Too Late... I Love You

by Archer, Kiki

  Connie’s giggles turned to nervous shudders as they crept side by side in the pitch darkness. “Your perfume smells lovely,” she said, unable to ignore that her working senses now appeared to be on high alert.

  “So does your hair,” whispered Maria.

  Connie laughed. “My hair?”

  “Yes, I swallowed some last time I shushed you.”

  “You did not.”

  “I did, and I can’t tell you what your perfume smells like because your neck’s always impregnable.”

  Connie laughed. “Do you want to impregnate my neck?”

  “Sometimes.”

  The whisper was flirtatious. “I could always hold back my hair for you?”

  “Now?”

  “If you want?” Connie stood still, listening to the dark. “Or we could just keep walking?”

  “No I…” Maria reached out and found Connie’s shoulders, walking her hands down her arms until she was grasping Connie’s wrists. “I want to.”

  Connie gasped as she was gently pushed back, her body against the hard foam wall of the tunnel. She moaned as she felt Maria’s lips against her ear.

  “It’s lovely,” came the whispered conclusion.

  “So’s yours,” managed Connie, willing Maria closer, wanting to feel her body, desperate for more.

  Maria released Connie’s wrists, keeping her lips against her ear. “You need to lead this,” she said.

  “Lead what?”

  “This. Pull me closer.”

  Connie closed her eyes, her body screaming out for Maria’s, but her hands were unable to move.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Moments are missed when we take time to think.” Maria stepped away from her.

  “Wait, no.”

  “Come on.” She took hold of Connie’s hand and pulled her round the next corner. “Oh my good god!” she gasped, her eyes drawn to the light at the end of the tunnel.

  “What?”

  Maria drew Connie forward so she could get a view of the ball pit. “That!”

  Connie swallowed a squeal and pulled back into the shadows. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  Maria peeped out once more. “How the hell is that possible?”

  “They obviously don’t miss moments, do they?” Connie couldn’t help but look once more at Crusty and Earth Mother, squashed into the multi-coloured ball pit, sharing a passionate embrace.

  Maria flinched. “I love women kissing, but that could turn me straight.”

  Connie peeped out with one eye. “Oh god, they’re really going for it.”

  “Don’t look.” She pulled Connie back into the tunnel. “It’ll put you off.”

  “Off what?”

  “Kissing women.”

  “I’m straight.”

  “You’re straight-ish.”

  Connie frowned. “What do you—”

  “Muuuuuuuuuuuuuumeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!”

  “That’s Noah!” Connie pointed at the ball pit. “I can get out through there. IT’S OKAY, NOAH, I’M HERE!” she shouted, racing out of the darkness and into the balls, wading as best she could through the pit. “Hi, sorry, hello,” she said, stepping over the legs of the women. Then Maria appeared, following Connie with the same words of apology.

  “Hi, sorry, can I just step over you there, sorry.”

  Crusty and Earth Mother stayed seated amid the balls in stunned silence.

  “I’M IN THE BALL PIT, NOAH!”

  Noah and Alice appeared at the side entrance before Connie had time to traverse the cargo net and pull herself free.

  “Lucas bit Liss!” gasped Noah, face against the netting.

  Alice rubbed her arm. “Lucas bit me.”

  Connie tried to haul herself up, slipping and falling into the balls.

  “Hold on,” she said, trying once more.

  “Let me give you a hand,” said Maria, trying to push Connie up by the legs.

  Alice nodded. “I’m okay. Come on, Noah. Pirates!”

  “Piraaaaaaaaaaaaaates!” shouted Noah, racing away from his struggling mother.

  Maria tried to keep a straight face as Connie slipped once more. “We can crawl out there if it’s easier,” she said, pointing to another exit.

  Connie laughed at her own helplessness. “The tunnel’s probably easier.” She turned back around, stepping once more over the still tangled legs. “Hi, sorry, just coming through again.”

