Texas Blues

by Ashley Quinn

  “This is silly...” London started as she crossed her arms.

  “I’m serious,” Natalie replied. “Tell me.”

  London sighed. “Fine. Line-dancing earlier,” she replied. “And probably when I forced myself to step onto that plane to Texas. You know, when every logical part of my brain was telling me that this was a bad idea and I had the strange sense that my life was about to change whether I was ready or not. Isn’t that enough?”

  “And was it a bad idea?” Natalie pressed. “Taking that chance and coming to Texas?”

  London wrinkled her nose. “No,” she replied. “I can’t imagine not making that decision now. I don’t want to think about being in Chicago, miserable and frustrated, if I hadn’t taken that risk.” She paused and met Natalie’s eyes across the rippling water of the pool. “This has been the best experience in the world. You’ve changed me.”

  “Then come here and kiss me,” Natalie responded simply. The sideways rain had already soaked through her hair. It dripped from her eyelashes as she blinked against the wet wind. Her white t-shirt clung to her skin and droplets of rain rolled down her face and arms.

  She watched as London hesitated for a split second and then strode confidently from the other side of the yard. Natalie felt charged with emotion she couldn’t articulate as London’s piercing gaze locked onto hers. As London reached out for her, Natalie took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

  Take the plunge she told herself. It’s worth it. She took one step forward and jumped into six feet of warm water.

  ---

  London froze, her bravado melted away, as Natalie’s head broke through the surface of the churning water. She laughed in delight and shook her hair out.

  “Have you lost your mind?” London shouted. A jagged bolt of lightning cut through the sky and illuminated the backyard in bright white light for a split second. “You're...” she paused as a loud clap of thunder drowned out her voice. “You’re wearing all of your clothes!”

  Natalie shrugged as she treaded water. “They’re just clothes,” she replied. “They can be washed and dried. Now come and kiss me.”

  London looked at Natalie for a long moment. Her t-shirt revealed every detail of her body. She could see the distinct outline of her breasts through her bra and tiny rivulets of water dripped down her neck. London imagined herself kissing the water droplets from her neck and running her hands along the smooth skin beneath her t-shirt. Another heavy rumble of thunder rattled the house and shook London from her lascivious thoughts.

  What am I waiting for? She asked herself. Natalie’s wide smile erased any lingering fear. Without a word, London teetered at the edge of the pool and jumped into the deep end. Her hands sought Natalie’s body beneath the water and found her right away.

  I can’t let another second go by without kissing her. I love her was the last thought in London’s mind before she closed her eyes and met her waiting lips. Natalie’s arms wound around her waist and gently pulled her closer. She tangled her fingers in Natalie’s wet hair as their kiss deepened. Two bolts of lightning split the sky as London felt the warm tip of Natalie’s tongue against her own. She could see the thin flashes of light behind her closed eyes and relished the feeling of Natalie’s warm, wet skin pressed against her body.

  This is living for the moment I’m in London realized. This is what she was trying to show me. Every synapse in her brain fired sensations to nerves throughout her body. She had never felt more alive.

  “I love you,” London whispered against her mouth. “I love you, Natalie.”

  London had always wished that she knew how to stop time. From sitting with her mother for hours at the hospital, knowing deep in her soul that those minutes wouldn’t be enough, to the rush of hope and possibility she’d feel years ago watching the sun rise over Chicago, there were instances in which she had desperately wanted to freeze time. An electric thrill ran through London as Natalie inhaled and rested her forehead against her cheek.

  This is it she realized in amazement. Time finally stopped.

  “I love you too,” Natalie murmured. London shivered at her soft breath against her earlobe. Rain poured around them and hit the pool water with thousands of tiny splashes. “Congratulations. You’re living in the moment. There’s no going back now.”

  CHAPTER 21

  London could barely come up for air as they frantically kissed their way into the house. Their hands tore at each other’s shirts and belts. She was torn between an overwhelming desire to attach her lips to Natalie’s and her natural instinct to breathe.

