Wrong Number, Right Woman

by Jae

  Just seeing her name on the screen made Denny smile.

  Hey, you. Are we still on for later?

  Yeah, Denny typed back. Just leaving work. I was able to swap with Julie.

  The three dots appeared, then faded away. Finally, an answer popped up. Uh. I didn’t think you’d have to go that far to get the rest of the day off! Eliza added several crying-laughing emojis.

  What was she talking about? Denny scratched her head.

  More laughing smiley faces appeared on her screen, along with, Read what you wrote.

  Autocorrect had changed what she had written to: I was able to sleep with Julie. She stabbed at the keys and kept an eye on the letters that appeared. SWAP! I meant swap! I swapped shifts with Julie.

  Thank God. I admit I don’t like the thought of you sleeping with someone else.

  The breath of air Denny had just inhaled shuddered from her lungs. She sat in the car without moving for a few seconds. Eliza had surprised her with little comments like this several times during the last six days. Nothing earth-shattering, but it soothed her worries every time Eliza voiced her feelings so openly, confirming that she still wanted a relationship beyond friendship. Plus she had to admit Eliza being possessive was hot.

  Finally, she realized she still hadn’t answered and typed, I wouldn’t. She nibbled on her bottom lip. Should she say what was on her mind, or would that be going too fast, pressuring Eliza? Oh, what the hell. She typed quickly before she could censor herself. I’m also not dating anyone else. Just thought I’d let you know. She paused, then added, Okay, you already know that. It’s not like I’ve got women lining up at my door. But even if I did, I wouldn’t date anyone else. That doesn’t mean I’m putting any expectations on you to do the same.

  She white-knuckled the phone while she waited for the answer. God, what was she doing? Was she seriously asking Eliza to be exclusive before their first date?

  Her phone rang, and Eliza’s name flashed across the screen.

  Denny swallowed and accepted the call. “Hi.”

  “Denny,” Eliza said, and the way she said her name made goose bumps trail all over Denny’s body, “you followed along on my dating adventures for two months. Have you ever known me to go out with a second person when I fully intended to keep dating someone?”

  That sounded encouraging. But then again… “Um, as long as I’ve known you, you never intended to keep dating anyone beyond the first date, so how would I know?”

  “Oops. You’ve got me there.” An impish smile resonated in Eliza’s voice. “Let me phrase it differently. I have never in my life dated two people at the same time, and since I fully expect us to keep dating beyond the first date…”

  Denny bit back the “you do?” that wanted to slip out. Insecurities weren’t sexy. Besides, Eliza’s words calmed her fears, allowing her to say, “Far be it from me to convince you otherwise, but if we go out today and it doesn’t feel right to you, please tell me. It would be totally okay.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. She would not be okay if that happened, but she wanted to do right by Eliza and offer her an out if she needed it.

  “That’s so sweet of you to say. I know you’re looking out for me, and I appreciate it. But I don’t want to go on our date with that expectation—and I don’t want you to do that either.” Eliza’s tone was warm but firm. “I want us both to expect a great time.”

  “I’m sure we will.” Denny always had a good time with Eliza. Maybe Eliza was right, and her anxiety was completely unjustified. “Unless, of course, you drag me someplace un-fun.”

  Eliza’s laughter reverberated through the phone. It was quickly becoming Denny’s favorite sound in the world. “Nice try. Don’t think I didn’t notice you trying to find out where I’m taking you.”

  They had bantered back and forth about it every night on the phone, so by now, it was a running joke. “Can’t you at least give me a hint so I can prepare?”

  “Prepare?” Eliza chuckled. “Denny, it’s a date, not an oral exam.”

  The word oral sent Denny’s thoughts spiraling in a direction that wasn’t appropriate for sitting in her car in front of her workplace. She cleared her throat. “I know. But I have to know how to dress. What do you want me to wear?”

  “What’s your most comfortable outfit?” Eliza asked.

  “Sweatpants and an old T-shirt with a big hole in the armpit. I’ve patched it up like a hundred times, and Salem has wanted to throw it away about as many times, but I threatened to put toothpaste in her favorite shoes if she dares to touch my shirt.”

