Savor the Moment

by Dana Piccoli

  Stop overthinking, Natalia. This is your chance. And bring your guitar.

  Paul was suggesting a grand gesture that could completely blow up in her face, but Maddy was worth the possible humiliation. She grabbed her jacket and her Martin guitar, kissed Eddie on the head, and headed out the door.

  When she got to Icon, the place was already a flurry of people drinking, laughing, and talking. She came in through the side entrance as Paul suggested via text on her taxi ride over, since Maddy and her crew from the restaurant were in the front of the bar. She was greeted by Hinata, the proprietress of Icon and an old friend. They hugged and exchanged pleasantries. Paul, now joined by Jackie, had already filled her in on the plan.

  “Okay, Nat, are you ready?” Hinata asked her, her kind eyes glimmering through her hipster haircut bangs.

  “One second, Hin.” Paul interjected. “We need to talk with our girl.” Nat and Jackie nodded and the three formed a tight circle.

  “Natalia, we know you love Maddy,” he said.

  “Aaaand, we know she loves you. I mean, I saw her out there. She looks positively melancholy,” Jackie added.

  “So, you’re going to go out there, and pour out your heart, right? I mean, that’s what you do. It’s why your fans love you, and why we love you. Get your girl back, Chambers.”

  With that, he pulled both women into a bear hug and kissed Nat on the cheek. She took a deep breath, fought back some tears, grabbed her guitar and nodded to Hinata, who climbed the stairs to the stage and took the mic.

  “Good evening, Brooklyn!” Hinata growled into the mic, getting the crowd amped up. Nat caught a glimpse of Maddy’s red hair, but Maddy had yet to spot her.

  “I know tonight is Open Mic Night,” Hinata continued, “but we are going to kick off the evening with a special performance from an old friend of Icon and one of New York’s finest singer songwriters. Give it up for Nat Chambers!”

  The crowd whooped and hollered, sending up whistles and cheers, which filled the space and practically carried Nat on to the stage with a wave of love. When she got to the stage, she found herself making direct eye contact with Maddy, who stood slack-jawed and frozen in place. Nat hated seeing her like that.

  “Hey everyone, I’m so glad to see you all and be back at Icon tonight.” Maddy’s eyes now flashed at her, and she grabbed her purse.

  “The reason I’m crashing your open mic is because I’m in love.”

  She swallowed hard as the crowd let out murmurs of, “Aw,” and shouts of “Yeah!”

  Maddy stopped where she was.

  “So I met the most incredible woman. I mean, you guys, she sparkles. And, I’m going to be honest. I fucked it up. I didn’t mean to but that’s not the point. That’s never the point is it, when the person you love is hurting?” She looked down at the stage floor. “I have spent the last month kicking my own ass because I may have screwed up the best thing that ever happened to me. And through all that kicking, and a fair share of drinking, I wrote something. I hope you don’t mind if I play it for you tonight.”

  She ran her fingers across the strings as the audience cheered. When she looked up she was terrified that Maddy would be gone, but she was still there, clutching her purse but standing firmly in place. With that, Nat strummed the opening chords of her song.

  I’ll stand up, or shut up, or crawl to your door

  There’s nothing or no one that I’ve wanted more.

  Wherever you go, whatever you do, I’m in, Madeline.

  You can scream, you can swear, I’m still standing right here.

  Keep me at arm’s length or drown me with tears,

  Whatever you say, whenever you land, I’m in, Madeline.

  If your heart has a space, if there’s still a small place, for me, for you.

  Let me wipe it all clean, let me re-write this scene,

  Just say no, or hello, or come on back in, Madeline.

  As Nat looked at Maddy, she could see tears welling in her eyes. Her face had softened, and now she looked at Nat with not a hard mask of anger, but something hopeful. Nat’s voice soared through the empty spaces of the bar, cutting through the hot air given off by the bodies swaying before her.

  I would wash it away, I would reset the day.

  I will give you my heart, would you take it I pray?

  Wherever you go, whatever you do, I’m in, Madeline.

