases because she wanted to shake him and be firm with him about letting go of the ex and moving on, for his own sanity. But that wasn’t her job. Her job was to help him get there on his own. Bella vacillated between feeling sympathy for him and being frustrated with him.
Today, though, and yesterday, if she was being honest, she had the weird desire for time. Downtime. Time to sit and think, to daydream. To fantasize, Isabella, tell the truth.
Yes, to fantasize a bit, because the fact of the matter was she hadn’t been able to get Easton Evans out of her head since coffee on Wednesday night and she wasn’t quite sure what to do with that. If anything.
She hadn’t had a full-on sex dream about her, not like in high school, but Bella had definitely had flashes. She hadn’t been this attracted to a woman in a long time, possibly since Easton fifteen years ago—God, was that even possible?—and the fact that it still seemed to be that way messed with Bella’s head a bit. She’d run fast and far away from Framerton High, away from the inappropriate, confusing, devastating crush she’d had on Easton Evans. Finding herself in the exact same boat fifteen years later was not sitting well with her. Not at all. Going out tonight with her girls, having a couple drinks, getting all sweaty on the dance floor sounded great. They might be older than much of the crowd, but Bella didn’t care. She needed this. Badly.
I’m in. What time? she typed.
DJ starts at 8, so let’s do 7:30 was Amy’s response. She’d obviously looked into things, and Bella grinned at the image of her sending one of her “fucking little pricks” out of her office and quickly googling the schedule for their local gay hangout.
Heather’s text made Bella’s smile widen. Remember when we didn’t go out until 11?
YES! Amy said. We wouldn’t shower and get dressed until almost 10. Now I’m in bed by then.
We’re officially old at 33, Bella typed and dropped in an emoji with a horrified face.
Speak for yourself! Amy said. See you bitches tonight.
***
Bella felt guilty leaving Lucy and Ethel for the evening again, so she took them for a walk and spent extra time in her small backyard tossing the ball for Ethel while Lucy watched, obvious in her boredom. Then Bella changed into dark skinny jeans, a white tank, and a lightweight jacket in black that was tapered at the waist. She pushed the sleeves up her forearms and added a wa
tch. The cool spring weather did not warrant a tank yet, but Bella knew layers were her friend when it came to a dance floor filled with writhing, sweaty bodies. A touch-up of her eyeliner and a couple spritzes of hair spray and she was good to go.
She pushed through the door and into Teddy’s at 7:40, knowing she’d possibly arrived before Heather and absolutely before Amy. Seeing neither of them, she found a spot at the bar and ordered herself a vodka and cranberry, then turned her back so she could lean against the bar and scan the place.
Teddy’s had originally been established in the ’80s as a gay bar that catered to the bear crowd. It changed hands in the mid-’90s, and the new owners bought the building and expanded the bar up so there was a dance floor and DJ on the first floor, and for people who wanted to actually have a conversation they could hear, a bar and sitting area on the second floor. It changed hands again in 2010, but the basic atmosphere and layout remained the same. The crowd tended to be mostly men, of course, because lesbians are homebodies and don’t go out for a night of drinking and dancing like the gay boys do. It was still early, so the dance floor was only sporadically occupied, a handful of men dancing here and there, the bass to the song by Ariana Grande pounding enough for Bella to feel it in the pit of her stomach as if somebody was tapping on her from the inside.
Bella was about to take a stroll up to the second floor when she saw Amy come in the front door, followed closely by Heather. Instantly, the worries in her head dissipated.
“Where my bitches at?” Amy said loudly. Bella closed her eyes and shook her head, then let herself be wrapped in a hug from Heather.
“We’re right here,” Heather said, as she bumped Amy with a shoulder. “And don’t be so vulgar.”
“Please,” Amy snorted. “Like you don’t hear that kind of language every day.”
“I do, which is why I don’t need to hear it from my friends.” Heather was unusually firm, and Bella watched as she and Amy held eye contact until Amy relented.
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