Her eyes narrowed at me. “How do you know about that?”
I narrowed my eyes playfully back at her. “Because…your mom told me.” I tried to sound faux-dramatic.
“Oh.” She shrugged. “I guess I’m excited.”
“Why you guess?”
“I don’t know!”
Her tone made me want to get up and find an adult to talk to. This was why I didn’t do kids, dammit! But this was Sarah’s kid, so I tried again. “I always loved sleepovers.” I held back the part about how I was going to have one with her mom tonight.
“Yeah, they’re fun.”
“Oh, I see,” I said. “You like your gymnastic classes better than your sleepovers. You’d rather stay at gymnastics and not even see your friends.”
She frowned at me. “How did you know I have gymnastics tonight?”
Okay, I gave up. “Never mind.”
*
Late that night, I lay in bed beside Sarah, rubbing her neck and shoulders languorously. The smoothness of her skin under my fingers was like velvet, and when her hair brushed against me, it could’ve been silk.
“Remember when we first met?” she asked, pushing her back softly against my chest.
“How could I forget?” I cuddled her closer, enjoying being the big spoon. “You got my attention right away.”
“That’s not true. You thought I was some random fan. You offered me your autograph.”
“Oh, yeah.” I chuckled, embarrassed. “I know better now.”
“I sure hope so.”
“Why are you bringing this up?”
“Well…” There was mischief in her voice. “I was thinking about it. I do want your autograph.”
“Oh?”
“With your tongue.” She rolled onto her back, pushing the covers off her. “Between my legs.”
“Oh.” My mouth watered, a twinge going through my core. “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind doing that.” My hand moved lazily to her breast, and her nipple hardened under my hand. “Only because you’re such a big fan.”
Soon she was beneath me, gasping my name as my tongue swirled over her. Although I’d thought I was worn out earlier, pleasuring her sparked new desire in me, and when it was my turn again, I rode the waves of orgasm until I couldn’t come anymore.
We lay side by side again, holding each other, and the question that’d been burning in my mind all night found its way to my lips. “Do you think we should tell Emma soon?”
Her back stiffened. “About us?”
I nodded, stroking her soft skin. “She seems to have guessed something is up.”
“I’ve never slept away from her two weekends in a row before. And she does know we’re friends.” She pressed her cheek into the pillow. “I do feel terrible for not being honest with her, but she’s too young to understand any of this.”
“She wouldn’t understand that you’re dating? You don’t have to tell her who.”
Slowly, Sarah shook her head. “She’s not there yet. And even if she was, this is too new. We’ve barely started getting to know each other.”
I hesitated, unsure if I should tell her what was on my mind. Well, fuck it. “Listen, if you’re not sure if I’m going to be around for the long run, I want you to know I’d like to be. I enjoy every moment I spend with you, even when you’re in zombie mode or being stubborn and arguing with me. I already care about you more than any other woman I’ve been with, and I want to keep seeing you for a good, long while.”
She blinked at me, and I could tell I’d taken her by surprise. “That’s… wow, Katie.”
“Was it too much?” We were only a couple of weeks in, but then we’d been friends first. I knew how I felt—I just hoped she did, too.
“No, I just…” She propped herself on an elbow so she could kiss me. “I want to be with you, too. Officially.”
A huge smile crossed my face, and I kept smiling as I leaned in for another long, luxurious kiss. For the first time in my life, I had an actual girlfriend. And rather than feeling tied down by that, I felt freer than I ever had.
She turned onto her back, running her fingers down my arm. “So, no more sleepovers for a while? That way, Emma won’t be suspicious.”
“What?” My heart clenched up. “That’s what you got out of this whole conversation? That we shouldn’t spend the night anymore?”
“Just for a while,” she said softly. “Until we know for sure…”
“I thought we just established that.” I sounded needy, like a little kid. “That you were my girlfriend now.”
“I am!” she said. “But it’s a brand-new relationship. Let’s wait a couple of months. Maybe six.”
