by Jamey Moody
“What did you do?”
“I was so distracted, I asked Laura if she would mind going somewhere else.”
“I see. Did Olivia see you?”
“I don’t think so. I wonder how she’s doing. Have you talked to her?” Frankie shook her head, “You don’t have to answer that, I know you’re her friend.”
“Frankie, I’m also your friend! You’re one of my best friends!”
She smiled, “Thanks Stella, I didn’t want you to betray a confidence.”
“We’ve texted a few times. I wanted to see how her training is going. She was concerned about it when she left. She sure is committed to that triathlon.”
“I know. I’m so proud of her.”
“Yeah, me too. All we talked about was training and her job. Frankie, let me give you something to think about. When Laura broke up with you, did you ever think about what could’ve been? What your life would look like if she hadn’t? And have you thought about what your life would be like with Olivia?”
“Hmm.”
“Don’t answer me. Just give it some thought, maybe it will help your confusion.”
“Okay.”
Chapter 14
Olivia walked into the hotel bar and found her friends at a table.
“We made it to the weekend!” said Jenna.
Olivia sat down and blew out a breath, “I wasn’t sure we’d make it Lucy, but we did”
Lucy laughed, “I hope you don’t mind but I ordered for you.”
“I don’t mind at all.”
“I’d say it’s been a good week. You’re turning things around at work.”
“We are getting there. With Wes on board now I think it may work out.”
“Your ideas are so good! And the way you talk with the clients is incredible. You make them feel heard.”
“You know Lucy, you do the same thing. I saw you with that couple yesterday.”
“Thanks. I’m learning from you.”
“I know we don’t like to talk work at our happy hours, but you can do what I’m doing, Lucy.”
“What? That’s what Wes is doing.”
“I know, but keep up the good work and I’ll be telling Elizabeth about the excellent assistant here. Your designs and changes are just as good as mine.”
Lucy sat back, obviously surprised, “Thanks Olivia, I really appreciate that.”
Olivia smiled, “Ok, enough work talk. How are you Jenna?”
“I’m glad it’s Friday, too. What are your weekend plans? Are you two working?”
Olivia frowned at Lucy, “I need to go in for a little while tomorrow.”
“I know, I do too.”
“And I have a bike ride and run after that.”
“Let’s go to dinner tomorrow night then,” said Jenna.
“You two go, I’m house hunting after work. My realtor has lined up a couple of prospects for me.”
“How exciting! How about you Olivia, dinner?”
“Sure. Couldn’t you meet us after you look?” she asked Lucy.
“We’ll see, but you two should go.”
***
Olivia walked into the lobby and spotted Jenna waiting on her. She smiled as she walked toward her.
“Hey, you look beautiful.”
“Thanks,” Olivia got the impression this might be a date. “You look good yourself.”
“I got us a car because I want to drink more than one glass of wine tonight. How about you?”
“That does sound good.”
They were quiet in the car. It wasn’t awkward, more of a comfortable silence.
“Where are we going?” asked Olivia.
“There’s a nice restaurant not far from here I’ve been wanting to try, but I didn’t want to go by myself.”
“I know what you mean.”
The car pulled into the parking lot and they went in. Olivia felt Jenna’s hand softly on her back as they were seated.
“How was your ride today?”
“It was good. I borrowed a bike from one of the workers at the site. It was so nice to get outside. I’ve been using the exercise bike in the fitness center and it just isn’t the same.”
The waiter walked up to take their drink order.
“Would you mind splitting a bottle of wine?” said Jenna.
Olivia considered, raising her eyebrows, “Okay, that sounds fine.”
Jenna placed the order and looked at Olivia, “You have the softest brown eyes tonight.”
This surprised Olivia, “Tonight?”
“Yes, I think it’s because you’re relaxed. That mind of yours is usually on that subdivision and your eyes are more intense. Tonight they’re soft.”
“Well, thank you. I don’t think anyone has ever told me that.”
“So, who is missing you back home?”
“If you mean someone special, I doubt anyone. Maybe my best friend.”
“What do you mean, you doubt it?”
Olivia considered her situation with Frankie. Jenna had been nothing but kind to her all week and interested in how her project was going.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” she said.
“You didn’t. I’m in the middle of a... I don’t know what to call it. I was sort of seeing this woman but her ex has come back in the picture.”
“Sort of?”
“We’ve been out several times, but only on one real date, I guess. Anyway, her ex was getting married and called off the wedding at the last minute because she wanted her back.”
“Wow, that is a situation.”
“I decided to back away so she could see if there was anything left with ex. I didn’t want either one of us to get hurt later down the road if she still had unresolved feelings for her.”
“Hmm, from what I know of you, Olivia and I’m not trying to be, well... she’d be crazy to let you get away.”
Olivia smiled, “Thanks for saying that.”
Their waiter came back with the wine and they ordered their meals.
“What about you? Who’s waiting on you?”
“No one. My wife died a year ago.”
