Mistaken Identity

by Jay, Donna

  “Come on, let’s get a snack.”

  ***

  Propped up in bed, a platter of grapes, cheese, and crackers between them, Kelly felt like she’d died and gone to heaven. She couldn’t have wished for a better outcome for the evening.

  Looking even more at home in Kelly’s home than she had at the café, if that was even possible, Lucy crunched on a cracker. A crumb disappeared between her cleavage and, as she absently plucked it out, Kelly’s mind flicked back to what Lucy had said earlier.

  “You really have got gorgeous breasts.” Kelly glanced down at her own chest, barely visible through her loose-fitting nightshirt. “What did you mean when you said you were glad I approved? I mean to say, what’s not to like?”

  Lucy took a sip of wine and put her glass on the bedside table. “I had my first bra before I turned twelve. Being heavy chested as a teenager was hell. I can laugh about it now.” She cupped her breasts and jiggled her boobs. Kelly smiled.

  “I used to wear baggy tops but now I refuse to. The ‘girls’ still get a lot of attention, most of it I ignore, but yours I appreciated.”

  Totally able to relate to the angst of being a teenager with body parts that received unwanted attention, Kelly leaned over and planted a kiss on Lucy’s cheek.

  “When I was younger, I hated my backside. At school, I hung out with my best mate, Steve. Friends of his, who assumed we were dating, would make immature comments like, Go, dude. I’d totally tap that. And other inane things like more cushion for the pushin’.”

  Over time, Kelly had learned to ignore the comments and love her body for what it was. Was anyone truly ever happy with how they looked? Kelly doubted it, and, she was eternally grateful that she had all her faculties and limbs. Not everyone was as fortunate.

  “This backside.” Kelly wiggled her bum on the bed “Has the perfect amount of padding for riding my motorcycle.”

  “I’ve never been on a motorbike.” Lucy popped a grape into her mouth and passed the nearly barren bunch to Kelly. “Would you take me for a ride one day?”

  “It would be my pleasure. In fact, I’d planned to make a trip to Wellington to visit my little sis next weekend. Wanna come?”

  A worry line creased Lucy’s forehead and Kelly’s stomach churned. Had she been too presumptuous? Surely not. Lucy had said she wanted to get to know all of her and her sister was an important part of Kelly’s life.

  “I think my arse would be flat as a board if I had to sit astride a bike for two hours straight. Perhaps we could start with a shorter trip.”

  “Oh. yeah.” She had a good point, one Kelly hadn’t thought of. “Never mind. Perhaps you can meet Jo, my sister, some other time.”

  “Hey, don’t sound so dejected. I’d love to come with you.”

  “I don’t have a car.” Kelly picked up the empty platter and set it on her bedside table.

  Caught up in her own misery when her bright idea had come crashing down around her ears, Kelly didn’t even consider the fact they had other options. Until Lucy spoke.

  “Don’t play c...”

  Biting back a smile, Kelly plucked up a pillow and wielded it in the air. “Don’t say it.”

  She tossed the pillow aside, pinned Lucy to the bed, and launched into a full-on tickle attack.

  Giggling, Lucy thrashed about trying to get free. “I was going to say I have a car.”

  “Were not.”

  Kelly kept up the torment until tears streamed down Lucy’s cheeks and she was laughing hysterically.

  “Stop.”

  “Never.” Kelly nipped Lucy’s neck and dug her fingers in deeper. “Take it back. I wasn’t playing coy.”

  “I take it back.” Lucy’s smirked. “You were sulking.”

  Kelly moved the tickling from her stomach to her ribs, upping the ante. Lucy screamed and laughed.

  “Okay, okay. I take it back.”

  “Say it like you mean it.” Glad she wasn’t the one on the bottom, Kelly gave Lucy an evil grin.

  Thrashing about wildly, Lucy said, “Candyfloss.”

  Relenting, Kelly rolled off. “Not fair. That’s not what a safe word’s for.”

  With the back of her hand, Lucy wiped tears from her eyes.

  Kelly stroked her cheek. “Naw, don’t cry.”

  They laughed and called a truce.