  Breathing? She wondered. Or sex? She felt a moan escape the corner of her mouth as Natalie crushed her lips against her mouth and pressed her body against her own. Definitely sex. She grinned against Natalie’s mouth as she took a step back and felt her shoulders hit the bedroom door.

  They paused their kisses for only a moment as they ducked into the room. London gently slid Natalie’s t-shirt halfway up to reveal a toned, tanned stomach. She paused at the foot of the bed and nudged the other woman onto the mattress. London knelt between her thighs and drank in the form in front of her. Her gaze trailed up Natalie’s body until she finally met her eyes. Natalie stared back her silently and with a gentle intensity.

  “I love you,” Natalie whispered. She weaved her fingers between London’s and squeezed her hand.

  London rose slowly, sliding over her body, and carefully laid her back onto the bed. She wasn’t sure why she was taking her time with Natalie or what was causing her to touch her so tenderly, but London knew she wanted the moment to last forever.

  “I love you too,” she replied before closing the small gap between their lips. She slid the rest of Natalie’s t-shirt over her head and stilled as her hands slipped beneath her wet shirt.

  “I want to feel you against me,” Natalie murmured. Her hands explored London’s upper body and finally found her nipples. Her fingertips lingered there as they teased them to attention. London sat up, straddling her, and let her pull her shirt and bra off.

  London relished the sensations that Natalie was causing to course throughout her body, but she wanted to bring her over the edge first. Natalie’s back hit the pile of wrinkled blankets as London kissed her way down her body and eased off her jeans. She took her time nibbling at the sensitive areas inside Natalie’s hipbones and along her ribcage before slipping her fingers around her underwear.

  London’s mouth dropped open at the wetness that slid through her fingertips. “You’re so beautiful,” she murmured. She glanced up at Natalie and smiled.

  “Make love to me,” she whispered. “Please.”

  With Natalie watching her, London gently licked the tip of her index finger. “You taste so good,” she continued in a low voice.

  Natalie groaned and London bent down to kiss her slick folds. She barely registered Natalie’s right hand wound in her hair or her left hand still intertwined with her own. Natalie’s moans of pleasure as she continued to kiss, explore and tease her most intimate areas filled London’s consciousness. The sounds grew in urgency and intensity as she ran the length of her tongue across her again and again.

  Natalie froze for a long moment and then London felt her shudder and contract against her mouth. Her gasping moans turned to pants as London laid next to her and smiled. She wrapped an arm around Natalie and pushed a lock of semi-wet hair out of her half-closed eyes.

  “Don’t get too comfortable,” Natalie warned between breaths.

  London paused for a moment and then kissed the tip of her ear as Natalie cuddled into her. “Whatever you say,” she replied amusedly.

  In a millisecond, Natalie had flipped herself on top of London and pushed her shoulders against the pillow. “Was that a challenge, Miss Foster?” She asked with a teasing grin.

  “I...” London started. She didn’t have time to finish before Natalie crushed her lips against her own. As soon as she felt the tip of Natalie’s tongue exploring her mouth, all thoughts of rest vanished. Lo
ndon was acutely aware of the growing warmth between her legs and finally let desire take over as she wrapped her arms loosely around Natalie’s neck.

  If this is making love London thought contentedly. Then this is what I want to do with Natalie forever.

  ---

  Natalie opened her eyes slowly and blinked as the earliest hints of dawn gently illuminated the bedroom in glowing shades of pink and yellow. London had slept soundly against her side as the stormy night sky gave way to drizzling rain and then the rising morning sun. The television hummed at a low volume as images from an infomercial flickered by. She and London were completely intertwined and Natalie felt more content than she could remember.

  She stared, unfocused, at a point on the ceiling and idly played with the ends of London’s hair. She’s waking up she realized as the other woman shifted. Natalie gazed at her for a long moment and then leaned over to brush her lips across her forehead.

  London stirred and blinked after a moment. “Did we really stay up until 3 A.M. last night doing, um...?”