  “Me too, sorry,” said Maria, trying to ignore the white faces of Earth Mother and Crusty.

  “It’s… It’s that little girl.” Earth Mother was using the netting to pull herself into an upright position. “Tabitha.”

  Connie paused, sure that someone had spoken.

  “From playgroup,” continued Earth Mother. “Lucas got bitten and now he’s started to bite.” She nodded. “I’ll speak to him now.”

  Connie caught the last bit. “Thank you.”

  Crusty, whose nervous giggle was getting louder and louder, stood up. “Are we all going out through the tunnel?”

  Maria nodded and led the awkward procession of women. “Looks that way.”

  “I’m Clare, by the way,” giggled the voice in the darkness.

  “And I’m Bertha.”

  Connie made a mental note, pairing each voice to its owner. Crusty Clare and breastfeeding Bertha. “I’m Connie, Noah’s mum.”

  “And I’m Maria, Alice’s mum,” said Maria as she felt her way along the tunnel walls, leading them out into the light. “Are you two sisters?” she asked.

  Connie couldn’t hide her horrified expression and mouthed her disgust at Maria. “You weirdo!”

  But Bertha nodded. “Yes, yes, sorry, right, I’ll have a word.”

  “Why would you ask if they’re sisters?” gasped Connie as the two women scuttled away. “Sisters who snog? Is that what you’re in to?”

  “They’re wearing matching wedding rings.”

  “Sisters can’t get married!”

  “Exactly. They’re obviously ashamed.”

  “Of being sisters who snog? Wouldn’t you be?!”

  “No, of being together. Lesbians are always asked if they’re sisters, and sometimes it’s just easier to say yes.”

  “And have people thinking you snog your own sister? No it’s not. There’s no way they’re married.”

  “They are. I need to give them a pep talk. It’s fine to say yes to a stranger just to brush them away sometimes, but to say yes to someone who knows you,” Maria shook her head, “that’s not okay.”

  “Maybe they’re worried that you’ll judge them.”

  She smiled. “So I’ll show them they’re wrong. I’ll out myself first. I’ll encourage their confidence.”

  “How will you do that?”

  Maria grinned and wiggled her eyebrows.

  “You’re not getting me involved.”

  “I almost got you involved in the tunnel.”

  Connie cleared her throat and nodded towards the snack bar. “Can I get you a coffee? We need to sit down and discuss the playgroup plan. Phoebe said she’d bring Tabitha back next week.”

  “I’d better warn Bertha.”

  “Bertha sounds wrong. Let’s call her Earth Mother.”

  “We can’t. We’re going to befriend them. We need to use their first names.”

  Connie laughed. “I feel like I’m in the playground plotting different missions with my very best friend.”

  Maria threw her arm over Connie’s shoulder and squeezed. “I’m your best friend? I knew I could do it!”

  Connie shook her off. “I have another word for you. You’re childish.”

  “Good. At least there’s no talk of an age gap.”

  “I’m not childish.”

  “I know, but I’m working on it.” She pointed towards the pirate ship. “I’m just going to check Alice’s arm.”

  Connie watched as Maria danced away, unable to ignore the skipping of her own heartbeat.

  ****

 
Shaking the hand of the final businessman to leave the room, Louise turned back around and made a fist pump in the air.

  “We did it,” she thundered.

  “Well done, you were great.” Karl spoke listlessly from his seat at the head of the large conference table.

  Louise closed the door with her red soled heel and marched towards him. The meeting had been a huge success with Collis & Killshaw landing two new corporate clients and she wasn’t going to let anything dampen her mood. “You could sound more enthusiastic and you could have stood up to see them off.”

  “You were doing that. I didn’t want to crowd them.”

  Louise dropped onto a padded chair and twirled herself round, unbuttoning the neck of her shirt as she went.

  “Who cares, we bagged them!”

  “Yep.”

  “Oh Karl, will you just smile?”

  Karl smiled.

  “Properly!”

  Karl smiled again.

