Hopeless Romantic

by Georgia Beers

  Her voice. Leah loved the sound of her voice. It was soft—she couldn’t imagine Teddi raising it at all—and lilting.

  “Hey, how are you ladies doing?” Their conversation was interrupted by Marisa Cannavale herself. She stood next to their table, white apron tied around her waist, thick dark hair in a ponytail, blue eyes sparkling, and even with flour dusting her hair and clothes and pizza sauce on her apron, Marisa was gorgeous. Leah stood up and hugged her old friend, who laughed and squeezed her back. “Careful, you’re going to get flour all over you. How’s the pizza?”

  “It’s amazing, as usual. Marisa, this is my friend Teddi Baker. Teddi, meet Marisa Cannavale, owner of this place and pizza maker extraordinaire.”

  Teddi reached out a hand and shook Marisa’s. “I have never had a pizza this good. Ever. I swear to God. It’s amazing.” Leah could tell it was a totally honest statement.

  “Well, that makes me incredibly happy.” Marisa picked up the spatula and put another slice of pizza on each plate as she asked Leah, “Everything good? Your family?”

  “Everybody’s great. Kelly’s getting married in September.”

  “What?” Marisa’s eyes went wide. “Little tiny Kelly? Married? How did this happen? Isn’t she still, like, ten years old?”

  Leah grinned. “I know, right? In fact, Teddi here is Kelly’s wedding planner. We were just discussing the zoo.”

  “And how Leah hasn’t been there since she was a child.”

  Marisa gaped at her. “Seriously? Dude, go to the zoo. It’s awesome.”

  “That’s what I’ve been telling her,” Teddi said, obviously happy to have an ally.

  Marisa shifted her gaze to Teddi, then back to Leah, and Leah could see her mind working, testing out theories until she finally said to Teddi, “Totally with you on the zoo. The elephants are my favorite.” Teddi’s grin got bigger. “And please take good care of Kelly. She’s the sweetest kiddo around.”

  “I promise,” Teddi said with an unexpected level of seriousness, and Leah knew she meant it.

  When Marisa turned back to Leah, those stunning eyes of hers almost seemed to hold knowledge, as if she’d figured it all out with just a quick scan. Leah felt herself blush as Marisa laid a hand on her shoulder. “I won’t keep you. It was nice to meet you, Teddi. Mangia.” And she was off to another table.

  “It’s settled then. You’re coming to the zoo with me.” Teddi picked up her pizza, took a bite, and held Leah’s gaze as she chewed as if daring her to argue about it.

  “But it’s winter.”

  “Wow. You are so much more than a pretty face. I had no idea.”

  Big grin. Huge.

  “We’ll just go to the inside parts and I’ll show you my hangout.” Teddi took another bite.

  She seemed somehow more relaxed, Leah noticed, which was interesting. Her posture had lost the slight bit of rigidity it held, her shoulders dropping a bit. Even her face seemed to ease into an expression of comfort. Leah liked it and said so. “I like relaxed Teddi. Very much.”

  Cheeks coloring slightly, Teddi gave her a sheepish grin. “I’m glad to hear it. It can take a while for her to show up.”

  Leah took a bite of her pizza. She had a stupid grin on her face. She knew it. Could feel it. And she didn’t care. There was nowhere on earth she’d rather be than right where she was.

  Even though they polished off all but two slices of the pizza and nursed their wine in the hopes of stretching out the night, the date still had to end.

  “I’m sorry we had to do this on a weeknight,” Teddi said, voice laced with apology. “Saturdays are hard in my line of work.”

  “No worries. I completely understand.” Leah wanted to add that she didn’t care what day, she’d make the time to see Teddi, but she worried it might be too soon to go that far. Even for a lesbian. She opted for “I’m glad we were able to find a night that worked” instead.

  “It’s not every Saturday. I’m free sometimes.”

  “Good.”

  The waitress gave them each a box with one of the remaining slices. It took a brief argument, but Leah managed to snag the check. “I get the next one,” Teddi said.

