Macon laughed and drank more of her Coke before placing it back down and running her finger along the condensation that had formed on the glass.
“The longest relationship I had was nine months. I was a junior in college. Her name was Daniella, and she was a senior at BU. She was a Drama major. We met when I played in the orchestra for one of her performances. I played in the pit. One night after the final show, we all went out for drinks. She was beautiful, talented, and funny.”
“Was she the one you–”
“Yeah, we went back to her apartment since her roommate was out of town. That was my first time.”
“Wait. What? First time or first time with a woman?” Joanna asked.
“Both,” Greene revealed. “I was twenty-one, and she was my first. I’d known I was gay. I’d kissed a few girls, but that was the furthest it went until her. I had offers. Not to sound conceited about that, but I did. I just hadn’t gone through with any of them for various reasons until Daniella. It was nice. It was sweet and slow. She made sure I was okay with everything. We started dating after that.”
“And you dated for nine months?”
“Yes. We were together a few months after she graduated and started working at a costume shop in New York while she auditioned for Broadway shows. We’d take the train back and forth from there to Boston to see each other when we could. It seemed like it was going well.”
“But you’ve never been in love before?”
“She’d said it, at first. We’d been together for about four months when she said it the first time. I didn’t say it back. It took her another month to try again. I still couldn’t say it. She’d tried one more time around month seven. And by month eight, she was cheating on me, and I had no idea,” she explained with little emotion in her voice. “I went to New York to visit at least seven times. She’d had someone else the whole time. I guess once that girl said she’d loved her, Daniella realized it was confession time, told me the whole story, and ended things.”
“Sorry, Make.”
“I was too. I blamed myself for a while. If I would have just said ‘I love you,’ maybe that would have been enough. But I don’t think that now. I didn’t love her. I would have been lying. That wasn’t right either.”
“Why did you stay with her?”
“Because I liked her. I thought I would love her one day. I kept waiting for that day to come. It never did. I never felt that thing with her. After a few months, I stayed because she was my first. Then, I stayed because I was scared of losing her. Then, I stayed because she loved me. I knew that. I at least needed someone to love me, I thought. It was wrong. I should have ended things, and I should have done it sooner. I was a kid; I didn’t know any better.”
“So, that’s why now you end things before it gets that far.”
Greene finished the Coke in front of her and said, “It’s easier for everyone this way. If you don’t feel it, what’s the point?”
“Do your friends know this?”
“You’re my friend, and you know.”
“Greene, you know what I mean.”
“They know about Daniella. They know that whole story. The only thing they don’t really know is that she was my first, and that there have only been eight since.” She let out a deep exhale and met Joanna’s eyes.
“Nine?” she asked. “That can’t be–”
“I’ve been with nine women total my whole life. I think my friends assume I’m with nine a month or, at a minimum, nine a year. And it’s nine total for me. I’m a bit of a kissing slut; that’s true. But I’m not the sex fiend that everyone assumes.”
“I feel bad,” Joanna replied.
“What did you think? What number?” Greene smiled and rested her head on her hand and her elbow on the back of the sofa.
“Oh, I’m not answering that. That is a trap.” Joanna turned away.
“Fine. Tell me your number then.” Greene laughed.
“What? No way!”
“I told you mine.”
“I didn’t ask you to,” Joanna replied.
“Come on.” She gave her shoulder a light shove. “Your number still probably makes me seem slutty.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I’ve known you for, like, almost a year now, and I don’t think I’ve seen you go on a date. The only guy you’ve mentioned is this Russell from that magazine you did work for, and you say you’re not interested. So, I’m extrapolating.”
“Extrapolating?” Joanna laughed. “So, it’s not just your looks. It’s the big words that get the girls.”
“I’m just saying that you don’t talk a lot about the guys you’ve dated. I haven’t seen you actually date. I’m running off the data I have, Isabella.”
“I’ve been with ten guys,” she revealed.
“What? You’ve been with more guys than I’ve been with women?”
“Why do you think I was so shocked before?” Joanna ran her hand through her long blonde hair. “I started a little younger than you, though, to be fair.”
“Oh yeah?” Greene smiled a sinister smile. “Let’s hear that story.”
“No.” Joanna grabbed Greene’s plate along with her own to carry them to the kitchen. “You’ll get out of me that I was sixteen. That’s all.”
“Who was he? Come on.” Greene followed her into the kitchen and leaned over the counter as Joanna worked on the dishes.
“We dated all through sophomore year. Then, we broke up. Junior year, I had a new boyfriend. He was my second. Senior year, there was no one. And in college, there were three.”
“So, we’re at five. Go on.” Greene smiled.
“After college, I had two serious boyfriends. Those were the ones I mentioned before.” She paused as she wiped off a plate. “I guess that takes us to about twenty-seven. I had a one-night stand in there, which was a mistake. I dated a guy for about six months after that. He left me for someone at work. Then, I dated my ex for about two years before that ended last year. It was right about when Emma moved here. She and I went out for drinks a few times. She let me sulk.” She placed the plate into the cabinet and moved onto the next. “So, that’s ten. I feel bad because I assumed you’d been with so many more than me, and also because I’ve been with a lot of guys, I think.”