“Oh my gosh, Jenna. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. I never thought I’d be a widow at thirty-five, but here I am. Anyway, I’m working through the grief.”
"That must be so difficult. Do you mind if I ask what happened?”
“Not at all. It was an accident - a car wreck. But we’ve established that no one is waiting for me and probably no one for you, so let’s drink another glass of wine and enjoy this good food.”
Olivia grabbed the wine and filled both their glasses. Their food came and the meal was delicious, and so was the conversation. Jenna was easy to talk to and they had a lot in common.
When they returned to the hotel Jenna said, “What about a night cap?”
“May as well, but I’m already a little tipsy.”
“Me too,” Jenna said laughing.
They went to the bar and Olivia looked around, “I don’t see Lucy. I wonder if she found a house.”
“I hope so, she’s tired of living in this hotel.”
“Do you get tired of it? Traveling and hotels?”
“I hadn’t because it made things easier at home. But I’m feeling stronger and may try to cut back some. So, what are you doing tomorrow? More training?”
“All I have to do is get in a twenty-minute swim then I may sit by the pool all afternoon.”
“That sounds inviting.”
“Why don’t you join me.”
“Let me know when you’re through with your swim and I’ll come down.”
They finished their drinks and walked to the elevators. When they got in Jenna hit the button for Olivia’s floor. Jenna was on the floor below her.
“Aren’t you stopping at your floor?”
“No. I asked you to dinner so I’m walking you home like a proper person should.”
“Aww, that’s nice, but I think I can make it.” The elevator doors ope
ned on Olivia’s floor.
“After you,” Jenna said holding her hand over the door.
Olivia fished her phone out of her purse and found the app to open her door.
“Thanks for a nice evening, Olivia.” She leaned over and kissed Olivia’s cheek.
“Thank you, Jenna. It was fun.”
They looked into one another’s eyes and Jenna leaned in again, placing her lips lightly on Olivia’s. She backed away, “I’ll see you tomorrow at the pool.” Then she walked back to the elevator.
Olivia walked into her room wondering what just happened. She was tipsy, but she didn’t see that coming.
***
One thing Olivia loved about swimming was the quiet. As she stroked across the pool, she had to concentrate on turning her head to get a breath, but she could also think. And all she could think about was Jenna. They had a wonderful evening with dinner and drinks, and when Jenna walked her to her room, she thought it was nice. The kiss on the cheek was sweet, but the brief kiss on the lips - though soft and inviting - was also questioning.
She chuckled to herself, Sofia would tell her to go for it. Olivia had never been the one-night-stand kind of girl, but Sofia would say it’s an out-of-town-for-work fling. For god’s sake have a little fun. But she knew she wouldn’t. Because of Frankie. Deep down, she felt like her connection with Frankie was stronger than what Frankie and Laura had. She liked Jenna, and if her heart didn’t belong to Frankie, then she would’ve kissed her back.
She touched the end of the pool and brought her head up wiping the water from her eyes. A pair of feet were right in front of her, and they belonged to a very shapely pair of legs. She looked up into Jenna’s smiling face. She had on a one-piece swimsuit that hugged her curves and the vee in her top showed off her cleavage and the tops of her perfectly round breasts. Her shoulders were strong and tanned and she had her hair up in a messy bun. Olivia’s heart may belong to Frankie, but she could appreciate a beautiful woman.
“Are you finished? I didn't want to interrupt your workout, but I couldn’t stay inside one more minute and waste this beautiful day.”
“Just done.”
“Mind if I join you?”
“Not at all, the water is great.”
Jenna slowly walked down the stairs into the pool knowing exactly what she was doing.
Olivia smiled, shaking her head slightly, “You look very nice.”
Jenna looked at her feigning shyness, “Thanks. How’d you sleep?”
Still smiling. “Not bad, you?” Olivia said playing along.
Jenna tilted her head, “I woke up in the middle of a very good dream.”
“Hmm, want to share?”
She leveled her sparkling blue eyes at Olivia as they darkened slightly, “I would let you guess, but I’m sure you have a pretty good idea.”
Olivia chuckled, “Jenna, are you trying to seduce me?”
Again, she tilted her head, “Is it working?”
This time Olivia’s smile grew and she covered her face, “If I didn’t have someone back home, yes, it’s working and it probably wouldn’t be long until we ended up in one of our rooms for the rest of the day.”
“Now that would be amazing.”
“It would, but you know, the girl back home.”
Jenna looked at her questioningly, “But is there really someone back home?”
“Yeah, there is. And I’ve fallen for her. You are one beautiful, sexy woman Jenna and I wouldn’t be able to resist otherwise.”
“Thanks Olivia, I haven’t had an inkling about being with someone else until I met you. Maybe it’s time.”
“Wow, that’s quite a compliment.”
“I may not stop trying, I still have a few days before you leave.”
“You are doing wonders for my self-image.”
“What? You don’t love yourself?”
“I like myself a lot more now than I did a few months ago. That’s how I met Frankie, the girl back home. Well, I shouldn’t say girl, she’s quite a woman.”