  Eliza’s laughter trickled through the phone. “I have a sweater like that. I’ve had it since high school, and my mom said she would not let me move out with ‘that thing,’ so I had to smuggle it out.”

  Discovering little details they had in common was fun, and Denny hoped there’d be a lot more of it later. “You don’t seriously want me to wear the holey shirt, do you?”

  “That might be a tad too casual,” Eliza answered. “Think one step up.”

  “Jeans and a hole-free T-shirt?”

  “Perfect.”

  Denny never wore jeans and a T-shirt on a first date. She always dressed up to show her date she was putting in an effort. “Seriously?”

  “Mm-hmm. I really like you in jeans, and that Henley shirt you wore when you took Bella to Saturday Market looked good on you too.”

  Was it just her imagination, or had Eliza’s voice become lower and huskier? A grin spread over Denny’s face. So Eliza liked the way she looked, love handles and all. The thought filled her with warmth—and relief. “You know what? Our date hasn’t even begun, and I already love it.”

  “God, I hope so,” Eliza said. “You might think it’s silly.”

  “Now who’s going in with negative expectations?”

  Eliza chuckled. “Touché. Okay, you’d better get your cute behind home, or you won’t make it to our date on time.”

  So Eliza thought her ass was cute? “On my way. See you in one hour, fifty-nine minutes, and about twenty seconds.”

  They said goodbye, and then Denny threw the phone onto the passenger seat and started the engine. She couldn’t wait to see Eliza.

  Eliza had been as calm as a contented cat in the sun all day, but half an hour before leaving the house, the first-date jitters started. She dashed to Heather’s apartment and, after a sharp rap on the door, let herself in.

  Heather looked up from the leather coasters she was crafting. “Uh-oh,” she said when she saw Eliza’s face. “Don’t panic. What do you need—advice on what to wear? Or do you want me to do your makeup?”

  Eliza shook her head. “I won’t be wearing any.”

  “Clothes?” Heather laughed. “Or makeup?”

  “Haha. Makeup. I want us to be ourselves. No masks. No armor. No makeup.”

  A low whistle pierced the sudden silence. “This is different for you, isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Eliza said. “That’s why I need your advice.”

  Heather put the mallet and leather stamps aside and led her to the couch. “Shoot. Dr. Heather, lesbian dating expert, will now answer your questions.”

  Eliza pulled one of the throw pillows onto her lap. “Don’t laugh, but what are the rules when you’re going out with another woman?”

  “Rules?” Heather repeated.

  “Like, who pays if you’re both women? And how do I act? Is there anything I should say or not say? Do I—?”

  “Whoa!” Heather made a gesture with both hands as if reining in a spooked horse. “The paying thing is easy. You asked her out, so you should pay. Then, for your next date, she can get it.”

  That sounded like a good solution. Eliza nodded eagerly. “What else?”

  “Well, otherwise, just do whatever feels right, or ask Denny what she wants. There are no rules and no preconceived roles.” A gentle smile crinkled the corners of Heather’s eyes. “That’s the beauty of dating a woman.”

  Eliza inhaled and exhaled several times. No rule
s. That was a good thing, right? But reinventing dating from the ground up at thirty felt a little scary.

  “Hey.” Heather slid closer on the couch and wrapped one arm around her. “What’s going on? You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”

  “No!” Her voice echoed through the tiny apartment, and she lowered it before continuing. “No. That’s not it. I want to go out with Denny.”

  “But?” Heather prompted.

  Eliza studied the tips of her yellow sneakers as she tried to understand what was making her freak out. “Like you said, this feels different from my other dates.”

  “Because she’s a woman.”

  It was not a question, but Eliza answered anyway. “Yes.” But then she thought about it for a while longer and shook her head. “No. Well, that too, but also because there’s so much more at stake.”

  A wrinkle furrowed Heather’s brow. “What do you mean?”

  “When I went out with the guys from No More Frogs, I had nothing to lose. If the date went great—wonderful. But if not, I would simply say no to a second date and try my luck with someone else.”

