She frowned. “You don’t have anything to be sorry about.”
“Yes, I do. Even though I told you there couldn’t be anything between us but friendship doesn’t mean I should discount your feelings, because they are valid.” She sighed. “I’ve been where you are. If it’s too hard to be around me, I understand.”
Briley knew she wasn’t a good liar, but she couldn’t tell the truth either. “I’m a big girl. I can handle my feelings.”
“That didn’t answer my question.”
“Next,” the food truck driver hollered.
“That’s us.” Briley avoided the question, pasted the biggest smile on her face that she could, and turned to give the man their orders. When she turned back, Kat stood beside her. “Where’d you come from?”
Kat shook her head. “What happened this time?”
“I honestly don’t know. I was jealous she talked to that woman, but I think I conducted myself well.”
“You did, honey,” the woman in line behind them said and winked.
“Thank you,” Briley said, even as Kat pulled her toward the pickup window.
“I really don’t know what I said wrong,” Briley said.
“Okay. You have to understand, she’s dealing with her feelings as well.”
“I know.” When their numbers were called, they grabbed both their trays, drink caddy, then walked back to the table. Captain America had made her way back to Leah and was talking to her. Briley thought she was done with her when she handed the business card to Leah.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Leah said to the woman, as Briley and Kat sat their trays on the table.
“You do that.” Captain America leaned forward and pecked Leah on the cheek. “For what’s it worth, I enjoyed meeting you.”
“You as well,” Leah said.
Briley thought it was a bit brazen for the stranger to kiss Leah, but kept her mouth shut. If Leah wanted to date the woman, Briley would deal with it. Probably with a lot of binge baking and late night movie marathons with Kat, but she would deal. She shook off the thoughts, picked up her burger, and took a bite as the conversation flowed easily between Kat and Leah, but Briley kept her mouth shut for the most part. One, because her burger tasted damn good, and two, because she didn’t want to say the wrong thing to Leah. She didn’t know what she’d said wrong in the first place.
After take out, throwing away their trash, they finished searching the last vendor room. Briley was pulled from her thoughts when Leah touched her arm. “Yes.”
“Take a picture with me?”
“Sure.” They stopped a passerby, who was more than happy to take their picture. It gave Briley an excuse to put her arm around Leah’s waist and draw her close.
Chapter Seven
Once seated in the auditorium for the cosplay contest, Briley’s nerves were out in full force when Leah sat down beside her. The seats were arranged so close together, she couldn’t help their legs touching.
“I’m always amazed at some of the designs everyone comes up with,” Leah said.
“I know. Their talent astounds me. You did a good job on your costume, also,” Briley said.
Leah placed her hand on Briley’s thigh, and Briley stiffened automatically. Leah made as to move it, but Briley stopped her. “It’s fine. These seats are close together. They’re probably breaking a law or something with so many people here.”
Leah smiled. “Or something.”
Since Leah was already touching her, Briley lifted her arm and placed it behind Leah to rest on the seat. Kat winked at her over the top of Leah’s head, and Briley flipped her off. All thought fled from her mind and her throat went dry when Leah leaned into her side a bit to adjust.
“Is this all right?” Leah asked, eyes on the stage.
“It’s fine.” Two hours later, and countless close calls with Briley fighting not to touch Leah’s shoulder, the competition ended. Briley moved her arm and stretched, a yawn breaking through. “That was fun.”
Leah took a drink of her water then put the empty bottle in her bag. “It was. Although, I didn’t realize there would be so many people here.”
“This is the fifth year, and it’s been growing ever since.” Briley helped her with her bags. “It can’t compete with the big cons, but for what it is, they put on a good show.”
“I’ve been to the big cons,” Leah said. “Way too many people for me.”
“Briley and I have been to a few, but I prefer something like this.” Kat motioned for them to follow her as she led the way into the lobby. “Did anybody want to do anything else here?” She eyed first Briley then Leah. “Because if we’re done, I’m hungry.”
