by Zoey Lennox
Alexis fired off a quick text to her father to let him know she’d be late home, then followed Maddie to the checkout.
Maddie’s house wasn’t at all what Alexis expected. She had assumed, being located near the heart of the town centre, that it would be a terrace or semi-detached property, but it turned out to be the complete opposite: a quaint, grey stone, detached cottage sitting back on a large plot away from the road and the surrounding housing development. There was a pretty garden, a gravel drive positioned to the left and potted plants situated on each side of the red front door.
“Sweetheart, I’m back,” Maddie called as she led them inside. “I’ve brought a guest so you can stop sulking about only having two people to test your culinary skills out on.” She slipped off her suit jacket and hung it on a hook by the front door, then motioned for Alexis to hand over her handbag. “Here, give me that and make yourself comfortable in the living room.”
Alexis followed orders and found herself in a cosy living room with low-beamed ceilings. The walls were a light shade of green and there were two plump brown leather sofas covered with tan and cream striped cushions that faced each other in front of an inglenook fireplace. Lamps in various shapes and sizes cast a warm glow over the room and an overflowing bookcase sat in the corner, its shelves bowed from years of excess weight.
“I’m just popping into the kitchen,” Maddie said. “I’ll be back in a second.”
Left to her own devices, Alexis hovered. Each second that passed triggered a wave of anxiety. Maybe agreeing to come to dinner hadn’t been such a great idea. Maddie had probably only asked out of pity. She should have politely declined while she had the chance.
There was a loud knock on the front door, and Maddie’s voice rang out from the kitchen. “Can you get that for me, Alexis? That’ll be our other dinner guest.”
The last thing Alexis wanted to do was make small talk with a stranger, but she couldn’t refuse. Feeling trapped, she forced her feet back out into the hallway and pulled open the front door with a thrumming heart.
“Hi,” Alexis said when she came face to face with an attractive woman who couldn’t be more than a couple of years older than herself. She was wearing black cord trousers and a red-and-white checked shirt. “I’m Alexis. I work with Maddie. And you are…?”
“Ramie Ramirez.” Ramie tucked the bottle of wine she was carrying under her arm and stuck out her hand. “That’s pronounced Ray-me not Ram-ie. You can thank my parents for such an unusual first name. My dad’s British, and my mother’s a mixture of British, Mexican and Spanish descent.”
Alexis shook Ramie’s bronzed hand automatically and was surprised by its soft strength.
“Are you filling in for Hope?” Ramie asked. “She’s always coming up with excuses to skip our dinner parties. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. You make a lovely replacement.”
Her dark eyes held Alexis’s as she delivered the compliment and Alexis’s stomach lurched in response.
“Don’t listen to this troublemaker,” Maddie said as she reappeared in the hallway. She hit Ramie on the shoulder and mussed up her collar-length black hair. “She doesn’t usually put her friends down. She just forgets her manners sometimes when she’s in the company of a pretty woman.”
Alexis expected Ramie to laugh, but she turned an adorable shade of pink instead. Cute.
Maddie cleared her throat. “Okay. I think dinner is just about ready. Come on through, ladies. Chris is dying to get your opinion on the latest masterpiece.”
She accepted the bottle of wine Ramie offered with thanks and led them to the kitchen diner. Upon entering, Alexis immediately noted that Chris wasn’t the man she’d been expecting, but a tall, muscular woman with a shock of inky black hair.
Wait. Maddie was gay? It suddenly made sense why Alexis had been invited to dinner. As far as Maddie was concerned, after her outburst in the break room earlier in the week, Alexis was gay too. Was this how lesbians bonded? With dinner parties?
“Alexis!” Chris welcomed her with a smile and handed Maddie a stack of plates to lay on the dining table. “It’s nice to finally put a face to the name. Maddie’s talked a lot about you.”
“I bet she has. There’s certainly been enough drama following me around lately.”
Chris pulled a delicious-smelling concoction from the oven and when everyone’s plates were laden with minted roast lamb, potatoes and green beans, they took a seat at the dining table across the room.
