Wrong Number, Right Woman

by Jae

  Finally, Denny broke their eye contact and slid the pizza box over to her. “Pizza’s getting cold.”

  Eliza pulled out another slice for herself but paused instead of taking a bite. There was something she needed to know first. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.” Denny faced her with an unguarded gaze, completely open and vulnerable. “You’re one of the few people who can ask me anything.”

  “How did you know you were gay?” Eliza asked.

  Denny grinned. “The usual way.”

  “Which is?”

  “Like many lesbians, I fell in love with my best friend when I was about…I don’t know, maybe thirteen. I can’t exactly pinpoint when it happened because it was such a gradual process. I just thought about her all the time. We used to have these deep, hour-long conversations, and we hugged a little too long and too often.”

  Images of the hugs she and Denny had shared flashed through Eliza’s mind, and she remembered the conversations they’d had over the past three months. Oh yeah, she definitely identified with thirteen-year-old Denny.

  Denny gazed at a spot on the wall as if a portal had opened up, allowing her to see the past. Then she turned her attention back to Eliza. “In hindsight, it should have been obvious that I was in love with her, but I assumed everyone felt that way about their best friend.”

  “When did you figure it out?” Eliza asked.

  “When she started going out with boys. God, I was so jealous.”

  Eliza could identify with that too. She remembered how she had felt when Denny had gone out with Heather, and even now, Denny talking about her first crush left a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  Denny covered her eyes with her free hand and peeked through her spread fingers. “I’m ashamed to admit I chained her boyfriend’s bike to a tree so he’d be late meeting her.”

  It was a slightly mean thing to do, but Eliza couldn’t help chuckling. “And then you went to the date instead of him?”

  Denny dropped her hand to her lap and sighed. “No, I didn’t have the guts to do that.”

  “So what happened?”

  “Nothing. I never told her how I felt, and a year or so later, her family moved away, and we lost touch.”

  That was where the parallels ended. Maybe there was something to be said for realizing you were attracted to women at a later age.

  Denny gave her a curious look. “Are you asking to get to know me better or to sort out your own feelings?”

  “A little of both,” Eliza said.

  “Are you still comfortable going to the Pride parade with me tomorrow?”

  “Of course.” Eliza finished her slice and pushed her plate back. “Speaking of Pride… I was thinking. With the parade winding through half of downtown and fifty thousand people lining the streets, it will be pretty chaotic tomorrow morning. Does it make sense for you to drive back to Lents tonight, just to turn around in the morning and drive all the way back in that chaos?”

  Denny put down the piece of crust she had been about to eat. “What are you suggesting?”

  “You could stay over.” Even though she had meant her suggestion in a completely innocent way, Eliza rushed to add, “I mean, on the couch. I’ve fallen asleep on it before, so it should be fine for a night.”

  Denny visibly hesitated. “I didn’t bring a change of clothes.”

  Damn. Eliza racked her brain for a solution. The thought of sleeping with Denny—even just in the same room—was very appealing.

  Denny smiled at her. “You’re cute when you’re trying to work out a problem. Especially with that speck of flour on your upper lip.” She reached up and brushed it away with her thumb.

  That magnetic pull between them instantly increased, and Eliza forgot the problem she’d been trying to solve as she stared into Denny’s widened pupils.

  Denny’s lids lowered, hooding her eyes.

  Within an instant, their mouths found each other.

  God, Denny’s lips were divine. Eliza closed her eyes to revel in the sensation. She tasted like tomato sauce and something uniquely Denny—something addictive. Their tongues caressed, retreated, then met again until Eliza was about to melt. Her hands roamed restlessly down Denny’s back, up her sides, then down again.

  Denny pressed her hand to the dip of Eliza’s lower back, pulling her closer with a barely restrained urgency.

  Restraint was the last thing on Eliza’s mind. Her fingers itched to feel Denny’s skin. She tugged the T-shirt from the back of Denny’s jeans and slipped one hand beneath while clutching Denny’s shoulder with the other. Mmm. Never had touching someone’s back been such a heavenly experience.

