Time of Day

by Nicole Pyland

  “Thank you,” Riley said. “Shit, my client is here with her ten-year-old boy. I need to go before she gets scared off. Her husband is a monster of a human being. I don’t want her to get nervous about divorcing him.”

  “I am sorry, Riley,” Elena said.

  “I know you are. I’ve got to go.”

  Riley had parked down the street. She gathered her belongings and headed toward her office, inhaling and exhaling deeply as she walked. One reporter caught sight of her. She headed toward Riley, microphone outstretched. Riley walked past her and her questions. The other reporters tried as well, but Riley reached for her client’s hand and pulled her and her son on through the office door.

  CHAPTER 29

  Kinsley and Morgan had been working hard for the past couple of hours. The sun had set, and their lights could only do so much; they needed to stop for the night. They were also both exhausted from their long work days and hard labor.

  “And where’s the girlfriend tonight, James?” Morgan asked after downing an entire bottle of water.

  “She’s coming by later. She had to drop a client off at a women’s shelter. I don’t know how she does what she does,” Kinsley replied.

  “Does she know why you’re doing what you’re doing right now?” Morgan asked.

  “I told her it was because it made sense,” Kinsley replied, sitting next to Morgan.

  “Made sense? Really?” Morgan laughed.

  “It does. You get to use it. It makes sense,” Kinsley said.

  “And the urgency of it?”

  “The deal I got on lumber,” Kinsley replied.

  “That was a good deal,” Morgan agreed. “Isn’t this a lot for something so new, James?”

  “I’m not asking her to move in with me, Morgan.”

  “True. But I kind of think that by doing this, you’re basically saying you won’t be leaving your house anytime soon. Which means, if you two do take that step one day, she’s moving here. Is that part of the reason?”

  “No, it’s not,” Kinsley began. “She loves this house, though. She’s said that on numerous occasions. This isn’t about trying to convince her to move in one day. It’s just about showing her that I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Well, I’m here to help.” Morgan passed Kinsley a bottle of water. “I think it’s great that you’ve let the whole jealousy thing go. I gave her a hard time in the beginning, but I love Riley. She’s great. You’re great together, I think.”

  “You think?” Kinsley asked with a chuckle.

  “I don’t spend that much time with the two of you together. You guys have been holed up. I get it. Trust me, I do.”

  “It’s not just about that,” Kinsley said. “Though that is a big part, and it is great.”

  “I get it, James,” Morgan replied laughing.

  Morgan stared out at the water then. Her smiling face turned serious, and she exhaled deeply.

  Kinsley took a long drink from her water and asked, “How are you?”

  “I’m okay,” Morgan said, obviously not saying everything. “Can I ask you something, though?”

  “Of course,” Kinsley replied.

  “Is she the one? Does it feel like that to you?” She turned her face toward Kinsley.

  Kinsley took a breath and answered, “Yes, it does. I think, in a way, it always has with Riley. I knew her at eighteen, and I was just so enamored by her. She has this way about her that made me want to know everything.”

  “And you wanted to touch everything,” Morgan added.

  “It wasn’t just about that, though. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted that with her. But I also wanted to just be near her. I wanted her to see me how I saw her, but I was too scared to say anything back then.”

  “And now?”

  “Now, I want to be the last person she’s with. I think she wants the same thing.” Kinsley paused. “Why do you ask?”

  “Because I’m tired of waiting for my own Riley,” Morgan answered with a sigh. “I thought I found her in Reese, but I was wrong about that. I’m starting to worry I’m never going to find her. And that makes me both pissed off and kind of sad. Where is she, James?”

  “I don’t know, Morgan.” Kinsley reached for and took her hand. “But I do know that you will find her. I mean, look at Kellan and Reese. Kellan had to come all the way from San Francisco to find Reese. Look at Riley and me. We’ve known one another for years, but we only just now got together. Stacy and Dave met in high school. Two of my clients met online. Another one said she met her husband when they were in pre-school, but she moved away after. They reconnected over twenty years later and fell in love.”

