“But a lot has changed since then, right? I mean you’re out now. You’re dating.”
“Right, and she’s not in town for long either,” Laura said as she took a drink.
“Then don’t worry about her. Look, Laura, you’re a catch. I know our little town isn’t exactly crawling with single lesbians, but there’s someone out there for you.”
Laura nodded. “Thanks.” She didn’t know what she’d do without her best friend. Kate was a few years younger than her, but she was always the wise one. “I just wish I hadn’t made a fool out of myself.”
“Well, you have every right to be angry with her. She’s the one who left. I know you were married, but you weren’t happy, right?”
“No, but it took meeting her to make me realize that.”
“There’s no point rehashing the past,” Kate said as she took a drink. “You’ve got a date lined up for next week with that woman you met online… What was her name?”
“Jenny.”
“Right. Jenny. She was nice, wasn’t she?”
Laura nodded. She was. She just wasn’t Sam.
Chapter Five
“I can’t believe this used to be Jim’s Deli,” Sam said to her brother-in-law, Zach, who was behind the counter, getting her cappuccino ready. The smell of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, and Sam breathed it in, ready for her first caffeine hit of the day.
“Yeah, we ended up gutting it. I always had this rustic look in mind and a friend of mine does amazing things with wood. He did the sign outside and the one above the fireplace.”
Sam glanced behind her to read the words that were burnt into the slab of wood: The Steaming Mug. The place definitely had a rustic look. It reminded her of a ski lodge more than a coffee shop.
“It looks great,” Sam said as he placed her mug on a plate with a chocolate chip cookie. “You’ve been open three years now, right?”
“Yeah. It’s hard work, but I love it. The only downside is that I don’t have the freedom to go visit you anymore. We have a lot of great memories on those trips, having you as our tour guide.”
“Do you remember that time you almost got locked in that bar?”
“Yeah, and the bouncer didn’t have a clue what I was saying. I was so drunk that night,” Zach said with a laugh as he ran his hand through his short dark hair. “I’ll blame it on youth… So, are you back for good?”
“Uh, no. I’ll be around for a few weeks though.”
“You didn’t get that tattoo for nothing,” he said with a smile, and Sam glanced down at the black ink on her arm. Wanderlust. She’d gotten it just before she’d left ten years ago.
“Yeah… I’ll let you get back to it,” Sam said as she picked up the plate, carefully balancing her coffee, and she nearly ran into the person who was waiting behind her. “Sorry,” Sam said, barely looking up, but her eyes met Laura’s for the second time in the last week.
“It’s okay,” Laura said as she stepped out of the way. “It was my fault.”
Sam ignored her thumping heart and took a seat by the fireplace, wiping her palms down the front of her jeans. Why did seeing Laura put her on edge like that? Couldn’t she just act normal around her? At least she hadn’t spilled her coffee all over her. That would have been a disaster.
Sam took out her phone and scrolled through her social media feeds. Everyone kept asking her if she was staying, and she knew she wasn’t, but she had no definite plan either. She hadn’t booked a flight out. She didn’t know where she was going next. She didn’t have any jobs lined up to take her abroad again.
Her mother was especially interested in her future, and it was starting to get on her nerves. She loved her mother, but if she was staying for any length of time, she needed to find somewhere else to live.
Sam blew on her coffee before she took a sip. Michelle had said that she would help her find a house. She probably had purchasing in mind when she’d offered, but Michelle might still be able to help her find a rental.
Sam put down her phone and resisted the urge to look behind her and see if Laura was still here. Seeing her again had stirred up all those feelings that she’d spent years repressing. She knew coming home would mean seeing Laura. She hadn’t kept tabs on her, but most people who grew up here never left, so Sam assumed they would run into each other. She just wasn’t prepared for how she would react.
Ten years might as well have been ten days. Laura was even more stunning than she’d remembered. Yes, she’d gotten older. She was forty-four now, but Laura was still the most beautiful woman she’d ever seen.
Chapter Six
Laura drummed her fingers on the counter-top while she waited for her latte. She stole a glance behind her. For the second time this week, she’d been face to face with Sam. She was sitting with her back to her, over by the fireplace. Sam had the same chestnut brown hair and stunning hazel green eyes.
How had ten years gone by?
In some ways, that time seemed liked just a few months ago, but in other ways, Laura felt like she surely dreamed up the whole thing. How could she have lost someone she had such a connection with?
Laura had Googled her after she got home from the bar the other night. She lost track of time scrolling through Sam’s photos. She was really talented, and Laura didn’t know why that surprised her. She’d always shown promise, and it looked like Sam had been all over the world, working with some of the biggest blogs and magazines in the travel industry.
Laura kept wondering what had brought her back after all this time. She hoped her family were okay. She vaguely knew her sister and her mother, but she wouldn’t call them friends, just acquaintances.
“Here you go,” the man behind the counter said as he brought over her latte.
“Thanks.”
Laura scanned the room. There were two free tables alongside the windows looking out onto the street, but she couldn’t help noticing that Sam was on her own. She took a deep breath and walked over to her table.