I’d read about how single parents needed to wait to introduce their partners to their kids, so the kids wouldn’t get too attached and be hurt if the couple broke up. It’d all made sense when it was theoretical, but now that it was my life, I didn’t like it at all. Emma and I already knew each other, so shouldn’t the normal rules have changed?
I swallowed down my protests. Sarah was trying to do what was best for her daughter, and I had to respect that. “How about three months?”
She kissed my nose. “How about let’s reevaluate in three months, and for now, we just enjoy our night together?”
I slid my eyes down her body, and a spark of desire awakened in my core. I’d thought I was done for the night—not anymore.
“Sounds good, girlfriend.”
*
On set again, we were filming the scene where Wesley freaked out and threatened to kill everyone. I had to say, the writers were knocking it out of the park with this. Everyone was so on-edge that we were still tense when the cameras were off.
I glanced over at Sarah, who stood with Emma by the wall while the camera operators filmed Aaron’s close-up. She came out to watch the filming more often now that Emma was going to have a tutor. I guessed she was enjoying her increase in free time, or maybe she just couldn’t stop looking at me.
I dragged my eyes away from her to watch Aaron deliver his lines. I needed to stay in the zone, stay in character. The upcoming scene was a big one.
“I’m done with trying,” Aaron said. Standing, he grabbed a knife from the knife block and looked around at the points the camera operators had laid out for him. “One of you killed my wife and my daughter,” he growled. “All of you have to die.”
Autumn still sat slumped in the corner, playing a corpse. It had to be hard to stay unmoving for that long. I’d be sad when this episode was over and she wasn’t on set every day anymore. She was nice, and I always enjoyed chatting with her. Of course, the entire cast would be reunited for promoting the series, even Quinn and Richard, whose characters had been killed off almost immediately.
I wondered if my character might die in the coming weeks. I had a feeling she’d be there to the end—she was shaping up to be the main character in a way, and with the poisoning subplot, she couldn’t be the killer. Unless she was faking being poisoned, but who could fake all of the vomiting and diarrhea she’d been through? Those had been some less-than-fun scenes to film.
“Katie, you’re up,” Jim called. The close-up was done, and the other actors were getting in place for the next scene.
“Katie?” I quirked an eyebrow at him.
“I mean Ivy.” He gave me a reluctant smile.
I stood in my place, and when Jim called “action,” I cowered against the wall. I hugged Emma close to me, trying my best to act like I’d given birth to this girl, like she was the most precious thing in the world to me. I had to act like my own life didn’t matter anymore, only Emma’s, because all a mother would care about in this situation was her child’s survival.
“Dad, you were the killer?” Cole gasped.
“No, one of you was!” Aaron said. “I don’t know which, but I’m not waiting around to see who’s next. I’d rather kill you all myself.”
“Wesley, please,” I begged. “If you really didn’t kill anyone, don’t start now. Even if
you get out of here alive, it’ll stay on your conscience.”
“You wouldn’t kill your own son,” Cole said.
“All of you, just—stop—talking!” Aaron pressed his hands to his face, then peeled them away to reveal a malicious glare. “Which one of you is going first?”
I hoped my face showed the terror I was trying to conjure up inside. I felt a bit terrified, really—Aaron was holding a real knife. “Listen, you know Naomi didn’t hurt anyone.” I moved in front of Emma, shielding her with my body. “If you have to kill me, fine. Just let her walk out of here alive.”
“Mommy!” Emma screamed.
Aaron moved toward me, looking more evil with each step. “So you confess you killed the others?”
“Of course not. I don’t know which of you two did. I just know it wasn’t me or my eight-year-old daughter!”
Aaron laughed cruelly, advancing even closer. Even though we were just acting, my heart caught in my throat. I knew what came next in the script, and yet relief still flooded me when Cole kicked the knife out of Aaron’s hand, and it clattered onto the floor.