  “Are you trying to make me feel better or worse?” Morgan asked.

  “I’m trying to tell you that it happens differently for everyone.” She nudged Morgan’s shoulder. “And I can’t wait to see how it happens for you.”

  ◆◆◆

  “Are you sure you want to watch this?” Kinsley asked her.

  “I’m sure. I want to know what she says,” Riley replied.

  Riley clicked the mute button to unmute the TV in Kinsley’s living room. They sat next to one another on the sofa. Kinsley had her arm around Riley’s shoulders. Riley’s head was on Kinsley’s shoulder. It was exactly where Riley wanted to be and exactly who she wanted to be with.

  “I’m going to make a brief statement, and then I’ll open it up to a few questions,” Elena Rivera said at her press conference.

  “God, let’s hope the questions aren’t about me,” Riley said to Kinsley.

  “I am running for governor of the great state of Texas. I am running because I believe it’s time for some changes. Before I give my full statement regarding what I plan to do in office, I wish to comment on something that’s been going around regarding myself and another individual. Yes, the rumors are true. I am a lesbian. I won’t comment about my sexuality beyond that. I won’t, at least at this time, tell my life story about how I came to realize this about myself. I will, however, address the rumors that have me linked with a woman. I am not in a relationship with her or with anyone else for that matter. While I have been in relationships with women in the past, I am not currently. And I would be running for governor as a single woman, intent on improving her state for the citizens that make it their home.” She paused. “Now, let’s get to how I plan to do that.”

  Elena continued by talking about her platform. Riley clicked the mute button again, turning the sound off.

  “Are you okay?” Kinsley asked.

  “I’m with the woman I love.” Riley looked up at her. “I’m perfect.” She kissed Kinsley’s cheek.

  “Is it over now? The press packed up and moved on, but is it over?” Kinsley asked.

  “That,” Riley said as she pointed to the TV. “Is over.” She climbed onto Kinsley’s lap, straddling her. “This,” she said, pointing at Kinsley’s heart. “Is just beginning.”

  Riley leaned in and kissed her girlfriend, slow and deep. Kinsley’s hands made their way into Riley’s hair. Riley reveled in the feeling of having this woman in her life. She reveled in their new beginning; in the fact that they’d both dealt with their pasts and their jealousy; in how Kinsley made her feel like she was the most important person in the world to her. Kinsley was the most important person in the world to Riley. She’d be introducing Kinsley as her girlfriend when her parents came home in a few weeks. They knew Kinsley already, of course, but not like this. They had no idea how much she meant to their daughter. Riley couldn’t wait to share this with them. Riley would be meeting Kinsley’s family soon, too. They’d go visit them together, holding hands as they drove. Riley would be nervous, but ready to take that step with her. Riley wanted to take every step with this woman.

  “I love you,” Kinsley said.

  “I know. I kind of love you a little bit, too,” Riley replied with a wink.

  “Then, I’m not giving you your gift after all,” Kinsley said with a lifted eyebrow.

  “Gift?�
� Riley asked. “What gift?”

  “No gift for you now. You said you kind of love me, Riles,” Kinsley said with a soft laugh.

  “Fine. I love you. I really, really love you.” Riley leaned forward and kissed Kinsley’s laughing mouth. “Come on. I don’t ever make you dinner. Doesn’t that show you how much I love you?”

  “That’s how you show–”

  Riley kissed her again and said, “You love to cook.”

  “I do, but still,” Kinsley returned.

  “I could show you how much I love you,” Riley suggested, kissing Kinsley’s neck. “Upstairs, in the bedroom.”

  “Before or after your gift?” Kinsley asked.

  “Who says it has to be before or after? It could be before and after,” Riley whispered seductively as she began to roll her hips slowly.

  Kinsley glanced down and watched them move. Riley was wearing a pair of boxers and a white t-shirt. Her breasts were visible ever so slightly through it. Her nipples were already erect and nearly piercing through. Kinsley’s eyes met Riley’s again. Her smile was infectious.

  “Come with me,” Kinsley said.