“Hi,” she said softly, waiting for Sam to meet her eyes. “Is it okay if I join you?”
Sam leaned back in her chair, and Laura couldn’t miss the moment’s hesitation before she agreed. She deserved that though, after what happened at the wedding.
“Look, I’m really sorry about Saturday night,” Laura said as she sat down. “I panicked. Seeing you again… I…” Laura lost her train of thought as Sam’s eyes met hers. She was almost thirty now, but she was even more beautiful than Laura remembered. “I just don’t want there to be any hard feelings between us.”
Laura forgot about the coffee in front of her as she searched Sam’s eyes, waiting for her reply.
“I completely agree. That was a long time ago, and I know I behaved badly back then. I shouldn’t have left like that…. Without saying goodbye,” Sam said, wrapping her hands around her mug. “I don’t know if I ever said it back then, but I’m grateful that you took a chance on me. I know you didn’t mentor other people, but for some reason, I thought I deserved a chance,” she said with a lop-sided grin.
“You’ve certainly made it.”
“You looked me up?” Sam asked, her smile widening.
“After seeing you, yeah. I was curious… So, is this just a quick visit home then?” Laura asked, not really sure what she wanted the answer to be.
“Yeah. I don’t know when I’m leaving, or where I’m going next, but I never stay in one place for too long so…”
Laura nodded. Of course, she’s leaving again. Kate’s right. Sam was a part of her past, an important part, but it needed to stay in the past. There was no point getting caught up in this again if Sam wasn’t staying.
Laura had a date Friday night with a beautiful woman who seemed to like her. She didn’t click right away with her on their first date, but there was something there worth exploring, and they’d agreed on a second date.
She couldn’t let herself fall for Sam again. Laura remembered what the week after she’d left had been like, when Laura kept leaving her text
s and voicemails, but Sam had never replied. Eventually, she’d casually asked Sam’s sister, Natalie, who told her that she’d gone traveling in Europe and didn’t know when she’d be back.
Weeks had turned into months and months had turned into years, but Laura never forgot about her, about the chemistry they had and seeing her again just brought it all back.
“So, weddings?” Sam asked as she took a sip of coffee.
“I needed something reliable and steady. I still love taking portraits, but it’s more of a hobby now. I can do it without worrying about the paycheck at the end of it.”
Sam nodded. “I get that.”
“What about you? I thought you were going to get into portrait photography, too. You had a flare for it anyway.”
“Maybe. If I’d stayed.”
“I guess travel photography was the obvious choice if you wanted to stay on the road.”
“I did everything and anything at the start,” Sam said, brushing her hair behind her ear. “I just didn’t want to come back. Not until I was ready. There was one photo I took of a waterfall in Iceland… It was just perfect. The sun was setting in the background. That was the shot that did it. I posted it on social media, and everyone wanted to use it. That’s how I got started with it. I didn’t think that’s what I’d be doing.”
“Well, you’ve certainly made a name for yourself. How does that work when you’re here though? Or are you taking some time off?”
Sam smiled. “Yeah. I guess I came home for my vacation,” she said with a soft laugh.
“When your day job takes you around the world, why not?” Laura said, returning her smile.
“It’s funny how little this place has changed. Not this coffee shop. I know that’s changed. I mean, this town.”
Laura nodded. “It really hasn’t changed much. I always thought I’d end up leaving or at the very least working in the city, but it never happened. I’m still here. Along with everyone else.”
“I am proud of where I’m from. I didn’t mean-”
“I know,” Laura said, meeting Sam’s hazel-green eyes. Laura swallowed as she looked away. It didn’t seem like that long ago that those eyes had the habit of undressing her when they were in the most innocent situations, like this, having a coffee.
“I better get going,” Sam said, finishing her coffee. “I’m glad I got to see you.”
Laura tried to ignore the words she’d left out: while I’m here. Sam would be leaving again, and Laura had to keep her distance between now and then. She could already feel that magnetic pull though. Sam had always had that effect on her, right from the day they’d met.
“Me too,” Laura said, smiling as Sam got up.
“I’m sure I’ll see you around.”
Laura nodded and gave her a wave as Sam left. She exhaled as Sam walked away, her jeans hugging her slim figure, and Laura forced herself to look away.
This couldn’t happen. She couldn’t let herself fall for Sam all over again, just when she was starting to get her life on track.
Chapter Seven
Sam watched her sister bring back two glasses of white wine from the bar. They’d both got tired of waiting for the waitress to notice their table, but it was busy tonight with almost every table full.
“Thanks,” Sam said as she lifted her glass, gently clinking it against Natalie’s. “I could use a drink after the week I’ve had. Your coffee is great and everything, but I need something alcoholic this evening.”
“Yeah, Zach said you’ve been stopping by The Steaming Mug almost every day.”
“I can’t get anything done when I’m at home. Mom seems to think she needs to make up for lost time and turn me into some kind of domestic goddess. She wanted to show me how to make her famous banana bread this morning.”
