“Without checking with you first.”
“Right.”
“Which was…okay with you? ’Cause I’ve got to tell you, that wouldhave given me a bit of a complex.”
Spencer swallowed. Rebecca’s tone was gentle enough so thatSpencer didn’t feel accused or ridiculed, but they still weren’t words sheenjoyed hearing, and she was torn between defending Marti and being outraged byMarti. “Well, I could stand to lose a few pounds. I’ve always been a littlechunky.”
“Spencer.” Was that the first time Rebecca had ever said her nameto her? Spencer racked her brain and couldn’t think of another instance. Andshe was pretty certain she’d remember because of how much she liked the way itsounded rolling off Rebecca’s tongue. “So many things right now.” She chuckledgently. “So many things. Okay, first of all, you are not chunky.”
“I need some toning.”
“As do most people. Fine. I’ll let you have that, so long as wecan agree you are not chunky.”
Spencer nodded her consent.
“Two, while I am never going to downplay the importance ofphysical fitness—for everybody—I need you to help me understand how it’s okaywith you that Marti did what she did.” Leaning in a bit closer, she added,“Martiisashe, right?”
Spencer grinned. “Yes. Marti is a she.”
“Okay. Good.”
“Good? Why is that good?” Spencer held Rebecca’s gaze, her headcocked slightly, her tone definitely flirty, which she hadn’t intended. Hadshe?
Rebecca poked the inside of her cheek with her tongue. “It’s goodbecause…” Then she seemed to think better of her answer and shook her head,waved her hands in surrender. “Nope. Not going there.” But her face was openand her words came with a background of gentle laughter.
Spencer’s turn to prop her chin in her hand, recalled the lunchdate that hadn’t showed for Rebecca. Thefemalelunch date. “So, it seems that we play on the same team.”
“Seems so.”
“Interesting.”
Spencer felt tethered to Rebecca in that moment. Tethered to herand safe with her, and she let herself simply sit with that. Rebecca seemed toas well, because they stayed that way for what felt like a long time…Rebeccasitting back in her chair and looking at Spencer, Spencer gazing back at her,chin in hand.
Something between them shifted right then. Spencer felt it assignificantly as if some part of her world moved and clicked audibly, like apuzzle piece snapping into place.
Things willnever be the same.
The thought ricocheted through Spencer’s head, loudly and out ofnowhere and so, soweird,startling her enough to make her flinch out of her reverie and sit up straight.What the hell was that? And what the hell was she doing? “I need to be going,”she said suddenly, very aware of how weak her voice sounded.
Rebecca must have thought so, too, as her brow furrowed. “Oh.Okay.”
Spencer stood so quickly, the chair toppled over behind her andshe muttered, “Son of a biscuit.”
“And yet another creative replacement for a curse word,” Rebeccasaid, the amusement in her tone helping to alleviate a bit of what Spencer couldonly classify as the disappointment on her face.
“Yeah, I hardly ever swear.”
“We’ll see about that.” Rebecca’s half grin was almost too muchfor Spencer at this point. She had to get out of there, away from Rebecca, backto Marti where she was expected, where she was supposed to be.
“Okay, so, Friday then.”
“Friday.” Rebecca gave one nod, and that was the last of herSpencer saw because she needed to leave.Neededto.
She did her best not to actually flee Rebecca’s presence, but shefelt like she should be doing just that. The disillusionment and shame inherself, combined with the guilt—God,so much guilt!—flooded her system until she worried she might throwup right in the parking lot next to her car. She stood there, hand on the roof,braced for impending vomit, for several breaths before the feeling subsided.Without looking back at the building, she got in her car, started it, andpulled away. Too fast and too recklessly, but nobody else was around, thankgoodness.
Marti’s car was, surprisingly, in the driveway. Spencer parkednext to it, gathered her things, and hurried in. Marti was in the kitchen,holding the refrigerator door open as she peered in. With a glance up atSpencer, she said, “Hey, babe.”
Spencer dropped her stuff, walked up to Marti, and burrowed intoher. Wrapped her arms around her, snuggled her head under Marti’s chin, heldtight.
