“No.” Sasha kissed her again. “I’m really tired and I don’t want to be annoying.”
“You don’t annoy me.” Meg stood up and held Sasha’s hand as they walked to the bedroom. “Come on. I’m going to cuddle you all night. Even if you are a total pillow hog.”
*
She was awakened by Sasha’s voice, whispering loudly in her ear, “Are you awake?” Sasha sounded relaxed and cheerful and it was nice to wake up with her spooned against her back.
“I am now,” Meg breathed out while Sasha kissed her cheek.
“I want to come to your party tonight,” Sasha blurted out enthusiastically. “What’s it called? A social?”
Meg turned onto her back. “Actually it’s an open house.” She rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “It’s different than a social.”
“In what way?”
“Well, for one thing if you don’t live at Bay West, you have to get put on the guest list. Which means you have to be invited by someone who lives here.”
Sasha was leaning on her side, her head propped on one elbow. “So can I come?”
“I told you, you have to be invited,” Meg teased.
“Are you gonna invite me?” Sasha swung her leg over Meg, trapping her in place as she straddled her torso, waiting expectantly for an answer.
Meg exhaled dramatically. “I don’t know. What’s in it for me?”
Sasha raised an eyebrow suggestively as she ran her eyes over Meg’s entire body. “Everything.”
Chapter Twenty-four
“Come to California with me.”
Tracy felt Betsy’s body tense up at the suggestion, so she clarified. “Next week, I mean. I would love for you to meet my dad, my friends…” Her voice trailed off as she continued tracing out lazy circles on Betsy’s skin. She looked up at her girlfriend’s gorgeous eyes.
“God, I would love to.” Betsy’s regret was evident in her tone. “If it was just regular patients I would get someone to cover me, but I have two surgeries scheduled for next week,” she added with a frown.
Tracy propped up on one elbow. “Did you get nervous that I meant for good?” she asked with a slight laugh.
Betsy turned away from the stream of bright morning sunlight spilling through the shades into Tracy’s bedroom. “I hate feeling like you’re dropping your whole life to be here with me. It bothers me, I can’t help it.”
Tracy let her head fall on the pillow inches from Betsy’s. “Baby.” She brushed one finger along Betsy’s cheek. “If I had a great job in LA that I absolutely loved and you were just starting over, wouldn’t you do it in California with me?”
“That’s not the case, though.”
“It is.”
“Tracy, you could go back to golf tomorrow. Your hand is fine. I know your coach has been calling you and I know that’s at least part of the reason you’re going out there next week.”
Tracy smiled. “I wasn’t going back on the tour anyway. I was staying in New York, whether this happened or not.” She leaned forward and kissed the smooth skin on Betsy’s chest. “This is just an unbelievably fabulous bonus.” She looked up. “And yes, I am going to see my coach, but it’s not what you think. We have some business to finalize, and I want to see him. He’s been part of my life for years. We’re friends.”
Betsy turned toward her. “Are you sure about all of this?”
“Yes, very sure.” Tracy smoothed her hand the length of Betsy’s body. “Aren’t you?”
“Yes. But”—she reached for Tracy’s hand and gently touched each finger with her own—“it’s easier for me. I’m not changing my whole life.”
“My life was a mess. It needed to change.”
“I don’t want you to feel like you’re giving up everything to be with me.”
“I don’t.” Tracy leaned over and kissed her. “I’m not, actually.” Tracy shifted onto her back and reached for her phone. “You just reminded me,” she said, scrolling through her calendar. “My friend Kristen is going to be in New York next month. I told you about her a while ago. She works at ESPN.” She checked Betsy’s face to see if she remembered. “I was hoping to see her next week, but she’ll be out of town. But she told me she’s coming here for work next month, with her boyfriend, who is some kind of producer. And she wants to meet for dinner. She thinks he’s going to be able to hook me up with a job at the network.” Tracy raised her eyebrows. “He’s got some solid connections, I guess.” She put her phone back on the nightstand and cradled Betsy from behind. “How awesome would that be?”