“I heard about Patrick,” Chris said. “It’s ridiculous that gay women still have to put up with that kind of crap. When you tell a guy you’re not interested, they need to back off.”
Argh. Was it really necessary for Maddie to tell Chris about that? So much for privacy.
Alexis was painfully aware of Ramie’s gaze boring a hole into the side of her head. Was she gay too? Keeping her eyes on her plate of food, Alexis tried to ignore the fact that she had just been incorrectly outed to her fellow dinner guests. She may suspect that her interests lay in the fairer sex, but nothing had been proven yet.
“What happened?” Ramie asked.
Maddie filled her in, and Ramie let out a low whistle once she’d been brought up to speed.
“Wow, what a jackass. I despise those types of men. Their ego is directly attached to their dick. If anyone rebuffs their advances, they feel their manhood is being called into question.”
Goosebumps sprang to life on Alexis’s shoulder when Ramie gave it a supportive squeeze.
“Did you report him? That bastard needs to know it’s not okay to harass you at work.”
Alexis shook her head. “I’m still considering my options. Part of me thinks it’ll be pointless. Patrick has a knack for weaselling his way out of sticky situations.”
“You should trust the system,” Maddie said. “There are rules and regulations in place for a reason.”
“She’s right.” Ramie agreed. “Once that jerk’s been reported, the university will have no choice but to launch an investigation. He won’t be able to weasel out of anything then.”
Alexis pushed a green bean around her plate. “I suppose.”
“So, you’ll talk to HR?” Ramie prodded.
Alexis gave her a weak smile. “I’ll talk to them first thing Monday morning.” After listening to everyone’s arguments she knew she needed to report Patrick. Nothing was ever going to change unless she changed the way she dealt with his behaviour.
“Great!” Chris clapped her hands. “Now that’s settled, I need you lovely ladies to hit me with your verdict on the food. Please tell me two hours slaving away in the kitchen has been worth it or you’re not going to be invited back again.”
The mischievous twinkle in her grey eyes let everyone know she was joking.
“It’s delicious as always, hon,” Maddie said. She groaned around a mouthful of minted lamb.
Ramie held up her thumb. “One of your best.”
“Ditto,” Alexis added.
Chris rubbed her hands together. “Good. I’m thinking of experimenting with a twist on chicken supreme next time. Everyone all right with that?”
“I’m in,” Alexis said without thinking. She had forgotten this was a one-off pity dinner, and Hope would be back to fill her spot at the dinner table next month. Heat raced up her neck as she busied herself sipping her drink.
“Perfect,” Maddie said, oblivious to Alexis’s mortification. “Looks like we’ve got a new member of our dinner party circle. Don’t worry Alexis, we won’t be expecting you to host. Cooking is Chris’s forte and she likes to use the opportunity to practise new dishes on everyone.”
Alexis tried to keep the pleasure from showing on her face as a wave of contentment swept through her.
“So, Alexis.” Ramie turned to face her straight on. “You work with Maddie, right? Does that mean you work in finance?”
Alexis could only wish. “No, I work in admin. It’s pretty boring really.”
“So you don’t like your jo
b?”
“Not particularly, but I bowed out of uni early due to some personal issues, so it’s the best I’m going to get unfortunately.”
Ramie leaned back in her chair and bit down on her full lower lip.
“What?” Alexis asked.
“Nothing. It’s just, you can’t be any older than, what, twenty-five? You’re still young. You can do anything you want. Nothing’s stopping you from becoming a mature student and giving uni a shot if you want to take a bash at it. It might take you a while to get where you want, but surely that’s better than slogging away year after year in a job you hate.”
“I don’t hate it.” Alexis was desperate not to come off as a complete failure in front of this gorgeous woman. “It’s just boring and repetitive. There’s a difference.”
