Definite Possibility

by Maggie Cummings

  “Tell you what?” she teased back, still playing it up. She shifted her attention from Lexi. “Megan!” she called across the small yard as Meg cleared the back sliders. Sam stood up to greet her, completely leaving Lexi hanging. She patted Meg on the shoulder as she passed. “I’m going to hit the head.” Without turning back she called over her shoulder, “Yes, Lex. The answer to your question. A hundred percent yes.”

  “What was that about?” Meg said, stealing Sam’s seat.

  Lexi shook her head as she reached into the cooler next to her and grabbed a beer for Meg. She held up a Corona for Meg’s approval.

  “Fine, whatever.” She took it from Lexi and popped the top off. “Seriously, Sam just looked like the cat who ate the canary. What did I miss?”

  “She’s in love.”

  “Great.” Meg’s voice came out sarcastic, but Lexi knew it was all envy.

  “Stop feeling sorry for yourself,” she ordered good-naturedly. “Be happy for her. Her whole last year sucked. And honestly, I’ve never seen her like this.”

  “I am happy for her.” Meg cracked her knuckles loudly. “Who needs girls anyway.” She nodded emphatically. “I am going to throw myself into work. Then I’ll get promoted and the ladies will lay themselves at my feet.”

  “How’s that going?”

  “The girls?” Meg shook her head in dramatic fashion. “Nil.”

  Lexi ignored her joke. “I meant your promotion race.”

  Meg shrugged. “Who knows?”

  “Is that where you were all day? I saw you leave your house at, like, six o’clock this morning.”

  Meg took a sip of her drink to shield her smile. “No, I went in to the city to help Sasha with a thing at the rescue mission.”

  “I thought that was a while ago?”

  “It was.” She diverted her eyes. “There was another one today.” She used the bottom of her beer bottle to make a pattern of rings on her worn-out jeans. “It was nice. A lot of pets got homes. It made me feel good.”

  Lexi made a dramatic show of looking around her empty yard. “You know who you’re talking to, right?” She wagged her finger slowly. “Do not try to tell me this is about baby cats or puppies or whatever.”

  “What?” Meg let the word roll out in playful disbelief. “Honestly, though, I enjoyed it in a way I really didn’t expect.”

  Lexi tilted her head to the side and waited for Meg to meet her eyes. “You could have invited her tonight, you know.”

  “Who?”

  “Don’t you who me,” Lexi quipped, shaking her head.

  “I’m just kidding.” Meg punched her shoulder playfully. “Thank you for letting me know she’s welcome. I do appreciate it.” She chewed her bottom lip. “I wonder if she would have come.”

  Lexi gave her a look that was pure disbelief, Meg recognized it right away.

  “I know what you’re thinking, but I don’t know.” She shrugged, bringing her drink to her lips. “I have no idea what we’re doing, if I’m being honest. Sometimes it feels like friendship. Sometimes not so much.”

  “What was she up to tonight?”

  Meg leaned forward in her chair, frowning as she pushed around a gravelly pebble with the toe of her sneaker. “She didn’t mention anything.”

  “Because”—Lexi waited for Meg to look at her—“she was hoping you would ask her to hang out.”

  “You think so?”

  Lexi rolled her eyes. “Yes, Meg. Obviously.”

  Meg wasn’t convinced. She closed one eye and peered into her beer watching the small foam bubbles dissipate as they came in contact with the sides of the glass bottle. “I don’t know.”

  “She’s been texting you. You two spend every Saturday morning together apparently—”

  “Just two.”

  “So far. She came to see you at Sullivan—”

  “She came to get a letter of recommendation.”

  Lexi shook her head. “Not buying that, either.” She held up one finger. “Don’t even get me started on the night we saw her at Roaring Twenties. And I was with you at trivia night. I saw the flirting first hand.”

  “There was no flirting.”

  “There were flirting undercurrents.” She held out her hand, effectively stopping Meg from speaking. “Everyone can see she’s into you. There’s, like, no debate. The only question is how you feel about her.”

  “First of all, I’m not sure I agree with you. It feels very”—Meg moved both hands in small counterclockwise circles as she searched for the right word—“friends-ish, a lot of the time.”