I picked Emma up and ran for the door. I’d argued with Jim about this, because to me it didn’t make sense. He said that for a mother, instinct would take over and I’d try to bring Emma to safety even though logically I knew we were still snowed in.
“What the fuck, Ivy, help me subdue him,” Cole yelled. “He’s still dangerous!” He had Aaron on the floor, his knee in his back.
I gasped. “Right.” I rushed back over and set Emma down, then grabbed a ball of twine from the counter and cut a length to tie Aaron’s hands.
“And cut!” Jim said. “Great job, everybody. Really great scene.”
I grinned. It’d felt great while we were doing it, and I suspected that single take was going to be all we needed. “One and done?”
“I would say yes, but there’s a slight problem.” He gave me a tired look. “I just realized your mic battery died. Nothing you said got recorded.”
I slumped. “Back to the start?”
“Back to the start.”
Nineteen – Sarah
I stood on Valerie’s doorstep, my hand on Emma’s shoulder. “Thanks so much for taking her for the night,” I said. “It’s such a big help.”
“You sure have been asking for a lot of play dates lately.” She winked, and I knew she was asking if I’d started seeing someone.
“Cee!” Emma yelled, and darted inside to play with her friend.
“Come on in,” Valerie said. “I’ll make you a cup of coffee. It seems like we have a lot to catch up on.”
“I’d love to, but I really have to run.”
Katie was probably already waiting for me at her place, candles lit and a bath drawn. We’d planned on having a romantic evening in, and I intended to make the most of it.
“Not for five minutes?” Valerie asked.
I tried to suppress my sigh. The woman was giving me free baby-sitting, a favor that I hadn’t returned for some time. I could at least go in and catch up with her a little. Besides, she was my friend.
In the kitchen, she poured water into the coffee pot. “It’s okay,” I said, waving at her to stop. “I don’t need anything to drink.”
“Water? Juice?”
“I’m fine, really.”
Her eyes flashed with mischief. “You really are in a hurry to get out of here. So, who’s got you feeling like this? Spill it!”
“Maybe I’m just not thirsty.” Laughing, I leaned against the counter. “And it’s a little early to spill anything.”
“Sure, sure.” She poured herself a glass of water and took a sip. “How’s Katie Days, by the way? You two still tight?”
My face went hot. “She’s good.”
Valerie cackled—actually cackled. “I knew it!”
“Knew what?”
“You have something going on with her! Your face just went beet red. Don’t even try to deny it.”
I shushed her. I hadn’t planned to tell anyone I knew yet, but now that she’d guessed, I wasn’t going to lie. “All right, yes, we’re dating,” I said in a harsh whisper. “She’s actually my girlfriend, but we haven’t told anybody yet.”
“Oh my God!” she shrieked.
“Shh, shh, keep your voice down! Jeez.” I wiped a hand across my suddenly-sweaty forehead. “It’s not that big a deal.”
“Not a big deal? Sarah, I’d freak out if you were just dating someone new after all this time, but on top of that, you figured you’re gay—or bisexual?—and she’s a celebrity. She’s Katie freaking Days. Are you going to let me meet her now?”
I laughed nervously. “How about you let me meet her now?” I moved toward the hall.
“You’re not seriously going to leave like that.” Valerie followed at my heels. “You’re going to sit down right now and tell me everything!”
We passed the door to the family room, and Emma poked her head out. “What are you supposed to tell her, Mommy?” Her eyes were filled with concern.
“Nothing, sweetie. Don’t worry about it. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
“You sure you want to come back by eight?” Valerie asked, crossing her arms.
Last time, it hadn’t been an issue since Emma had slept over. Tonight she wasn’t going to, and I was determined to get her home without too much disruption to her normal bedtime.
“Yeah, I’ll be back by eight,” I said.
“Just say the word if you want her to sleep over.” Valerie winked. “She’s barely going to have any time to, you know… play with Cee.”