  “You look like you’re shitting.”

  “Oi! What’s got into you?”

  “Take me out for a drink. I think we should celebrate.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, but no funny ideas. I’m seeing someone lovely.”

  “Oh.”

  “Tall, dark,” she smiled, “no nasty stubble.”

  “It’s designer.” He self-consciously scratched his chin and frowned. “You never talk about partners.”

  “Well I might just start.”

  “Must be special then?”

  She paused. “I’m not sure they know it yet, but yes, they are.” Using the table to start her spin once more she whooped loudly into the air. “And just so you know, your stubble’s not designer, it’s a sign of stress.”

  “I’m moving to Manchester. There’s so much to stress about.”

  “Manchester’s not a start-up, it’s a roll out. It’ll be easy.”

  “So why aren’t you doing it?”

  “Because I’m needed here.”

  “And I’m not?”

  Louise stopped spinning and looked at him sternly. “Not with that face on you, no.”

  He checked his watch and shook his head. “It’s too early for drinks.”

  “I’m done for the day. Someone will take me.”

  “Your new fancy man?”

  The teeth smiled widely. “Something like that.”

  “Won’t you miss this?” He lifted his hands to the plush conference room. “Teasing me in here?”

  “Manchester’s two hours away by train. I’ll be coming up at least once a week. This isn’t some life changing relocation where you’ve left London for good.”

  “It might be.”

  “Only if you choose to stay there.” She stood up and tucked the chair back into the table. “We’ve already got the staff infrastructure in place. You’re just adding some gravitas to the opening.”

  He rubbed his face. “You’re sure the flat’s nice?”

  “It’s gorgeous. Overlooking the canals. Have you ever known me to spare expense? It’s another asset to add to Collis & Killshaw.” Louise found her bag and reached for her phone. “You’re taking your stuff up tomorrow?”

  Karl nodded. “I’m travelling after work. I’ll spend the weekend settling in, but I’m back on Friday for that meeting.”

  “My point exactly. We won’t even notice you’re gone.” She smiled. “And you never know…distance could make the heart grow fonder.”

  He watched his colleague tapping away on her phone. “Looks like you’re already distracted.”

  Louise tutted and rolled her eyes. “Connie, Karl. Not me. Connie.”

  ****

  Maria put down her coffee and picked up her phone. “Sorry, it might be work.”

  Connie laughed. “I love how you call it work.”

  “I do work,” she typed quickly, “from a distance.”

  “Anything interesting?” she asked as the phone beeped once again.

  Maria scanned the new message, unable to stifle her laughter. “No, sorry, it’s…”

  “You have to tell me now!”

  Maria tried to straighten her face. “No, someone just sent me a joke.”

  Connie stayed patiently silent. “Come on then.”

  “Sorry no, it’s…”

  “A private joke?”

  “No, a…”

  Blowing on her drink Connie lifted her eyes to the warehouse ceiling. “We might need to readdress this best friends thing.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  “Okay.” She looked over at the bouncy slides where Alice and Noah were demonstrating the different positions they could whizz down in with Noah’s knee skid leading the trials. “I’m going to see if they want any company.”

  Maria laughed. “They don’t. Fine. Someone just messaged me asking me if I had any raisins.”

  Connie frowned. “Raisins?”

  “Exactly. So I obviously replied saying: What? No. Why? And they just put: How about a date then?”

  Connie’s face stayed straight. “I’ve heard that one before.”

  Maria laughed. “I haven’t.”

  “Well they say humour’s a way to the heart.”

  She put down her phone. “Do they?”

  “Yes, and it looks like she’s almost there.”

  “Who’s she?”

  Connie raised her eyebrows. “Louise I’m guessing?”

  Maria smiled, taking her time with her next question. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

  “No, but you said the date went badly. You said you wouldn’t see her again.”

  “I’m not seeing her again.”

  “But you message each other?”

  Leaning forward and placing her elbow on the table, Maria propped her chin on her fist. “Well this is interesting.”