  As the final chord rang out, the crowd’s applause broke through the stillness. Across the bar, a smile slowly formed on Maddy’s lips and her heart leapt. She handed her guitar to one of the guys in the front of the audience and hopped off the stage into the crowd. They parted and she closed the distance between her and Maddy, until they were standing right in front of each other.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I am totally, crazily, utterly in love with you.”

  Maddy took a deep breath of relief and let out a small laugh. She raised her hands to Nat’s cheek. “I let my insecurity get the best of me. I have missed you so much, Natalia.”

  From within the crowd, Nat could hear a voice cry out in a decidedly British accent, “Kiss her already, you wanker!” Thank you, Jackie.

  And that’s exactly what she did. She leaned in and kissed Maddy, slowly and softly, which brought forth a deafening cheer from the audience. It was a performance no one would forget anytime soon.

  When they finally broke the kiss, she stepped back to take Maddy in. “Do you want to go somewhere and talk?”

  “Yes, let’s go to your place,” Maddy responded, lacing her fingers through Nat’s. Nat looked around for her friends and could see Hinata, Jackie, and Paul, all standing near the stage, giving her looks of approval and thumbs up. Paul had Nat’s guitar now, slung over his shoulder. He motioned for her to leave.

  They didn’t say much as they hailed a cab and slid into the backseat. They held each other’s hands tightly, sending glances each other’s way as the driver yelled at bike messengers and complained about the surge of traffic these days. When they arrived at Nat’s apartment, Eddie ran to Maddy, who scooped him up and peppered him with kisses. She placed him, still purring madly, on the couch and turned to Nat.

  “When I saw you with Melissa, it was like all these old feelings rushed in. Rejection, fear, all the things I’ve been pushing down inside of me for so long. “

  Nat ran a hand through her own hair. “It makes me sick to know that you felt that way. I never, ever meant to hurt you.”

  “I know you didn’t.”

  “I had no idea that Melissa was going to be there. When she kissed me, I was more shocked than anything. I didn’t want her. I don’t want her. You shouldn’t have had to see that, and I will forever be sorry.”

  Maddy closed the space between them and wordlessly pulled Nat’s shirt over her head. Nat did the same in return, kissing Maddy hard and fast as they undid each other’s belts, buttons, and zippers. There would be no time to make it to the bedroom, and Eddie yelped in disapproval and ran off as they tumbled onto the couch. Nat worshipped Maddy’s breasts as she murmured and moaned beneath her. She moved down Maddy’s torso, kissing every freckle she could find, until she was between her legs, tasting her. How could someone be so delicious? Her tongue made wide sweeps of Maddy’s sex. Like sugared pears and the ocean, so sweet and heady. She slipped a finger inside as she focused her attention on Maddy’s clit, causing Maddy to practically buck off the couch. She dug her hands into Nat’s hair and cried out. Nat made her way back up, nibbling and caressing Maddy’s breasts as Maddy’s chest heaved, trying to recover from her orgasm.

  “Don’t ever stop touching me like that,” Maddy said breathlessly, as a wicked smile crept across her lips.

  “I promise,” Nat said as she slid in beside Maddy on the couch. They faced each other, and their mouths were drawn together like an unstoppable force, something otherwordly and singular in its desire. Maddy slid her hand down the length of Nat’s naked body, between Nat’s legs mirroring the way their tongues slipped between eac
h other’s lips.

  “I’ve missed this,” Nat said as Maddy’s fingers plunged deep within her.

  Maddy lowered her head and her mouth joined her fingers in delighting Nat. “And I’ve missed the way you taste.” Maddy’s tongue flickered faster and faster until Nat could barely keep her body on the couch anymore. When she came, she saw stars. Nat wasn’t done yet, though. She quickly caught her breath and pulled Maddy into her arms. They switched places and Nat held Maddy from behind, rocking her girlfriend onto her knees. Nat used one hand to rub Maddy’s already swollen clit, and the other to tease her tender breasts. Maddy’s ass ground into Nat’s thighs as she kissed and sucked Maddy’s neck. Maddy’s orgasm came again hard and quick, and Nat clutched her as Maddy went limp in her arms. Then they laid together, in a sweaty exhausted heap, kissing and whispering words of love until they drifted off to sleep.