“Ignore her.” Maddie shot Ramie a warning glare. “Ramie’s a free spirit who lives on a narrowboat and works three part-time jobs. She doesn’t get that everyone’s different and may not want to give up their stability.”
“You live on a narrowboat?” Alexis asked.
“Yep. She’s called Lydia.”
Alexis was impressed. She had always wanted to go on holiday on one of those things. “And you have three jobs?”
“Uh huh. I’m primarily a counsellor at a local LGBTQ centre, but I also work at an animal rescue centre and a craft shop in town. Life can get pretty hectic, but I make it work.”
“You wouldn’t have to make it work if it weren’t for your crazy ex.”
“Maddie, don’t,” Ramie whispered.
“Sorry, but I’m still pissed at that woman. She totally decimated your life and couldn’t care less about it.”
Alexis was curious about what this ex had done to warrant such a strong reaction, but she stayed silent. The stricken look on Ramie’s face said the subject was still a tender one.
Maddie held up her hands. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’m just protective of you.”
“I know,” Ramie said. “And I love you for it, but can we just draw a line under this please? The last thing I want to do is talk about her on such a wonderful evening.”
Maddie gave Ramie a sad smile. “Okay, I get it. No more talk of exes.”
Taking that as her cue, Chris stood up and started stacking empty plates.
“Let me clear these away and get us some dessert. Alexis, I spied a cheesecake in the fridge. Would you help me serve it?”
Alexis got up with a nod. “No problem.”
“Having fun?” Chris asked as they headed into the kitchen.
“Yeah, I’m having a great time. Thanks for having me over.”
“You’re very welcome. It’s nice having a new face at the table. You seem like the perfect fit for our group.”
Alexis grinned. “It’s easy to fit in when everyone’s so friendly and accommodating.”
“Even Ramie?” Chris laid out some plates on the work surface then grabbed the dessert from the fridge. “I was worried she might scare you off with her line of questioning earlier.”
“Nope.” Alexis laughed. “It’ll take more than that to scare me away.”
“Good.” Chris ripped open the box of cheesecake and cut four generous slices. “I thought I detected a bit of a spark between the two of you.” She glanced at Alexis out of the corner of her eye. “Am I right?”
Damn it. Alexis should have known her attraction to Ramie wouldn’t go unnoticed in a room full of lesbians.
“Uh…maybe,” she admitted.
“Just do me a favour,” Chris said, playfully bumping Alexis’s shoulder. “Take things slowly with her, okay? She’s had to deal with more than her fair share of heartache this past year. I know she might not look it, but she’s pretty fragile.”
Alexis nodded. “Got it.” It’s not like she’d ever gather the courage to ask Ramie out on a date anyway. And even if she did, Ramie was sure to run a mile once the truth came out and she learned Alexis had never dated a woman.
“Come on,” Chris said, picking up two of the plates. “Let’s go serve these up. No matter how full you are, there’s always room for dessert.”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, wine flowed and tongues loosened. Alexis discovered a wealth of information about her new friends. It seemed everyone had worked together at the LGBTQ centre at one point. Ramie had introduced Maddie to Chris, and after four blissful years together they were scheduled to get married the following June. She also learned that Ramie was indeed gay, and still single after her split from her infamous ex the previous year.
“Come on,” Maddie said as Alexis retrieved her handbag at the end of the evening. “Let me give you a lift home.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”
“It’s no problem. Really.” Maddie opened the door and headed towards her silver Lexus.
“It was lovely meeting you!” Alexis called out to Ramie before ducking into the passenger seat.
Ramie gave her an adorable little wave and butted the toe of her shoe into the gravel drive. “You too!”
Alexis’s mind buzzed with possibility the entire drive home.
Chapter 3
Alexis hummed with relief as she let herself into the house on Wednesday evening after work. It had taken her a few days to gather the courage to report Patrick, but she had finally taken a trip to HR with Maddie that morning. Now that the wheels had been put into motion, it was just a waiting game. She hoped Patrick got his comeuppance. He certainly deserved it.