“It would be awesome.” Betsy turned her face slightly to kiss Tracy. She inched herself backward just a touch, pressing her naked body against Tracy’s. “I almost can’t think of anything more perfect.” Her voice had an added huskiness and Tracy picked up on it right away.
“Really? Anything?” Tracy whispered, her lips finding their way along Betsy’s neck and shoulder. Her hands took things a step further, one on Betsy’s left breast, gently toying with her nipple, while the other moved up inside her thigh and higher as she teased softly.
Betsy was already breathing heavily as Tracy moved inside her. “Maybe a few things,” she managed to get out, before she turned, taking Tracy’s face in her hands. “I love you, Trace.”
“I love you too, baby.”
Betsy kissed her, long and slow. She pulled her face away and said in a voice so low it was almost inaudible, “I want it.”
Tracy asked no questions—she knew exactly what Betsy meant. She reached down the side of the bed and slid the box out from underneath. Swiftly slipping into her harness she knelt at the side of the bed, reaching over and bringing Betsy toward her, so her legs hung off the mattress. She kissed the insides of her thighs and all the way up, staying there until she knew Betsy was ready. Then she met her on the bed, kissed her way up her belly and breasts, her neck. Their faces brushed against each other and they kissed gently as she eased inside Betsy. She saw Betsy bite her lip a little at first and then felt her relax as Tracy read her body and found the perfect pace, staying the course until Betsy demanded more, harder, faster. She obliged, of course, using all her willpower to hold off her own release until she was sure Betsy was coming. When that happened, and largely inspired by it, Tracy didn’t hold back. She moved fast and deep inside, exploding in seconds until she collapsed, sweaty and spent, unbelievably content.
*
Meg opened the door to the lovely aroma of fresh coffee and bacon filling her kitchen. “Good morning, ladies,” she said, greeting Tracy and Betsy in an upbeat tone as she tossed her work bag and her duffel bag on top of each other in the foyer.
“Hey, Meg.” Betsy folded her newspaper down and put it to the side of her empty placemat.
“Meg-an,” Tracy called over her shoulder, matching Meg’s enthusiasm and emphasizing both syllables of her name. “What’s up?” she asked from in front of the stove where she was whipping up what looked to be a kick-ass breakfast. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Meg nodded happily. “I could eat,” she said taking a seat across from Betsy.
“Don’t take this the wrong way,” Tracy said with a smile, filling a mug with steaming coffee and placing it in front of Meg, “but to what do we owe this pleasure?”
When Meg curled her eyebrows at the question, Tracy continued. “Correct me if I’m wrong. But you and Sasha always spend Sunday together. You’re never home this early. Everything okay?”
Meg stirred in some cream and sugar as she spoke. “Sasha’s dad is in town for work. He’s got meetings in the city tomorrow.” She took a quick sip. “He came in early to spend the day with her.”
“Did you meet him?” Betsy asked.
Meg shook her head, as she swallowed. “No. I think they’re doing brunch and then a museum or something. I’m not sure. I got up and went to a yoga class, then hit the road.”
“You bummed she didn’t ask you to come along?” Tracy asked.
Meg shook her head. “Not at all.” She tu
rned the newspaper toward her to glance at the headlines. “I have actually met her dad, once before. When I went to pick her up after the funeral.” She pushed the paper back. “But today is about them. I get that. She doesn’t need me there to have to entertain, or explain, or anything.” She moved her mug back and forth by the handle. “It will be a hard enough day without that added stress.”
She checked a look at Tracy and registered her concern. “I know you’re worried because you get the brunt of my paranoia over Sasha downplaying our relationship. Trust me, it’s fine.”
Meg said it because it was true even though very little had changed outwardly. Sasha was still mostly closeted—at work, with most of her friends. But between them so much had changed in the last few months. Since the night Meg had driven to Maryland when Sasha called her, their relationship had moved to a new level. Their connection was stronger, the trust deeper. Meg felt the change before she really knew what it was. Sure, she had said the word, but she didn’t understand it until it had already taken over every cell of her being. She was in love with Sasha Michaels and Sasha was in love with her, and knowing that made all the difference. Everything would be okay, she was sure of it. She knew Tracy and Betsy would understand what she meant if she took the time to explain it, but she didn’t want to. For now, that knowledge was hers alone. So she changed the subject.