“Oh, Kat.” Briley groaned. “Really?”
“What am I missing?” Leah asked.
“Every time we come here, Kat wants to go to Dave and Busters.”
Leah shrugged. “Sounds good to me.” A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Unless you’re afraid of losing.”
Briley crossed her arms and Kat took a step back. “Losing?” She pointed to her own chest. “Do you see who you’re talking to? I am the queen of winning, lady. You name it, I’m good at it.”
“Air hockey?” Leah tilted her head.
Briley licked her lips, trying not to show any weakness. “I am like the champion of air hockey. I…I always win.” She reached up and adjusted her glasses. “And, I have you know, they call me puck.”
“Who are they?” Kat threw in, but continued smiling at the look of death from Briley.
“Everyone, Kat. You should know this.”
Kat snickered. “What I know is…”
Briley cut her off and held out her hand to Leah, who readily took it. Even the softness of Leah’s hand couldn’t derail Briley’s train of thought. “You’re on.”
“I can’t wait for this.” Kat slapped them both on the shoulder. “I do believe I saw in the paper where anyone coming from the convention in costume gets twenty percent off their food order.” She pulled them into her sides. “Ladies, it’s game time.”
Briley felt relieved no one had suggested that she ride with Leah; she didn’t think her heart could take it.
“Bri, she’s still back there. You don’t have to keep looking in the mirror.”
“I’m only checking.”
“What are you going to do about air hockey?” Kat asked.
“What can I do? I’ll play and lose, badly, probably, but will try and keep my cool. I’m sure I can beat her at ninety percent of the other games.”
“Ninety percent, huh?” Kat turned into the parking lot.
“Too high?”
“I mean, yes. We really don’t know anything about her abilities. She’ll probably end up kicking our asses in a lot of the games.”
Briley unclipped her seatbelt. “What makes you say that?”
“Just a vibe she gives off. Let’s go. She’s waiting for us, or I should say you.”
The place was full, but not jam-packed, and Briley felt relieved that they could snag their own table. She hated sitting at the bar. After their drinks and food were ordered, she turned to Leah. “Are you ready?”
Leah leaned forward on the table. “I’ve been ready. Can’t you see I’m quivering from the anticipation of beating you? First is air hockey, then who knows.” She shrugged. “Maybe the kids will choose my house at Halloween over yours, or maybe.” Leah tapped her finger on the table. “Maybe I’ll beat you at Christmas. I’m photogenic, Briley. I can see it now, my smiling face in the front page of the paper and in the background will be my house all lit up for Christmas.”
All through her speech, Briley had picked up a napkin and torn it into shreds. “You talk a good game, but frankly you’re so tiny I’m not even worried about you.”
Leah cocked her head. “Tiny?”
The narrowing of Leah’s eyes did nothing to deter Briley. “Tiny. So, tiny. How’s the weather down there? I bet you have to shop in the kid’s department. I’m surprised the
waitress even saw you sitting there.” Briley could tell Leah tried hard not to laugh and she gave her an A for effort. Once Leah started laughing, Kat did as well. Briley huffed. “I see how it is.” Briley grabbed both of their wrists and got their attention. The smiles died on their lips. “I’m coming for you both. I have eyes on you.”
“Like the eyes you usually have on my ass when I’m in my yard,” Leah said, with a straight face.
“What? Who?” Briley lifted her hand to Leah’s forehead. “Do you have a fever? What crazy talk is this?” She gave a grateful sigh when the waitress placed their drinks on the table. She grabbed her cup and took a giant sip. “I believe we were talking about air hockey.”
Leah opened and shut her mouth and Kat shook her head.
“No, Briley, I do believe we were talking about my ass,” Leah threw back at her.
“Whose?” Briley hoped the floor would open and swallow her whole. “I think I missed that conversation. I remember air hockey.”
Leah sipped her drink. “I’ll give you this one, but we’ll come back to it eventually.”
Briley let out the breath she was holding. “Fair enough. Enjoying your burger?”
