Homecoming (40 page)

As she was trying to make yet another rude gesture, Jill laughed and said, “Yes, Lizzie. We’re going to do exactly what that asshole Jeffrey is fantasizing about us doing. That was the last time I want to utter his name, by the way. Are you good with that?”

“Perfectly good.” She leaned over and kissed Jill’s cheek. “Excited!”

“Me too.” She pulled up in front of the apartment and gave Lizzie a gentle push. “So shake a leg. I’ll be waiting for you.”

***

Lizzie struggled into the back door with a garment bag in one hand, and her backpack filled to the brim in the other. It didn’t help that two cats were winding their way around her ankles, but Jill found it too funny to step in.

“Help me!” Lizzie demanded, laughing.

“Don’t you like it that the boys are so happy to see you?”

“I’m thrilled. Now take something so I don’t step on one of them.”

As Jill grabbed the backpack and put it on the counter, Lizzie draped her garment bag over a chair, then stooped and grasped a cat in each hand. She held them close and each one nuzzled against her chin as she giggled. Jill whipped out her phone and snapped pictures until the whole group tired of it. “I think they know your status is changing,” Jill said. “You’ve become a member of the pack.”

“I’m beat,” Lizzie said, placing the cats back onto the floor and moving over to Jill, where she dramatically draped herself along her body. “I ran around my apartment like a maniac, trying to make sure I had everything I need for work. I hope I’ve got a pair of matching shoes, because I have a meeting with some bigwigs at nine.”

“Then we should go to bed early.” Jill let her fingers glide across Lizzie’s face, sliding some errant hanks of hair away from her forehead.

“Not a bad idea,” Lizzie said, smirking. “I like to be in bed by eight forty-five most nights.”

Jill placed a short, soft kiss to her lips. “I used to stay up until midnight, but I think eight forty-five is my new bedtime.” Jill took her hand and led her over to the pantry. “First, I have some welcome presents for you.” With a flourish, she held her hand out, pointing at two kinds of mint cookies, and two styles of potato chips, one with ridges and one without.

“You’re a goddess,” Lizzie said, sliding an arm around Jill’s waist and hugging her. “For the record, I like regular chips. Any brand. Whatever’s on sale.”

“That’s not all.” Jill guided her to the refrigerator, opened the door and revealed plenty of Pepsi; a six pack of cans and a liter bottle. “I didn’t know your preferred delivery system.”

“I’m easy to please. Whatever’s cheaper.”

“Two more things.” She reached in and pulled out a white box, then opened it to reveal six big chocolate covered strawberries and six potato chips, each half covered in chocolate.

“Where did you get these?” Lizzie asked, bubbling with delight as she snagged one of the chips and gobbled it down. “They’re delicious!” She stopped and gazed at Jill speculatively. “When did you have time to get any of this?”

“Yesterday, while I was waiting to see if your father came for me with a gun, I called that little store near downtown where the guy makes his own candy. He agreed to hold these for me. Karen picked everything up for me, then I zipped by her house on the way home from the boat. One more quick stop at the grocery store let me beat you by about five minutes.” She opened the fridge one more time and pulled out a big bottle. “I’ve been saving this for a special occasion. I think tonight qualifies.”

Lizzie took the black bottle and read the label. “This is beer?”

“Uh-huh. Cask aged like wine. Since we both prefer beer to wine, I thought this would be better than Champagne.”

Lizzie clasped her hands behind Jill’s back and gazed at her, her vivid green eyes assessing Jill’s face like a work of art. “You’re a fantastic blend of utter pragmatism and total romance. I think I could fall for you, you sweet thing.”

“You
think?
” Jill leaned in and kissed all around her face, tickling the sensitive skin with her lips. “You’d damn well have better already fallen.”

“I fell way before you did,” Lizzie said, playfully tweaking Jill’s nose. “You’re damned irresistible.”

“That’s what I’ve been telling you.” She took the beer, then put it into a plastic bucket and filled it with ice. Then she tucked two beer glasses against her chest, ready to go upstairs. “Not the most elegant presentation, but I know you like your beer cold.”

“I do. Let me carry the goodies,” she said, taking the box.

“You want all of that?” Jill asked. “At once?”

“Yeah.” She started to laugh as she popped another chip into her mouth. “Duh.”

They walked upstairs, with the gray ghosts running up before them. “Are we going to be covered with cats?” Lizzie asked. “Not that I mind, but they might have their tender psyches tarnished when they see what I’m going to do to you.”