  Next one? Doing a little victory dance in the middle of the restaurant crossed Leah’s mind, but she somehow managed to keep control of herself.

  The snow had stopped, but the cold air hit them like a slap in the face as they left the warmth of the restaurant and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Teddi hunched up her shoulders in her coat as they walked together toward the parking lot.

  “Do you like winter?” Leah asked. “I’m asking because I figure if I keep my mouth moving, my jaw won’t freeze shut.”

  Teddi laughed. “I actually don’t mind it. Right now. But it’s early. Ask me in March if there’s still snow, and my answer will be different.”

  “Mine, too.”

  They reached the lot. “This is me,” Teddi said, stopping next to a small white SUV six spaces from hers.

  Leah stopped, too, looked off into the distance as she spoke. “I had a really great time tonight.” Her gaze returned to Teddi, was captured by those dark, dark eyes.

  “Me, too.” Two simple words, but filled with so much.

  They stood facing each other, inches apart, the night around them quiet and beautiful.

  It was Leah’s turn. She knew it. The flutters in her stomach had become waves, but she pushed her nerves aside, grabbed onto her courage with both hands, and leaned in, tilted her head up, touched her lips to Teddi’s. Gently. Teddi’s were soft. And warm, though how that was possible in thirty degrees, Leah wasn’t sure. The only thing she knew was this kiss, and that she wanted more. Teddi must have felt the same way, as her hands came up, grasped the lapels of Leah’s coat, and pulled her closer.

  The kiss deepened. Lips parted.

  Had the world fallen away last time? Because that’s what happened as she leaned into Teddi, pinning Teddi deliciously between the car and Leah’s body. There was nothing else. No other cars. No cold. No crunch of snow under the feet of other people in the lot. Only Leah, Teddi, and this kiss. Warmth and arousal and Teddi’s tongue pressing into her mouth and Oh my God, how have I never been kissed like this before? It was sensual and erotic and so goddamned hot that Leah wouldn’t have been at all surprised if her clothes ignited into flames. A jumble of hands and mouths and desperation of the sexiest kind, that’s what they were, and when they finally wrenched apart, the clouds from their ragged breaths puffed up and floated into the night air, tattling on them. She stayed close to Teddi, noses nearly touching.

  “Okay. Um.” Teddi swallowed audibly, and the sight of her kiss-swollen lips in the glow of the parking lot light above them did naughty things to Leah’s insides.

  “Yeah. Agreed. Same.”

  How long they stood there was unclear. Leah thought it could’ve been five or ten minutes. Could’ve been five or ten years. She had no idea because all she could focus on was Teddi. But it was January and it was winter and the cold began to make itself known, as it always did.

  “I should go,” Teddi said, her voice barely a whisper.

  “I know. Me, too.” Leah lifted her hand, ran her thumb across Teddi’s bottom lip, then pushed up on her toes and kissed her quickly. “If I kiss you any longer than that, they’ll find us here in the morning, frozen solid.”

  Teddi’s smile was worth all the money Leah had in the bank and more. “We can’t have that.”

  “No. That’s poor decision making.”

  A half shrug. “Might be worth it.”

  “Oh, would totally be worth it.” Another beat passed as they smiled at each other. “Okay. Go. Please be safe.”

  “You, too. Text me when you get home so I know you’re okay.”

  Why did that concern for her well-being wiggle into Leah’s heart and make itself a home there? She stood there as Teddi backed out, then gave her a little wave and pulled onto the street. Leah watched her taillights disappear around a corner.

&n
bsp; Pushing her hands deep into her pockets, she turned and headed toward her own car, the goofy grin she knew she wore feeling like it might be a permanent fixture.

  She was totally okay with that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  These were the days of winter Leah loved the most. It hadn’t snowed in nearly two days, giving the plows a chance to catch up and get things cleared, so driving was much less stressful. Lots of people out and about that Saturday, since the roads were wet and black and looked as clear and shiny as a plastic toy race track. The sky was a bright electric blue, and the sun made the snow sparkle like somebody had spent time sprinkling glitter everywhere. The whole world was bright and shiny, and Leah’d had to slide sunglasses on immediately or risk a headache from all the squinting. If winter was like this all the time, she’d be perfectly happy about it.

