“Wow, both of you. That’s fun.”
“It is.” Lucy nodded. “What about you? Brothers, sisters?”
“One brother. Jack. He’s not gay.” She returned the smile when Lucy laughed at her dumb joke. “I’m curious about you and your sister. Did you both always know? About each other, I mean.”
Lucy nodded and smiled at the same time. “We’re all close, my sisters and I. But with me and Em, it’s different. We’re super tight.” She shrugged. “So, yeah, we both always knew about each other. Even when we were little.”
“Did you go on double dates and stuff?”
Lucy tilted her head to the side, clearly thinking about it. “Not really. We dated some girls from the same circle. Well, really I dated some girls from her circle. She’s been with her wife since they were seventeen. They were high school sweethearts.”
“That’s sweet.”
Lucy made a face as though she didn’t one hundred percent agree with Sam’s sentiment, but said nothing. Sam read her expression. “Not sweet?” she asked with a dramatically furrowed brow.
“I don’t know.” Lucy leaned her forearms across the counter. “I think they’re not in a great place these days. Frankie, Emily’s wife, travels a good deal with her job, and I know that’s important.” She made small circles with her fingertips on the granite countertop. “They have two kids, plus Emily runs a day care. It’s a lot. I worry about her, about them, that’s all.”
Sam slid her hands underneath Lucy’s. “You love her.”
“I do.”
She held both of Lucy’s hands and guided her around the kitchen island until she was standing in front of where she was sitting on a high backed stool. “She’s lucky to have you.” Sam put her hands on Lucy’s hips and Lucy stepped between her legs, draping her arms over Sam’s shoulders.
“She is, huh?” Lucy’s tone was suggestive.
“Yeah,” Sam breathed out as she leaned forward to kiss her. It started out innocent, but it didn’t take long before their hands were roaming. Sam purposely took the high road stopping things before she was tempted to take them further. She let their kiss soften and settle before she spoke. “I should go,” she said in a low voice.
Lucy let out a sad whimper, but nodded her agreement. She leaned farther into Sam’s embrace. “You definitely should.”
*****
Three dates and exactly three serious make out sessions later, Sam stood on Lexi’s doorstep hoping to kill some time before she met up with Lucy for the evening. She pressed the doorbell once, then peered down the street wondering if her buddy was even home.
“Hey, girl.” She heard genuine pleasure in Lexi’s voice when the door opened and knew she’d made the right call by stopping by even if it was unannounced.
“Busy, Munchkin?”
“Not at all.”
“I come bearing treats.” Sam held up a thin pastry box. “From Lucy. But hey, still counts, right?”
“Hell, yes. What’s the occasion?”
“None, really.” She shrugged. “We haven’t seen each other much. I had some time to kill before Lucy calls it a day at the store. Thought we could catch up if you were around.” Sam looked over and noticed the table set for dinner. “Ah, you guys are about to eat. It’s cool. I can wait for Lucy at her place. I should have called anyway.”
“Shut up.” Lexi pulled her inside. “Jesse’s not even home. She went to pick up dinner from Lombardo’s. And you’re more than welcome to join us. Drink?”
“I’d take a beer if you have one.”
Lexi walked to the fridge, grabbed Sam a Heineken, and sliced off a wedge of lime to squeeze into her own drink.
“What are you drinking?” Sam asked.
“Just seltzer.” Lexi pulled a chair out. “Fill me in. How are things with Lucy? You two seem to be spending an awful lot of time together.” It came out as kind of a sing-songy cheer and Lexi clapped her hands excitedly at the same time. Sam couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm.
“They’re good.”
“Hot-and-heavy good?”
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
Lexi laughed in her face. “Yes, you do.”
Sam felt slightly embarrassed knowing the truth was completely tame, but she answered honestly anyway. “We are taking it nice and slow.”
“Wait. You haven’t had sex yet?” Lexi’s mouth dropped open in purposeful dramatic fashion. “Sam Miller, are you wooing this woman?”
Sam twisted her beer bottle in her hands. “She doesn’t want to rush into anything.” She smoothed out a bubble in the label with her thumb. “I completely respect that.”
