by Ashley Quinn
London put her hands on her hips and surveyed the home in wonder as Natalie disappeared into a bedroom. They had been lucky to snap up the three bedroom, two bathroom home on the outskirts of Austin. The Realtor said that this is one of the fastest growing cities in Texas London marveled as she took in their new surroundings. I can see why. The nature around us, the city’s appreciation for art and development, the sense of possibility and promise. Even this home feels right. She looked around again and smiled at their blank slate.
Natalie padded from the bedroom and shook out her arms. “Only how many more boxes to go?” She asked.
London laughed. “I don’t think we should count until the truck is at least halfway empty.”
Natalie shook her head ruefully and slid her arm around London’s waist. “There’s a lesbian U-haul joke in there somewhere.”
London grabbed Natalie’s hand and led her to the sliding glass doors on the other side of the living room. She peeked between the blinds and grinned at the fenced yard before them. “You know, I’ve never had a yard before,” she said. “That high-rise Chicago apartment certainly didn’t and the flat I was raised in with my mother only had a little square that we shared with whomever rented the basement unit. I think I’m going to like having a yard.”
Natalie shifted behind London and wrapped her arms around her waist. She rested her chin on London’s shoulder and gazed out at the empty yard that now belonged to them.
“You know what I’m going to like?” She replied. “No, scratch that. I’m going to love expanding Mission Bakery to Austin. I still can’t believe how well our last couple of years went. I mean, I knew we were busy but I guess it never occurred to me.”
London twirled around in Natalie’s arms and met her smile with a kiss. “The second food truck is going to be huge,” she agreed. “Austin is the perfect city for it.”
Natalie sighed and threw a sidelong glance at the open front door. “Next time I have the bright idea that we can move everything ourselves, please stop me. Especially in the springtime heat.”
London laughed. “Hey, don’t worry about it,” she replied. “Why don’t we focus on the essentials first and then bring in the...not-so-essential?”
Natalie nodded. “That sounds good,” she agreed. “I just want to make sure we have enough moved in by the time Tiffany and Wayne arrive. When do you think they’ll be here tomorrow?”
“Around four,” London replied. “But you know Tiffany; she says four and means six. I’m just glad she has Wayne to keep her organized and grounded.”
“We still need to find a restaurant for the dinner reservations,” Natalie replied. “But I guess we can do that in the morning. There’s only thousands of restaurants in Austin to choose from.”
London leaned on the breakfast bar and thought for a moment. “You know,” she started. “I have the strangest feeling that Tiffany and Wayne are visiting to tell us that they’re engaged. I mean, they’ve been inseparable since she finished rehab. Sobriety has done amazing things for her.”
Natalie smiled across the room at her. “What is it now, ten months?”
“Give or take,” London replied. She eyed the box of dishes that she had left in the foyer and groaned as she pushed herself off the long counter.
“So what are your thoughts on it?” Natalie asked.
London sensed a change in atmosphere and wondered what it was. She groaned again as she hoisted the dishes back into her arms. “On what?” She asked. “Tiff’s sobriety? I think it’s fantastic. She’s taking it seriously and Wayne is great for her.”
“No, on...you know, the other thing,” Natalie hedged.
London blinked. “What other thing?”
Natalie sighed. “You know, the getting engaged part. Marriage. What are your thoughts on it?”
London felt as though all the air had been knocked out of her and she struggled to not drop the box. “My thoughts on Tiffany and Wayne possibly being engaged or on, you know, us getting married?” She suddenly felt light-headed.
Natalie walked over to her slowly and helped her place the box onto the breakfast bar. “On us getting married,” she continued after a moment. “I know it’s still early and snagging this house was a big step. But I’d like to eventually, you know? Maybe not tomorrow, but...” She took a deep breath. “Not too distant in the future either.”
London wondered if she was supposed to feel scared or threatened, as though her freedom was taking its last breath. Maybe once upon a time. But all I really feel is happy she thought with a grin.
She whirled around and kissed Natalie again. “Of course I would,” London replied breathlessly. “I would marry you in a heartbeat, Natalie.”
Her wide smile was enough reply for London. They kissed in the empty kitchen for a few lingering moments. London was all too aware of Natalie’s body, still slick with sweat, rubbing gently against hers as they explored each other’s mouths.
London stepped back with a muffled moan. “If we don’t stop right now, I’m going to march us into our bedroom without a bed and have my way with you on the floor.”
Natalie met her eyes wickedly. “As responsible as I’m trying to be, that really, really doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”
London glanced over Natalie’s shoulder at the open front door. “Hold that thought,” she replied. She raced around her girlfriend and quickly shut the door. For good measure, she slid the deadbolt lock into place resolutely. “The last thing I need is any new colleagues at the software start-up wandering by.”
“Good idea,” Natalie replied with a wink. “You said the office is only about ten minutes from here?”
London nodded in confirmation. “As much as I’d like to extoll the virtues of how bad-ass working at this start-up is going to be and how much I’m going to enjoy having a meaningful role at a small, growing company, I really can’t stop thinking about you and I, um, taking a moving break in the bedroom.”
A split second later, Natalie was kissing her again. Hands slowly caressed each other’s bodies over their clothing as the heat in the house rose. London paused for a moment and watched Natalie with unbridled passion.
“What?” Natalie whispered with a cheeky grin.
“I love you,” London whispered back. She tucked a lock of Natalie’s hair behind her ear gently. “We’ve got what it takes.”
“You know so?” Natalie replied. She smiled again and held London’s eyes. “Because I know so.”
London nodded and fell into Natalie’s kisses again. “I know so.”
THE END
Ashley Quinn is a devout writer, avid reader and lover of all things art. A bonafide Chicago girl, Ashley relocated to Dallas, Texas in 2014 and quickly discovered that she loves Tex-Mex, craves deep-dish pizza, is terrified of Texas drivers and doesn’t miss the blizzards.
With a B.A. in Marketing Communications from Columbia College Chicago and a wide range of professional Communications experience across a wide array of industries, Ashley’s first love remains creative writing. She enjoys writing fiction and lesbian romance featuring relatable, developed characters and unique situations. Texas Blues is her second novel.
She lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with her partner and their two spoiled dogs. They are perpetually planning their next adventure while Ashley continues to plan future books.
You can reach her through her website at http://www.thisisashleyquinn.com/ or through Facebook at Facebook.com/AshleyQuinnWrites.