  “But not all the time.”

  “Yeah, but maybe that’s just me speculating. Or being attracted to her.”

  “Or her wanting to be with you and you picking up on it.” Lexi pulled her hair into a bun. “You haven’t answered the question, FYI.”

  Meg let out a little laugh. “And what was the question, exactly?”

  “Assuming I’m right, which I know I am, how do you feel about Sasha?”

  Meg met Lexi’s eyes and held her gaze, hoping if she stared long enough she wouldn’t have to put such a complex set of emotions into words, but Lexi wasn’t letting her off the hook so easily. Lexi raised one eyebrow as she waited, the silent gesture a demand for the truth.

  “I don’t know.” Meg tipped her head back and took a sip of her drink letting herself get lost in the late-day clouds. “Of course I still have feelings for her. But I can’t let that get in the way. I mean, she is who she is. A leopard doesn’t change its spots, right? And this friendship is…nice.”

  “That is the second bizarro cliché thingy you’ve used since you got here.”

  “What?”

  “Before.” Lexi pointed at the sliding glass doors. “When you got here, you made a comment about Sam looking like the cat who ate the canary, and now this.” She brushed Meg off with a wave of her hand. “And you don’t know anyway. Maybe they do.”

  Meg shook her head not following. “Maybe they do, what?”

  “Maybe a leopard does change its spots or whatever that stupid expression is.”

  “They don’t though, it’s impossible. Hence, the expression.”

  “Well, Sasha isn’t a leopard. She’s a fucking person. And people do change.”

  Meg rolled her shoulders. “Doesn’t matter anyway.”

  “What doesn’t matter?” Sam asked the question as she shuffled into the yard carrying another tray of appetizers. Jesse followed two steps behind, with the chips and guacamole. She was obviously waiting to be filled in as well.

  Lexi checked Meg’s face for permission and Meg gave it to her holding both arms outstretched and giving over the floor.

  “Meg’s in a tizzy because she has this new friendship with Sasha.” She put the word in air quotes as she continued. “Which is nice.” She paused to ensure her summation was making the grade. Meg nodded, so she went on. “But Meg’s concerned that she may be feeling something more than friendly toward Sasha”—she held her hand up ramping up the drama as she continued—“because of their history and the fact that they were madly in love and had unbelievable sexual chemistry.”

  Meg almost choked on her drink. “I didn’t say any of that.” She wiped her mouth stifling a laugh in spite of being embarrassed.

  Lexi grinned. “I know, but they deserve to know the truth.” She lifted her shoulders and puckered her lips. “And you gave me license to recap it for you. You know I’m gonna tell it like it is.”

  Sam raised her hand to get some attention. “Let me just make sure I understand this.” She settled on the bench seat at the backyard table and grabbed a chip from the bowl. “Sasha, that’s her name? This is the one I met a few months back, the night we all went out dancing? The girl who came all the way from Manhattan to play trivia with you at Lucy’s?” She scanned their faces. “Same person, yes?”

  Meg nodded in response.

  “Look, Meg. I may have missed a year and everything. But let me say this. The one time I saw
her with you…” She paused and loaded some guac on her corn chip. “She doesn’t want to be your friend. You can believe me or not. But I’m good at reading people.” She held the nacho ready to devour it. “Girls, in particular. And that girl, she is not looking for friendship.”

  Meg looked at Jesse, hoping for an ally. “Jess, a little support?”

  Jesse simply shook her head. “You know how I feel about this, kid.”

  Meg nodded, even though she really didn’t know Jesse’s perspective. Suddenly, this party was starting to feel like an intervention. “Enough about me, what’s new with you guys?” Meg asked, hoping to turn the conversation in a completely different direction.

  Right away Jesse and Lexi exchanged a look and Meg couldn’t help but smile for her friends. If she’d taken a step back from her own ridiculous drama, she would have seen this moment coming and she felt guilty at having dominated so much of the conversation.

  Her friends played it off for the time being, waiting until well after Marnie and Chris joined the party and Lucy had arrived bearing her awesome desserts. Glasses were filled and the group was lively and spirited. And finally, when the sun was about to set, Lexi summoned everyone’s attention as she stood at the head of the outdoor table.