Lexi leaned forward. “Aw, Sam, that’s really sweet.” She rubbed her arm. “You must be dying,” she added with a frown of mock empathy.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Sam said, playing along, before turning slightly serious. “I really like her.”
“I see that. That’s great.” Lexi took a small sip of her drink. “What time does she close the store, typically?”
Sam tapped her beer lightly on the table making a design with the moisture rings. “Seven. Seven thirty. Sometimes eight. It depends. If it was me, I would shut down at six. Who fucking needs coffee after that anyway?”
“I guess. But she does some cool stuff at night. Sometimes she shows movies there and tomorrow is trivia night, right?”
“Yeah, that’s why she stayed. Wanted to get some last minute prep work out of the way.”
“Why don’t you call her and have her come here. You guys can stay for dinner. I can call Jess right now and add to our order.”
“No, it’s fine. We ate a late lunch. She was still baking when I left. I wanted to see you. I miss you, Munchkin.”
“I miss you too. I’m so glad you stopped by. Oh, by the way, Kam loved your new icon for the socials. And she went crazy over the website.” She smacked Sam’s knee. “She also told me that she thinks the Fishers over on Crescent Street are thinking of moving this summer.” She raised her eyebrows.
“Where on Crescent?” Sam asked.
“Down a bit.” Lexi gestured with her chin. “Near the entrance.”
“Definitely keep me posted on that.” She swallowed a long refreshing sip of her drink. “So, Munch, what’s new with you?” She made a circle with her beer, pointing at Lexi with the neck of the bottle. “Are you pregnant?”
“What?”
“Don’t play coy with me. I have known you since grade school,” Sam teased. “Since you were ten, you’ve been talking about getting married and having babies.” She put her beer down on the table with a slight thud to emphasize her point. “I haven’t seen you take one drink of anything even remotely alcoholic since I’m home.” She grinned right at Lexi. “So tell me. When are you due?”
“I’m not pregnant.” Lexi let out a small tense chuckle. “But you’re not way off. I want a baby. I’m ready. So’s Jess.”
“Shit, Lex.” Sam clenched her teeth. “You’re having trouble?”
“God, no.” Lexi let out a heavy breath. “I didn’t mean for it to sound like that.” She pulled her hair off her face. “The only problem we’re having at this point is that Jesse and I can’t seem to agree on how to do it.”
“What do you mean?”
Lexi shook her head and there was frustration in her tone. “Jesse is being completely obstinate.”
The door squeaked open behind them and they both got up to help Jesse as she balanced two bags of takeout and the mail. “What am I being obstinate about?” Jesse asked, sounding not the least bit unnerved at walking into a conversation where she was clearly the subject.
“Baby making,” Lexi responded without missing a beat.
Jesse rolled her eyes. “I am being pragmatic and logical.” She placed their dinner on the table.
Lexi kissed her cheek. “You are being stubborn.”
Jesse looked at Sam as she unpacked their takeaway tins. “What’s your take?”
“
Don’t drag her into this.”
“Why not?” Jesse looked between Sam and Lexi. “She’s here. She’s smart, and I think it would do you some good to hear from your friends on this.” Jesse crossed the kitchen and got a small serving spoon. “I am not being crazy. I’m being realistic.”
Sam snuck a glance at Lexi and clenched her teeth in apology at having brought up the touchy subject, but Lexi shook her head, letting her off the hook right on the spot.
“Fine.” Lexi removed the lid from the chicken parm and leaned out of the path of steam pouring out. “I want to use someone we know as a donor. Jesse wants to use a sperm bank.”
Sam looked at Jesse first, then at Lexi hoping they didn’t actually expect her to weigh in. She didn’t have a chance anyway. Lexi spoke again, this time directing her comments right to Jesse.
“Your way is cold.”
“My way is clean. Straightforward.” Jesse doled out Caesar salad for each of them. “I can’t believe as a lawyer you don’t see the benefits of using an anonymous sperm donor. No prospective legal battles down the line, no fighting over custody or medical treatments should that ever become an issue. It’s a method that has been tried and argued and validated in the legal system. I simply cannot understand your objection to it.”