  Denny groaned. She cupped the back of Eliza’s head with her free hand, pulled Eliza’s bottom lip into her mouth, and nipped it gently.

  A thrill of pleasure zinged through Eliza’s belly. She trailed her fingertips over Denny’s smooth skin, exploring the muscles along her spine until the elastic of Denny’s sports bra stopped her. With a frustrated grunt, she slid her hand around and followed the arc of her ribs with her fingertips. She traced the skin just below her breasts with her thumb. God, she was so soft there, even softer than her back. On the next pass, her thumb accidentally brushed the underside of Denny’s breast. Oh my God.

  Denny sucked in a sharp breath.

  Light-headed, Eliza paused and tried to let her brain catch up with what she was doing. “You okay?”

  Denny laughed, a hoarse, wild sound that sent tingles through Eliza. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

  “No shoulds.” She was very aware of Denny’s warm hand lingering on the small of her back, on the verge of slipping beneath her T-shirt. Her pulse drummed in her ears, and she felt as if she couldn’t get enough air into her lungs, but she didn’t want to stop. Not yet. “You can touch me too.”

  When Denny finally slid her hand up and caressed her bare skin, Eliza felt the touch everywhere. Denny nibbled her bottom lip again, then kissed her jaw, and finally her neck.

  Eliza couldn’t hold back a moan as Denny’s warm lips traced down her throat, leaving goose bumps in their wake. Her entire body was sensitized, and Eliza couldn’t imagine what it would feel like when Denny touched more of her. She clutched at Denny to stay upright—and found herself cradling her breast through her sports bra.

  They both froze for several heartbeats.

  Denny gasped out her name.

  Holy shit. Holy shit. I’m touching her breast! Excitement gathered low in Eliza’s belly. She didn’t know whether to wrench her hand away or to caress Denny’s soft breast.

  Denny arched against her, pressing her breast more firmly into her hand until Eliza felt the nipple harden against her palm.

  Oh wow. She squeezed softly.

  Denny pressed her mouth to Eliza’s neck and groaned against her skin, making her shudder.

  “Hey, look what I got y—” Heather came to an abrupt halt after taking one step into the apartment. “Oh shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”

  Dazed, Eliza jerked her hand from beneath Denny’s T-shirt.

  Denny wrenched her mouth from Eliza’s neck so fast she nearly smashed her head into Eliza’s nose. She pulled Eliza’s T-shirt down as if to protect her modesty, while she seemed less concerned with her own.

  Breathing heavily, Eliza slumped against the back of the couch. “Dammit, Heather,” she grumbled.

  Heather ducked her head. “Sorry. I was just so excited because I found the perfect T-shirt for you to wear to Pride. I’ll show you later.”

  But before she could turn and flee the apartment, Denny jumped up. “That’s okay. I should get going anyway.”

  What? No! Eliza stared at her. “Denny, wait! Didn’t we just discuss you staying over?”

  “Yeah, but…” Denny gestured wildly, almost knocking over her half-full glass of water. “Like I said, I didn’t bring jammies or a change of clothes.”

  Heather snorted. “From where I’m standing, i
t didn’t look like you’d need jammies.” When Eliza pierced her with a glare, she made a zipping-my-lips motion.

  Their gazes met, and the momentary panic in Denny’s eyes vanished. “Next time.” Her tone promised a lot more than her bringing a change of clothes.

  Eliza’s pulse quickened.

  After a glance to Heather, Denny bent, swiped a strand of hair that had escaped Eliza’s ponytail behind her ear, and kissed her tenderly. “See you tomorrow morning. Sweet dreams.”

  Then she was gone.

  Eliza let her head fall against the couch and glowered at Heather. “That better be the most amazing shirt I’ve ever seen.”

  “I’m really sorry,” Heather said again. “I didn’t think you’d ask her up and jump her bones. What happened to your not-before-the-eighth-date rule?”

  “I don’t have a not-before-the-eighth-date rule. I’ve just never before wanted to ask anyone up before the eighth date.” With Denny, she hadn’t hesitated—partly because she felt safe with her and partly because she hadn’t wanted her to leave.