“They don’t stick around if there’s too much movement.” Jill couldn’t stop herself from letting out an innuendo-laden chuckle. “And I plan on moving a whole big lot.”

They went into the bedroom, and Jill set the bucket on the dresser, placed the glasses next to it, removed the foil and popped the cork. It made a funny sound, almost like a Champagne cork, but more muted. Then she filled both glasses and handed one to Lizzie. “To us,” she said, touching the rims of their glasses together.

“I like the sound of ‘us,’” Lizzie said, tinking their glasses once again. They each took a sip. “This is kinda weird, but I like it.”

“Just like me. Kinda weird, but…”

“You’re not weird at all,” Lizzie said, taking Jill’s glass and putting it on the dresser, “but I do like you. A whole lot.” They were standing very close, so close Jill could feel the warmth of Lizzie’s breath.

“I’m”—she closed her eyes briefly—“nervous.”

Jill took her in her arms and gave her a long, tender hug. “We probably should have just gone with the flow the other night. Lovemaking’s usually better when it’s spur of the moment.”

“No, that’s not it.” She reached for her glass and took a long drink. “It’s bigger than that.”

Jill put an arm around her and pulled her close. “Tell me what you’re worried about.”

She made a face. “All kinds of things. Mostly I’m worried that we’re not going to be in sync. The stakes are a lot higher now that I’ve told my family about us. Plus, everyone at work will be talking about it the second Madison and Alexis come in.” She rolled her eyes. “Coming out at work and home before we’ve barely touched each other is really new for me.” She searched Jill’s eyes for understanding. “I feel a lot of pressure.”

Jill put her hands on Lizzie’s shoulders and gently massaged them, feeling a good bit of tension in the muscles. “There’s no pressure, because there’s nothing to worry about. We’re really attracted to each other, and we’ll figure everything else out. Simple. Really simple.”

“Are you sure?” Lizzie looked into Jill’s eyes, clearly seeking reassurance.

“I am. We’re going to be good together, Lizzie. I
know
it.” She put her arms around her and pulled her close. “Maybe it’s time to stop talking and start doing.”

“Yeah. That sounds like a great—”

Jill dipped her head and captured Lizzie’s pink lips, placing a long, soft kiss upon them. “I’m not nervous,” she murmured. “Because I know everything’s going to be great. But I’m…I can’t think of the word.”

“Anticipatory?”

“I think that’s the perfect word.”

“So I’m nervous and you’re full of anticipation. Maybe we should whip off our clothes and dive in. Just like I do when I jump into the lake.”

“And you say I’m romantic,” Jill teased. “Come with me.” She took her by the hand and led her to the bathroom. “The first time you saw my tub, you said you were going to jump right in. Did you?”

“No, I never got the chance.”

“Good. We can start our relationship off with our first shared bath.” She leaned over, closed the drain and turned the water on.

“Your ceiling’s raining!”

The cats flew into the room, and perched upon opposite ends of the rim, where it was widest. Then they each stretched a paw out, trying to catch the water as it fell, not seeming to mind that they were a good six inches short of their goal.

Jill pointed at the wall, where the handles were mounted two feet higher than the rim. “I wanted to be able to have two people in the tub, with neither of them getting the faucet or the handles in the back. Filling the tub from the ceiling was an idea I’d never considered, but it works great.”

“You’re a genius. A true genius.” Lizzie moved close and joined the cats in staring at the water as it cascaded loudly into the tub. “I could stand here all day and watch this, and I
hate
to waste water.”

“I’ve got one more little romantic touch.” A box lay on the window sill, and Jill opened it, then shook the contents into the tub. “I called my favorite florist and had him find every peony he could get his hands on.” Beautiful blush pink petals floated atop the water as Lizzie’s eyes filled with tears.

“You’re so sweet,” she murmured, taking Jill into her arms and kissing her with a burst of enthusiasm. “You remembered my favorite flower.”

“I remember nearly everything you’ve ever told me,” she said, placing soft, sweet kisses on her lips. “Everything you say is important.” She picked up a bottle from the ledge that surrounded the tub. “Milk bath? It won’t overpower the smell of the peonies.”

Lizzie took her hand and tipped it, quickly making the water opaque. “Nice,” she said as they watched the tub fill. “Now we have to get naked. Wanna start?”