  “Come here.” Kelly held her arm out and Lucy snuggled into her side. The bedside clock glowed nine. Kelly hoped her next question didn’t ruin a perfect evening. She considered making a joke and telling Lucy she couldn’t leave because she’d been drinking. But considering Lucy had only had a glass over the last hour and a half, that would be a cop out. So, she stuck to being honest.

  “I’d really like you to stay the night, Lucy.” Kelly put a finger under Lucy’s chin and kissed her softly. “But don’t feel like you have to. I’ll understand if you need to get home.”

  And I’ll be crushed and cry like a baby the minute you walk out the door, Kelly refrained from saying.

  “I’d like that, too,” Lucy replied, her eyes full of warmth.

  Over the moon with happiness, Kelly leapt to her feet. She knew it was immature but couldn’t help herself. Trying to keep her balance on the mattress dipping as she danced in a circle, Kelly fist pumped the air. “Yes, yes, yes.”

  Like an acrobat, she jumped off and gave a bow. “Would Ma’am like a shower?” Kelly extended her hand.

  Shaking her head in amusement, Lucy took it and slid out of bed. “If you promise to wash my back.”

  “Deal.”

  As they walked hand and hand to the bathroom, Kelly briefly considered asking Lucy if she needed to let Paula know she wouldn’t be home. Then she recalled Paula’s terse words from the night of her potluck dinner when Kelly had asked where Lucy was, “Out, she has a life,” and doubted Paula cared.

  Not only that, Kelly didn’t want to ruin the night by opening that can of worms.

  Chapter 19

  The following morning, Kelly awoke before her alarm went off at six-thirty. She didn’t often get up before seven but Lucy had asked her to set it early so she had time to duck home and change before work.

  Rather than let the angry blare of the alarm wake Lucy, Kelly kissed her on the cheek and gave her a gentle shake. “Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead.”

  Groaning, Lucy stretched and rubbed her eyes. “Do I have to.”

  “’Fraid so, we can sleep in tomorrow. I mean you can, and I can. Not necessarily together. Here. In my bed.”

  An eye cracked open, followed by a wide smile. “You’re cute.”

  “I’m rambling.” Kelly hated when she did that, let her insecurities bubble forth.

  She slid out of bed and handed Lucy her clothes after untangling the pant leg still wrapped around the foot of her bed. The image brought a smile to her face.

  “Do you have time for coffee before you have to go?”

  “Always. Especially when the sexiest barista in town offers to make it for me.”

  Seven o’clock rolled around in record time.

  Halfway across the lounge to see Lucy out, Kelly’s phone chirped. She swiped the screen and read the message from Nicole.

  “Forgot something I need for work. Put your pants on, I’m coming home.”

  While trying to formulate a witty reply, out of the corner of her eye, Kelly saw Lucy’s face drop.

  “Hey, what’s that look for?”

  “Do you often have naked women in your bed?”

  Ah, there it was. The barely contained vulnerability that bubbled just below Lucy’s confident exterior. A trait Kelly admired.

  She took Lucy’s hands in her own. “I’ve owned that bed for over a year, and you, Lucy-Lou, are the first woman to spend the night in it, with me, between those sheets.”

  Lucy’s game face slid back on. “Well, in that case, I’m honoured.” She gave Kelly’s hand a squeeze. “Thanks for a great night. I’ll talk to you later.”

  ***

  All day Friday,
Kelly bustled around the café feeling like she was walking on air. She couldn’t recall ever being so smitten. She’d wanted to ask Lucy to come over that night, but also wanted to give her space if she needed it. Just because they had great chemistry didn’t mean they had to be joined at the hip, as much as Kelly wouldn’t mind that.

  When she received a text from Lucy saying, “Staying home tonight, flatmates having friends over for drinks,” Kelly’s heart plummeted.

  Like a slap upside the head, the reality of their situation hit her hard. For obvious reasons, they couldn’t flaunt their relationship for as long as Lucy paid rent to Paula.

  A nauseating sense of guilt clawed at Kelly’s insides .

  That’s what you get when you have to keep your relationship a secret.

  “I’m not doing anything wrong,” Kelly screamed into the wind as she sped home on her motorcycle.

  That night, the frequent text messages Kelly received from Lucy put a smile on her face.

  “Miss you.”

  “Miss you more.”

  “You’re hot.”