  Natalie suppressed her smile. “We definitely did.”

  London rolled over and her face flushed. “No wonder I feel as though I slept like a baby!” She laughed. “Did you sleep well?”

  “Honestly, I think I watched you sleep more than I slept myself,” Natalie replied with a slow, shy smile.

  London’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my God, now I’m really embarrassed,” she exclaimed. “Who knows what kind of faces I was making in that deep, deep sleep you put me in?” She grinned and leaned forward to peck Natalie’s lips.

  “You were adorable,” Natalie confirmed with a laugh. “And you were way knocked out.”

  London stretched and settled back against the pillow. “Do we really have to go back to Fort Worth today?”

  Natalie squeezed her hand and dropped another kiss onto her forehead. “We can take our time,” she replied. “I’ll make some breakfast before we hit the road.”

  London nodded. “I don’t know how I can possibly be hungry with all the food I’ve eaten this weekend,” she responded. “But breakfast sounds amazing. Do you mind if I take a quick shower?”

  “Not at all,” Natalie replied. She located her wrinkled t-shirt at the foot of the bed and pulled it over her head. I don’t remember falling asleep sans shirt last night she thought with a sly grin. I guess we were both exhausted.

  She padded into the kitchen and stood on her tip-toes to grab a pan from the cabinet. She half-listened as the bathroom door down the hall opened and then the spray of the shower hit the smooth tiles.

  Natalie turned and took a carton of eggs from the refrigerator just as the familiar ringtone of London’s phone sounded from somewhere in the bedroom. She glanced up and paused. She could hear the occasional splash from the shower as the call was finally routed into London’s voicemail.

  Natalie shook her head after a moment and turned to crack the remaining eggs into the wide iron frying pan. I’m really going to have to remind London to call her friend Holly back she thought to herself. I’ll bet anything that was her again. It must be important if she keeps trying to reach her, especially on a Sunday morning.

  She wrinkled her nose as the ringing sounded again. Somehow, it seemed more urgent this time than it did a few moments ago. Natalie listened as the shower squeaked off and the plastic curtain was pulled back. She turned back to the food with a small smile as she caught London quickly pad into the bedroom.

  How ironic she thought dryly. The first time I ever laid eyes on her, she was in a bath towel. And here she is in a bath towel again, only this time she’s at my aunt’s house after a crazy, amazing weekend. And a night of even more crazy, amazing lovemaking.

  All was pin-quiet in the house for the next few minutes as Natalie quickly chopped half of a green pepper. She turned to the frying pan and poured a quarter cup of milk over the eggs as they scrambled. As she reached back for the diced pepper, a strange sound broke her concentration. It was a mix between a strangled moan and a heartbreaking sob and it immediately turned Natalie’s stomach with fear.

  Without a second thought, she dropped the cutting board onto the counter with a loud clatter. Tiny chunks of green pepper rolled over the linoleum and spilled onto the floor, but Natalie was already halfway to the bedroom.

  She threw open the door to find London hunched on the edge of the mattress in only her towel. Her phone was at her side and her hands were clenched over her eyes. She didn’t look up as Natalie approached her slowly.

  As she tried to process what was going on, she could see London’s back quivering silently with muted sobs. Her shoulders shook uncontrollably and Natalie felt her stomach drop again.

  Oh no she thought. Fear of what could have caused this gripped her. Something happened and it’s bad. Really bad.

  Natalie immediately sat next to London and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “What happened?” She asked, her voice low. “Talk to me, London. What’s going on, baby?”

  London didn’t answer, but finally turned to her. She fell into Natalie’s arms as her shaking sobs continued. London buried her face in her shoulder as Natalie quietly held her and rubbed small circles on her back. An icy sense of dread clenched Natalie’s stomach.

  I have no idea what’s going on she thought helplessly. I don’t have the slightest clue what’s making London, my tough, cool, collected London, cry this way. All I know is that something bad happened and I need to fix it.