“No,” Jill said, laughing nervously. “I’m really confident when it’s dark, but I’ve seen you in a bikini. You’ve got an Ivy League body, while I’m a safety school—at best.”

“Big baby,” she teased. “Let’s close our eyes, strip and get into the tub. Then we’ll drink the rest of that huge beer and get a little tipsy. You won’t even notice all of my horrible flaws.”

“Yeah,” Jill said, nodding. “It’s your thirty-year-old dancer’s body that I’m worried about.”

“Close your eyes and get naked,” Lizzie insisted, squeezing her eyes shut.

Jill watched her whip her tank top off, grinning at the first sight of Lizzie’s adorable breasts, so cute she couldn’t stop staring at them.

“Why don’t I hear your clothes dropping to the floor?”

“Uhm…busy,” she said, leaning over to turn off the water. Then she unbuttoned her shirt and threw it forcefully to the floor. “Better?”

Lizzie was starting to snake out of her tight jeans, and Jill closed her eyes, playing along with the game and giving her some privacy.

“I’m not sure I’m going to be able to do this and not kill myself,” Lizzie said as the sound of a tiny splash reached Jill’s ears.

“No fair! Now I’m going to have to climb in while you’re already there. That’ll be lots harder!”

“You snooze, you lose. Ahh. This is perfect. Make sure the food’s close, ’cause I’m not getting out for hours.”

“I’ve got to open my eyes to do that, but I won’t look.”

“I’m submerged, you silly thing. You can open your eyes, but I’ll keep mine closed. Damn, I’m starting to second guess myself here. You’re kinda slow.”

“Not the best seduction line I’ve ever heard,” Jill said, returning with the snacks and the beer. Lizzie was, as promised, submerged. The last couple of inches of her hair were floating on the water, and Jill went to twist her own up and put a clip in it to avoid that. “Okay,” she said, clapping her hands. “Strawberries and chips nearby, beer right on the floor. Ready for action.”

Lizzie stuck her hands up, moving them around, trying to grab whatever part of Jill she could reach.

“Keep those hands to yourself. For a minute or two. I don’t want to step on you.” She had to figure it out as she went, but she finally slid into the water, and settled back against the tub. “This is kinda weird,” she said. “We’ve never seen each other naked, but we’re in very vulnerable positions.”

“I like it. It’s a little mysterious. Can I open my eyes?”

“Yep. I’m as covered as I’m gonna get.”

Lizzie opened her eyes, her gaze immediately going to Jill’s breasts, which didn’t quite float, but the tops of them peeked out from the cloudy water. “I like those,” she said, a lecherous look on her face. “I knew they were going to be pretty, but they’re actually Rubenesque.”

“The art history degree pays off,” Jill teased.

“I love all of the parts of a woman,” Lizzie said, completely serious now. “But it’s always breasts I long for.” She smiled at Jill, her expression so sweet and content Jill’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m so happy I’m here with you.”

“Me too. Really happy.”

Lizzie reached down and grasped Jill’s glass firmly before handing it to her. “Don’t drop this. That’s one ER visit I don’t want to have to make.”

“These are plastic,” Jill said. “It only took one glass breaking when the cats were young to convince me to switch. Never again. It felt like I had a dozen cats. Why are they so fascinated with broken glass?”

“Their curiosity isn’t always in their best interests.” She moved her foot, letting it slide across Jill’s belly. Then it skimmed along a breast, catching a nipple as it moved past. “I’m curious about you. I haven’t seen you in a bikini, but your swimsuit doesn’t hide much.” She leaned forward and captured Jill’s lips in a long, hungry kiss. “I’m not nervous any more,” she said. “I’m ready to satisfy my curiosity.”

“And I’m not very anticipatory. A warm bath was just the ticket.”

Lizzie scooped a handful of peony petals and held them up to her nose, sniffing delicately. “It’s going to take a while to peel these off our skin, but I really appreciate the gesture. One thing I know about you,” she said, gazing into Jill’s eyes, “is how thoughtful you are. That’s a trait that’s worth an awful lot to me.”

“I wanted tonight to be special. I think about you every damned minute. I might as well put all of that focus into action.”

Lizzie relaxed against the tub and let her head rest on the rim. The warm water was obviously calming her, as her voice got softer and her words came out more slowly. “No one at work’s going to be surprised when Alexis and Madison tell everyone I’ve got a girlfriend. I zone out all day long, just thinking about you.”