  Amy’s Bridal Shop was actually in a house, a pretty one. Leah didn’t know anything about house styles—was it Victorian? Old English? Not a clue. But it was pretty, white siding and a big, open front porch with a gray wood floor and large pillars that still had Christmas lights and garland wrapped around them.

  As she pushed through the front door, a little bell tinkled, and Leah kicked her feet gently against the threshold so as not to track any snow or salt onto the pretty area rug. To the left of the entryway was a large room—what would’ve been the living room had this been a family home rather than a commercial business—filled with mannequins in various styles of wedding gowns. A display of jewelry hung on one wall, and a large neon sign mounted above the fireplace read Bride in bright hot pink.

  Her mother’s high-pitched laugh cut through the air just as a woman came into the room, presumably in response to the bell. She had a big smile on her face and a bubbly energy that just rolled right off her.

  “Well, hello there. Are you Leah?”

  “I am. I can hear my mom back there.” It made her grin, her mother’s laugh. Filled her with warmth and, if she was being honest with herself, relief. There had been so many years, during and after her parents’ divorce, when the sound was scarce.

  “She and your sister are cracking each other up. I’m Amy.” Her handshake was firm and quick. “Follow me.”

  Unprepared didn’t seem to be a strong enough word for her response to the wave of emotion that hit the moment she entered the small, private room and saw Kelly standing there, her back to her. Up on a step. Large trifold full-length mirror in front of her. Gorgeous ivory wedding gown flowing down and around her as if she was some sort of goddess, a vision of pure angelic beauty. Her baby sister, now a grown woman, strong and smart and independent, and about to marry the love of her life. A lump formed in Leah’s throat. A big one. She tried to swallow it down and brought her fingers to her lips in awe as her eyes welled up with so much love, it felt almost too big to handle.

  Kelly met her gaze in the mirror and smiled tenderly. “Aw, Leah. Don’t cry.” But the tone of her voice was sweet and loving, not mocking or teasing. Kelly was touched, it was clear. She turned and looked over her shoulder.

  Leah sniffed, wiped at the tear that had the audacity to spill over and course down her cheek. A dozen smart-ass comments flew through her brain before she sniffed again and whispered, “You look so beautiful.”

  “Doesn’t she?” Their mother sat in a chair to the left, and Leah noticed that she, too, had tears in her eyes.

  Leah shed her coat and took a seat in the empty chair next to her mom.

  “You guys, this is only the second one,” Kelly said. “You can’t be crying over every single dress. What if I try on twenty-seven of them? You’ll both dehydrate.”

  “Oh, no worries. I have plenty of water,” Amy said with a wink. “And soda. And champagne.”

  “I knew I picked the right bridal shop,” Kelly said with a laugh.

  The mood sufficiently lightened, Amy brought out more dresses, and the fashion show continued for the next hour and a half.

  By two that afternoon, the three of them were seated in Olive Garden, thank God.

  “You were getting hangry,” Kelly observed as Leah stuffed a bite of her second breadstick into her mouth.

  “No kidding. I love you, baby sister, and initial emotion aside, I never want to watch you try on five dozen dresses again.”

  “It wasn’t five dozen.” Kelly waved a dismissive hand.

  “Sorry. Four.”

  Their mother laughed from her seat across the booth, next to Kelly. With a bump of her shoulder, she said, “I’ll watch you try on a million, honey.”

  “Thank you, Mommy.”

  Leah rolled her eyes in feigned irritation, but the truth was, she was ridiculously happy to be sitting there, just the three of them. The waitress arrived with their cocktails—after all, it was Saturday and they were celebrating something that, God willing, would never happen again. So drinks were in order. They placed their food orders and the waitress hurried away.

  “I’d like to propose a toast,” Leah said, holding up her vodka tonic. “To finding the perfect wedding dress in one day.”

  Kelly had a cosmo, their mother had Pinot Grigio, and the three glasses met over the center of the table.

