by Amy DeMeritt
“I had a feeling you were keeping something from me.” Mel lightly bumped her with her shoulder, making Layla release another laughing sob. “When’s she moving in?”
“Whenever it’s possible.”
Mel laughed at Layla using her own words. She took a sip of whiskey, then inhaled deeply through her nose.
“Guess I’m not trailing miles behind you anymore.”
“It was never a race, Mel. But I’m really glad you and Katie were able to make it work. When are you meeting each other’s families, or have you not talked about that yet?”
“No, we have. We were waiting till after the server swap is completed. Katie’s pretty nervous about how her parents will behave. They basically just tolerate that she’s gay, but they’re not shy about cracking jokes or making belittling comments about it. And because of our work relationship, she thinks they’ll be even worse.”
“At least she feels safe introducing you.” Layla sighed as she lifted her glass to take a long drink of her whiskey. “Blake keeps telling me she’s not afraid to meet my mom, but I don’t want to put her through that. You know how horrible she is.”
“I do, but I don’t regret meeting her. Some people don’t need to know that manure is used to grow great produce and beautiful flowers. But some of us like that knowledge.”
Layla’s bottom lip trembled for a moment as she looked into Mel’s sincere eyes, then laid her head on her shoulder.
“I love you, Mel. I can’t believe we’re not going to be living together anymore. I mean, I knew it would happen eventually.” She lifted her head off of Mel’s shoulder, and her voice cracked as she said, “You have to make me a promise.”
“Okay.”
“I know it would be unrealistic to see each other every day, but I need to see you at least once a week.”
“Deal. Do you want me to wait for a little bit to make sure you really like living with Blake?”
“That’s not necessary. But you don’t have to rush to move if you’re not ready.”
“No, I’m ready. I really want to live with Katie. I just want to make sure Blake can really take care of you. Is she going to be able to help you wake up for work every morning, even when she works late? I mean, I know she’s done it when you’ve spent the night together during the week. But can she handle it for the long haul?”
Layla smiled as she leaned in to kiss Mel’s cheek. “You are going to be such an amazing mom one day. I can’t wait to see you fuss over your kids the first time they try to ride a bike, or on their first day of school. And you are just going to freak out when they leave home for college or when they get their first apartment.” Tears broke over the rim of Mel’s eyes, which she quickly swiped away with her shirt sleeve. “Blake’s good for me, Mel. She’s in this for the long haul.”
“She better be, or I’ll…”
“Pay someone to kick her ass?” They both laughed and Layla kissed her cheek again. “Guess what.”
“Blake knocked you up and that’s why she’s moving in.”
Layla laughed hard and slapped her arm. “Shut up. You know I’m not doing that till I’m married. But it is about Blake. She put her notice in with the club. After next weekend, she’ll only be working at the restaurant.”
“Damn. Does that mean we’re not going to get free drinks anymore? Oh, wait, she never gave me any free drinks.”
Layla laughed and slapped her arm again. “Shut up. You know those drinks come out of their tips if they do that.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. So, if next weekend is her last weekend working, does that mean she’s going to 80’s Night with us at the end of the month?”
“Yes.” Layla bit her bottom lip with a big grin. “I can’t wait to be able to dance with her. Have you decided what your costume is going to be?”
“David Bowie in the Labyrinth, and Katie’s going as Joan Jett.”
Layla whistled. “That’s going to be a hot couple.” She grinned, and asked, “Are you going to wear a strap-on or pack your underwear?”
“What the hell for?”
“Mel! Come on! David Bowie had a giant ass bulge in that movie! The bulge is one of the most iconic parts of his look as the Goblin King.”
“I am not wearing a strap-on out in public.”
“Why? You worried you’ll fuck Katie in the club’s bathroom if you do?”
Mel’s face spread into a cocky smile, and she countered, “I don’t need a strap-on for that. But I would also never do that in a public bathroom.”
“Then there’s no reason you can’t wear one. It’s not like you’d be the only person at the club wearing one. And I bet Katie would think it’s hot.”
“No, she wouldn’t.”
“Text her right now.”
“No, I’m not going to…”
“Fine.” Layla reached for her own cellphone on the coffee table. “I’ll ask her since you’re a chicken.”
“No, fine, I’ll do it. You are so weird sometimes.”
Layla just laughed as she took her empty glass and hopped up from the couch. “I’m going to get us a little more while you do that.”
It took Mel a few minutes to type the message because she had to fill her in about her conversation with Layla about moving. Then she ended the message with Layla’s crazy idea about the strap-on.
Katie: I’m laughing and smiling so hard right now. First, I’m so happy to know the plan for you to move in will happen sooner rather than later. And about the strap-on… Yes, I would support that decision if you felt comfortable doing it.
Mel: But would you think it’s hot?
Katie: Only if you’re comfortable and confident. If you felt ashamed or awkward, I would take it off of you. Your confidence is really sexy.
Mel: Good to know. I’ve never worn one in public, so I don’t know how I’d feel about it.
Katie: The bathroom has trashcans if you decide it’s not for you, Mel.
