Playing Catch-Up

by Zoey Lennox

  “Good thanks. I can see you’ve been keeping yourself busy.” Sophie eyed Ramie with distaste. “I can’t talk now because I’m on a date, but we should catch up soon, okay?”

  “Of course.” Alexis didn’t dare meet Ramie’s eyes. She just wanted to get through this nightmare and come out the other side.

  “Okay then.” Sophie gave Ramie one final glare. “I’ll wait for your call. Don’t forget, okay?”

  She sashayed back to her date, drawing the attention of several spectators as she went.

  “I can see why you left her.” Ramie laughed.

  Alexis shoved her guilty conscience to the back of her mind, determined not to let it ruin their incredible day. A bass drum started up across the pub, and moments later a keyboard and electric guitar joined in. She used the opportunity to move the conversation forwards.

  “That must be the live band.”

  They were pretty good. The melody was familiar, and if she was guessing correctly, it was a song by Natalie Imbruglia.

  Ramie’s eyes sparkled. “You know what I just realised? We don’t have a song.”

  Just when Alexis thought she had Ramie pegged, the woman said or did something that made her melt even more.

  “You’re right. I’ve never had a special song with anyone I was dating before. Let’s make it a good one. Any ideas?”

  Ramie steepled her hands. “Well, some people say you don’t get to choose. It’s up to the universe.”

  “How does that work?”

  “By chance. It’s a simple case of turning on the radio and claiming whatever song happens to be playing. Or in our case, whatever song the band decides to sing.”

  Alexis made a face. She didn’t particularly want their song to have lyrics that included ‘lying broken on the floor’.

  Ramie apparently agreed. “How about we go with the next song? Good or bad, it’ll be ours.”

  “Deal. Let’s live life on the edge.”

  “It’s the only way to feel alive.” Ramie snickered.

  When the first notes of the next song drifted across the pub, Alexis grinned like a lovesick puppy.

  “Wow.” Ramie smiled. “We couldn’t have picked a better one if we’d tried.”

  Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ wafted out of the speakers, mimicking Alexis’s feelings perfectly. She leaned across the table and gave in to the overwhelming urge to kiss her lover. Who cared if Sophie was watching? Screw her.

  Ramie deepened the kiss, and things soon got hot and heavy.

  “Excuse me ladies. Would you like some dessert?” a passing waitress asked.

  Alexis reeled back, her face heating with embarrassment. “We’ll just have the bill, please.”

  Ramie grinned as she handed over her card. “I think I’ll have my dessert at home. Something tells me I’ll enjoy it more there.”

  Now that was an exciting prospect.

  They had to pass Sophie and her date on the way to the door, and Alexis’s couldn’t help but overhear part of their conversation.

  “It makes me sick thinking about Lex and that dyke together. They should keep that under lock and key. Not shove it in our faces while we’re trying to enjoy our meal.”

  Ramie’s footsteps faltered. She’d heard it too.

  “Babe, don’t.” Alexis tried to keep hold of Ramie’s hand, but Ramie shook her off and approached Sophie’s table.

  “If you’ve got something to say, at least have the guts to say it to our faces.”

  Sophie and her companion ignored Ramie’s towering figure.

  “Hey, I’m talking to you.” Ramie grabbed the plate out from beneath the fork poised in Sophie’s hand. “At least have the decency to look at me.”

  Sophie scowled and threw her fork down on the table. It clanked loudly against her wine glass and captured the attention of the people at the next table. “Thanks a lot. God only knows what I’ll catch now you’ve touched it.”

  Hurt flashed in Ramie’s dark eyes, but she quickly recovered. “You’re a nasty piece of work. Do you know that? No wonder Lex has been avoiding you.”

  Alexis cringed as Sophie’s gaze zeroed in on her.

  “So, you have been avoiding me,” Sophie accused.

  “Can you blame her?” Ramie scoffed. “Why would she want to be around you when you’re full of such spite and hatred?”

  Sophie shrugged. “I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking.”

  The beefcake of a man sitting beside Sophie suddenly came to life. “Look, I think it would be best if we get out of here, babe. We’re almost through with dinner anyway.”