  Heather gave her a knowing look. “But it’s not that easy with Denny.”

  “No. What I feel for her was different from the start, and I don’t want to mess it up and end up hurting her or losing her, even as a friend.” Eliza kneaded the throw pillow with both hands.

  “There’s always potential for hurting each other in any relationship where you’ve got a lot of emotions invested. All you can do is to keep checking in with her and be honest about what you are or aren’t feeling.” Heather withdrew her arm from around her and pulled the pillow from her grasp. “Now stop overthinking it and go before you destroy that poor pillow—or show up late for your date.”

  Eliza stood and took a step toward the door but then turned back around and hugged her. “You’re a great friend; have I told you that lately?”

  Heather’s body in her arms shook with a chuckle. “And don’t you forget it when it’s time to pick your bridesmaids. I bet Denny has a couple of hot lesbian friends.”

  Eliza lightly slapped the back of her head and let go. “Jeez, why don’t you let us get through the first date before you start printing wedding invitations?”

  “All right. Have fun!”

  With the intention of doing just that, Eliza strode to the door.

  “Eliza!” Heather called after her. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

  Forgetting? Eliza couldn’t think of anything. She turned and sent her a questioning look.

  “If you’re supposed to pick Denny up, you need these.” Heather tossed her the keys to her car.

  Eliza caught them. “Oops. Yeah, they might come in handy. Thanks.” God, who knew dating a woman was so thoroughly distracting?

  Chapter 20

  Eliza’s hands on the steering wheel were damp as she stopped Heather’s car in front of the Jacobses’ townhouse shortly before 4 p.m.

  Another car was parked next to hers along the curb, and the driver—a man in his mid-thirties—got out just before she did. He probably wanted to visit someone in an adjoining townhouse.

  But as Eliza locked the car, she realized that he was heading toward Denny’s front door.

  “Hi.” Bella appeared from behind a hedge that separated the townhouse from the neighboring property and ducked behind Heather’s car.

  Again, Eliza was struck by how much she resembled Denny. She smiled at the girl. “Hi, Bella. Are you hiding from someone?”

  Bella shrugged.

  Eliza ventured a guess. “Your mom?”

  “She and Matt want to take me to the zoo.” Bella made a face as if the zoo ranked somewhere below the dentist on her list of favorite places to go, but Eliza had a feeling that wasn’t quite the truth.

  “You don’t like the zoo?”

  Another shrug. “It’s all right, I guess. But more for little kids.”

  Eliza reined in a grin. “Well, then I guess I’m a little kid because I still love the zoo. They have an aviary you can enter. Last time I went, two lorikeets sat on my arm, and I got to feed them.” She pulled her phone from her purse and showed Bella several snapshots of colorful parrots.

  The girl’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, they’re cute.”

  “Yeah, but you know what’s even cuter? Don’t tell my bosses I said so, but my personal favorites don’t have feathers. The sea otters are adorable.” Eliza swiped through a few photos that made Bella ooh and aah.

  “I guess the zoo isn’t that bad,” Bella said. “Too bad you and Aunt Denny can’t come.”

  “We’ll see each other when I teach you how to make a journal.”

  A smile lit up Bella’s face. “Can we do that next Friday?”

  “Sure. Let me talk to your mom first, though, and see if my nieces and nephew can come over too.”

  Bella nodded eagerly, but something still seemed to gnaw at her.

  Eliza studied her. “You still don’t seem very happy at the thought of going to the zoo.”

  “No, it’s fine.”

  “But?”

  Bella shoved her hands into the pockets of her shorts, again reminding Eliza of Denny. Her gaze went to the front door, which had just closed behind the guy whose car was parked next to Heather’s.

  Eliza put two and two together. “Ah, I see. So you like the zoo, but not Matt.”

  “I dunno. I don’t really know him. That’s why we’re going to the zoo. Mom wants me to get to know him, I guess.”

  “But you don’t want that?” Eliza asked.

  “I dunno,” Bella said again. “What if he only wants to talk to Mom and thinks I’m just her annoying kid? Or he tries to order me around all the time? Or he doesn’t like sea otters?”