“So how did you two meet?”
“I had gained weight and was out of shape. This gym was running a special and I went for a tour and she’s one of the owners. I didn’t think there was any way she’d ever be interested in me because I was stuck on my appearance and how it made me feel.”
“She’d be crazy not to be interested in you!”
“Well, as I began to take classes, of course I lost weight, but the biggest change has been inside and how I feel about myself. I’ve taken on challenges I wouldn’t even have thought about doing before and it’s shown me my own self-worth. I’d lost sight of that.”
“Oh Olivia, I haven’t known you long but it’s obvious you are a very talented woman. And before you say anything, I mean that as hopefully your friend, not someone that wants to spend the afternoon in your room. However incredible that would be.”
Olivia chuckled, “Thanks Jenna, I hope we’re friends too.”
“We need to make a deal.”
“A deal? What kind of deal?”
“If something happens when you get back home and that woman, Frankie, is an idiot. Promise me you’ll give this a chance,” Jenna said pointing back and forth between them.
Olivia smirked at her and narrowed her eyes, “If something like that happened, I’d be an idiot not to take you up on that deal.” She swam over and extended her hand. They shook on it.
“What are two shaking on?” said Lucy putting her things down and jumping in the pool, splashing them both.
“Hey, watch where you’re jumping!”
“It’s a swimming pool, you’re supposed to get wet.”
They all laughed.
“So, what’s with the handshake?”
“A little negotiating for later in the week. Did you find a house?” asked Jenna.
“I think so,” she said bobbing up and down in the water.
“Tell us about it,” said Olivia.
“I’ll do you one better. After our swim I’ll take you to it, it’s not far.”
“Can we get in?”
“Yeah, the realtor is having an open house today. Now, I want to know about your date last night.”
“Date!” Olivia and Jenna both said surprised.
“Oh come on. Two beautiful women, dressed up, nice restaurant, it’s a date.”
“How do you know we were dressed up?” asked Olivia.
“I may have seen you leave the hotel.”
“Where were you?” asked Jenna.
“I may have been in the parking lot coming back to the hotel.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Like I said, you were dressed up, smiling, and I didn’t want to be a third wheel.”
Olivia and Jenna exchanged a look.
“Uh huh, so how was it?”
Olivia looked at Jenna then Lucy and said, “We had a lovely time.”
“Aw, I’m so glad. You two are perfect for one another.”
Jenna chuckled, “Not exactly.”
“What? Why?”
“There’s a lucky someone waiting back home for Olivia.”
“Really. How did I not know that? She can’t be very special if you’ve been here a week and haven’t mentioned her,” Lucy said pinning Olivia with a look.
Jenna jumped in, “It’s complicated, Lucy. Give the woman a break. You are working for her, remember.”
“Sorry, you’re right, Jenna. That was out of line Olivia. I apologize.”
“No problem Lucy. I wasn’t aware that matchmaker was on your resume.”
“It’s not, that was all the two of you. I simply stepped back.”
“Okay, enough. Let’s go see this house of yours.”
“Meet in the lobby in half an hour,” said Lucy.
Chapter 15
Frankie watched Grace get out of her car and walked to meet her, handing her a leash with a cute little terrier attached.
“This is Octavia. Who comes up with these names?�
�
“Well, I think it’s perfect,” Grace said, bending down to pet the dog’s head. “And who do you have?”
“This is Virginia. Apparently these two were brought in close together and became friends.”
“They’re little cuties. Maybe you should adopt them.”
“You know, if my life wasn’t so messed up right now, I might consider it.”
“So, what’s so messed up, as you call it?”
“I feel like I’m paying you to talk about my love life. That’s what brought me to you and now that’s what’s messed up.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little more than that? You’ve got friends you can talk to about your love life with, but I’m pretty sure you don’t talk about your feelings.”
“I don’t, I talk about my confusion.”
“How are things going with Laura?”
“We’ve been on a couple of dates and met for drinks.”
“How did it go?”
“Not bad I guess, it was awkward at first, but it’s better now.”
“And Olivia? Have you seen her?”
“She’s been out of town working. But I did see her before she left.”
“How did that go?”
“It’s hard because I have feelings for her.” She paused then, “But, the night I was on a date with Laura I saw Olivia in the same restaurant. What are the odds that would happen?”
“Really. Did you talk to her?”
“No. It looked like she was on a date. I guess backing away means she’s dating other people.”
“Hmm, from what you’ve told me about her, that doesn’t sound like something she would do .”
“Why wouldn’t she though? I was so distracted we left the restaurant before Laura knew what was happening.”
“Let’s go back to Laura and when you two were together. Now don’t take this the wrong way, but what do you think made her leave?”
“She wanted a man.”
“But that’s not true because she wants you back. What was happening in your relationship that made her unhappy or think about someone else.”
They walked for a bit while Frankie thought about this. “I don’t really know.”
“Surely you two talked when she told you about the affair.”