Meg looked over at Betsy and winked before she addressed Tracy, her voice full of faux concern. “So, bacon, huh, Trace? Now I know you’re a goner.”
Tracy rolled her eyes but played along. “What can I say, love makes me do all sorts of insane things.” She walked over to Betsy and kissed her forehead. “Anyway, what’s on your agenda today? Want to come hiking with us?” she asked.
“I have the dentist today actually.”
“On a Sunday?” Betsy was surprised.
“I know. Weird, right?” Meg responded with a shrug. “It’s some new place. Well, new to me. A guy at work told me about it. His mother goes there. It’s actually only like five minutes from here. Beats trekking into Brooklyn like I’ve been doing for the last two years. Thanks anyway, though.”
Tracy set a plate of egg whites full of brightly colored vegetables in front of Betsy. She nodded at Meg. “What do you want in your omelet?”
“Whatever’s going, dude.”
“That’s my girl.”
*
Meg stared vacantly at the artwork on the wall but barely had time to determine if it was a print or a painting before a girl in lavender scrubs sauntered into the room and opened Meg’s chart, whipping her head around immediately. Although surprise was evident on her face, Reina Ramirez collected herself quickly, saying in a smooth voice, “Hi, Meg. How are you?”
“I’m good.” Meg knew her own surprise showed as well. “How about you? You work here?” she asked, shaking her head at the obvious question.
“I do,” Reina said, coupling her answer with a smile that was a little sultry before she turned back to Meg’s chart. For a minute she was all business, asking Meg routine questions and spelling out that she would begin with X-rays. She placed the thick radiation shield across Meg’s chest. “I do have to ask, before I start”—she bit one side of her bottom lip—“is there any chance you’re pregnant?”
Meg laughed and looked right at Reina. “Yeah…that’s gonna be a no.”
“I figured.” Reina blushed. “Standard question. And hey, you never know.”
Meg smiled in response as Reina started the series of X-rays. When she was through, she replaced the heavy apron with a paper bib that she clipped around Meg’s neck. While Reina set up, they engaged in pleasantries with Meg asking after Teddy and Rose. Finally, Reina sat on the wheeled stool next to Meg and maneuvered the dental chair all the way back. She put on her latex gloves slowly before reaching for her cleaning utensils. “I’m surprised I haven’t seen you here before, Meg,” she said, getting ready to start.
“It’s my first time,” Meg blurted out. It was impossible to miss Reina’s smile at Meg’s exclamation with its built-in innuendo. “Here, I mean,” she corrected. “At this dentist.”
“Well, I’ll be sure to be very gentle,” Reina cooed in response, an unmistakable glimmer in her eye. “I’m going to start,” she said, still smiling. “If you have any questions, or if anything hurts, let me know. Okay?”
Meg nodded even though she was slightly mortified at having someone she knew personally, someone she had at least thought about dating—however abstractly—involved in something so oddly intimate. But Reina made it easy.
“You doing okay?” she asked midway though.
Again Meg nodded, trying as hard as she could not to stare at Reina’s chocolate-brown eyes, or her long thick lashes. Reina continued to talk her way through what she was doing, not asking questions Meg would be unable to respond to, but rather keeping her abreast of where she was in the procedure. It didn’t hurt that she let her thumb linger on the top of Meg’s lip, rubbing it softly as she worked.
When she was done, Meg rinsed her mouth while Reina made some notes in her chart. She was leaning on the counter as she wrote, her hip slung out to the side, and Meg was pretty sure she got caught checking out her ass when Reina turned around to talk to her. How embarrassing.
“Dr. Clemente will be here in a minute.” Reina looked downright sexy when she bit her lower lip again, the exact same way she had earlier. “You have a gorgeous mouth, Meg. I would love to examine it again, perhaps with my own next time.” She reached over and handed Meg a folded slip of paper, before letting her hand graze the length of Meg’s arm as she left the room.