  Yes. Please leave.

  Sophie stared at him through narrowed eyes. “Okay,” she finally relented. “I don’t much feel like staying here anyway. I definitely don’t want to be witness to these two going at it all night. It’s disgusting.” She rose from her chair and put on her tailored red coat, eyeing Alexis disapprovingly the entire time. “Remember to call me, all right? We need to have a long conversation.”

  “Don’t hold your breath,” Ramie muttered.

  Sophie’s eyes flashed. “So, she makes your decisions for you too now, does she, Lex? I know you aren’t the smartest tool in the box, but come on, at least have the gumption to know your own mind.”

  “Okay. That’s enough!” As if realising she still had Sophie’s dinner in her hand, Ramie returned it to the table. “First of all,” she said, pointing her finger at Sophie, “you can retract that statement. I’m staring at the dumbest person in this pub right now and it’s certainly not Alexis. And second, you need to keep your mouth shut. We all know you’ve got a lot of guilt festering away inside you. Why don’t you do us all a favour and find yourself someone qualified to talk to. Maybe then you’ll no longer feel the need to project your own issues onto everyone else. It’s not healthy, you know, and it’s going to do you a lot of damage if you don’t deal with it soon.”

  Sophie slapped Ramie’s finger away. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I’m warning you now, you’d best stay out of my face if you want to remain in one piece.”

  “Oh, so you’re threatening me now?” Ramie smirked. “Don’t tell me you’ve gone and taken a liking to my feet.”

  The stumped expression on Sophie’s face was priceless.

  “Tell me,” Ramie said, turning to Sophie’s date. “Has Sophie told you about her foot fetish? Because you might want to keep that in mind before things get too serious between the two of you. As she’s shown us tonight, she’s quite highly strung. I’d hate for her to snap one day and take things a little too far in the bedroom.”

  Sophie’s date gulped and opened his mouth, but it appeared Ramie wasn’t done.

  “She’s also a raging homophobe, which is kind of ironic, really, seeing as she’s a closeted lesbian. If I were you, mate, I’d do yourself a favour and run. This one’s a loose cannon ready to go off at any second.”

  Sophie stomped her foot and lunged at Ramie. “You fucking bitch. You’re crazy.”

  Stepping to the side, Ramie dodged her fist. “Right back at you, sweetheart. From where I’m standing, you’re the one who’s acting like a lunatic.”

  Sophie’s cheeks were flushed as she turned to her date. “Don’t listen to her, Jack. She’s lying.”

  Jack stood unmoving. The colour had drained from his face, and his eyes kept flitting from Sophie’s manic expression to the pub entrance. “Uh…I think I’m just going to go.”

  He took one final glance at Sophie and then bolted.

  “Jack!” Sophie yelled as she trailed after him. “Babe, please. You’re not going to believe this rubbish, are you?”

  When the door closed behind them, Alexis laughed. “That was epic. You’re my hero. You know that, right?”

  Ramie turned an endearing shade of pink.

  “Come on. I think we need a drink after that.” Alexis led her out of the dining area. The music from the band was louder in the main pub, and no one was the wiser to t
he scene that had just unfolded around the corner.

  “Well that was quite the showdown,” Ramie said. “Would you order me a rum and Coke while I run to the ladies’ room?”

  Alexis deposited a juicy kiss on Ramie’s lips. “Sure, but hurry back. You looked superhot defending my honour back there. I can’t wait to show you how grateful I am.”

  The tense expression on Ramie’s face was replaced with a grin. “Will do.”

  As Alexis watched her go, a voice said, “That was hot.”

  She turned to find a spotty teenager propped at the bar with a pint of beer in his hand.

  “Piss off,” she said.

  The boy held up his free hand. “Hey, no need to get all het up. I was paying you a compliment. Chill.”

  She rolled her eyes and moved a few feet further down the bar.

  The last notes of the song the band was playing faded and they announced a refreshment break.

  Really? They had played three songs. How thirsty could they be?

  Turning back to the bar, Alexis ordered Ramie’s rum and Coke and a glass of wine for herself. She was just taking her first sip when a familiar voice startled her.

