It was very late when they finally agreed to call it a night. They walked around to the entrance of Reina’s hotel and Meg kissed Reina sweetly outside the front door. “I’ll come by tomorrow. We can walk to the shuttle together. Okay?”
“Okay,” Reina said with an enormous smile. “Good night, Meg.”
“’Night, Reina.”
*
“I’m all ears, anytime you’re ready,” Tracy said to Meg, handing her a cold beer as they stood on the edge of the makeshift dance floor. “I want to know everything. When, how, who made the first move. And remember who you are talking to. I will need precise details.”
Meg checked a look over her shoulder at Reina talking with Teddy across the outdoor setup. “I will tell you everything. I promise. At home,” Meg responded, sipping her beer as she stuffed her hand into the pocket of her pants.
Tracy nodded. “Fair enough. Admit it though,” she added with a grin, “I was right all along.”
Meg couldn’t help but smile. “Turns out I should never have doubted you.”
Their conversation was interrupted as Lexi, stunning in a strapless white gown, sauntered toward them. “What’s up, studs?” she said, throwing an arm around each of them.
“Well, if it isn’t Mrs. Ducane,” Meg said playfully.
Tracy swallowed a sip of her drink. “Is that your name now?”
Lexi nodded and smiled a little. “Technically, yes.”
“Alexis Ducane, Alexis Ducane,” Meg repeated, trying it out. “I like it.”
Using her beer bottle, Tracy pointed at Meg. “Hey, Lex, did you hear about Meg and Reina?” she asked in a low voice.
Lexi looked right at Meg and raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t hear, no. But”—her voice dropped dramatically—“I do have eyes. So I am picking up on what’s happening.” She squeezed her friend’s shoulder. “I’m really happy for you, Meg.”
“Thanks, Lex.”
The three of them made a mini-toast to each other before Lexi said, “Guys, can you believe I’m married?” She blushed a little at her unexpected utterance. “I mean, only a year ago, everything was totally different. Tracy, you didn’t even live here.” She shook her head and watched Jesse crossing the floor toward them. “I mean, here comes my wife. Crazy, right?”
Betsy and Reina joined the group at almost the exact same time, and the six of them paired off slightly as they stood in a semicircle.
As they chatted, Teddy hobbled over to the three couples with her phone out. “Ladies, let me get a picture. This is a really great shot,” she said, taking several before joining the group and firing off the best one to Meg. They all quieted down so Lexi could once again tell the story of how Jesse had proposed to her, pointing out the exact location at the property’s edge. Meg was listening but she heard her phone sound a second time, and when she looked at it, a new picture came through. This one was a close-up of her and Reina that Teddy must have snapped before they all posed. Neither she nor Reina was looking at the camera. Instead they were looking right at each other, smiling. Talk about capturing a moment.
Meg examined the photo as she listened to Lexi tell the engagement story Meg knew by heart. She thought about Lexi’s words minutes ago, recounting how much had transpired in the last twelve months. Come to think of it, it was just about this time last year when she’d met Sasha Michaels for the first time. She swallowed a weird laugh, still finding it hard to believe she’d been so unbelievably wrong—both about the girl she had fought so hard for and the one she had kept at arm’s length for such a long time. It was ironic, she supposed.
She looked over at Reina, who was smiling as she listened to Lexi’s story wrapping up. As if feeling Meg’s eyes on her, Reina found Meg’s hand and laced their fingers together, giving a soft squeeze, which was all Meg needed for everything to click. Standing among her closest friends with the sun setting behind them, she pressed Reina’s hand with her own and they exchanged the briefest eye contact. It was a small moment, but it was sweet and honest, and it was just enough for Meg to be absolutely certain this was just the beginning.
About the Author
Maggie Cummings lives in Staten Island with her wife and their two children. She has degrees in English, theater, and criminal justice. She works in law enforcement in the NYC metropolitan area. Serious Potential is her second novel in the Bay West Social series.
Books Available From Bold Strokes Books
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Serious Potential by Maggie Cummings. Pro golfer Tracy Allen plans to forget her ex during a visit to Bay West, a lesbian condo community in NYC, but when she meets Dr. Jennifer Betsy, she gets more than she bargained for. (978-1-62639-633-3)
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Coils by Barbara Ann Wright. A modern young woman follows her aunt into the Greek Underworld and makes a pact with Medusa to win her freedom by killing a hero of legend. (978-1-62639-598-5)
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Delayed Gratification: The Honeymoon by Meghan O’Brien. A dream European honeymoon turns into a winter storm nightmare involving a delayed flight, a ditched rental car, and eventually, a surprisingly happy ending. (978-1-62639-766-8)
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Hooked by Jaime Maddox. With the help of sexy Detective Mac Calabrese, Dr. Jessica Benson is working hard to overcome her past, but they may not be enough to stop a murderer. (978-1-62639-689-0)
Lands End by Jackie D. Public relations superstar Amy Kline is dealing with a media nightmare, and the last thing she expects is for restaurateur Lena Michaels to change everything, but she will. (978-1-62639-73
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