About time, p.12
About Time, page 12
“They took him off life support today.”
“It’s been weeks,” Elle whispered.
“I know.” June’s lips thinned into a line. “His brother was able to come up for a few minutes before the parents had him leave. They asked me to wait with them until he no longer was breathing. They did decide to donate his organs, so at least his life will be going to help others.”
“How devastating. I can’t even imagine losing a child.”
June hummed as she took another sip of her coffee, Elle now understanding why her look was so forlorn and that perhaps her dilemma of how to break up with Lydia wasn’t the worst problem in the room. She reached across the table and wrapped her fingers around June’s wrist, tracing her thumbnail along the line between June’s hand and wrist.
Shuddering, June let out a sigh. “What did you need to talk about? Did you have a date? You’re all dressed up for a date.”
Elle flushed, her cheeks heating up. “I did,” she said slowly, pushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear and giving June a sidelong glance. “It did not go well.”
June chuckled. “It couldn’t be that bad. What happened?”
Resting in her chair with both hands wrapped around her large coffee mug, Elle held her breath tightly before releasing it. “She—I think she’s just not my type. I didn’t realize I had a type when it came to women, but I think she’s just not it.”
“What does that mean?”
Scoffing, Elle set her coffee down and leaned her head on her hand with her elbow planted on the table. “First, she pries about information about me I’m not ready to give. Second, she very much only talks surface level about herself, a lot. Third, I have paid for both meals so far, and I’m pretty sure even though she said date number three was on her, I’ll still end up paying. Four, she just…I think all she wants is sex, which I don’t really want. I’m not a first or second date kinda girl, know what I mean?”
June nodded. “Oh yes. I’ve dated women like that, and it generally does not last long. Unless that’s my intent.”
“You’re a first date girl?”
June snorted. “Only when I don’t intend a second date.”
“You—I—I never would have thought you that kind of woman.”
Shrugging, June closed her eyes. “It’s rare, but it does happen.”
Then why didn’t it happen with us? That would have been nice, Elle thought but smartly kept her mouth shut. They were still skirting around repairing their friendship, and she certainly didn’t want to add in any more tension than necessary into the mix. “Anyway, I somehow got roped into another date.”
“What?”
“Yeah. I don’t know how. Each time she wants to go on another date, she sets it up at the end of the last one, and I just can’t say no.”
“You can’t say no? Ms. Frozen-Heart can’t say no?”
Elle shrugged. “Guess I’ve gone soft since Chaplain Smart-Mouth took me down a few notches.”
June rolled her eyes, a genuine roll, and grinned, the double dimple peeking through on her cheek. “Well, I mean, I could take back what I said.”
“I think it’s too late for that.”
“True. I like you better this way, anyway.”
“Aww, well thank you! But I need a plan. I legitimately cannot say no. I need you to help me say no or distract me or something. I need you there.”
“Uhh…” June’s jaw dropped. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You could just come up at the end of it, pretend to be my girlfriend, and then we’ll leave. Or maybe you could come up at the end of the date and just ask me out so I have an excuse to get away.”
“I don’t think so.” June’s lips thinned, and she shook her head, taking another sip of her coffee. “That does not sound like a good plan.”
“Come on, here. I need help. Please!” Elle was getting ready to get on her knees to beg. She could not stand date number four with Lydia. She needed an out. Reaching out a hand to June, she pleaded silently. Support in any form would be welcome but support next Friday—in two days—would be the best.
June hesitated, but she did reach out and clasp her hand in Elle’s, giving her a squeeze. “Fine. But none of those scenarios.”
“Okay! What do you have to suggest then?”
June took a long sip from her cup before setting it down. She leaned over the table like she had a secret to tell, and Elle couldn’t help herself from mimicking the move, their hands still clasped. “I’ll just show up toward the end of the date. You text me when it’s getting close so I can get there. Then I’ll act like I know you from wherever, engage you in a conversation, and you can walk away with me, ignoring her.”
“That sounds doable.” Elle grinned and held in her desire to lean just a little farther forward to press their mouths together. June was most definitely not interested in dating her at this time, and she had to respect that as much as she wanted the opposite. She leaned back in her chair and grabbed her own coffee to protect herself from her emotions. “Dinner is set for five, so we’ll be done about six or six-thirty.”
“I should be off work by then.”
“Just in time for me to go to work,” Elle added. “That’d been my last-ditch plan.”
Laughing, June shook her head. “Sorry, I can’t go on another date with you at any time because I’m due to work now every time you ask me on another date.”
Elle lifted one shoulder and dropped. “It was a work in progress.”
Chuckling, June smiled. “Definitely a work in progress, like most of us.”
They chatted amicably for another hour before Elle checked her watch. She really should get going and let June go. Surely, June had something she had to do. She set her empty coffee to the edge of the table and went to gather her purse and jacket. Her jacket got stuck on her wristwatch, and she struggled to get it loose so it would slide up and over her elbow and shoulder. She jerked it a few times before June’s small hands were on her arm.