As she shrugged off her coat and draped it over the banister, her ears pricked at the sound of shuffling in the kitchen.
“Dad?” she called out.
The kitchen door was closed, and she pushed it open to find her father hunched over the dining table with the tip of his tongue poking out as he lit an array of multicoloured birthday candles atop a garish cake.
“Hey, sweetie!” He straightened when he saw her and stood back to proudly regard his work. “Carol’s helping out with some event at the museum tonight, so it’s just going to be you and me like old times.”
A lump lodged itself in Alexis’s throat. She’d almost forgotten what today was. They hadn’t celebrated her birthday properly since her mum had died—there hadn’t seemed much point when the person she wanted to celebrate with the most was no longer around.
Her father waved her over and gave her an earnest smile. “Go on, then. Make a wish. Remember, don’t tell me what it is, or it won’t come true.”
Alexis gathered her hair over her shoulder and leaned over the cake. She couldn’t remember the last time the two of them had spent any quality time together. What little time they did manage to scrounge was always tainted with Carol’s unwanted presence.
Please let me have a decent relationship with my father again.
As she blew out the candles, Alexis sensed her father knew exactly what she had asked for. He didn’t say anything, but his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down and his eyes looked watery.
Sniffling loudly, he cut two generous slices of cake and then headed into the living room, where the latest Michelle Rodriguez movie was queued up on the television.
“You remembered?” Alexis had lost count of the amount of times she had mentioned her intention to buy the movie.
“Of course.”
So, he had been paying attention to her.
Settling down on the sofa, Alexis leaned into her father’s solid frame. He might be tall and thin and a bit of a dork, but he had always possessed a quiet strength that made her feel safe. To finally have his undivided attention made her feel ten years old again. He draped an arm around her shoulder, and she let out a contented breath.
“Oh, I forgot!” Her father jumped to his feet and rifled around in the TV cabinet. When he returned to the sofa, he held out an envelope. “You know I’m no good with presents. So, I got you this.”
Alexis accepted the offering with a smile and wedged her thumb beneath the seal. “Thanks, Dad.” She removed a cheery birthday card and let out a g
asp when a pile of crisp twenty-pound notes fell out onto her lap.
“Treat yourself to something nice,” her father said. “It’s a hundred pounds. I hope it’s enough.”
Alexis stared at the money. It was a far cry from the token gift he usually gave her.
“Of course it’s enough. In fact, it’s too much. Are you sure you can afford this? Carol’s always going on about the price of everything.”
Her father sighed and sat back down on the sofa. “Don’t worry, sweetie, I can afford it. I know you might not think so, but Carol means well with all her talk of money. By making you pay rent, she’s getting you used to budgeting, and that’ll put you in good stead for when you get a place of your own someday.”
Alexis didn’t dispute his assessment of the situation or question how on earth she was supposed to save for that elusive flat when most of her wages were snatched away from her each month. Right now, she wanted to enjoy the quality time they had together.
Two hours of serene contentment passed before a key in the door signalled Carol’s return. Neither of them moved from their slouched positions on the sofa, but the atmosphere immediately became charged with her presence.
“Richard?” Carol called.
After the sound of her taking off her shoes and coat in the hall, she appeared in the doorway and flicked the switch on the wall, flooding the room with light.
“What are you two doing sitting in the dark? It can’t be good for your eyes.” Her beady eyes narrowed as she spied the source of their entertainment. “I stopped at the supermarket on the way home to stock up on some essentials. Can you help me get them in from the car please, Richard?”
As always when it came to Carol, her father jumped to attention. Shooting Alexis a look of regret, he followed Carol out of the room and proceeded to carry out a hushed conversation in the hallway.
“Honestly, couldn’t you find something more productive to do with your time than sit in front of the TV all evening? The washing-up needs doing, and the house could do with a good Hoover.”
“Sorry sweetheart, but it’s Lexi’s birthday. I thought I’d treat her to a movie and some birthday cake. It’s been a while since we’ve spent time together one-on-one.”