  “I plan to,” Riley replied cheekily.

  “No, outside. Come with me outside.”

  “On the patio? Okay,” Riley said. “I like having sex out–”

  “Riles, put on a hoodie and some sweats, and follow me outside,” Kinsley interrupted with a laugh.

  “So, I’m putting clothes on?” Riley lifted a confused eyebrow at her as Kinsley patted her butt for her to get up. “Fine. But just remember: you’re the one that told me to get dressed.”

  Riley slid off Kinsley’s body and made her way upstairs to Kinsley’s bedroom to borrow one of her sweatshirts and a pair of yoga pants. Kinsley hadn’t followed her up to the room, but she was already wearing a warm sweater and pants. When Riley made it back down the stairs, Kinsley was waiting by the front door.

  “Shoes, too,” she said, pointing at Riley’s shoes.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Riley moved to slide her shoes onto her feet. “Where to?”

  “Backyard,” Kinsley replied, taking Riley’s hand.

  They walked through the house toward the back door. Kinsley pulled it open and let Riley walk through first. She followed close behind, flicking a switch to turn on all the lights outside before she moved in front of Riley to lead her through the yard and down the path through the tree line. Riley knew Kinsley had been working on the dock for about the past week. It was clearly her new project for the house. Riley hadn’t minded. If Kinsley wanted to add a dock to her property, it was her choice to do so.

  When they arrived at the change from soil and sporadic grass to the pebbles that occupied this part of the beach, Riley watched as Kinsley moved around to turn on work lights aimed at the water. She stood still as each light illuminated a different part of a nearly completed wooden dock.

  “You’re almost done already?” she asked, taking a few steps onto the crunchy pebbles. “Kinsley, this–”

  She stopped talking when Kinsley lit the last two lights. There, attached to the dock that had been nearly done without her even realizing it, was a twenty-foot bowrider powerboat, with an open bow space designed for extra seats. This one had four seats with a flat back for someone to lie in the sun. It was white, with faded blue trim. There was an empty space where the engine would be. There was also a bench seat in the front for those who wanted to ride with the full force of the wind blowing at them. The rest of those seats were behind the glass visor that helped protect the driver and passengers from that same wind. The boat didn’t look new. In fact, it looked pretty old. She moved a little closer toward the water. She could make out in the light – now that it had some light – rusting and a lot of paint chipping. The glass visor also had a few dents and a crack along the left side.

  “Remember how I told you I got a great deal on the wood for this thing?” Kinsley asked.

  “Yes,” Riley breathed out.

  “I got a great deal on something else, too,” Kinsley began. “It doesn’t look like much, but Morgan knew this family that wanted to sell it. They needed the dock space for their new boat. I guess the guy always planned on fixing her up, but he never got around to it. Now, he’s in his sixties, retired, and has decided to spend his time enjoying his new boat instead of fixing up his old one. He gave it to me for next to nothing.”

  “This is yours? You own a boat now?” Riley asked, pointing at the boat.

  “It is,” Kinsley replied. “It floats right now, but that’s about it. I’ll have to pull it out of the water to do the real work.”

  “You own a boat?” Riley turned to her.

  “They dropped it off today,” Kinsley said while chuckling at Riley’s reaction. “I don’t know… I thought I’d fix it up, and by the time I do, it would be our boat,” she added.

  “Our boat?” Riley asked.

  “It’ll take some time, but I think I can do most of the work myself. Ryan actually knows a lot about boats. He’s offered to help when I need it. He had a summer job, as a teenager, working on them. Anyway, I was thinking you could help, too, if you want. You could do whatever you want. You could just supervise me if you don’t want to get your hands dirty.” Kinsley took Riley’s hand and walked her out closer to the water’s edge. The dock still had some gaps where boards needed to be placed, so it appeared she didn’t want them to go all the way out there in the dark. “I have a feeling you’ll like bossing me around,” Kinsley added.

  “Kinsley, you bought a boat,” Riley said as she turned to look at her. “Babe, you bought a freaking boat.”