June loosened the material and helped move Elle’s body until it was in place. Elle stood up and faced June. They were only inches apart, and she could so easily just lean in and peck her on the lips, test the waters to see where she was at. June took a step backward, and the moment was lost.
Clearing her throat, Elle looked down at the zipper on her puffy jacket and pulled it upward. “Thanks.”
“Any time,” June replied. “I’ll see you Friday if not before.”
“Friday. The big break-it-off day. We need a better code name for that.”
“For sure.”
June walked her to her car, helping her when she slid in her heels on some black ice that hadn’t been salted on the sidewalk. As soon as she was safely in her vehicle, June headed in the opposite direction to her rundown old car. Elle stared longingly after her, wishing her breakup would turn into a makeup but with a whole different person in mind.
Chapter Thirteen
June was parked outside the restaurant, having been there a time or two before with Lydia. She kept her car running while she waited for the text from Elle to let her know to go inside. It was about six-thirty, and Elle had texted her earlier to tell her the date was starting late and they’d be finishing even later. There hadn’t been another word from her since.
Staring at the snow-covered hills out east of town, June shivered. She wasn’t cold, but she certainly was bored. She’d brought some charts with her, but it was next to impossible for her to find a comfortable position in her car to even attempt to do them. She’d left the office as soon as she could, knowing she’d promised Elle she would be there, and knowing she could easily do this work from home.
It looked warm inside, and she could imagine Elle’s belly was full from a good meal and her date—well, who knew about her date. The woman in question was still a mystery, but it wouldn’t be a long one. It would be interesting to see what Elle’s type was not, as she had so bluntly put it. If the mystery date was the complete opposite of herself, it would give her a good indication of her chances. If she even still had a chance with Elle. She could have very well lost out on that one in the scheme of everything going on.
June glanced longingly at the front doors to the restaurant again, hoping against hope that Elle would just come outside and she wouldn’t have to actually go inside with this crazy plan of theirs. Knowing her luck, the plan would backfire in some way and she would make Elle mad at her for something.
Sighing and glancing down at the charts in front of her, June rubbed her temple. The paperwork killed her sometimes, but it was a necessary evil to her job. She swallowed and put pen to paper to try to finish at least one chart before Elle sent her a desperate text.
It was only another five minutes before her phone buzzed.
She’s at it again. HELP!
June smirked and texted back a short, On my way in. She turned off her car, braced herself against the chill, and headed for the front doors. Once inside, she had to look around to try to find Elle. She peeked from one corner to the next, ignoring the confused and curious hostess. June waved her off as she stepped one way and then the other.
She saw Elle, whose face lit up when they made eye contact. June started off in her direction toward the table in the corner of the building, thankfully semi-near the restrooms so if asked June could have an excuse. She barely got ten feet into the restaurant when her stomach dropped. Blonde curls, perfectly twisted, hanging down the woman’s back. Red silk dress. That high-pitched giggle and sultry low voice.
Clenching her jaw, June had to force her feet to move forward. She felt as though everything was moving in slow motion as she came around the corner and stopped just in front of Elle. Instead of saying a word to the woman she was there to save, she turned sharply and stared dead straight into Lydia’s baby-blue eyes, taking in her red-painted lips, and pouty you-must-do-as-I-command expression.
Lydia stiffened as soon as they made eye contact.
June’s heart rapped hard against her ribs, daring one to break. Her breaths came out in short rasps as she tried to figure out what to even say. Lydia seemed just as stunned as she was. Turning to look at Elle, June held back the tears as she blinked.
“This? This is your date?” Her voice broke.
Elle cocked her head to one side, her gaze flicking back and forth from Lydia to June.
“Y—yes.”
Lydia reached across the table and grabbed Elle’s hand. Elle immediately tugged her hand out of the way. June twisted to Lydia. “How long?”
“Why are you here, June? Can’t you see you’re interrupting us?”
June turned her face up in an attempt to stave off the anger bursting within her. “How long have you been eyeing her up?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Shut it, Lydia. When did you ask her out? Before we broke up or after?” June’s face set with determination as she waited for an answer.
Elle slid from her chair and stood next to June. She grabbed June’s hand as she tried to get her to move away from the table. June ripped her hand from Elle’s and turned full on to Lydia. “How long, Lydia?”
“What does it matter to you?” Gone was the teasing and flirtatious Lydia who was always on her best behavior during dates, and back was the woman June had come to know so well over the past two years.
Leaning down and planting her palms on the table, June got into Lydia’s face. Her voice rang out in the suddenly quiet building. “How many women did you fuck while you were fucking me?”
“June, now is not the time,” Elle said into her ear, hands on her arm as she tried to pull her away.
Jerking her shoulder loose, June got even more into Lydia’s face. “Did you ever even love me? Or was I just another notch on your belt or a way to pay your bills?”
Lydia slammed her hands onto the table and shoved her chair loudly as she stood up. “I don’t have to take this from you, anymore. You broke up with me, remember?”
