by Laura Conway
She could do this. She could walk up to her and ask her to dance. That was completely normal. Wasn’t it?
Spencer went out into the bar area, and a few people were already on the dance floor, most of them moving to the music on their own, without a partner.
She wiped her palms down the sides of her black pants and swallowed down her nerves as she crossed the room. Matt and Jay were both getting up. They must have spotted her. Jay headed for the restrooms, and Matt went to the bar while Delaney remained in the booth, her eyes meeting hers as she got closer.
Spencer held her gaze. “Hey,” she said with a smile. “Do you want to dance?”
The seconds dragged on as Spencer waited for a response, but Delaney returned her smile. “Sure,” Delaney said as she slid out of the booth.
Spencer wanted to reach for her hand, but she didn’t. She wasn’t going to rush this. She had no idea if Delaney was just being polite or if maybe she was ready to forgive her.
They found a spot at the edge of the dance floor, away from everyone else, and Delaney took Spencer’s hands in hers as they started to move to the music. Delaney pulled her under for a turn, catching her arm around her waist and moving into another spin.
Spencer’s hair flew across her face as she spun, and she ran her hand through it between turns, pushing it away from her face. Delaney’s arm was around her waist again, and Spencer tried to etch this moment into her memory. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this free, this happy.
When one song finished and faded into the next, they were both breathless. Spencer held onto her hand, leaning in so that Delaney could hear her over the music.
“Do you want to go up to the roof?” Spencer asked, Delaney’s silky blond hair tickling her nose.
Delaney nodded, her hand on the small of Spencer’s back as they left the dance floor. That simple touch gave Spencer some hope, along with the fact that Delaney was willing to talk.
Spencer’s calves ached as she climbed the last few steps and held open the door for Delaney. The thumping beat of the music downstairs faded as the door swung shut, replaced by the faint sounds of the city below.
Spencer decided to break the ice. She was the one who invited Delaney up here. “I was afraid I’d never see you again,” she said, taking a seat on the wooden picnic bench, resting her back against the table.
“Work was crazy for the last few weeks,” Delaney said, staying where she was, standing a few feet away with a hand on her hip. “And I did need some time which meant not coming here, not bumping into you.”
Spencer wet her lips. Should she just come out and say it? “What did you decide? About us?” Spencer asked, her hands clasped in front of her, her arms resting on her thighs, doing her best to stay calm, to keep her voice level.
Delaney sighed. “I can see where you were coming from. I tried to imagine myself in your shoes, seeing a crush, a movie star or a musician or whatever, and I know I wouldn’t want to come across as a complete fan girl. It’s just unfortunate for you that I have my past and that it was an incredibly sensitive subject.”
Spencer nodded, still unsure of what way this was going to go. Her heart thudded in her chest. She could hear her pulse swishing in her ears.
“But I know that you were genuine,” Delaney said, running her hand across her face. “I can see that now. In the moment, when I realized that you already knew me... I just panicked, and it did take me a week or two to process it all. Matt talked me around too. He tried to get me to see it from your point of view.”
“I am so sorry,” Spencer said, her hands on her knees now. “I wish I had done things differently.”
Delaney shook her head. “It was one of those lose-lose situations. If I’d known you were a fan straight away, I would have distanced myself, thinking you were just like him, trying to befriend me but having ulterior motives. Not telling me definitely jarred me, but I know you. I know what we had, even if it was really new. I know it’s worth coming back to.”
Spencer pushed herself off the bench, hardly believing what she was hearing. “Does that mean...?”
“I missed you. The last month has been so... I don’t know, empty. I’ve been restless. I just haven’t been myself, and I hated not being around you,” Delaney said, giving her a lopsided smile. “I don’t know how you did it. I’m usually so slow to trust people, to let them in.”
“It was the salsa that saved us,” Spencer said with a laugh as she moved to stand in front of Delaney. “It was the chemistry... The fact that we’ve spent half of our time together out on the dance floor, I don’t know. It kept me from making a fool of myself and probably stumbling over my words when we first met. We laughed together that first night, made mistakes together.”
“I didn’t even know you three months ago,” Delaney said, her voice trailing off. “And now, I’m struggling to imagine...”