  Much was discussed over lunches of soups and salads and sandwiches. Work and houses and the holidays that had passed and wedding plans. When Kelly mentioned her next meeting at Hopeless Romantic, their mom held up a finger.

  “Oh! That’s right, I almost forgot. Guess who I ran into the other day in the grocery store.”

  Leah shrugged as she chewed. “I give up.”

  “Marisa Cannavale.”

  “Oh?” Uh-oh.

  “She such a nice girl. We talked quite bit.”

  Leah nodded, knowing exactly what was coming.

  “She said you were in her restaurant the other night with another woman.”

  More nodding. A large bite of breadstick.

  Kelly watched but said nothing, a tiny but knowing grin turning up the corners of her mouth. She chewed her salad and waited.

  “I asked what she looked like,” their mother went on. “Sounded an awful lot like the wedding planner.” The sparkle in her eye combined with the utter lack of surprise from Kelly told Leah loud and clear that her mother and sister had already talked about this. Probably at length.

  Leah cleared her throat. “Okay, Nancy Drew. Yes, I had dinner with Teddi the other night.”

  “Was it a date?” Kelly asked and leaned slightly forward like she was waiting for secret information.

  Leah hadn’t felt like this in a long, long time. That mix of excitement over new possibility and the desire to keep it to herself for just a little while longer. She wanted to explode with how much she liked Teddi. But she was also thirty-nine years old. Old enough to know that one great date—and two amazing kisses—didn’t necessarily guarantee a great love story, no matter how many romances she watched. Still. She could share a little, right?

  “It was. Yes.” She swore internally as she felt the heat crawl up her neck and knew her cheeks had colored.

  “You’re blushing,” her mother observed, sealing Leah’s suspicions.

  “Yeah. Well.” Warm vodka coated her throat.

  Kelly studied her. Leah could feel her eyes without even looking at her. Her little sister knew her well, probably better than anybody, and Leah fought against the urge to squirm. Instead of asking more questions, Kelly simply said, “You keep us posted, yeah?”

  That was weird, even though Leah was relieved, and she nodded. “I will.” She wasn’t ready to answer a million questions about her and Teddi. It was too soon and they were taking things slowly and she didn’t want to jinx it.

  Maybe Kelly sensed that.

  * * *

  Stressful.

  That was the only apt description Teddi had for her Tuesday.

  The wedding planning business could be fraught with issues: unreliable vendors, clients who continually changed their minds, companies that went out of business, new trends, old trends.
It was all to be expected. But when three or more of those things hit at once, even somebody as steady and calm as Teddi wanted to run away screaming.

  Ten years was long enough to understand herself, to learn how her brain functioned. And this was a day when she needed to get away. Just for a short time—she wasn’t abandoning her job or her clients or disappearing forever. She simply needed an hour or so away. It happened. She had places. Spots. Secret getaways where she could sit and chill and decompress until her brain calmed and she knew she could go back and face it all again without wanting to punch somebody in the throat.

  Today was one of those days. And yet there was something different. Something she desired. A shift, a tweak, an experiment she wanted to try.

  Before she could talk herself out of it, she picked up her phone and texted, What are you doing for the next hour?

  Nibbling on the inside of her cheek seemed to be a good way to wait for a reply that she knew might not come immediately. There were any number of valid reasons why not, but she nibbled and waited anyway.

  I can be free. Why?

  Teddi had zero control over her smile. It bloomed all on its own. Meet me at the entrance to the zoo? More nibbling.

  I’ll head right over. See you there.

  God, that was easy. Teddi felt her stress beginning to slide away already. Calling out to Preston that she was taking a break and would be back in ninety minutes, she grabbed her coat and pushed through the door out into the January afternoon. It took a few minutes to brush the morning’s fresh snow off her car, but the drive to the zoo was quick and painless, the roads having been cleared nicely.

  Winter and the middle of the week combined to make a rather empty zoo parking lot. Teddi was okay with that. She liked it that way. Not that she had any issues with kids running around, but it was nice not to have to crowd surf or dodge children who ran instead of walked. She got out of her car and saw Leah do the same several spaces away.