“You were in serious relationships with all of them except one, Jo. Think about Indy for a second: she doesn’t even know her number. There have been that many. I know a woman who works in music. She plays bass on tours. She literally sleeps with someone after every show to help her wind down. She’s on tour, like, half the year.”
“Gross,” Joanna commented.
“I know. Then, there are people like my friend Anna. I haven’t seen her in years, but we went to college together. She married the only guy she’s ever been with. I have a cousin that did the same thing. She met her husband in high school. It’s just different for everyone. That’s what I’m saying,” Greene said.
“So, the term ‘slut’ is relative? That’s what you’re saying?” Joanna lifted her eyebrow.
“I think everything’s relative,” she explained.
CHAPTER 3
Joanna went into the office on Monday morning. She had a meeting with a potential client that Keira’s company had acquired for their upcoming wedding. This would be the largest event Joanna had ever done and would require her to find a few assistants. She worked on her edits at the desk Keira had been kind enough to give her while the other employees milled about. By early afternoon, she was starving and didn’t have time to run out for something. Just as she’d settled on ordering delivery, a bag of something was dropped on her desk. She looked up to see Macon standing there.
“I was in the neighborhood.” Greene glanced down at the bag. “And I’ve been standing here for like two minutes. You’re really into whatever you’re working on, aren’t you?”
“Sorry. Noise canceling,” Joanna referenced the headphones she pulled off and then pointed at her screen. “And I’m
editing the shoot from yesterday so I can get the package to the customer. What’s this?”
“I brought you lunch. I just finished the rehearsal.” Greene had her violin in its case over her shoulder. “I texted Keira, but she said she had lunch planned with a client. I texted you. You didn’t reply. I guessed you were busy and had forgotten to eat, like every other day of the week.”
“Macon, you didn’t have to bring me lunch,” she said but was silently praising God that she had. “Thank you.”
“Sure.” Macon shifted her violin to her other shoulder. “I should head out.”
“What? Why? You’re not eating with me?”
“No, you seem like you’re going to be working through lunch. I don’t want to distract you.”
“Come on. Eat with me.” She placed a hand on Macon’s forearm, encouraging her to sit down, but then realized there was no chair next to her desk. “Hold on.” She stood, walked to find one of the guest chairs, and pulled it over to her desk for Greene to sit beside it. “You can help me if you’re interested.”
“Help you?”
“Take a look at these for me. Pick which ones I should send. I took over a thousand pictures. I have to sift through all of them and edit the ones I know they’ll want, and then send more for them to choose from. The bigger the photo package, the more money for me.” She turned her MacBook Pro around toward Macon.
“I’m not a photographer.” Macon sat. “Is this little Margarine?” she asked with a laugh.
“It is.” Joanna laughed as well and pulled out a styrofoam container from the bag. “What did you bring me?”
“California club,” Macon replied without taking her eyes off the computer. “And their homemade chips.”
“You spoil me,” Joanna replied.
She watched Macon’s green eyes flit from one image to another with an unreadable expression on her face. She’d long ago given up on trying to read Macon. This woman was someone that had developed the ability to hide her true feelings from people long ago; it was fruitless to try to get her to reveal them until she wanted to do so. Joanna waited a long moment and bit into the sandwich with extra avocado, which Macon knew she loved.
“I don’t know, Jo. I like them, but they all kind of look the same to me. There’s a baby in a blanket in a basket, and a baby in a blanket in a basket with a slight change in expression,” she said.
She pulled out the aioli dipping sauce that came with the chips, opened it, and placed it in front of the container before stealing a chip, dipping it, and crunching into it.
“You’re no help.” Joanna chuckled and snagged a chip for herself.
“I get that a lot.” Macon offered a playful wink in her direction. “You’re not wearing your glasses.”
“I hate them, so I usually avoid wearing them when I can.”
“Why? They look nice on you,” Macon complimented and grabbed another chip.
“Ladies,” Keira said.
“I thought you had a lunch.” Macon turned her head back to Keira. “I would have brought you something.”
“I did. I just got back.” Keira grabbed a chip and bit into it. “You decided to stop by after all?” She looked down at Macon.
“You declined, but I have other friends,” Macon explained. “And this one never remembers to eat when she’s deep in project mode.” She pointed at Joanna.
“I’m bad.” Joanna shrugged her shoulders and bit into the sandwich. “How’d it go?” she asked Keira.
“Fine,” Keira replied and finished off the chip. “Wendy and her mom will be in the conference room at two. I’m going to borrow Greene here for a second and then I have to make a few calls.”
“You’re borrowing me?” Macon asked her. “What for exactly?”
“Just come here.” Keira laughed at her.
“I’ll be right back.” Macon stood. “I think.”