“She means well,” Natalie said, bringing her glass to her lips. “Are you taking photos around here?”
“No. I always have editing work that I can do, and I wanted to think about where I’m going next.”
“When are you leaving?”
“I don’t know,” Sam said with a weak smile. That was always the question.
“You know I’m always happy to see you... But why are you back? Why now? You haven’t visited once in ten years. Not on Thanksgiving or Christmas. I doubt Michelle’s wedding was what brought you back.”
“I got homesick,” Sam said with a shrug, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Laura walk into the bar with a blond-haired woman.
“Bullshit.”
Sam met her sister’s eyes. Even though they’d hardly seen each other in the last ten years, they still had that connection, and Natalie saw straight through her.
“Fine. You know that typhoon that hit Vietnam a few months ago? I don’t know how much media coverage it would have gotten over here.”
“Yeah. I remember.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be as bad as it was. A lot of people didn’t evacuate... I was one of them. It was really bad. I was stranded for more than twenty-four hours, waiting to be rescued...”
“What? Oh my God.”
“It kind of woke me up,” Sam said, reaching for her drink. “I finished the few projects I was working on and booked a flight home. I kept thinking... What if that was it? I hadn’t seen you in the last four years. I hadn’t seen Mom in ten.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want to worry you,” Sam said as her eyes fell on Laura.
Laura’s back was to her, but Sam could clearly see the woman sitting across from her. She looked like she was in her mid-forties, and Sam forgot about whatever Natalie was saying when she saw this woman’s hand cover Laura’s.
Sam couldn’t tear her eyes away as she watched the woman get up, probably heading for the bar.
“Sam?”
“Excuse me for a sec,” Sam said as she stood up. She couldn’t believe what she’d just saw. Laura was in the middle of a bar, letting this woman touch her like that. It could have appeared innocent, but Sam saw the tenderness of that simple gesture.
Sam weaved her way through the crowded bar until she got to Laura’s table and sat down across from her without really thinking this through.
“Sam?” Laura asked, her eyes widening. “What are you doing here?”
“You said you wouldn’t cheat on him ten years ago, but you will now?”
Sam knew she was angry. Under the table, her fists were clenched, and she was struggling to keep her voice down.
“Sam, it’s not what you think.”
“So, you’re not on a date right now?”
“I am,” Laura said, her voice calm and steady. “But a lot has changed since you left.”
“I can see that.”
“I got a divorce a few years ago,” Laura said softly.
“You what?”
“Sam, can we talk about this another time? Jenny’s on her way back...”
Sam stood up without saying anything. She could feel her cheeks burning. She’d just made a complete fool of herself. Her heart thudded in her chest as she sat back down across from Natalie.
“What was that about?” Natalie asked.
“Nothing.”
“You both looked like you were on the verge of an argument. I thought you used to be friends. You used to spend so much time together.”
“I was just surprised to see her on a date... With a woman. I guess my curiosity got the better of me.”
“She got divorced three or four years ago. I have seen her with several women actually, now that you mention it.”
Sam reached for her wine glass. “Do you think you could get me a job at the hotel?”
“What?”
“I’ve bartended before.”
“Does that mean you’re staying?”
“Yeah,” Sam said as she took a drink. Another spur of the moment decision. “I’m staying for a while.”
Chapter Eight
Laura took a long drink, the whiskey burning her throat. Seeing Sa
m rattled her. Again. She knew Jenny sensed it too.
“So, was that your ex?” Jenny asked. “The woman who came over?”
“No,” Laura said, trying not to cringe. “It’s a long story. We used to work together,” she said as she fiddled with her bracelet.
Jenny nodded and a silence fell between them as they both reached for their drinks.
“Look,” Jenny said, waiting for Laura to make eye contact. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I don’t think this is going to work out.”
Laura gave her a weak smile. She didn’t think so either. “Yeah. Sorry.” That wasn’t the first time she’d heard that line, and she didn’t think it was going to be the last.
“Friends?”
“Definitely.”
Laura hated how hard she had to try on pretty much every date she’d been on in the last four years. She was picky about who she even met up with, but that didn’t seem to help her success rate. Yes, she’d had a few ‘almost’ relationships where they went on five or six dates, but it always seemed to fizzle out.
Laura was starting to wonder what was wrong with her, but tonight she realized it wasn’t her. It was Sam.
“I hope you don’t think I’m being judgmental or rude,” Jenny said as she took a drink. “Sometimes that chemistry just isn’t there and there’s no point trying to force it.”
“No, I know,” Laura said, stealing a glance behind her as she bent down to get her phone out of her bag. Sam stared right back at her, and Laura darted her eyes away as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
Sam was the problem, not her.
Laura had met plenty of interesting, attractive women, but that spark was never there. In the four years since she came out, she’d only been with a handful of women. Yes, it was better than staying in a dead-end marriage with Anthony, but she craved that connection with someone. She’d gone to gay clubs in New York with Kate as her wingwoman and signed up to almost every dating site, but she was finally ready to admit that it was pointless.
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