  Maddy’s sleeping and naked form was illuminated by strips of light that seeped through the blinds of Nat’s bedroom windows. Nat propped herself up on an elbow and looked at her girlfriend, whose breathing was still heavy with slumber. Eddie, too, was fast asleep, tucked up next to Maddy’s knees, his fat paws outstretched.

  It had been three days since their reunion and they’d barely left the bed. Maddy called in “lovesick” to work, which is apparently a thing you can do when you are a hotshot pastry chef. Nat had successfully dodged Oliver’s calls and only responded to the giddy and teasing texts from Paul and Jackie. She and Maddy had lived on little sleep, delivery food, and each other. While it was pure bliss, Nat knew she couldn’t hold off much longer on Oliver, and Maddy wasn’t going to win a James Beard Award making pancakes in her underwear in Nat’s kitchen. When Maddy stirred, Nat traced a finger along her smooth forearm. A smile rose to her lips, her eyes still closed.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered, in a voice caught halfway between awake and sleep. Nat obliged, starting at her silky neck and working down her back, feeling goose bumps rise beneath Nat’s lips. When she reached Maddy’s toes, she kissed each one separately, wishing them good morning, which made Maddy laugh.

  “Come back here,” Maddy said, and Nat threw herself down beside her, causing Eddie to murmur his disapproval for being ruffled.

  Maddy pulled her in for a kiss, the smoky taste of sleep still on their lips.

  Nat wrapped an arm around her waist. “Baby?”

  “Mmm?”

  “We have to re-enter the society of the living soon.”

  Maddy scrunched up her face and said, “Pfft,” with her tender lips and finally opened her eyes. “But I like it so much better in your warm bed,” she purred, which sent a tingle through Nat’s spine and between her legs.

  “I know,” she said as she gently pulled Maddy on top of her. “But we have jobs and friends, and there’s brunch out there in the world.” She eased Maddy onto her knees and slipped between her legs. “Some with bottomless mimosas.” With that she pulled Maddy down onto her face and wrapped her hands around Maddy’s bottom.

  Between moans, Maddy said, “Why would I…oohhhh…want bottomless mimosas…oh god…when I can have this?” She soon came against Nat’s talented tongue. “Okay, we can have brunch. But after I work up an appetite,” Maddy declared as she worked her way down Nat’s body with a fever, eager to return the favor.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Nat and Maddy were cuddling in bed when Nat’s phone buzzed with a message from Paul, who was apparently on the same wavelength.

  Brunch? I want you to meet Ryder. Jackie’s coming too.

  This brought a smile to Nat’s face. This was serious. Meeting the friends. She couldn’t remember the last time Paul introduced them to one of his gentlemen friends.

  “You have the most amazing smile,” Maddy said as she gazed at Nat. “What’s the good news?”

  “Well, I think Paul wants us to meet his…boyfriend.”

  Maddy cocked her head. “Paul has a boyfriend?”

  “Yeah, I know. I was surprised too. I think he’s in love.”

  “Wow, well then we most definitely have to meet them. When and where?”

  Nat quickly sent a text and got one back with a time and place. “In an hour, at Fly the Coop on the Upper West Side.”

  “Well then, we’d better hurry,” Maddy replied.

  Nat looked her gorgeous girlfriend up and down and bit her bottom lip gently. “If we’re going to make it in time, we should probably shower together.”

  Maddy tossed her head back and laughed. “Yes, what a sensible, time-saving measure.”

  Nat stripped off the covers and chased Maddy into the bathroom.

  Nat and Maddy arrived at Fly the Coop fifteen minutes late, fingers entwined and freshly scrubbed. Paul stood up and motioned them to a table where Ryder, Jackie, and surprisingly, Steve, waited.

  “Well, well, well,” Nat murmured to Maddy. “Looks like Paul’s not the only one who has found herself a boy.”

  She shot a look at Jackie who just smiled and shrugged her shoulders like, “I know, right?”