  “London,” Natalie whispered after a moment. She pressed her lips to her temple and let her kiss linger there for a long moment. “What’s going on?”

  After another minute or two, she sniffled and appeared to momentarily collect herself. London sat up and finally met her concerned gaze. Natalie felt her heart practically crack at the sight of her swollen, red-rimmed eyes. She held London’s hands in both of her own and squeezed them reassuringly.

  “It’s Tiffany,” London finally spoke. Her shaking voice was raspy with tears. She swallowed hard. “I got a call from Baylor All Saints Hospital in Fort Worth. Tiffany...” she paused and tried to steady herself. “We...We have to go. Tiffany was brought to the hospital unconscious. No one can get a hold of our father. She...She overdosed.”

  Natalie felt her heart plummet to the floor. “Oh my God,” she whispered in shock. She wrapped her arm tighter around London. “Is she going to be all right?”

  London shook her head slowly and stared at the mattress. “They don’t know,” she replied. “They’ve stabilized her, but she hasn’t woken up yet. They’re doing as much as they can, but they won’t know the extent of any internal damage or...” she paused and sniffled. “If there’s any brain damage until they run more tests or she wakes up.”

  Natalie felt as though the wind had been knocked clear out of her lungs. “Oh my God,” she repeated. “I can’t...I can’t believe this.”

  I have to be strong for her she thought in determination. We’re not going to get any answers in Haskell.

  Natalie stood and held her hands out to London. “Come on,” she urged her with a nod. “We have to go.”

  London blinked, as if seeing her for the first time since the phone call. “You’re right,” she finally replied. “We need to go now. You’re right.”

  Natalie pulled London up. “I’ll get our things together,” she told her. “Keep trying to reach your dad. Maybe he didn’t answer because he didn’t recognize the hospital’s phone number. Let’s just focus on getting to the hospital, okay?”

  As she headed for the bedroom door, she felt a slight tug on her hand. She turned halfway and threw London a puzzled smile. “What’s wrong?”

  London took a deep breath. “Thank you,” she murmured. “I...I never don’t know what do but right now? I really don’t know what I’d do without you, Natalie.”

  She leaned forward and kissed a tear from London’s cheek. “It’s okay,” she replied. “I feel for you what I didn’t even know I was capable of feeling,” she continued,
repeating what London had told her last night.

  London’s face lightened. It wasn’t a full smile, but it was the first hint of ease that Natalie had seen since the phone call. “Come on,” she said gently. “The sooner we can get to Baylor, then the sooner we can see Tiffany and get some answers.”

  ---

  In what felt to London like record time, Natalie gently eased the truck into the wide circular driveway of the emergency wing at the hospital. A large parking lot, dotted with thin trees planted at its corners, sprawled behind them.

  I knew she had a problem London thought dismally. I should have said something earlier. I shouldn’t have questioned myself so much when I wondered if I’d make her mad or if I even had the right to say something. Of course I had the right to say something. She’s my little sister and her life is far more important than any family history. She could have died. I should have made her listen, even if she yelled, screamed and told me she hated me. As long as she got help.

  “I’ll park,” Natalie spoke gently. Her soft tone filling the cab of the truck was a welcome sound in place of the blood that pounded in London’s ears. “You go,” she continued. “See Tiffany. I’ll find you in there.”

  London nodded and opened her mouth to speak. The sound of her ringtone blared through the truck. She glanced at the phone in her lap and sighed. “It’s my dad,” she stated matter-of-factly. “Finally.”

  Natalie bit her lip. “You’d better take that,” she replied. “I’ll find you, okay? I promise.”

  London leaned over the middle console to plant a gentle kiss on Natalie’s cheek. “Okay,” she agreed. “Thank you for...for everything. Thank you.”

  With that, she hopped out of the truck and quickly hit a button to redial her father. She plugged her ear with her index finger and took a few nervous steps toward the large revolving door of the emergency center.

  Be prepared for anything she warned herself silently. You need to be strong and brave. Just like you were for Mom. Just like you’ve learned to be over the last several years.