Lexi straightened up in her chair, her fork held aloft as she decided what to eat first. “Doesn’t that sound cold, Sam?”
Sam shifted uncomfortably. “I mean, she does make some good points, Lex.”
“She’s extremely glossing over the fact that you really know nothing about an anonymous donor. Other than what he wants to tell you, or completely make up. I’m sure they’re all six feet tall with a full head of hair and fantastic pecs. Yeah, okay.”
“Also a valid point.” Sam made an invisible notch in the air with her beer. “What’s the alternative though, Lex? Do you even know any dudes you’d want to use?” Sam asked, reaching across and stealing a crouton off Lexi’s plate.
Lexi was quiet for a second. She twirled some spaghetti on her fork. “So, I really want a baby that looks like Jesse.”
“Okay. Sounds like Jesse’s plan could work for that.” She snagged another crouton. “I’m sure someone at least verifies whether the guy has brown or red or blond hair. Right?”
“Unless…” Lexi’s voice was so serious Sam stopped mid-chew. She swallowed quickly and gave her full attention. “I think”—Lexi ran her hands over her silverware—“we should get Jesse’s brother Justin to donate for us. They look exactly alike.” She looked at Sam, probably gauging her reaction, before focusing on her dinner as she continued her pitch. “And he’s awesome and we know he’s not into drugs or a serial killer.”
“He’s also my brother.” Jesse’s voice was serious and full of skepticism.
“Which is why he would do it. He idolizes you, Jess. And he’s single.”
“Right now he is, sure.” Jesse waved her fork in the air. “Let’s put aside for one second that it’s going to take a lot for me to get past you and my brother having a baby. I know people do it.” Her mouth was a straight line. “I’m just not sure I can. That minor hurdle notwithstanding, you bring up a fantastic point. He’s single now.” She cut off a piece of chicken. “What happens when he gets married?”
Lexi reached for the grated cheese. “So he gets married, so what?”
“What if his wife is some crazy woman who is not okay with me and you raising a child she considers to be his?”
Lexi rolled her eyes. “I highly doubt Justin would marry someone like that.”
“But what if he does, babe? Or what if he gets married and they can’t have kids, for whatever reason, and then she wants ours?” Jesse shook her head. “Or even if she can have kids but feels like Justin’s children should all be raised together. By them. There are too many variables that end very badly. Like in-the-courtroom badly.”
“But we would have paperwork in line. We are lawyers.”
“I know, and I know we’d win. But the cost on our family, our children. It would be catastrophic.”
Sam leaned forward. “Munch, I think she’s right. That scenario, I mean it could be great but it could also ruin everything.”
Lexi looked defeated and Sam couldn’t help but be moved when Jesse leaned forward to squeeze her hand. “Babe, don’t look like that. We’re going to figure this out. I’m sure of it.”
Sam’s phone vibrated in her pocket telling her Lucy was on her way home. “Well, glad I could help here ladies.” She thumped the table once and pushed her chair back. “I’m just kidding. I am going to go though, let you guys finish your dinner.” She zipped her jacket. “Can I just say one thing?” When they looked at her, they were still holding hands. “You’re going to be amazing parents. However you decide to do it.”
“Tell Lucy we said hi,” Jesse said.
“And tell her thanks for the goodies,” Lexi yelled after her.
In the short walk down the path to the rental section, Sam thought about Lexi and Jesse and the decisions ahead of them. It was foreign to her in a way. She’d never thought about having kids the way Lexi always had growing up. She wondered what Lucy wanted. She might ask someday. Not yet, they weren’t even close to those kinds of conversations. Still, she was curious in a way she’d never been about anyone she’d dated in the past. It gave her a small shiver and even though she was wearing a jacket she felt tiny goose bumps line her forearms.
*****
“I just have to update my inventory,” Lucy said opening the door to her living space as Sam followed her inside. “Do you have anything you could work on for a few minutes?”
Sam groaned, grabbing Lucy from behind in the center of the apartment. “I could work on you,” she whispered, placing a small kiss by her ear.
“Mmm,” Lucy responded. “Sit down. Give me a half hour and I’m all yours.”