Spencer held her breath, willing her to say out loud what she thought Delaney was thinking.
“I’m scared,” Delaney said instead. “How did this happen so fast?”
“If it’s any consolation, it’s the same for me,” Spencer said, reaching for her hand. “I mean, I know I used to... That I had a crush on you, but that has nothing to do with meeting you here and getting to know you. That’s totally separate. I have fallen so hard,” Spencer said, swallowing the lump in her throat, “And so fast. The last month has been torture. I’ve just been working, because I hated having time to think, to remember what it was like being around you.”
Delaney brushed a few wisps of Spencer’s hair away from her face as she took a step closer. Spencer’s hand was on Delaney’s hip, the other on her cheek, her thumb caressing Delaney’s skin.
“Why don’t we take it slow?” Spencer asked. “Start over again, maybe go on a few dates, you know, where we talk,” she said, a smile tugging at her lips.
Delaney laughed. Spencer didn’t think she could ever get tired of hearing that sound. “We did kind of do things backwards.”
“There’s no rush.”
“Except that I really want to kiss you.”
Spencer held her gaze. “Then why don’t you.”
Delaney’s lips were on hers in seconds, and Spencer had to suppress a shudder as Delaney’s lips parted against hers. Delaney’s hand slid over Spencer’s neck, her fingertips hot on Spencer’s skin, as the kiss deepened.
Spencer moaned softly as Delaney’s tongue skimmed across her own. She held onto Delaney’s shoulder, not trusting herself to stay upright as she melted into Delaney.
“I missed kissing you,” Spencer breathed when they came up for air, their foreheads touching.
Delaney smiled as she took a step back, shaking her head.
“What’s wrong?” Spencer asked. Every fear she’d had in the last month came rushing back. Was Delaney changing her mind?
“I can’t do slow,” Delaney said, her fingertips lightly running across her lips.
Spencer exhaled. “Fucking hell.”
“Sorry.” Delaney’s hand was on her cheek.
“Don’t be. We’re both probably going to be a little edgy for a while, I’d imagine.”
Delaney nodded.
“So, what does that mean?” Spencer asked.
“Come back to mine,” Delaney said, her voice laced with desire.
Spencer found her hand and led them down the stairs. “Do you want to say ‘goodbye’ to Matt and Jay?” she asked as they returned to the bar.
“Yeah. I’ll just grab my bag and say ‘goodnight.’ Meet you outside in five minutes?”
“Okay.”
Spencer went outside, taking in what just happened as she paced the sidewalk. Delaney was going to give her another chance. She wasn’t going to screw this up. She couldn’t.
*****
The next morning, Spencer rolled onto her back, her eyes opening slowly, goosebumps on her bare arm that was resting on top of the navy sheets. She tucked it underneath, back into the warmth as she moved to get comfortabl
e again, but her half-opened eyes noticed the empty space beside her. Spencer pushed herself up, leaning against the headboard, images of last night fresh in her mind.
She’d lost track of the number of orgasms they’d each had after number five or six, both of them eager to make up for lost time, to show each other that they were serious, that this was real, that this could work.
They’d fallen asleep with Delaney’s arm wrapped around Spencer’s waist, spooning her from behind.
The aroma of coffee and cinnamon wafted down the hall and into Delaney’s bedroom as Spencer fully woke up. She ran her hand through her hair, doing her best to tame it as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her muscles stiff from last night’s activities.
She stretched her arms over her head and went into the bathroom to freshen up. She’d slept better last night than she had in weeks, and it showed. She looked refreshed; her eyes vibrant as she gathered her hair into a loose ponytail.
Delaney was in the kitchen in jean shorts and a white v neck top. Spencer still hadn’t decided which version of Delaney she found most attractive. The casual look was winning. She loved getting to see this side of Delaney, with no makeup and her hair tied back, sunglasses on top of her head.
“Morning,” Delaney said when she saw her entering the kitchen. “Hope I didn’t wake you. I had a craving for pastries,” she said, holding up a brown paper bag. “There’s a bakery two blocks away that does the best cinnamon rolls.”
“They smell amazing.”
“Take a seat. Do you want some coffee?” Delaney asked as she poured herself a cup.