  Maybe Heather interrupting them had been a good thing. They had both gotten a touch out of control. That wasn’t necessarily bad, but in hindsight, it scared her a little how much she wanted Denny. Heather hadn’t been far off when she had compared it to going through puberty a second time. Her hormones were working overtime, not giving her head a chance to catch up.

  “Hmm, if you’re that eager to get your hands on her, maybe I bought the wrong T-shirt.” Heather unfolded it and held it out across her chest. Against the background of the black fabric, big rainbow letters said, I’m not a lesbian, but my girlfriend is.

  Eliza hurled one of the throw pillows at her.

  Chapter 24

  The next morning, Eliza buzzed around the apartment like a bee on ecstasy. The parade started at eleven, and her family wouldn’t be over before ten when they would all walk to the parade together, but she’d been wide-awake at six. She wasn’t even sure what was making her so jittery.

  Was it the thought of Denny meeting her family? She knew without a doubt that Denny would charm them without even trying, so that probably wasn’t it.

  Maybe it was the parade itself. Sure, she had been to Pride before, but she’d been an ally back then, not part of the LGBT+ community. Did she really belong now? Would it be obvious to the people in the parade that she was a total newbie and had never slept with a woman before?

  She stopped in the middle of her apartment. You’re being silly. People go to the parade to have a good time, not to analyze other people’s sexual experiences.

  Just as her pulse had calmed, the doorbell rang, making it speed up again.

  She crossed to the door and tried to guess which of her family members it might be. Probably Ryan and Nichole, who were driving over with their parents, while everyone else would take the MAX. Or maybe Andy, who was early for everything.

  But it wasn’t her oldest sister. Heather brushed past her, wearing her Is it gay in here, or is it just me? T-shirt.

  Eliza closed the door. “Since when do you ring the doorbell?”

  “Since I walked in on you with your hand beneath Denny’s shirt last night.”

  Eliza had relived that experience for half of the night, and now that loop of mental images and sensations started again. Quickly, she turned away and fanned herself.

  Heather chuckled. “Guess that means you liked what was under that shirt. Speaking of shirts… Why aren’t you wearing the one I got you?”

  Wasn’t it obvious? Eliza faced her again and gave her an incredulous look. “My family still doesn’t know about Denny and me, and a T-shirt slogan is not how I want them to find out.”

  “Oh. Of course. Guess I was so excited about your newly discovered sapphic tendencies that I didn’t think about that.”

  Sapphic tendencies? Eliza once again wished she had the ability to arch one eyebrow the way Heather could. That term deserved it.

  The doorbell rang again.

  This time, it was her family. Her parents, Ryan, and Nichole arrived first, followed by Andy. Britt; her husband, Tony; and the twins came a minute later. When they all crowded into the apartment, it seemed even smaller than usual.

  Her oldest sister hurried past them without stopping. “Hugs in a sec,” Andy called over her shoulder. “I need the bathroom first.”

  “I keep telling you not to drink so much coffee,” their mother said.

  “Have you experienced Andy before her first coffee?” Ryan said. “Trust me, Mom, it’s better for everyone if she gets her daily quota.”

  Andy flipped him the bird before she closed the bathroom door after her.

  Chaos ensued as everyone hugged and greeted each other.

  Eliza hugged her brother. “Where are the kids?”

  “With their dad,” Ryan said.

  “Their other dad,” Nichole added, and the two exchanged a smile.

  “I would have liked an arrangement like that when the three of you were little,” their father threw in. “Another guy to take over every other weekend while I went fishing.”

  Eliza and Britt poked him from two sides. “Hey, we were angels.”

  Their parents snorted in unison.

  Even as Eliza laughed, she wondered how Denny would handle her big, chaotic family. Denny was a family woman too; she knew that. But with just her, Salem, and Bella in the house, she wasn’t used to the whirlwind interaction of Eliza’s clan.

  Andy emerged from the bathroom, waving something Eliza thought was a rainbow flag. “Is there something you want to tell us, baby sis?” Andy asked in a teasing singsong.

