by Scott Kujawa
“I didn't until you spoke. What can I say? I tend to get lost in my thoughts when I'm cooking, so much so that I lose track of what is happening around me.”
Taking a sip of coffee, Alex's expression didn't change. “So it seems. I have to say that squeak was adorable.”
Blushing deeper across her cheeks, Christie only uttered a quiet, “Alex!” while she focused scrambling the eggs she had poured into a pan before Alex broke her concentration. “I'm so embarrassed that I made that sound.”
“Don't be. As I said, I found it adorable.”
“Okay.”
Since she wasn't in the mood for making any further small talk, Alex fell silent and sat down to enjoy the first mug of coffee she had poured. Although she was quiet, she watched Christie finish cooking the bacon that had drawn Alex downstairs and the eggs that Alex mentioned a few moments ago. A normal breakfast for Alex consisted of a bagel or muffin or something she picked up in one of the coffee shops while driving to work, so this was a treat.
“Hey Ristie, thank you for this.” Alex looked across the table at Christie, giving her a wide smile once the two were finished. “It's very rare for anyone to cook for me like this and I wasn't lying when I said I'm horrible at cooking.”
“It could be a thing we do.”
Alex's smile grew a little wider as she watched the blush return to Christie's cheeks as the dark haired woman realized what she said and what those words meant. “Only if you want. I also wasn't lying when I said we could take things slowly. But don't get me wrong, I'd love to sit down to meals like this if they're one that you cooked. Who knows, maybe you could give me those lessons you mentioned, and I was also serious about taking professional lessons with you.”
“Alex, I don't know what to say except that I like that idea.”
“Then it's a thing.” She smiled before she took her dishes to the kitchen and left them there to clean up later. “I have to get dressed, and we'll swing by your place on the way to work so you can get some clothes if you want to change.”
“Okay.”
Now that she was further awake and filled with good food and caffeine, Alex filled the drive with small talk or asked questions, or just rambled on during the drive until they reached Christie's place. “Can I come in?” she asked as she turned and looked at Christie while the two sat in the car that was parked in the driveway of the apartment complex. “It's fine if you say no, I'm more curious to see your place than anything.”
“It's not the best, but the rent is good, and it has all the space I need.”
“As I said, I wasn't trying to criticize. If you're happy with the place, then that's all the matters. Right?”
Alex was quiet while she waited, wondering if Christie would let her in or not. She smiled at last as she heard Christie blurt out a soft, “Okay. You can come up.”
“Great.”
With that agreed upon, Alex stepped out and waited for Christie to take the lead. Following behind her, Alex looked around the neighborhood and was relieved that the street looked like it was a good place to live. Lawns looked taken care of, as did the houses. She even saw a few neighbors looking their way, checking up on whom the stranger was with the younger woman. She figured that the people here cared for each other and looked out for one another, which was a good thing.
Stepping inside of Christie's apartment, Alex gazed around some more. It was the typical apartment. One main room with a smaller kitchen. A bathroom that wasn't that far from the main room and then just a master bedroom. So it was small, and it brought a smile to Alex's face when she saw most of the rooms because her first place in college was pretty much just like this apartment. Even the large T.V. that had a few game systems connected to it was the same. So was the laptop that was the center place on one of the tables although that would have been a large desktop back when Alex lived in a small place like this.
“It's nice,” Alex said, at last, feeling Christie's eyes on her. “Being in a place like this brings back a lot of memories, and most of those memories are good ones.”
Alexandria smiled at Christie as she heard the single, “Oh?”
“That's right, but right now we don't have time for me to talk about those memories. Don't you have something to do so we can get to the office?”
“Oh, right!”
Laughing to herself, Alex settled into a chair that looked like it had been dug up from an “I want to get rid of this, come take it,” type of ad or placed on the curb for that purpose. It, like the rest of the furniture in the main room, didn't match the rest of the furnishings. Seeing that mix of furniture also brought back more of those memories, which only made Alex smile a little wider.
All during the drive to the office, Alex couldn't stop the laughter or snickers that came from her lips each time she looked over at Christie. It was the sight of the T-shirt Christie had decided on wearing that had set Alex off from the moment she saw it, and that kept making her laugh. It was the three image panel on “How to Kill a Zombie” on the front of the gray shirt that had set her off and continued to do so every time she looked at Christie.
It didn't take long for Christie to join in with her laughter or snickers due to how Alex was reacting.
“You're killing me with these shirts, just so you know.”
“What?” Christie said, acting all innocent like she wasn't sure what Alex was talking about. “It's just another T-shirt I like.”
“Uh huh.” Alex looked over, giving her another grin and more laughter since the images set her off again. “I think from now on I'll look forward to seeing what new shirt you are wearing. So far I've seen three of them, and I've found each of them amusing.”
“Alex,” Christie said, being at a loss for words suddenly.
“Look at that; I broke her. I wonder if I'm the first one to say something that made you unable to respond.”
“My mother would tell you, you are the first to do that.”