The doctor was in the room before Meg could even open the paper and Meg figured he had to have heard at least part of Reina’s comment, if not the whole thing. Meg spent the rest of her appointment in a fog, shocked over the course of events and dying to see what Reina had written. It wasn’t until she was inside her car that she opened the note. Underneath Reina’s ten-digit phone number she read: I would really like to go out with you sometime. Call me if you’re interested…RR.
*
Meg pulled back a kitchen stool and sat down with a thud and a sigh.
“How was the dentist?” Tracy asked from the sink where she was rinsing out a glass.
“Bizarre,” Meg answered. She was about to expand on her one-word answer when the sight of a foreign object upright next to the drying rack caught her eye. She squinted her focus. “Is that, like, your strap-on?”
“Huh?” Tracy answered, before she followed Meg’s gaze. “Shit. Sorry.” She grabbed it quickly, holding it awkwardly in her left hand as she searched unsuccessfully for somewhere to put it.
Meg let out a laugh at Tracy’s unsmooth reaction. “Dude, I don’t care. It’s just not what I expected to see right now.” Meg looked around, dropping her voice to a whisper. “Oh my God, is Betsy still here?”
“Noooo.” Tracy exaggerated the response, shaking her head. “Trust me, I would never do this now if she was.” She glanced down at the object in her hand. “Honestly, I meant to put this away. Completely forgot about it.”
“Don’t worry about me. I don’t care,” Meg offered with a shrug. “I want to see it, though.” She craned her neck. “Is it big? It looks big.”
“Says the girl who sees penises never.”
“Ba-dum-bum.” Meg pounded the drumbeat on the counter with her fists. “Walked right into that one, I guess.”
“Sorry, couldn’t resist.” Tracy smiled. “It’s not that big. Average, I would say. I’m not trying to hurt anyone, you know,” she added with a wink.
Meg nodded, mulling some questions.
“Just ask, Meg.” Tracy knew her too well.
“So you and Betsy use it?”
Tracy’s expression was somewhere between cocky and shy as she answered. “Okay, so here’s the deal. It’s mine. I use it on her. Not the other way around.”
“Okay. Don’t get defensive.” Meg smiled.
“I’m not. Just
want to make sure we’re all on the same page.”
“Well, I kind of figured. But you never know.” Meg nodded, still inwardly assessing. “Honestly, I’m surprised. At Betsy, I mean.” When Tracy cocked her head at the comment, Meg explained. “I mean, I obviously don’t know her like that, but she just seems so…proper. You know, everything’s always so orderly with her. I’m surprised, pleasantly surprised,” she corrected, “that she’s into it.”
Tracy licked her lips and nodded. “Look, it’s not the only thing we do. But she’s definitely into it.”
“Nice.”
“She would die, by the way, if she knew we were talking about this.”
Meg furrowed her forehead in doubt. “Okay, but she knows I’m your best friend. I’m sure she assumes you talk to me.”
“Assuming we discuss our relationship is one thing. Specific details regarding our sex life is quite another.”
“Got it,” Meg said with a nod.
Tracy looked at Meg and nodded with her chin. “You should try it. You’d like it, I think.”
“Maybe,” Meg said. In truth, she was definitely curious about the experience and had considered what it might be like on more than one occasion. The problem was it seemed such an intimate thing, and Meg felt like she had scarcely been with anyone long enough, or seriously enough, to even broach the subject. But now with Sasha, that wasn’t the case. Hmm.
Tracy interrupted her thought. “What happened at the dentist?”
“Wait till you hear this one.” Meg set up the story. “So, I go to the dentist and I’m sitting in the chair waiting. Checking out the random artwork on the wall, the weird machines, and who strolls in but Reina Ramirez. She’s doing my cleaning.”
“Reina is your dental hygienist?”
“Apparently.”
“You didn’t know that before you made your appointment?”
“I’ve never been to this dentist before.”
Serious Potential Page 23