  “Hi, Lex. What are you doing here?”

  She held a hand over her thumping heart in a bid to calm it down. “Sam?”

  Sam stood next to her, larger than life. He held a guitar in his hand and had a sheen of sweat covering his beaming face.

  “Wait. That was you playing?”

  Sam’s smile grew as he put in a request for a pint of beer. “Yep. I never thought I’d see the day you showed up at one of my gigs. Then again, I guess it doesn’t count if you were here anyway and there was no intent.”

  Guilt fizzled inside her. “You were amazing.” It made her sad to think she’d missed out on so many of Sam’s gigs. He was so talented. “You’ll have to let me know when you’re playing next.”

  Sam’s face lit up. “Really? I’d love that.”

  “How’re things in admissions?” Alexis asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

  “Same old.” Sam shrugged. “Nia’s terrorising your replacement and rumours are rampant about your departure.”

  “Rumours?” Alexis’s interest piqued. Maddie hadn’t mentioned anything.

  “Yeah. There are two main contenders.” Sam sat on one of the metal stools lining the bar. “Some people think you, Patrick, and Nia had a threesome which turned sour, while others are of the mindset you had a fling with Patrick and that’s why you both left in close succession.”

  Great. Lovely to know her former colleagues thought she was the office slut.

  “But enough about office politics.” Sam removed his guitar from around his neck and set it on the floor. “Don’t think I didn’t see you sucking face with that hottie a minute ago. What’s up with that? It was only a few months ago that you were defending your heterosexuality.”

  Urgh. She wasn’t in the mood for this.

  She cast a weary glance over her shoulder for signs of Ramie, and when the coast was clear, reluctantly filled Sam in on some of the details of the last couple of months.

  “So, you’re a rug muncher now?”

  Alexis whacked him upside the head. “You know that’s offensive, right?”

  Sam bit his lip. “Hold on. Let me rephrase that. So, you’re a real lesbian now?”

  “I’ve always been a real lesbian. Telling Patrick I was gay was just the push I needed to come out.”

  Sam ducked his head and butted the toe of his shoe onto the floor. “I’m sorry you didn’t feel able to confide in me. I know we’ve lost touch lately, what with your new job.”

  Bless him. When it came down to it, Sam had a heart of gold.

  “This had nothing to do with not trusting you,” Alexis promised. “It was all about me and my insecurities. How was I supposed to let it all out to you when I wasn’t fully comfortable with it myself?”

  Sam’s head bobbed up and down as he took another sip of his beer. “I’m glad you were able to figure it out in the end. You deserve to be happy; you’ve had a rough time of it these past couple of years.”

  Didn’t she know it.

  “I just wish my relationship with Ramie hadn’t started off on a lie.”

  “A lie?”

  Alexis sighed. “Yeah. Ramie has no idea I’ve still got one foot stuck in the closet and she’s the only woman I’ve ever dated.”

  “Geez, that’s rough.”

  “Tell me about it. Just when I feel like I can start to relax, the lies come back to bite me in the arse. Like just a few minutes ago, we bumped into an estranged friend of mine who’s homophobic as hell. I was afraid she’d blow my cover, so I panicked and explained her away as an ex with a foot fetish.”

  “Oh my God. That’s hilarious. And she believed you?”

  Alexis squirmed uncomfortably. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t she?”

  “Just count your lucky stars she’s not got too much in the brains department.”

  “Hey!” Alexis slapped Sam’s arm. “That’s my girlfriend you’re slating.”

  Sam shrugged. “Just calling it as I see it. She must be pretty gullible to believe your dribble.”

  “I don’t know about gullible, but trusting, definitely. The reason she broke up with her ex was because the woman hid a spending addiction from her. By the time she found out, Kenya had squandered her life savings and took her house from under her.”

  “Shit. That’s sick, man.” Sam let out a low whistle. “She’s obviously not learned her lesson if she’s making a fool of herself again with you.”

  “That’s not...” Alexis sighed and planted her head in her hands. “I feel like such an awful person.”

  “That’s because you are one.”

  Alexis froze, her blood turning to ice as she spotted Ramie standing just off to the side.