“I can’t sleep over,” Emma said. “I don’t have my pajamas or my toothbrush or—”
“You’re not going to sleep over,” I said, cutting her off firmly. “And she can start ‘playing with Cee’ right now, because I’m going.”
I shook my head as I walked to my car. It did feel like the current situation was unfair to somebody—Emma or Katie or both. Valerie would’ve claimed it was unfair to her, too. But what was I supposed to do? It was way too early to tell Emma about the relationship, and I couldn’t ditch her every weekend to spend the night with Katie. Even if I did that, one night a week wouldn’t be nearly enough.
I just had to be patient, and we’d get through this. In a few months, I could tell Emma I was dating Katie, and it’d be much easier to find time for each other. After a year or so, we could think about moving in together, and then I’d have her around all the time.
Once I got to Katie’s place, my worries quickly left my mind. As I’d expected, she’d lit candles and drawn a bath. She was all about getting me to loosen up, and even though I knew she’d never completely succeed, I did relax when I was around her.
“This is amazing,” I said, looking around her giant bathroom. “This is practically the size of my first apartment.”
“Then I’m guessing this tub is about the size of your bed.” She gestured at the lavender-scented bubbles.
I dipped a finger in. Thankfully, it was still hot. My eyes lit on a control panel. “Oh my God… this is a Jacuzzi.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Is the pope Catholic?”
Katie smirked. “Hop inside.”
I took off my clothes, feeling slightly shy even though she’d seen me naked plenty of times. The only light was from the candles, and I worried the way it flickered over my body would create shadows in places they weren’t supposed to be.
She sucked in a breath. “Sarah, you’re so beautiful.”
My face heated. For so long, I’d basically given up on beauty. My body had been functional, not aesthetic—giving birth, then breastfeeding. I was a mom, I didn’t need to be attractive… And yet, when Katie said that to me, I believed her.
“You get in here, too,” I said.
“If you insist.”
She was only in a robe, and she undid the belt and let the fabric slip off her, one tantalizing inch at a time. My breath caught in my throat as her gorgeous figure
came into view. Every part of her was absolute perfection, and even though I knew she had insecurities too, I didn’t know where they came from. When I looked at her, I wondered how I’d ever doubted that I was attracted to women.
“Ooh, I made it too hot.”
She stepped into the tub with a sharp breath and slid down little by little, taking a quick gasp every time she put more of herself underwater. Finally she hit the floor, seated across from me, our legs intertwining under the suds. Her eyes closed and her head rolled back as she struggled to adjust to the temperature.
“Wow,” I said, “you really can’t take the heat.”
She opened her eyes to shoot me a playful glare. “Believe me, I know how to get hot.”
“I bet you do. Come here.”
With a grin, she scooted across the tub toward me. It was big enough that she could practically swim in it, and she splashed me lightly as she made her way into my arms.
I’d been waiting all week to get my hands on her again, and the feeling of her slick, wet body against mine had my core throbbing for more. I ran my hands along her arms, then drew them down her chest, my palms gliding over her nipples.
“How long do you think this bath will stay hot?” I asked.
“You want to get out and get back in again?” She guided my hand between her legs, and even though we were already wet, I could feel she was sopping. “Because we could always heat things up right here.”
*
After our bath water turned cold, we continued in the bed, and there, in quiet contentment, I closed my eyes.
Bad idea. When I opened them again and saw the sun had gone down outside Katie’s window, I grabbed for my phone. It was a quarter past eight!
Katie lay next to me, snoring softly. I debated whether to jerk her awake or just run out of here. Deciding it’d be too rude to leave without saying anything, I shook her shoulder.
“What’s wrong?” she asked sleepily.
“It’s eight-fifteen. I’m late picking up Emma.” I sent Valerie a frantic text telling her I was on my way.
“Oh… right,” Katie said. “I figured you might be late when I saw you falling asleep. Just text your friend and tell her you’ll be there in an hour. I want to cuddle.” She reached out for me.
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