“Please.” Her heart swelled as Delaney sat down beside her with two cups of coffee, and they both ate.
“Are you working later?” Delaney asked.
“No. I have two days off.”
Delaney brought her mug to her lips, her elbows resting on the countertop.
“If you’ve got plans,” Spencer started, but Delaney waved her off.
“Sorry,” Delaney said, “I was thinking about... Well, I was wondering if you’d like to go to this salsa club. You can eat and have a few drinks and then go dancing after. The reviews are really good.”
Spencer rested her chin in her hand as she met Delaney’s eyes. “I’d love to. I thought you were trying to figure out how to get rid of me,” she said, a smile forming on her lips.
“The opposite,” Delaney said with a laugh. “This isn’t really going slow, but...”
“It doesn’t matter.” Spencer reached for her hand, covering it with her own. “As long as we’re honest with each other, we can move as slow or as fast as we see fit. We don’t have to decide ahead of time.”
“I know. Sorry.” Delaney said, leaning in to brush her lips across Spencer’s. “I haven’t been great at relationships.”
Spencer’s eyes fluttered open as she processed those words. “So... We’re... Are we?” she asked, motioning between the two of them.
“Aren’t we?”
“Yes,” Spencer said, still too stunned to form a sentence. “Yeah.”
Delaney pushed herself off the stool, coming around behind Spencer, her hands on her shoulders, gently massaging them. “Come shower with me,” she said, her voice low and husky as she placed feather kisses across the nape of her neck.
Spencer suppressed a shiver, her body tingling, pulsating with desire as she leaned back into Delaney.
“Come on,” Delaney said, and Spencer didn’t need to be told twice.
Spencer followed her down the hallway, her eyes lingering on Delaney’s jean clad ass, a smile on her lips as she realized this was the first time she’d ever considered herself lucky.
Epilogue
Delaney put her feet up on the coffee table, her laptop balanced on top of her thighs as she reread the words she’d spent the last two hours writing. Even though she’d finished up with Matt and the rest of the writing team about a month ago, she wanted to keep working through their break. She had a few freelance projects lined up to keep her busy until they got back together again to write what was more than likely going to be their final season.
A knock at the door broke her concentration. Delaney left the laptop on the couch as she got up and answered it. There was only one person it could be at 11:40PM on a Wednesday night.
“Hey,” Delaney said, holding the door open for Spencer. “I should really give you a key.”
“Hi,” Spencer said, leaning in to kiss her lightly. “I wouldn’t say ‘no’ to that. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No.” Delaney followed her into the living room. “I was finishing up,” she said, motioning to the laptop as she shut it.
“I’ve got some news,” Spencer said, barely containing her smile.
“Oh yeah?” Delaney sat down again, putting the laptop on the coffee table to make room for Spencer, but she paced the hardwood floor instead.
“Karen’s retiring. At the end of October. She wants me to take over,” Spencer said with a grin.
“What? That’s fantastic.”
“I can’t believe it,” Spencer said, running her hand through her hair. “She never talked about it. She just brought it up today, out of nowhere and asked me if I was interested.”
“I assume you said ‘yes?’”
Spencer nodded. “I always wondered what I’d be doing in my thirties or forties. You know, that I couldn’t be a bartender forever. But this is perfect. I mean, I’ve already learned so much from her over the years. Plus, I’ve got my own ideas.”
“The salsa classes went well,” Delaney said, her lips tugging into a smile. “That was a pretty good idea.”
“Only pretty good?” Spencer asked as she came over to the couch and swung one leg over Delaney, straddling her waist.
Delaney’s hands moved to Spencer’s black pants, sliding over her thighs and around to her ass as Spencer leaned in, brushing her lips across Delaney’s.
Spencer pulled away just as Delaney was about to deepen the kiss. “I don’t know. I thought it was a genius move, those salsa classes,” Spencer murmured, her lips hovering above Delaney’s.
“Hmm.” Delaney met Spencer’s honey brown eyes. They were sparkling with mischief. “I did meet this amazing woman there.”
“Oh? Tell me all about her,” Spencer said, smiling into the kiss, and Delaney wrapped her arms around her, knowing she was exactly where she was supposed to be.
Thank you!
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Laura Conway