“Not as good as the roast beef earlier, but it’s tasty.”
“My burger’s good, too, Briley,” Kat threw in.
“I was getting ready to ask you.”
“Sure.” Kat sipped her drink.
“Kat, are you dating anyone?” Leah asked.
Briley chomped into her burger, and chewed, fully invested in this conversation. Kat had been mum on this topic since she’d arrived.
Kat took a sip of her drink before answering. “I was dating someone before I decided to quit and move halfway across the country.”
That was news. Briley dabbed at her lips, then took a drink of her beer, but kept quiet.
“Not serious then?” Leah asked.
“She was fun to be with, but I didn’t really see it going anywhere.”
When Kat started talking about her freelance accounting gig, Briley zoned out, and zeroed in on the air hockey tables. Leah wouldn’t know what hit her. She was a fierce wind. She was a hurricane.
“Briley…Briley.”
Briley flinched when Leah waved her hand in front of her face. “We weren’t sure where you went there for a second.”
Briley leaned into Leah’s personal space, and gave her kudos for not backing away. “I have one question for you.” She made sure to check that they were done eating before she posed her question.
“I’m listening.”
They were so close, all Briley would have to do is lean in a few more inches to kiss her. “Ready to rumble?”
Leah somehow managed to keep a straight face. “I’ve been ready since the parking lot at the convention. Are you ready to lose?”
“You will be the only loser tonight.”
“I might have forgotten to mention that when I would allow Evan to pick a place for us to spend time together, his go to place was the arcade.” Leah buffed her fingers on her shirt, leaned forward, almost touching Briley’s lips, then slid off her stool.
As her heart pounded in her chest, Briley wiped her palms on her pants. Good grief, Leah was sexy.
“Are you waiting for an invitation, Briley?” Leah called out, as she walked away.
Briley was still in a daze when Kat dragged her off the stool in Leah’s direction. Thirty minutes and four games into air hockey, Briley knew she didn’t stand a chance. Leah was a beast.
After going down in a blaze of glory, Kat led them to the basketball hoops and challenged Leah, who readily agreed. Briley stood back and cheered for Leah. After three games, Kat had thrown in the towel, bowing at Leah’s talent.
“So, what’s next?” Kat rubbed her hands together.
Briley scanned the area until her eyes locked onto something she knew she couldn’t lose at. “How about a bet?”
“A bet?” Leah regarded Briley with a look of pity. “Do you really think you can win against me?”
This wouldn’t be the first time Briley had made a bet she wasn’t sure she could win. “I’m confident in my abilities, tiny human.”
“Before I bet, I need to know the game,” Kat said.
“Racing.” Briley braced herself for the refusal, but none came. “Loser buys dessert.”
Kat bounced on her toes. “You’re on. Leah, she’s good, but I’ve beat her a few times.”
Leah shook Kat, then Briley’s hand. “Deal.”
As soon as three games became available, they hopped in. They’d decided to play individuals games instead of race against each other. Once finished, they would screenshot their score and that would determine the winner. Clearly, she would come out the victor. This was her game. Kat had only beaten her a few times, and each time Briley had been drunk. She had this in the bag. She was the first to admit she lived to win. Second place belonged to the first loser. As her car sailed across the finish line in first place, she took a picture and felt quite confident in her abilities.
She climbed out and waited for the others to join her when she’d finished. But, the looks on Kat and Leah’s faces didn’t show the expected disappointment. They were smiling and holding their phones to their chest. Suddenly, her confidence started to falter. She didn’t know Leah well enough to know, but she knew when Kat was being devious. This was not one of those times.
“So, beat that, losers.” Briley turned her phone around and grinned as Kat and Leah looked at Briley’s phone then each other. At the same time, they both turned their phones around.
Chapter Eight
Early the next morning, Briley danced along to the radio while the cinnamon rolls baked that she planned to take to Mrs. Hanlin’s brunch. It was always a tossup as to what Mrs. Hanlin would make and she hoped for her sausage casserole, which she should have requested.