  “What do you—?” Then Eliza caught a better look at what her sister was waving around. It wasn’t a flag. It was the T-shirt Heather had given her. She had dropped it onto the pile of laundry next to her bathtub, which she had meant to do after the parade. Shit, shit, shit.

  Still laughing, Andy held up the T-shirt for everyone to see.

  Their father read the slogan and scratched his head. “I don’t get the joke. If a woman has a girlfriend, doesn’t that make her a lesbian?”

  “No, honey.” Their mother patted his arm. “Bisexual women can have girlfriends too.”

  “And pansexual women,” Britt added.

  Eliza’s head buzzed.

  “So who’s a lesbian…or bisexual?” their father asked.

  “No one, Dad. Well, other than Heather, of course. I’m just teasing Eliza.” Andy’s gaze went back to Eliza, and her laughter stopped abruptly when she didn’t join in. “Um, this isn’t your T-shirt, is it?”

  A vicelike pressure started in the middle of Eliza’s chest. The buzzing in her ears grew louder until she could no longer make out what everyone was saying. “I…”

  Heather stepped forward and pulled the shirt from Andy’s grip. “No, it’s mine. I got it for a friend and left it here because Eliza said she’d do laundry this weekend.”

  “If I had known you’re now offering laundry service, I would have brought my pile too,” Andy said.

  The vice around Eliza’s ribcage loosened. They had bought Heather’s explanation. She could leave it at that until she was ready to tell them. But what exactly was she waiting for? Did she need to pick a label before she made any kind of declaration to her family? Or was she waiting until she and Denny had shared their fifth or tenth date…or made love? Would it change anything?

  Her mind jumped forward to the parade, where they would meet up with Denny and her family. Could she introduce Denny as a friend even though her heart would be pounding at the sight of her? Could she keep a respectable distance between them all through the parade even though she was longing to take Denny’s hand or wrap her arms around her? And, most of all, why would she deny herself all that just so her family wouldn’t find out yet?

  Denny was exactly the kind of person she had always looked forward to taking home and introducing to her parents and siblings. Did she really want to hide their relationship just because Denny was a
woman?

  The answer pierced her with sudden clarity. She wanted Denny to be involved in every aspect of her life, including her family.

  On shaky legs, she walked over to Heather and took the T-shirt from her. “Actually, the shirt is mine.”

  A rare silence descended over her family.

  “Yours?” A frown settled on Andy’s tan face. “But you’re not a lesbian.”

  Eliza clenched her fingers around the shirt. “I never said I was. That’s the whole point of the shirt.” She held her head up high and met her sister’s gaze. “But I do have a girlfriend.”

  “You…what?”

  “Why didn’t you tell us, honey?”

  “When did that happen?”

  “Who is she? Heather, it’s not you, is it?”

  “Is she nice?”

  The questions hailed down on her so fast that Eliza couldn’t keep up with who wanted to know what.

  One voice drowned out the rest—Andy’s. “That doesn’t mean you have to wear rainbow colors and join the tribe.”

  Eliza stared at her sister. What on earth was going on with Andy? Britt and Ryan were closer to Eliza in age, but for some reason, Andy—who was six years older—had been her favorite playmate growing up. Even now, as adults, they were closest, maybe because they were the only ones who didn’t have kids. Andy had always been the cool, liberal one, even in their family—the one Eliza looked up to because she knew exactly what she wanted. “What the hell, Andy? Since when are you a homophobe?”

  “What? I’m not!”

  “Could have fooled me,” Eliza muttered.

  “I just don’t want you to label yourself too fast and jump into something that might not be right for you.”

  Oh, great. Not that overprotective big-sister routine again. Eliza had thought they had finally left that behind. She folded her arms across her chest, pressing the shirt to her breasts like a shield. “What makes you think I am?”

  For once, her usually confident sister looked at her shoes as she answered, “Experience.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? It’s not like I have a history of jump—”

  “Not your experience.” Andy raised her head. “Mine. When I was in the EMT program, I thought for a while I might be gay.”