  “Fuck. Look, Lex, I gotta get back on stage.” Sam shot her an alarmed look before clambering off his stool and abandoning her in no man’s land.

  Ramie was mad. No, not mad. She was livid. Her face had turned a pasty white, her hands were clenched into fists, and a big purple vein in her neck was pulsating.

  “I don’t know how much of that you heard, but it’s not what you think.”

  Ramie scoffed and focused a horrified glare at Alexis. “I heard enough. And all I can say is, well played, Lex. You had me fooled. You should win an Oscar for such a stellar performance.”

  Alexis’s mouth opened and closed as she desperately tried to think of how to explain her way out of such an incriminating conversation. How could such an idyllic day unravel at such an alarming rate?

  “Wait!” she called out as Ramie turned on her heel and stormed out of the pub. “I can explain.”

  She caught up with Ramie on the street and grasped her arm.

  Ramie’s head whipped around. “Don’t touch me,” she hissed. “You lost that right thirty seconds ago.”

  Alexis snatched back her hand, dread scuttling up her spine. She was going to lose everything, and there was nothing she could do about it.

  “Just hear me out. Please!” she begged.

  “So you can spout more lies? I don’t think so. I might be a gullible fool, but I know when to walk away from someone.”

  Alexis took a halting breath and closed her eyes. “I never, ever meant to hurt you. You’ve got to believe me. I love you.”

  “Really?” Ramie scoffed. “If this is how you treat someone you supposedly love, then I’d hate to see how you treat your enemies. I can’t stand liars. You know that. I can’t believe I’ve been duped, again.”

  “You haven’t. I promise. None of the stuff that matters was untrue. What we have between us is real. Please don’t go and throw it all away because of a stupid misunderstanding.”

  Ramie stalked towards Alexis with a finger outstretched. “Don’t you dare try to pin this on me. I’m not the one who’s been living a double life. I know I was hesitant at first, but I’ve been in this relationship wi
th both feet. You, on the other hand…I don’t know what the hell you’ve been doing. Was I just an experiment? Someone to break you into the world of lesbianism? Cause it would make sense. I mean, why bother telling me the truth when you’re not going to stick around.”

  “Oh my God, no. You’ve got it all wrong.”

  “Well you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t take your word for shit anymore.” Her face morphed into disgust as realisation hit her. “Jesus. Did you lie about your coming out story too?”

  Alexis dipped her head and stared at the ground.

  “Jesus. It’s bad enough that you lied to me, but to those vulnerable kids? That’s just sick. What did you do? Scour the net for the most tear-jerking story and write it off as your own?”

  “No. I’d never do that. I just…I…”

  “Don’t stand there acting all wounded,” Ramie said. “You’re worse than Kenya. I trusted you, and the whole time you’ve been lying to my face.”

  Alexis didn’t reply. She had run out of words. Her explanations were falling upon deaf ears. Maybe she should admit defeat. Take responsibility for the awful person she really was.

  “I’m sorry.” Tears tracked down Alexis’s cheeks. Her world was falling apart right in front of her eyes, and the only woman she had ever loved was glaring at her with pure hatred.

  Ramie shook her head and folded her arms. “I bet you are. Liars always are when they’re caught red handed.”

  The pub door opened, and a merry couple filed out. Alexis’s eyes were drawn to their joined hands. She would never experience Ramie’s soft grasp within her own again.

  Ramie must have been thinking along similar lines, for when she turned back to face Alexis, tears were pooling in her eyes. “You know what’s sad?”

  Alexis shook her head.

  “I would have been completely fine with you not being out if you’d just been upfront with me. I know more than anyone how tough it can be to come to terms with your sexuality. What I can’t accept are all the lies you’ve spun. They weren’t just little fibs, Lex. They were full blown fabrications. Why did you do it? What was going through your mind? Did you really think I’d never find out?”

  Alexis cringed.

  “God only knows what else you’ve been keeping from me. I don’t even know who you are anymore. I can’t believe I was falling for you.” She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Shit. I’m so embarrassed. I bet this has been one big joke for you. Have you been laughing at me this whole time?”