Like a Book

by Bette Hawkins

  While they danced, Trish looked over Bobby’s shoulder at Leigh and Andrew, who were moving while they stared into one another’s eyes. Trish had cried tears of happiness during their vows, so thrilled for her big sister. The newlyweds were going overseas for a month-long honeymoon, and Trish was going to miss Leigh like crazy.

  Bobby spun Trish around, placing June directly in her line of sight. June was dancing with Trish’s cousin Shane, and she did not like the way that he was looking at June. Trish rolled her eyes. Shane had always been sleazy.

  Trish realized that Bobby was looking at her face, noting that she was paying no attention to him at all.

  “You know you can go and dance with her! My wife would be pleased to have me back for a dance or two,” he said.

  “We can do that now, can’t we?” Trish said.

  “Of course we can. I think the duty part of the night is pretty much over. Why don’t you go and get your girl and I’ll go get mine?”

  Trish agreed, and they shook on it, grinning at one another. She approached her cousin and stood behind his shoulder, tapping him on the fabric of his ugly suit.

  “Mind if I cut in?”

  Shane looked back at her sheepishly, stepping away from June. Trish moved close to June, putting her hands behind June’s neck whilst June touched her waist.

  “Can I tell you again that you look amazing in that suit?”

  “You can tell me as many times as you like. I’m just happy you’re here, I was hoping I’d get my hands on that hot bridesmaid I’ve had my eye on all night,” June said, smirking.

  “Well good, but I felt like you needed a rescue from octopus hands. He didn’t try anything, did he?”

  “Oh, he’s fine, I’ve handled much worse than him at the bar.”

  They’d discovered a while ago that June loved to dance and that Trish had no idea how, so they’d been working on their moves in preparation for tonight. There had been many evenings of dancing around the living room at Trish’s place. They played all their favorite songs, listening to Stax and Motown tracks while they danced for hours.

  Now they gently swayed back and forth to a cheesy Bryan Adams song, their bodies fitting together perfectly.

  “See, you don’t have two left feet,” June said softly, close to her ear.

  “I’m managing okay, right? ”

  “You’re managing it perfectly, baby.”

  Trish burrowed into the crook of June’s neck, smelling her hair and the delicious scent of her skin. June’s hands were around Trish’s waist, holding her tight. The thrill of June’s touch had not faded a bit over the past few months.

  “You looked so great up there today,” June said. “And I loved your speech.”

  “Do you really think so? I still don’t think it was as good as some of the others,” Trish said.

  Trish had fretted over it for weeks, writing countless drafts and constantly seeking out June’s opinion to make sure that she didn’t forget anything.

  “Stop it,” June said gently. “Believe me, it was amazing. You should be proud.”

  Trish nodded and leaned in closer, allowing herself to feel the calm that washed over her with June’s presence. Since they’d been together she’d stopped worrying quite as much, trying to follow June’s lead and be less rigid about the little things. It was a lot of work sometimes, but she could honestly say that she was becoming a happier person.

  June’s breath brushed against her cheek. “And your dress looks perfect on you, by the way. You are so pretty.”

  Trish pulled back and looked into her eyes, enjoying the silent understanding between them.

  “Can you two please not upstage me at my own wedding?” Leigh called out as she and Andrew danced past them. They drew a little bit closer and Leigh cupped a hand around her mouth. “You’re being obscene, you look like you’re going to start banging one another up here.”

  Trish shook her head, scowling at Leigh’s back as Andrew turned her away.

  “She’s so crude,” Trish muttered.

  “She’s just teasing you.”

  Trish knew she was right. Nobody had been happier for the two of them than her sister was. They had all hung out as a group regularly, often having dinner at Andrew and Leigh’s place. There had been many nights during which they’d gone to June’s bar for free drinks, waiting for her to finish work so they could all go out together afterward.

  “C’mon, I want to sneak out of here and have a cigarette,” Leigh said as they started to leave the dance floor. “I need you girls to help me.”

  “Okay, let’s pretend we’re helping you to the bathroom,” Trish said. Making sure Leigh could go to the bathroom without spoiling the long train on her dress had been one of the most challenging parts of her day.

  They managed to get outside without too much interference from guests, finding a quiet spot on the wooden porch of the rustic brick building. Leigh leaned up against the wall and pulled a cigarette and lighter from her cleavage, looking like she was in heaven as she sparked up the flame.

  “I didn’t even know you smoked,” June said.

  “She doesn’t. Or, hasn’t for years, anyway, after I begged her to quit. Where did you get that from?”

  “Uncle Alex. I totally deserve the stress relief. Why doesn’t anyone ever tell you weddings are a goddamn nightmare?”