  “You said you always wanted one,” Kinsley replied.

  “You remember that?”

  “I think you know by now that I remember everything about you, Riles,” she said. “I was going to wait until your birthday, but he wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible. I figured you’d notice it just sitting here.”

  “Kinsley, this is amazing,” Riley wrapped her arms around Kinsley’s waist. “I don’t deserve this.”

  “This is how I am as a girlfriend, Riles. I like doing things for you. It makes me happy to see you happy. I love cooking you dinner, or bringing you breakfast in bed.”

  “You’ve never brought me breakfast in bed,” Riley replied with a playful glare.

  “There’s always tomorrow,” Kinsley replied, giving her a gentle kiss.

  “That sounds nice,” Riley said. “How about after that, I repay you with things I like to do to you?”

  “Oh, yeah? What things?”

  “Well, I like to tell you over and over how much I love you, since you like to forget about that,” she began. “And I also love touching you. There’s something about your skin that just makes me want to reach for it,” Riley added as she slid her hands up under Kinsley’s sweater to touch the bare skin of her abdomen. “And I also love just being with you. We could do nothing all day, and I’d love it.”

  “What about working on a boat?”

  “Any chance I get to spend time with you, I want it, Kinsley. I didn’t notice when I was a dumb college freshman who thought she knew it all. I missed out on you back then because of that. I don’t want to miss out on you anymore. So, breakfast in bed.” She kissed Kinsley. “Sex.” She kissed her again while Kinsley’s laugh nearly got in the way. “We’ll lie around for a bit.” She kissed her throat. “And then, we’ll get dressed.” She kissed her collarbone. “We’ll come out here.” She slid her hand up a little higher, discovering the bare breast that fit so perfectly in her hand. “And you and I will start working on our boat.”

  “Then, we’ll go back inside,” Kinsley started as she cupped Riley’s ass through her pants and boxers. “And I’ll make us lunch.” She squeezed both cheeks roughly. “We’ll clean up the kitchen.” She kissed Riley’s lips. “And have sex on the island.” She kissed Riley through her smile. “We’ll take a long, hot shower. And we’ll invite our friends over for an afternoon because we miss spending
time with them.” She kissed Riley’s neck just under her earlobe. “We’ll spend the evening out here on the beach. Everyone will pitch in and help finish building this dock. Then, they’ll all go home.” She kissed Riley in the same spot. “But you’ll stay.”

  “I’ll stay?”

  “Yes. And we’ll fall asleep next to one another,” Kinsley finished.

  “And I get to hold you and tell you I love you?” Riley asked.

  “Every night if you want,” Kinsley answered.

  “I want.”

  EPILOGUE

  “You just painted this thing. Now, you have to break a bottle over it? How does that even work?” Morgan asked. “That whole tradition has never made any sense to me.”

  “If it can’t withstand a bottle breaking on it, I think they have bigger problems,” Kellan replied.

  “Literal blood, sweat, and tears went into this thing. It better work,” Kinsley said.

  Morgan, Reese, Kellan, Remy, Ryan, Kinsley, and Riley were all staring at the finished boat they’d all had a hand in building. It was attached to the dock that Stacy and Dave also helped with, but they were out of town and would miss the ceremony and launch of the boat. They’d all gathered for its inaugural trip on the water after months and months of repair work.

  “It’ll work,” Riley assured and wrapped her arm around Kinsley’s waist. “And would you guys mind if we go out for a bit on our own first? I promise, we’ll come back and pick you all up and go for a real spin.”

  “I can start the grill and get the food cooking,” Remy offered. “Ryan can assist.” She smiled at her longtime boyfriend.

  “I’m a great assistant,” he replied.

  “You’re not planning on christening that boat another way, are you?” Reese asked. “If you are, I’m not going out on it after.”

  “We’re not,” Riley replied as she laughed at her friend. “I just want to take the first trip with my girl. We’ll be back in less than an hour, ready to eat lunch.”

  “And we’re okay to make a mess in your kitchen, James?” Morgan asked.