  “So, I guess you’re wondering why we called you all here,” she said, getting some mild laughter from her moms as she recycled an old family joke. Her smile was enormous and her dimples popped on both sides. “I mean, you’ve probably all figured it out by now, but just in case…” She looked at Jesse, whose expression was a combination of excitement and pride as she held Lexi’s hand. “We’re having a baby.” Her voice squeaked with excitement as she said it out loud. Her parents were the first to jump up and congratulate them, but Meg was a close second. Of course Lexi was right—no one was truly shocked, but there were smiles and toasts and Meg was touched to be part of something so special.

  Even hours later when she was home, tucked under her covers, Meg still felt a buzz running through her limbs. What a great night. Goddamn, if there was only one thing missing. She shut her eyes, willing the thought out of her mind while she clutched the extra pillow tight, certain that in the safety of sleep Sasha would be right next to her all night.

  *****

  Sam awoke to Lucy’s gentle lips on her cheek. She wrapped her arms around her girlfriend’s naked body. “I hate your hours,” she whispered in Lucy’s ear.

  “I know,” Lucy whispered back. “You tell me every day.”

  Sam kept her eyes closed but found Lucy’s lips just the same. “The worst part is I love morning sex.” She fake pouted. “And I never get to have it. It’s so sad…”

  “And here I thought”—Lucy slipped her hand between Sam’s legs over her boxers—“the worst part was that you wanted to go hiking with me.” She rubbed gently. “Now I don’t know what to believe.”

  “Believe that what you’re doing there”—she looked between their bodies—“is getting me going.” She moved Lucy’s hand away but she came right back. Sam let her stay even though it was torture. She moved a lock of hair from Lucy’s face. “How about instead of Pilates today, you let me take you to High Rock Park. It’s really nice there.”

  “I would, but I have therapy today. Not Pilates.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Okay,” Lucy answered in a breathy voice, her fingers getting greedier by the second.

  “I’m going to have to stop you.” She stilled Lucy’s hand with her own.

  “Please?”

  “I thought there wasn’t time.”

  “There’s always time.”

  Sam flipped them quickly and went straight for three fingers as they kissed. It had been a long night full of sweet sensitive sex. She wanted this to be different. Lucy was already wet, and she slipped in easily.

  “Fast, babe. Okay?”

  “I know,” Sam answered, already fucking Lucy pretty hard. She felt her tighten around her fingers and knew she was going to come. Even though they were pressed for time, she pulled out for a second. When Lucy whimpered at the loss, Sam encouraged her, lifting her legs up so that her ankles were on her shoulders. She slid two fingers inside Lucy, but with her body weight behind her, she went in much deeper than before.

  Lucy gasped. “Fuck, Sam.”

  Sam looked down at her. She could tell it was working for Lucy but she asked anyway. “Are you okay?”

  Lucy could only nod as she bit her lip and threw her arms over her head in a kind of surrender. Her breath was fast and ragged until she let out a moan from somewhere deep in her belly as she clenched against Sam’s fingers. She stayed that way for several long seconds, her muscles tight and rigid, holding Sam in place until she finally relaxed, her entire body going limp under Sam.

  “You should go.” Sam brushed her lips against the shell of Lucy’s ear, placing a sweet kiss there.

  “No way.” Lucy licked her lips and appeared to use what was left of her energy to snap into action. She motioned Sam toward her but when she sat up on the edge of the bed, Lucy touched her shoulder urging her back down onto the mattress. Lucy reached for the waistband of her boxers and stripped them off as she dropped to her knees next to the bed.

  Sam could already feel Lucy’s breath against her and it almost hurt to say the words but she knew her girlfriend had priorities, and she wanted to respect them. “Babe, you’re going to be late.” She propped up on her elbows and reached down, putting her hand on Lucy’s cheek to guide her back up.

  Lucy kissed her palm, smiled devilishly, and took Sam’s thumb in her mouth. All the way in her mouth, and it caused her to groan. Lucy licked all the way down to the tip and kissed the end, before lowering her gaze. “I certainly am.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  It was a rare day that Sam chose to work from her parents’ house and by three o’clock she couldn’t hold out any longer. She hopped in her truck and headed to the coffee shop to get her fix.