  They spoke quietly to avoid drawing attention to themselves, going over the day. The drumbeat in the music was a dull thud through the wall.

  “It’s nearly time for Andrew and me to do the big exit. You’ll look after my little sister while I’m overseas, won’t you, June?”

  June grabbed Trish’s hand. “She doesn’t need any looking after, but I will anyway.”

  “Good.”

  Trish and June gazed at one another in the near-dark, oblivious to the fact that Leigh was watching them.

  “Which one of you girls is going to catch the bouquet?”

  “No offense, but I’m not going to do that. Not really my thing.”

  “June, June, June. You’re a part of this family now, and in case you can’t tell, this family digs weddings. You’ll never be truly accepted unless you do shit like scramble for that bouquet alongside Aunt Theresa.”

  “We’ll see,” June replied.

  They switched the lights on as they entered their hotel room, and June laid the bouquet down on one of the nightstands. It had been an epic battle against Trish’s aunt, but June had won it fair and square.

  She kicked off her heels and rubbed her feet. She was happy to wear heels when the occasion called for it, but right now she wished she’d stuck to her boots.

  Trish stretched and turned around. “Can you unzip me?”

  June went to Trish and slowly drew the zip down her back. The dress really was gorgeous on her, the shape of it perfect for her slim waist and elegant back. June kissed the exposed skin of that back, and moved up to Trish’s neck.

  June assumed that Trish would be too tired to have sex tonight. Though being apart for the last few nights had built up an aching need, June understood that she would have to wait at least one more. She was pleasantly surprised when Trish turned in her arms and reached for her like she had so many times before.

  They made love slowly, on the soft hotel sheets, moving against one another in the dark. Just when she was certain that she couldn’t feel any closer to Trish, and that it couldn’t be any better than it already was, it would change. They had spent so many hours learning about one another’s bodies, discovering what the other liked. June loved staying in bed with Trish for hours, talking and making love, then doing it all over again.

  “I’m too wired to go to sleep,” Trish said.

  June held her from behind. The sheet was draped across their bodies, the bed soft and cushiony. She was the same, tired but not sleepy.

  “I know what you mean.”

  “It really was a beautiful day. They all loved you.”

  “I had a great time. Your family’s
awesome.”

  “I was so proud to introduce you to everyone.” June kissed Trish’s temple, brushing her hand over Trish’s shoulder. “I love you.”

  They had said it to one another a month or so into their relationship. June had held back, trying to wait until Trish said it first. She had been sure of her own feelings for a while but hadn’t wanted to rush anything. One night, when they had been lying just like this, it slipped from her lips as she was going to sleep. June awoke to find Trish waiting for her, eager to return the words. After that they held one another so tightly June felt like her heart was going to burst.

  “I love you too.”

  “Weddings make you think about stuff, don’t they?” Trish said.

  “They do make you think about…stuff…” June said.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  June rolled over and raised her eyebrows. “You’re cheating. You say it first.”

  “Well, you know. That it might be nice to do something like that one day.”

  “This is a really shitty proposal.”

  “I’m sorry,” Trish said, clasping June’s hand. “I don’t think either of us are ready for that right now. Right?”

  “I’m just teasing you. Of course, I thought about it too. Go on, what did you want to say?”

  “I’d like to take the next step.”

  “You want to move in together?” June said.

  “I do. What do you think?”

  “I do too,” June said, pulling Trish close for a hug. “How? I’m guessing you don’t want to live with Ollie and me. So, I’d move into your place?”

  “No. It’s where I lived with Katrina. I hate that house. I want to sell it. I’ll sell it, and we’ll get a place to rent for a while. I don’t know what I’m waiting for.”

  “And when I’m making more money we can get our own place maybe?” June said.

  “Exactly.”

  They sealed the plan with a kiss.

  June felt lighter just thinking about it. There would be no more spending nights apart. There would be only Sunday mornings and crawling into bed with one another late at night, sharing their days, cooking, cleaning, being together. They would fight over who should clean the bathroom and make up because it didn’t really matter. There would be a study for June and a porch where they would have their breakfast.

  “Well, this is exciting. I feel like getting out of bed to start working on the plans right now. It’s going to be amazing to get the place sold. I can’t wait. I should find an agent.”

  “Don’t get out of bed now, baby. There’s always tomorrow,” June murmured.

  As June slipped into sleep she could see it all laid out before them. All the mornings and nights, and everything in between flashed in her mind in an instant. It was a book that she wanted so badly to write, and she already knew the ending.

  Bella Books, Inc.

  Women. Books. Even Better Together.

  P.O. Box 10543

  Tallahassee, FL 32302

  Phone: 800-729-4992

  www.bellabooks.com