  Eliza finally saw the full picture. Her heart went out to Bella. She put a hand on her shoulder. “You’ve been watching him from behind that hedge, haven’t you?”

  Bella blushed the same shade of pink as her aunt, answering the question without having to say anything.

  “How long did he sit in the car before going in?”

  Bella huffed. “Forever.”

  “You know what that means?” Eliza asked.

  Bella shook her head and searched Eliza’s face, apparently eager to hear the answer.

  “He’s just as nervous as you.”

  “How do you know?” Doubt and hope warred in Bella’s voice.

  Again Eliza swiped through her photos until she found the one she wanted. “This is my brother, Ryan.” She held out the picture of Ryan with Charlotte on one arm and a lorikeet on the other. “And this,” she tapped the little girl’s smiling face, “is my youngest niece, Charlotte.”

  Bella studied the photo, then sent her a questioning look.

  “I say ‘niece,’ and I love her just as much as my other nieces, but Charlotte isn’t Ryan’s biological daughter. She’s really Nichole’s kid, and so is her brother Landon.”

  “Who’s Nichole?”

  “My brother’s girlfriend. When they first started dating, he was so worried her kids wouldn’t like him.”

  “But they did?”

  “Duh.” Eliza let out a playful laugh. “He’s my brother. What’s not to like?”

  Bella huffed, but a grin crept onto her face. She studied the photo of Ryan with Charlotte for a moment longer. “Maybe I’ll like Matt.”

  “Only one way to find out,” Eliza said softly and pointed at the house.

  Bella gave a long-suffering sigh but finally nodded. “But if he doesn’t like sea otters, he’s out,” she called over her shoulder as she marched toward the house.

  Mission accomplished. Eliza slid her phone back into her purse and swallowed as her own nerves returned. She took several deep breaths before following Bella.

  The door opened before they reached it. Denny stood in the doorway, and the sight of her blotted out all other thoughts.

  She looked like a model for gender-neutral fashion. The dark blue jeans fit as if they were
made for her—and knowing Denny’s sewing skills, they probably were. A gray V-neck T-shirt was neatly tucked in, and she wore an unbuttoned black shirt over it—probably an attempt to hide the extra padding on her sides. As if Eliza cared about that! She was too busy taking in the way the T-shirt stretched over her generous breasts and strong shoulders.

  Her outfit wasn’t special. Eliza had been out with guys who had worn similar clothes. But right now, she was convinced no one had ever made jeans, a T-shirt, and a simple shirt look sexier. The sleeves were rolled up, revealing her strong forearms, and when Denny lifted one hand to run her fingers through her hair, Eliza realized she’d gotten a haircut. Her hair was even shorter now, bringing out the sun-bleached streaks in the sandy-brown strands, and Eliza wondered how it would feel to run her fingers through it.

  Denny’s cheeks had an adorable pink tint as she stared at Eliza.

  Bella walked past her aunt and disappeared into the house.

  “Hi.” Eliza smiled and took a step toward Denny.

  “Um, hi.” Denny stood in the doorway as if a magnet held her there.

  Apparently, it was on Eliza to take the initiative if she wanted a more intimate greeting. The air seemed to vibrate between them as she stepped closer. God, Denny smelled heavenly. That cologne deserved an award. Eliza leaned closer and brushed her lips lightly against Denny’s cheek.

  Mmm, Denny’s skin was incredibly soft. Tiny wings fluttered low in Eliza’s belly.

  When she took a reluctant step back, Denny pressed one hand to her middle as if she was experiencing the same flutter. She kept staring, then a crooked smile spread over her face. “I’d really like to talk to you, but I’m shy and have no idea what to say.”

  For a moment, Eliza stared back. Then comprehension hit her. It was what she had advised Denny to say six weeks ago when they had talked about Denny’s problems initiating a conversation with women. Back then, Denny had said she couldn’t see herself confessing her insecurities to a woman on their first date, and it warmed Eliza all over that Denny had done it with her. That sweet honesty touched her more than a suave line ever could.