  “You’re hotter than a hot fudge sundae.”

  “You’re lame.”

  “You’re lamer than a three-legged donkey.”

  “What? That doesn’t even make sense, go have another drink!”

  Turning her attention back to the movie she’d totally lost the plot of, Kelly put her phone on the chairside table.

  Friday night spent with her besties enjoying a few cold ones, and snacking on pizza, was far from a hardship. And better yet, Jacinta had swapped her Monday shift with Kelly, so Kelly had the weekend off.

  “Care to share.” Steve shielded his eyes. “You’re practically glowing over there.”

  “We were just texting about donkeys.”

  “What?”

  “That’s what Lucy said.”

  In a lightning fast move, Steve snatched Kelly's beer and took a swig.

  When he tried to hand it back, Kelly held her fingers up in a cross. “Ew, boy germs.”

  The television went silent, the picture paused. Nicole raised an eyebrow. “Okay, children. Get it all out, then we can watch the movie.”

  “I want some of what she’s drinking.” Steve pointed like a petulant little brother. “I think she’s on drugs.”

  “It’s called love, babe.” Nicole plucked up a piece of pizza and severed a stringy piece of cheese with her finger.

  “Why don’t you get like that around me? All gooey-eyed and lovey-dovey?”

  “Because you’re an arse and I want a donkey.”

  With a theatrical groan, Steve spread his lanky frame across the floor and slapped his forehead. “Shoot me now. ”

  Nicole winked at Kelly and Kelly high-fived her on the way to the kitchen. Grabbing a cold beer out of the fridge, her mind wandered to Lucy. What would she make of Kelly’s crazy friends?

  ***

  Saturday morning, Kelly had just finished cleaning her motorcycle when Nicole appeared on the porch hollering, “phone.”

  Not wanting her cell phone to get wet, Kelly had left it inside. “Thanks, hun.” She blew Nicole an air kiss, then plucked the phone out of her hand before it stopped ringing.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, it’s me.”

  Hearing Lucy’s sexy voice made Kelly break out in a huge grin. Her skin tingled and her heart skipped a beat.

  Assuming correctly who it was, Nicole mouthed, “Ask if she wants to come with us to mini-golf.”

  Mini-golf? That was news to Kelly, but she wouldn’t miss it for the world. She gave Nicole the thumbs up and turned her attention back to Lucy.

  “Did you sleep well?” Kelly absently ran her toes through a puddle of water under her sparkling clean Triumph.

  It was warming up to be another hot day and she intended to spend every hour she could outdoors enjoying it. If she could do that with Lucy by her side, all the better.

  “I did. I dreamed about a very sweet lady.”

  “Anyone I know?” Kelly asked, picturing Lucy’s alluring smile.

  “Yeah, I think you know her well. Better than me,” Lucy said. “But I’m looking forward to getting to know more about her.”

  Even though it felt weird being referred to in the third person, it was kind of cute, so Kelly played along. “I hear she has a mean golf swing. Care to find out?”

  “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. My work colleagues are still searching for the golf balls I lost at last year’s Christmas function.”

  An image of Lucy taking a huge swing only to watch the golf ball sail off into the trees, never to be found again, made Kelly chuckle.

  “I meant mini-golf. We’re heading to The Putt Hutt on Napier road. You and me can team up against Nicole and Steve. What do you say?”

  Just as Kelly was about to offer to pick Lucy up, Lucy beat her to the punch.

  “Sounds great, I’ll be at yours in ten.”

  A mixture of dread and relief shot through Kelly. She put a hand over her pounding heart.

  Damn, that was close.

  Kelly wasn’t sure how long she could dance around the fact her now girlfriend lived with her ex-girlfriend, and she couldn’t just bowl around and pick her up.

  It was a tricky situation to say the least. On one hand, she wanted to address the topic with Lucy, but at the same time she was at a loss of what to say. It was far too early to have any say in where Lucy should, or shouldn’t, live.

  Hopefully, they would have plenty of time to talk during the four-hour round trip to Wellington next Saturday. But before then, Kelly needed to come up with a way to ask Lucy when she anticipated buying her own home, without being as nosy as to ask how much money she had, and how much more she needed.