  They made their rounds, hugging and kissing cheeks. Nat gave Steve a quick jab to the ribs, and his handlebar mustache twitched in a smile. When she got to Ryder, a handsome dark-haired man with a five o’clock shadow, he put out his hand for a shake. She looked at it and made a “tsk” sound as she pulled him in for a tight hug. He soon relaxed against her and returned the embrace in earnest.

  They all took their seats, Paul with his arm slung around Ryder’s chair, Steve and Jackie leaning into each other, and Nat and Maddy with their hands on each other’s knees. When their round of mimosas came, Nat raised a glass and the others followed.

  “To this ragtag group finding a little bit of heaven.”

  “Here, here,” Paul added.

  “Prost!” Jackie declared.

  They settled in to chatting and Nat was quickly enchanted by Ryder’s easy sense of humor and infectious laugh. It didn’t hurt that Paul was wickedly funny and took joy in making his boyfriend lose it whenever he could. Jackie shared the tale of sneaking into her first music club and seeing a rock show, and how it transformed the way she thought about music. Steve did impressions of his bandmates, which were scarily accurate.

  As Maddy talked freely and sweetly about her adventures in France, Nat watched with loving eyes. She loved hearing the tinkling sound of her voice, and her loud, quick laugh when she was really tickled by something.

  “Chambers.” Paul’s voice sliced into Nat’s dreamlike state.

  “Yeah?”

  “Have you spoken to Oliver yet?”

  She thought back to looking at her phone and the missed calls from her manager.

  “I have not.”

  Paul cut into his chicken and waffles. “Well, he says it’s important, and I quote, ‘to get your head out of your pants and call him asap.’”

  She blushed. She could see Maddy and Jackie were lost in conversation, so she excused herself to make a call.

  Oliver picked up on the first ring. “Jesus Nat, I’ve been trying to reach you for days.”

  “Sorry Oliver, I’ve been…”

  “Oh, I know what you’ve been doing. I’m happy for you. Thrilled. It’s actually one of the reasons I’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”

  “Okay, so what’s up?” she asked, her interest piqued. Normally Oliver didn’t show the slightest interest in her romantic life.

  “Did you know someone filmed your performance at Icon?”

  The thought hadn’t really occurred to her, but then again, people were always whipping out their phones at live shows, so it didn’t exactly surprise her. “No, but does that really matter?”

  “The video has gone viral. The song, your kiss with Maddy. Someone uploaded it to YouTube and it’s got…300,000 plays so far! You are a listicle on BuzzFeed. ‘The Top Ten Crushworthy Songs by Nat Chambers.’ My phone has been going nonstop. That was some seriously romantic shit, Nat.”

  “So…this is a good thing?”

 
; “Are you kidding me? I’m fucking salivating over here. This is like a manager’s dream.”

  She was taken aback, but glad that others were getting something out of all of this, but she hoped Maddy wouldn’t be upset about it. It’s one thing to date someone in the public eye and another thing altogether to be thrust into the public eye yourself.

  “I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear that I got an earful from Melissa Hartford’s manager, but I told him to take his tour and shove it right up his ass. We never needed them, and we sure as hell don’t now, considering I have a stack of requests and potential tour dates waiting for you to take a look at. I even got a request for you and Maddy to be the special guests at a Pride Parade in Montana in a couple weeks!”

  Montana. That was where Maddy had grown up and the place she fled all those years ago.

  “Long story short,” Oliver said, “We have a lot to talk about. Come by my office tomorrow, if you can pull yourself away from looooove.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you then.”

  She hung up, her head filled with so much more than she expected the call to contain. She walked back into the restaurant, its walls and ceiling pinging with the sound of happy voices and conversation. Maddy was leaning over her plate, engrossed in what Ryder was saying, while Steve and Jackie stole a kiss. When she sat down, Maddy nuzzled her ear and pulled away.

  “Is everything okay, baby?” Maddy asked.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I think so. We, uh, we apparently have a lot to talk about.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Maddy paced the floor of Nat’s living room as Nat sat on the couch and watched her parse through the information that was recently dumped into her lap. Nat’s stomach roiled, a nervous feeling settling in as she waited for Maddy to speak.