Joanna dove into the second half of the sandwich and snacked on a few more chips while she picked more pictures to add to her list to edit after the meeting. She created a custom link to her site for the family and began adding the ones she’d already edited or some of the raw images she loved just to see if they’d agree. By the time she had about twenty-five images chosen and five more to edit later, Macon had exited Keira’s office and was in an entirely different mood than when she’d entered. Joanna hadn’t paid attention to the meeting between the two friends, so she had no idea what had occurred.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” she asked when Macon picked up the violin case she’d left at her desk.
“Nothing. I’m going to head out.” She slid it over her shoulder.
“Did Keira piss you off or something?”
“She’s just getting into my business, which I am not a fan of.” She paused and stared down at Joanna. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Yeah, sure.” Joanna tried again to read the woman but stopped when she realized she’d probably fail. “Hey, what’s your schedule like tomorrow? I can buy you lunch since you got today’s.”
“I have rehearsal until two and then lessons from three to five. I’ll just call you later, okay?”
“Okay.” She wasn’t sure what had happened. Macon had been in her usual mood before she went into Keira’s office. “You sure you’re okay?” She stood and offered a hand on Macon’s forearm again.
Macon promptly pulled back. Then, she took a definitive step away from Joanna.
“I’m good. I’ll see you later.”
“7Ups tomorrow night?” Joanna suggested to try to get Macon to commit to something before she ran for the elevator.
“I’ll let you know.” Macon’s lips formed a straight line. She backed away. “I should go.” She motioned with her thumb toward the elevator.
“I still have our points saved up from last time, so if you don’t want me to get lame prizes you wouldn’t approve of, you’ll meet me there at seven.”
She referenced the adult arcade they’d been to a few times since becoming friends.
“Don’t get a bunch of pencil erasers.” Macon pointed out, and a bit of her light-heartedness returned. “Or the damn lava lamp.” She pointed accusingly and turned to press the button on the elevator to head down.
“I like the lava lamp. No promises.” Joanna laughed and sat back at her computer. “Seven,” she repeated.
With Macon gone, she thought back to the last trip they’d made to the arcade, which had only opened in their neighborhood the year prior and boasted at least a hundred games and prizes for kids and adults alike for the points they earned on their card. The place was eighteen and older after 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. They served light appetizers and alcohol as well in their bar next to the rows and rows of games. Patrons could even use the points they’d earned on the food, but Macon had made it clear that she wanted to save up their jointly earned points for a large prize.
Joanna had mentioned a desire for a green lava lamp that would fit so well in her office. Then, she’d joked about how they had pencil erasers shaped like unicorns, rainbows, and butterflies for three points each. They could get hundreds of them and build some sort of eraser collage. Macon had only glared at her suggestion and pointed at the iPad Pro that was available for only twenty thousand points. Between them, they had accumulated six thousand points. They hadn’t yet discussed the custody situation for the iPad Pro, nor had she asked Macon if she intended for them to get to forty thousand so they could each get one. She could ask her tomorrow night, assuming Macon showed up.
“Hey, you ready?” Keira approached, carrying her laptop under her arm.
“Is it two already?” Joanna looked up.
“Almost.”
“Then, let’s do it.” She stood and grabbed her own computer. “Hey, what happened with Macon earlier?”
“What do you mean?” Keira deflected.
“She went in your office joking about the baby named after fake butter and then walked out angry at the world.”
“Greene isn’t a fa
n of people’s opinions sometimes.”
“Opinions on what?” Joanna persisted.
“Doesn’t matter. She’ll be fine.” Keira opened the conference room door. They entered to find the receptionist for the office helping the client get settled. “Wendy, nice to see you again. Mrs. Morgan, how are you?” she greeted the two women and approached to shake their hands.
The meeting began shortly after, tabling their conversation automatically. Joanna put on her best smile before presenting them with a few examples of her work.
◆◆◆
“Hey, Jo.”
Mason, Joanna’s former assistant at the Health Department and the current employee at Worthy Bash, sat in the chair she’d pulled over earlier for Macon.
“Hey, Mason.”
“Did I see Greene in here earlier when I got back from lunch?”
“She stopped by, yeah.” She grabbed her phone off the desk and noticed she’d missed a text from Russell.
“To see you or Keira?”
“She brought me lunch. Why?”
He stood and started to walk toward the elevator with her.
“Nothing. It’s just… you two have been hanging out a lot lately.”
She pressed the button on the side of the elevator and replied, “What’s really going on in that head, Mason? I’m not your boss anymore. Just spill.”
“So, Maggie kind of asked me something the other day, after we all went for drinks at Landry’s.” He held the door open while Joanna climbed into the elevator. “I’ll go down with you.” He entered alongside her, and the door closed, leaving them alone as it went down.
“Mason, the elevator ride is all of thirty seconds,” she said when he seemed to hesitate.
“Maggie asked me if you were dating Greene,” he revealed just as the elevator made its way to the lobby and the door opened.
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