  “No, I’m just too nosey.”

  “Is that all?”

  “It’s Louise. I’ve got issues with her.”

  “Nothing else?”

  “No.”

  With a sigh Maria returned to her original position. “Oh, that’s a shame.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Nothing, I’m playing with you.”

  Connie stared hard across the table. “Don’t play with me. Ever.”

  “Sorry, I meant I was flirting with you.”

  “No, flirting’s supposed to be fun.”

  “Sorry I…” Maria paused, taken aback by Connie’s reaction. “Seriously, I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I know how you feel about Louise. I was trying to be funny.”

  Connie huffed as her lips twitched, a slight smile betrayed her mood. “Maybe I am a bit jealous.”

  “Says the straight girl.” Maria sipped on her coffee and smiled.

  “Straight-ish.”

  She swallowed quickly and gasped. “You cannot go from bitch slapping me with that death stare of yours to dropping in news of your gayness.”

  “I’m not gay.”

  “Just straight-ish?”

  Connie smiled. “No. I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’ve never even kissed a girl. Our teasing just seems to veer off on crazy not quite straight trajectories. I need to calm down.”

  “As long as you know it’s just teasing and I wasn’t being mean about Louise.”

  Connie glanced down at the floor. “I know. But you’re the one who called me straight-ish first.”

  “Yes, in the tunnel after you made the choice not to kiss me.”

  The snake eyes were back. “I did not!”

  Maria nodded. “You chose not to. It crossed your mind. Just like it did in the doorway, remember, when we were watching them sleep?”

  Connie’s pitch got even higher. “I did not!”

  Maria nodded again. “I’m a pro. I spot these things.”

  “Well I’m a novice and I’m obviously getting things wrong.”

  “Yes, you’re making the wrong choices. You should have kissed me.”

  Connie laughed. “Oh stop it. Y
ou’re not interested in me. You’re playing with me. You said it yourself. Plus I’m going through some issues. I’m clearly confused.”

  Placing her mug on the table, Maria spoke seriously. “You never mention your issues.”

  “Not when I’m with you, no.”

  “Why not?”

  “I don’t know.” She smiled. “They just don’t seem important. But I have to keep reminding myself that this isn’t my real world.”

  “Yes it is.”

  “No it’s not. I can’t spend every day fooling around at Bounce-a-rama.”

  “Yes you can.”

  Connie laughed. “It’s not open tomorrow. Karl’s leaving tomorrow. It’s an issue. I need to address it.”

  “So we’ll do something else.”

  “And Saturday?”

  “We’ll do something Saturday too.”

  “Oh Maria, you’re so kind.”

  “No I’m not. Two minutes ago you tried to gouge out my eyes.”

  Connie laughed. “How many times are you going to bring up the death stare?”

  “Lots, I might be a bit older than you but at least I’ve learnt not to cross you.” She nodded towards the table in the corner where Earth Mother and Crusty were gathering their things. “Oh no, it looks like they’re leaving. I’ll have to save my pep talk for playgroup.”

  “And you want me to take Alice?”

  She nodded. “Yes, just for the first bit. Let Phoebe meet her, show her off for me.”

  “Alice shows herself off.” Connie looked back over at the slides. “She’s an incredible girl.”

  “You know what I mean, and I don’t want you thinking I’m using her, I just want Phoebe to see her objectively for who she is.” She smiled. “The happiest, most talented little lady in the world.”

  “Then you show up and claim all the glory?”

  “That sounds awful. But yes.”

  “It’s a plan.”

  “Right, now for this weekend.”

  “It’s fine. Ryan says he’ll keep me company.”

  Maria lifted her phone and clicked on the browser. “I was thinking the Eagleton in Brighton. It’s five star, right on the seafront. There’s a Sealife Centre close by for the little ones and a nice spa in the hotel for us.”

  “I couldn’t.”

  “You could.”

  “I couldn’t.”

  “Too late.”