Even the ending to their night couldn’t dampen her mood. Sure, she’d lost the racing game, but she found a bit of comfort in the fact that Leah had come in second. The pleased look on Leah’s face when she took her first taste of the lava cake she ordered didn’t hurt either.
She knew she should reign in her emotions, but she wasn’t sure if she could. Leah wasn’t like anyone she’d ever known before and just the thought of her drove her crazy. Being infatuated from afar was one thing, but after getting to know Leah, she knew there was no turning back.
At a quarter to nine, Kat walked into the kitchen, dressed in a pair of black Capris and a red and white striped tank top. Briley wished she could have arms like hers, but she knew what Kat put into her workouts and didn’t want to devote the time it required. Most mornings, Briley had to force herself to go for a run.
“Good morning,” Kat said, after taking a sip of the coffee Briley handed her. “Looking forward to today?”
“Yes.” Today was going to be a good day.
“That’s the spirit.” Kat joined her at the kitchen table.
While Kat nursed her coffee, Briley stood up and took the cinnamon rolls out of the oven, placed them in a container and iced them before putting the lid on and sitting down beside Kat.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Bri, but it doesn’t bother you that she has a teenage son, a daughter, and two grandkids?”
“We’ve talked about this. Our ages are the least of my worries and Evan is great. I haven’t officially met Madison or her family, but I’m sure they’re also great. I think with brunch today we may be heading onto the field, Coach.”
“Game on.” Kat rinsed out her cup, then placed it in the dishwasher.
The jeans Briley wore were well-worn, but comfortable and didn’t have any holes. The vintage M&M long sleeve t-shirt was one of her favorites. “Is this too casual?”
“If Leah is going to fall for you, she’ll have to accept your sense of style.”
Briley rolled her eyes, grabbed the container with the cinnamon rolls, and gestured for Kat to go ahead of her. Once they were outside, Briley waved at Mr. Balki
n, then slipped her hand through Kat’s arm.
“I love you, Bri, and just want you to be happy.”
“I want the same for you.” They walked the rest of the way to Mrs. Hanlin’s house in silence. The house was smaller than both Briley and Leah’s, but well maintained, and the yellow painted siding gave off a friendly vibe. Without knocking, Briley opened the front door and walked in, then directed Kat to the kitchen.
Leah was bent over to take a dish out of the oven, and Briley felt no shame that her eyes zeroed in on her backside. Her eyes jerked up when Leah cleared her throat and gave her a knowing smile. Briley returned a sheepish smile then spun around and accepted the hug Mrs. Hanlin gave her.
“I’m so glad both of you could make it,” Mrs. Hanlin said. Like they really had a choice. Turning down an invitation from Mrs. Hanlin was considered sacrilege. She dropped Briley’s hands and took the dish from Kat. “And you brought cinnamon rolls. Leah, if you haven’t had these, you’re in for a treat.”
“I look forward to it.” Leah pulled out a chair and sat down at the table while Briley helped Mrs. Hanlin with the dishes. Since Mrs. Hanlin always sat in the chair beside the living room, that left Briley to sit across from Leah with Kat beside her. Her stomach grumbled at the smell wafting from the platters that littered the table; hash brown casserole, turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits and gravy, and her cinnamon rolls. A lot of food for just four people, but she knew Mrs. Hanlin would take the leftovers to her neighbors.
The first ten minutes, they ate in silence until Mrs. Hanlin asked them a question. “I know this is last minute, but I wondered if you girls could help me bring a few boxes down from the attic.”
“Kat has to make a few calls, but I’ll help you,” Briley said.
“I’ll help as well,” Leah said.
“That’s lovely. Thank you both.”
“Leah, are you new to Garriety, or did you use to live here? I was going to ask last night but didn’t get around to it,” Kat asked.
Leah dabbed her lips. “I’m new, but so far I love the atmosphere and the people have been so welcoming.”
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