“Because you didn’t have the guts.” June’s eyes narrowed as she straightened her back. This was the fight she had avoided, the simmering anger finally boiling over. “Face it. You were the shittiest girlfriend ever. The least you could do was just end it while it was good.”
Sneering, Lydia crossed her arms, pushing up her breasts. “I am not the one who failed our relationship. You are.”
“Whatever.” June snorted and stiffened her neck. “You believe whatever you want to believe, Lydia. You’re obviously delusional.”
“June.” Elle’s calm voice reverberated in her ear. “Let’s go.”
“Yeah. I don’t want to be near her any longer than necessary. Some of her crazy might rub off on me.” June turned on her toes and stomped to the front of the restaurant, leaving Elle and Lydia behind her.
She could hear Elle calling her name, trying to get her attention, but all she saw was red. All she heard was the buzzing of anger and hurt. June slammed her car door after sliding behind the driver’s seat, peeled out of the parking lot, and drove off. She caught sight of Elle in her rearview mirror, but she was still too angry to even consider going back and talking to her.
She drove around town in circles, the tears spilling down her cheeks as she tried to calm her racing mind and heart. She had not expected to walk in there and see Lydia. That had been the last woman on her brain when Elle had begged her for help. Though, if she thought about Elle’s descriptions, she probably should have figured out Lydia was involved somehow. Lydia was always beyond self-centered and only in it for the fling. She kept one woman on one hand for the long term, someone who could support her and pay the rent while all the others she fucked on the side.
It had been that way when they’d met. June had been the other woman. Lydia had convinced her she was different, and she was the one who would straighten her out. But once a cheater, always a cheater. Slamming a little too hard on her brakes as she came to a red light, June grimaced. The dark SUV behind her nearly ran into her.
“Fuck,” she muttered.
Taking a deep breath, she turned down the next road and headed for her hotel room, not quite knowing where else to go. Nowhere was sacred any longer. No one could be trusted. She pulled in and parked. As she got out of the car, she heard Elle’s firm voice.
“What the hell was that all about?”
June held her breath as she tried to hold back the tears from flooding her eyes again, but she couldn’t. As soon as Elle rounded her SUV and saw June, she held open her arms, and June collapsed into them. Holding on tightly to Elle’s body, June let the sobs roll through her. She cried into her friend’s shoulder as her head pounded and her heart ached.
Elle shushed her, running a hand over her hair in a soothing motion and holding on tight, not letting go so long as June stayed still. Finally, June moved away and wiped her hands under her nose and her eyes to clear her face. Her head pounded sharply, reminding her physically of the emotional turmoil she was in.
“I ask again—what the hell was that all about?”
“If you haven’t figured it out, I don’t know what to say.”
“Lydia is your ex.”
“Yes.” June nodded and rubbed her eyes again.
“She’s the one you just broke up with?” Elle cocked her head to the side in question.
June nodded again, not sure she could give a verbal answer.
Elle bit her lower lip, pulling it between her teeth. “And she cheated.”
“Yeah, apparently not just the one time I caught her, but also cheated on me with you.” This time June’s glare turned to Elle. Even though she had pretty much decided Elle was unaware of being the other woman, she was still mad about it.
“I would not have gone out with her if I knew she was dating someone.”
June shrugged. “Not like she had any qualms about it.”
Running a hand down June’s arm, Elle repeated herself. “I wouldn’t have done it. Remember, I’ve been on the other side of the road, and I would never do that willingly or knowingly to someone else.”
“I know,” June whispered. “I just…I did not expect to walk in there tonight after everything and see you sitting at a table with her.”
“I can understand that.”
Silence fell between them, and June shivered in the cold. Elle finally looked around, and embarrassment filled the void of no longer pent-up anger inside June. Her cheeks heated, and she stared down at her old worn shoes that she shuffled on the snowy asphalt.
“June?”
“Yeah?” She didn’t dare look up at Elle, worried she might break again if she did.
“What are we doing here?”
The disgust at their location rang through Elle’s tone, and June was hit with another wave of embarrassment. She licked her lips and swallowed as she tried to form the words.
“Do—do you live here?”
June nodded.
“Oh, sweetie.” Elle wrapped an arm around June’s shoulder and tugged her in close. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Shrugging, June kept her eyes on the ground. She couldn’t look at Elle. She couldn’t tell her just how awful life had been these past weeks and months. Admitting her breakup was bad enough, but confessing she couldn’t afford to rent an apartment was pitiful.
“Come with me.”
“I can’t. I know what you’re doing. I can’t.”
“Yes. You can. And you will. My house is huge. It’s empty. We’ll move your stuff tomorrow when I get off work, but until then, you come with me.”
“No.”
“June. I’m not going to argue with you on this. You need a safer place to live, and a better place to live. Come on. Just temporary, I promise.”
This time June did look her in the eye, judging how genuine she was being. “This isn’t just a pity party because of Lydia?”
“Never. You know me better than that by now, don’t you?”
Thinking briefly, June nodded. “Yeah, that wouldn’t be you.”
“Right. So come on. Do you need to grab anything before tomorrow?”