  “Psst. Hey,” she stage-whispered, strolling up to the counter and summoning Lucy with one finger. “Come here.” Even now, months into dating, her heart pounded when she caught Lucy looking around to make sure none of her customers were paying attention. It was a sure sign she was about to get a sly kiss, and even though she knew it made her a huge mush, it got her every time. “How’s your day?” she asked.

  “Busy. What about you?”

  Sam nodded in response. “My parents were out all morning. I was able to get a lot done.” She settled herself onto a stool. “Which means I’m all yours for the rest of the day.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  Lucy poured her coffee and placed the steaming mug on the counter. Sam stirred it out of habit, even though she knew it was already prepared exactly how she liked it.

  “I was thinking.” Sam placed the spoon on top of a napkin. “Any chance we could sneak away for a few hours this weekend?” She saw apprehension in Lucy’s face, so she edited her idea right on the spot. While she’d been set to pitch a night together camping on the beach at Fire Island, she could already see that wouldn’t fly. “What I would really love is to go away for a night somewhere. Hike all day. Maybe camp out. I love being outside—you know that. I want some time to experience that with you.” She steadied her shoulders. “But I can see there’s no way you’re letting Raven handle a Sunday without you.”

  “Sam, I can’t. I’m sorry, babe.”

  “What about Saturday afternoon?” She touched the curve of the spoon’s handle. “Cut out early, we can head to the Jersey Shore.” She took a small sip of her drink. “Catch some late-day sun on the beach. Walk on the boardwalk. Go out for a nice dinner. I’ll have you home in bed by midnight.”

  “Yeah, you will,” Lucy responded with more than a little spirit.

  Sam grinned. “Is that a yes?”

  “Almost.”

  “Almost?”

  “Cindy is working Saturday afternoon. I would not relax knowing I left my baby in the hands of Cindy Defazzio.
Nice girl, but let me just make sure Raven’s available to cover as well.”

  As if on cue, Raven came through the back door and hugged Lucy from behind. “Lucy Weston, you are my hero. I owe you so big-time.”

  “Well, that sounds promising,” Sam said, lifting the mug to her mouth.

  “Sorry, Sam. I’m not really groping your girlfriend. Promise.” Raven shucked her apron and folded it neatly into a corner. “I feel so much better already. Thank you, boss lady.” She skipped out from behind the counter. “Tomorrow when you see me, I’ll be a changed woman. But maybe a little sore.” She laughed nervously. “Wish me luck,” she called out as the door’s bell jingled above her.

  “Good luck, honey,” Lucy called after her.

  Sam held up her palms. “Gonna fill me in or what?” She took a big gulp of coffee. “Raven seemed pret-ty excited about your advice.”

  “It was nothing.” Lucy wiped the spotless counter out of habit. “Raven’s friend was giving her a hard time.”

  “The girl she’s dating, you mean?”

  “No, actually. Just one of her friends. But it was about the girl she’s seeing.”

  “A jealousy thing?”

  Lucy put the cloth down and took two steps closer so she was directly in front of where Sam was sitting. “No.” She checked a look at the only person present with them, a man finishing up his coffee by the window and whispered, “Her friend was giving her crap because Raven’s girlfriend wants to use…toys.” She licked her lips. “Like, you know, a dildo.” Her voice had dropped another octave.

  “I’m familiar with sex toys, babe,” Sam whispered back. She watched Lucy blush as she held her hand up, offering a good-bye to the shop’s sole customer as he left. “Let me guess. Her friend said using that stuff makes her not gay enough or some shit like that?”

  “Exactly.”

  Sam shook her head into her drink. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “I know. I told her that.”

  “You obviously made her feel better. What did you say?”

  Lucy toyed with the edge of Sam’s spoon. “I told her she should do what she wants and to not let anyone come into her bedroom and judge her.” She touched the tip of Sam’s thumb with her index finger. “What happens between her and her girlfriend is for them. No one gets to weigh in on that.”