“Okay.” Sam pouted a little but sat at the end of the couch stretching her legs along the cushions as she grabbed her tablet out of her bag. She was just about to pull up a design she was playing around with when Lucy dropped her stuff on the coffee table and wedged her bottom between Sam’s legs, taking her arms and wrapping herself into a hug.
“Well, hello there.” Sam gently pressed her lips to Lucy’s shoulder blade.
Lucy angled her body. “I’m going to get to my work in one second,” she said, touching Sam’s face with both hands. “But I missed you.” She brushed her lips against Sam’s. “And I’ve wanted to do this for hours.” She leaned all the way forward, her body language screaming for more. They kissed deeply for a good few minutes, and when Lucy moaned, Sam couldn’t help but smile against her lips.
She trailed her mouth down Lucy’s neck before coming back up to kiss her again, smoothing her hands over Lucy’s abdomen. Because of the way they were positioned on the couch, without realizing it right away, Sam’s hand slid down the front of Lucy’s body landing squarely between her legs. At the contact, Lucy spread her legs a touch giving her more access. The move surprised her and she groaned uncontrollably in response. She stopped herself before it went any further.
“Sorry,” she breathed out.
“It’s okay.” Lucy brought Sam’s hand to her lips and kissed her fingers. “I should get my work done, though.”
Sam ushered her forward, kicking off her shoes and putting her feet up on the coffee table as she killed time while Lucy crunched numbers at the opposite end of the sofa. Thirty minutes went by, and Sam flipped the lid of her tablet closed, then slid it into her bag. She swung her legs onto the couch and let her feet make their way to Lucy at the other end. She tapped Lucy’s thigh with her toes.
“Hi,” she said, her voice playful and frisky.
Lucy didn’t look over but her cheeks lifted and her eyes crinkled at the corners. She whacked Sam’s foot. “No distracting me.” Handing Sam the remote, she tried for serious. “I’m almost done. Entertain yourself for a few more minutes.”
“Okay,” Sam fake whined,
taking the remote and pointing it at the flat screen. “I hope that means you’re going to entertain me when you’re done.” She was mostly kidding but Lucy held her gaze.
“It just might.”
Sam grinned and shifted her attention to the television, bypassing several action movies that she’d be into, and instead settled on an old black-and-white movie that was well into its plot.
“I love this movie,” Lucy said offhandedly, glancing up from her work.
Sam raised her eyebrows. At twenty-eight, Sam took every opportunity to tease Lucy about their six-and-a-half year age gap. This was perfect. “How old are you, really? Come on, you can tell me.”
“Not. Funny.” Lucy poked the end of her pen into Sam’s shin.
She moved her leg away and Lucy shifted toward her slightly, filling the empty space. “Disagree. I think it’s very funny and possibly true. Seriously”—she paused for dramatic effect—“did you see this in the movie theater? It’s okay, be honest.”
“Brat.” Lucy smiled, leaning forward as she seemed to search for the best place to land a playful slap. In her hesitation, Sam grabbed her forearm and pulled her close.
“Come here.”
She guided Lucy toward her gently, looking in her eyes before kissing her soft and deep. She heard Lucy’s pad and papers slide to the floor. “Sorry, babe. I just needed to kiss you. I’ll pick up your stuff and let you get back to work.”
“No.” Lucy moved her whole body over her and her hair tickled Sam’s cheek. She shook her head. “It can wait.”
Lucy leaned back down and Sam kissed her again. The palm of her hands pressed lightly on Lucy’s ass as they moved against one another. Remembering Lucy’s pleas to go slow, she focused and held back but Lucy moaned loudly into the kiss. She pulled back and sat upright, straddling Sam’s body. She unzipped her thin hoodie and tossed it on the coffee table. Her small breasts curved under the fabric of her T-shirt and Sam was desperate to touch them.
Despite their past conversations, something in Lucy’s eyes told Sam it was okay now, so she let her hands drift up, under her shirt, along her smooth skin. She pulled Lucy back down, her hands in her hair as they kissed. Sam indulged every second and she let her lips find the tender spot just below Lucy’s ear, drifting down her neck and sucking her soft pale skin, stopping herself before she left a mark. She felt Lucy gasp when she touched her breasts over the lace of her bra.
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