Mel: That would be wasteful, but I guess that’s an option.
Katie: You have time to think about it. Would you like to have dinner over here one night so all of us can discuss the moving plans and settle on a date?
Mel: Yeah, that would be nice. Let me ask Layla if she knows what night Blake would be available.
“Katie said wearing the strap-on would only be hot if I felt comfortable and confident in it.”
“That’s respectable. I agree.”
“She also asked if you and Blake would be interested in dinner at her place so we can discuss the moving plans.”
Layla’s eyes misted over and she nodded as she moved closer to Mel. “Yeah, we should do that. Okay, get off with her. I want to snuggle and watch a movie with my best friend while I still have you here.”
“Okay.”
After she explained to Katie why she needed to go and told her goodnight, Mel set her phone aside and lifted her arm so Layla could lay on her chest. As she wrapped her arms around her, she kissed the top of her head, and Layla squeezed her tightly around her waist.
“Just so you know, you’re still my favorite platonic human.”
Layla sighed, and quietly answered, “Ditto. Forever and always.”
After a few minutes of silently holding each other and trying not to break down, Mel asked, “You’re going to turn my bedroom into a home gym, aren’t you?”
Layla laughed hard, then lifted her head biting her bottom lip. “That’s a possibility. Blake works out a lot. She has a weight bench and some dumbbells. I love watching her lift weights. It’s so fucking hot.”
“I fucking knew it.”
“Do you plan on taking your furniture since Katie’s house is already furnished and gorgeous?”
“I haven’t thought about it, but I guess there wouldn’t be any point. I might need to take my desk, or buy a new one that would match her décor better.”
“If you’re going to leave most of your furniture, we might just keep it as a guest bedroom. Or we could make it a multi-purpose room or somethi
ng. I don’t know. Blake and I haven’t talked about it because I figured you’d still be living here when she moved in.”
“Where the hell was her weight bench going?”
“Uh.” Layla bit her bottom lip, then pointed to the dining room area. “Right there.”
“Oh, hell no, Layla! That will not work. How are we supposed to…?”
Layla fell forward laughing hard, making Mel’s face scrunch up in a deep pouty scowl. “I’m just messing with you. I was going to make room for it in my bedroom. But if you’re moving, what does it matter what we do with it?”
“Ouch.” Mel grabbed her chest. “That hurt. I’m wounded. I feel like an old, worn out sneaker you’ve just chucked in the garbage.”
“Oh, stop being so dramatic. You know damn well I’m going to miss you. You’re a part of me – one of the best parts of me. I have another promise you have to make me.
“Okay.” Mel’s jaw quivered as her eyes flooded with tears. “What is it?”
“If you and Katie have a fight or things get hairy at work because of your relationship, you come straight to me – not to a bar. I don’t ever want you going into that dark place again. Promise me.”
“I promise, Layla. You’re my rock and always will be.”
Layla sighed as she laid her head on Mel’s shoulder. After a couple of minutes of silence, she said, “I think I’m going to marry Blake.”
“Yeah, I could see that. She’s pretty great.”
Layla lifted her head with fresh tears in her eyes and kissed Mel’s cheek. “Thanks. Katie’s pretty great too.”
“Yeah, she is. I’m going to make her my wife and the mother of my children.”
“I can’t wait to see you walk down the aisle in a white dress with a long train and…”
Mel’s head fell back with a loud bursting laugh. “You’re crazy. You know damn well I’m not wearing a dress.” Mel’s jaw split in a deep yawn, and she quickly covered it with a hand. “Shit, I’m getting sleepy.”
“You can’t go to bed yet.”
Mel released an exhausted sounding laugh as she tilted her wrist to look at her watch. “It’s late and you fed me at least three shots worth of whiskey. And I have to be up extra early for work tomorrow.”
“I know, but how many more nights are we going to have together? At least stay up with me till Blake gets here. She said they weren’t that busy and were just waiting on a few tables to clear out, so she should be getting off soon.”
“Okay.” Mel squeezed Layla’s shoulder and kissed her forehead. “I’ll stay up as long as you want.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll ask Blake to make sure you get up. And I’ll even ask her to tell you bats are hanging above your head.”
Mel chuckled and squeezed Layla’s shoulder again. “Sounds like a solid plan. You think it would permanently scar my children if I have to use that trick with them to get them out of bed for school?”
“Just don’t use zombies and I think the little boogers will be okay.”
“You know we’ve talked like this at least a hundred times about kids and marriage, but this is the first time both of us are really in a position to make all of it happen.”
Layla smiled really big, then jumped up and yanked Mel up from the couch. While holding each other’s hands, they danced around the living room, laughing and bursting with happiness.
Just over three months ago, they went to the dance club with one mission – to have a good time with their friends and help Mel relax before she met her new boss. But the universe had other plans. Seemingly by chance, they both met two incredible women, fell in love, and are now planning separate futures. Well, partly separate. After eight years of loyal friendship, they knew they’d do anything to remain close, even if they weren’t living together. They were, after all, each other’s favorite platonic humans and always would be.
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~ Amy DeMeritt
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