  Banishing any negative thoughts, Kelly headed inside to get changed. For the time being, she’d take what she could get.

  ***

  Seventeen holes of golf later, neck and neck, team Nicole and team Kelly stood around the last hole.

  “You go first,” Kelly said to Lucy.

  “Good call.” Steve stepped back, and ushered Lucy forward. “Losers first.” He smirked.

  Kelly waved her golf club at him. “Hey, watch who you’re calling a loser, mate.”

  “There won’t be any losers, just first and second.” Nicole gave Lucy a warm smile and Kelly loved her for it.

  “Great, I get partnered with someone who couldn’t care less whether we win or lose.” Despite Steve’s gruff reply, there was no mistaking the love in his eyes when he draped an arm across Nicole’s shoulders, dwarfing her petite frame .

  By the time Kelly turned back around, Lucy was lining her golf club up. She hit the ball and it puttered up the hill, ran out of steam and rolled all the way back to her feet.

  “That’s one,” Steve said.

  “We can count.” Nicole and Kelly snapped at the same time.

  Steve ran his thumb and forefinger across his lips in a zipping motion.

  “Take your time,” Kelly gave Lucy a reassuring smile.

  “Room please.” Lucy made a shooing motion.

  The light green sundress that clung to her gorgeous curves, fluttered as she lined up her shot, wiggling her hips.

  When Lucy pulled the club back, Kelly held her breath and crossed her fingers she’d get a hole in one.

  The ball shot up the runway, bounced off the backwall, and flew back toward them. All three girls jumped, but Smug Steve didn’t move fast enough. The ball smacked him in the shin.

  “What the f…” He gripped his leg and hopped in a ci rcle, making such a grand show anyone would think it was broken.

  Two young boys with worried looks on their faces pointed. One tugged on the bottom of his father’s shirt to get his attention.

  “Steve, you’re scaring the kids.” Nicole stuck a thumb over her shoulder.

  “Sorry, nothing to see here.” He dropped his foot and rubbed his leg. “Damn that hurt.”

  “I truly am sorry,” Lucy said
, looking and sounding sincere. “I told Kelly, me and small balls don’t get along.”

  Steve’s knees drew together, and Kelly snorted. Lucy had a way of wording things that often made Kelly wonder if they’d been intentional or totally innocent.

  Nicole sidled up next to Lucy and bumped shoulders. “I like you.”

  Smiling broadly, Steve squeezed Lucy’s shoulder. “Me too. You passed the test.”

  Lucy quirked an eyebrow, her gaze locked on Kelly. “I didn’t know I was being tested. ”

  Gaping like a fish, Kelly punched Steve in the shoulder. “It’s not like that. Tell her.”

  “I did. She passed the Steve test. You’re like a sister to me, now I can rest easy that I won’t have to slash your missus’s tyres.”

  “Oh, my goodness.” Eyes wide, Lucy’s hand flew to her mouth. “Paula had a flat tyre this morning.” She narrowed her eyes. “You didn’t, did you?”

  Kelly’s heart jumped into her throat. Her friends were very protective, but she never thought Steve would stoop so low. She folded her arms and levelled her gaze on Steve.

  He flinched as though she’d shot daggers at him. “Shit, no.” He backed up, arms held out in surrender. “I was kidding, honestly. I wouldn’t do something like that.”

  Lucy cocked a finger gun at Steve and winked. “Bang, gotcha.”

  Once again, Kelly’s mouth fell open. Lucy kissed her on the cheek. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to alarm you, but someone has to beat this dude at his own game.

  The look on Steve’s face spoke volumes. Although he tried to act like he hadn’t been bested, Kelly knew him well enough to know he was impressed with Lucy’s fast thinking.

  Scratching the stubble on his chin, Steve said, “You’ll keep.”

  The last golf hole seemingly forgotten, Kelly put an arm around Lucy’s waist. “You’re right, she is a keeper.”

  When Lucy’s face lit up and she leaned into the embrace, Kelly couldn’t wait a minute longer to be alone with her.

  “You guys win.” Kelly handed her golf club to Steve. “Let’s get out of here, it’s too nice of a day to be indoors.”

  Chapter 20

  An hour later, Kelly was in her element, basking in the warmth of the sun on her face and a soft body moulded to her back.