“It's as I expected, and mothers would know that about their children. So, I must remember to ask her if that's the truth once you bring me home to meet her.”
“Oh. Oh! Oh, my gods! I… I never thought about taking you home to meet my parents. Now that will be something I'll stress about! Thanks a lot, Alex!”
Alex's answer was only to take Christie's hand since they were standing outside of the car and smile at her. “Hey now, I know how to make a good impression, so you need not worry. But right now we have to get to work. Chop, chop. We have people waiting for us, and we have code to write. So let's get to it!”
“Right! Okay!”
Walking into work together, the two felt eyes on them and the sounds of gossip that seemed to spring up once some others noticed that Alex was coming to work with Christie. She also noticed a few people exchanging money, which made Alex aware that some of her employees had bets going on about her life.
“Melody!” she yelled across the room as she noticed her sister handing over twenty dollars to one of their employees, who was giving Melody a wide smirk. “My sister is involved in this madness?”
Alex turned a mock glare onto everyone as she listened to calls of, “It was Melody who started the first bet!” Then that glare was given to her sister even as Alex broke into laughter at her sister's actions. She laughed a little harder as she noticed that Christie had flushed bright red, which caused Alex to pull the woman closer to her as a way to protect Christie from further embarrassment. “I'm so mad at you, Mellie,” Alex added with the same volume. “And for shame on the rest of you!”
“Then we shouldn't tell you that Melody also had bets going on all the other dates you've been on?” a few others spoke up again as their laughter blended with Alex's, Melody's, and the others that were now enjoying the events that started off their work day.
“From her?” Alex said, giving everyone more of her gaze. “I would expect it, but from the rest of you? I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!”
When things settled down, and everyone finished
exchanging their losses or winnings, Alex guided Christie over to an area of the bullpen where they could put a desk and make a work area for her. “Settle in, okay? I'll be in my office when you're ready to talk about what we need to purchase for you to make this space yours.” Alex left it like that, giving Christie time to work through her rush of emotions that came from walking into the events that sprung up as soon as the two arrived together.
After giving Christie a small hug, Alex moved over to Melody and pulled her sister into her office before closing the door on the laughter, gossip, and snickers that returned when the others saw what was going on.
“Tell me about your date,” Alex said, dropping the scary face she had put on when she was standing among the game designers that were her employees. “All I got last night was a text telling me you had a good time and that you weren't murdered.” Alex watched Melody fidget for a few minutes, causing Alex to wonder what happened last night with her sister and the date that Melody said she was on. “You had a date, right? You weren't lying to me about what you were doing. Were you?”
“No,” she heard Melody say. “But I… I'm kind of not sure how to answer you.”
“Mellie? What happened?” Alex asked, even more confused and concerned now.
“It's like this,” she heard Melody say then pause before her sister spoke. “I went to meet with one of my usual dates, but then something happened.”
“Just tell me, Mellie! Come on already!”
Throwing up her hands, Melody paced. Alex could see that her sister was upset about whatever happened last night. She waited with some patience though even if she wanted to shake the information out of her sister.
“I realized that it was just a waste of time about ten minutes into meeting the guy I met up with. That wasn't what is bothering me, okay? I'm more confused about how I feel about spending the rest of the night with the woman that sat down on the other side of the table.”
“Wait, what? Are you telling me, Mellie, that you had a second date with a woman? You? The one who has told me over and over she only likes men? Do I hear you correctly?”
“That's right, Alex! That's what I'm telling you, and I'm not sure how I feel about what happened!”
“Was she hot? Holy shit, you're blushing! So she must be.”
“Yes, all right? Yes, she is!”
Alex grinned at Melody, and her laughter burst into strength, letting everyone behind the door know something had set off one of their bosses. Alex's laughter also caused everyone to give each other looks or to look at the closed door as they wondered what the two sisters were talking about.
“Wait? Wait? Wait! Are you going to see her again? Holy shit, Mellie!”
“I know! Okay! I know! And it seems that I will see her again since she insisted that we get together this weekend.”
Alex's laughter continued for a while longer as she heard that, causing her to almost fall out of her chair as her body rocked in amusement. When she thought she could speak again without bursting into more mirth, Alex gave her sister a snarky look. “Mellie?” she asked while snickering a little still, “do you have a mistress now and are you going to be her submissive?”
“ALEXANDRIA!” Melody shouted as she glared at her sister, who had returned to her deep laughter. “That is not even funny!”
“It is funny, Mellie. It's also funny that I get to be the one to tease you, for once.”
“I hate you sometimes, Alex.”
“And I say the same about you all the time, Mellie. It's rarely that I get to be the one to tease you.”
“Dammit,” Melody said at last when the two of them were done with teasing each other. Alex sat at her desk and looked across at her sister while Melody did the same but from the other side of Alex's desk. “What am I going to do, Allie? You know I've always preferred dating men.”
“I know, Mellie. All I can say is tell her the truth and let her decide if she wants to spend time with you. Or vice versa if you're interested in finding out if you can have a relationship with this woman who seems to have thrown your life into a spin. I sure never knew my sister might develop feelings for a woman. Mellie, just remember this: We're all complex, and there's no black and white for what we feel towards other people. Who knows, she might be the only woman you might ever feel this way towards. It's not a bad thing though.”
“You're right, Allie, but I'm still feeling so confused. I mean, we're both old enough we should know our sexuality by now. You were a teenager when you realized that you fell for girls and I was the same age when I knew I liked boys. So finding this out about myself has me confused.”
“I get that, Mellie. All I can say again is see what happens and be truthful with her.” Alex gave her sister a warm smile. “Now tell me more and tell me about where she plans to take you this weekend. Come on, Mellie, spill! I want to hear everything and all the details.”
Watching her sister blush, Alex felt her grin spread further, and she gave her head a small shake since she could tell that Melody was conflicted about what happened over the weekend. Plus Melody seemed to be at a loss on how much she was letting this woman make the plans that the two would share. Listening with the same grin on her face, Alex only laughed a little or reacted when she heard Melody talk about how she had been talked into going out for dinner and then to an outdoor stage where a wide range of bands would play for the audience.
“It sounds nice,” Alex said after Melody wound down.
“Hey,” she heard Melody say after a few moments. “Maybe…”
Alex grinned and shook her head. “No. Don't even ask.”
“But!”
“No, Mellie. I will not invite Christie to go with me so the four of us can have a double date. You're on your own with this woman until the two of you know how you feel for each other. Once the two of you figure that out between yourselves, then maybe I'll agree to have a double date.”
“You suck, sometimes.”
“I know. And that is what you get for teasing me all the time. Also, just so you're aware, I plan to milk this for a long while. So be prepared for me to tease you about the situation you find yourself in. It'll give me weeks of amusement.”
“Dammit!”
Alex smirked at Melody before she added, “Now get out of my office. I have work to do so I can spend time with Christie. You pushed the two of us together, and now I've decided that I need to spend time with her every day.”
Throwing a smirk over her shoulder at her sister, Melody did as Alex commanded even though the two of them would probably discuss this change in Melody's life more at a later date. Alex's laughter came again as she saw the expression that Melody sent her, causing Alex only to shake her head a little even as she focused on what she needed to complete for the day.
“Hey,” Alex heard, causing her to look up from her laptop screen and smile at the woman that was standing in the doorway of Alex's office.
“Hey yourself, Ristie. You can come in, you know.”
“I know, but I figured I'd only come in this far since I came to ask you if you wanted to take a break and go somewhere with me for lunch.”
“Absolutely!” Alex saved the work she was about done with and stood. Taking Christie's hand in hers as they left, Ales smiled at the dark haired woman. Her smile grew a little more as she noticed the light color that filled Christie's cheeks due to the feeling of having their hands clasped together.
“Alex,” Christie said during the walk towards the sandwich shop.
“Yes?”
“I didn't expect the smart co-owner of the gaming company that has such a popular game to be someone that likes to hold hands or gives me the space to set the pace of a relationship.”
Without having her smile slip any, Alex looked at Christie. “I understand. I know what is said online about Melody and me. I also know some of what is said are true, but there's more than what is said on those web sites. All I can say to you is that I want you to get to know who I am instead of the image that pe
ople believe I am.”
Giving Alex's fingers a small squeeze, Christie thought about what Alex just said while they waited to put in their order and while waiting for a table to empty. “Right. I admire you so much, which was why I tried to get an internship with your company. I never dreamed that I might date one of the co-owners! It still seems pretty much like I'm dreaming and I need to wake up.”
Laughing, Alex grinned at Christie while juggling the turkey club and the bottle of water she ordered. “You can blame us getting together on Melody, but I'm glad she accepted you for the position you wanted. She's sneaky like that, but for once she found someone I could come to love instead of all the other dates that turned out to be mistaken.”
Alex felt Christie's eyes on her, and she looked up at Christie after a moment to see that the woman was holding onto her half-eaten ham sandwich. “How many dates have there been, exactly?”
“Oh,” Alex stammered out, feeling her cheeks heat suddenly. “Um… uh…”
“I'm only kidding, Alexandria. You don't have to tell me. I know you're older than me by a few years and I don't expect that you've been celibate.”
“Right. If you want me to tell you, I will.”
Alex said nothing further, giving Christie all the time she needed to think about if she wanted to know that information or not. While she kept her silence, Alex used that time to finish the rest of her sandwich, thinking this lunch might be a disaster.
“That's all right, Alex. I don't want to know.”
“Okay. That's fine.” Alex smiled back at Christie. Reaching across the table, Alex laid her hands on top of Christie's and looked at the woman that sat across from her. “Come out with me tonight?” Alex asked. “I want to take you out to dinner.”
“Okay, Alexandria,” Christie agreed within seconds.
“Fantastic. I'll pick you up about seven?”
“Seven is fine.”
“So do you need anything besides what we discussed, which I've ordered. Everything should be here by the end of next week.”
