Popcorn Love

by KL Hughes

  A moment later, those striking eyes were right in front of her, taking in every detail. “Evening,” the woman said, her smile bordering on a smirk. “Can I buy you a drink?”

  Elena was surprised by the thick Australian accent but found it lovely. She smiled at the woman and shook her head. “No, thank you.”

  The other woman nodded. “Fair enough,” she said. “Already have a date?”

  “Yes, actually,” Elena told her. “I am meeting my…my girlfriend.” It felt so strange to say that. She had only said it once before, at the zoo, and it had felt weird then. But just as it had that day, saying the word had also sent a jolt of excitement rippling through Elena’s gut.

  “Yeah?” the Aussie asked. “Sounds nice. What’s she look like? Maybe I can spot her for you?”

  Elena smiled. “Blonde, bright green eyes, a stunning smile, and undoubtedly wearing some kind of tank top or three-quarter-sleeve button-up.” She paused for a long moment as she looked out into the crowd before sighing and adding, “Beautiful.”

  The other woman smiled. “Excellent description, Elena, and given that lovey-dovey look you had in your eyes while you said it, I’d say Alli’s done quite well for herself.”

  Elena startled, eyes wide and confused. She blinked rapidly, her mouth opening and closing, but then the other woman just laughed and stuck her hand out.

  “Macy Davis.” Her eyes scanned over Elena’s figure. “It’s nice to finally meet the woman who’s turned my best mate into a puddle of goo.”

  Clearing her throat, Elena smiled and reached out to shake Macy’s hand. “Macy,” she said. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you. Allison speaks quite highly of you.”

  “You too. Really, really highly, if you know what I mean.”

  Elena’s cheeks flushed heavily as she cleared her throat again and nodded.

  “I’m not so good with censorship.” Macy laughed at herself.

  “I thought you were hitting on me when you first walked up,” Elena said, and Macy nodded, grinning.

  “I was.” She leaned her elbows on the bar and settled in beside Elena. “But only as a test.”

  “A test?”

  “Yeah. To make sure you were loyal. It’s my duty as her best mate.”

  “I see,” Elena said. “I’m glad she has someone looking out for her in such a manner.”

  “Always have, love,” Macy told her. “Always will.”

  Elena could hear the sincerity in Macy’s voice and the fierce protection of Allison that shone in her eyes and posture as she spoke of her. It was heartwarming, and reminded Elena greatly of her own best friend.

  “Speaking of Allison,” Elena said. “Have you seen her? I sent her a text, but she never responded.”

  “Sure she did,” Macy said. “That’s why I’m here.”

  “Oh, I see. So, is this the part where you tell me that if I break her heart, you will break my face or something along those lines?”

  “Something like that.”

  “I thought as much.” Elena took a sip of her drink. “Well, dear, you needn’t worry.”

  “I know.” Macy shrugged.

  “You do?”

  “Oh please. I only just met you, I know, but you two are so bloody in love with each other, it’s borderline disgusting.”

  Elena’s heart shot into her throat as those words sank into her. She couldn’t think of anything to say in response, because her brain felt like it was on fire as she closed her eyes and pondered her feelings for Allison. Was it love? It definitely could be.

  An image of Allison playing with Lucas flitted through her mind, and a smile tugged at her lips. It definitely might be.

  “Relax,” Macy said. “Before your face overheats and explodes.”

  Elena’s eyes fluttered open again. She swallowed and smiled at Macy, who leaned over and nudged her with her elbow. “But just so you know, if you do hurt her, I’ll have to come after you, and I used to wrestle dingoes in Oz. So you would be lucky to live to tell the tale.”

  Elena started to laugh but fell silent and gaped when Macy simply stared at her, serious as ever.

  “Is that…are you being serious?”

  Macy stared at her only a moment longer before she grinned and shook her head. “Your face, love. That was priceless.”

  Elena inclined her head and pointed at the woman. “You had me for a moment.”

  “Americans think Australia is literally just a ton of blokes in board shorts, shrimp on the barbie, and dingoes stealing our babies or something. Thanks, Meryl Streep, for that last one, even if it was based on a true story.” Macy barked out a loud laugh. “So, it’s easy to pull one over on most of you.”

  “I would imagine so. I would love to visit Australia.”

  “Alli wants to go too. I’m thinking of asking her along after graduation.”

  “Oh?” Elena was about to inquire for further details when the lights in the bar dimmed considerably and the static sounds of a woman tapping on a microphone distracted her.

  “What’s this?” Elena glanced up at the stage.

  Macy grinned and pointed to a very familiar blonde walking onto the stage behind the woman at the microphone and sitting down with an acoustic guitar. “Your date just arrived,” she said, and Elena’s heart began to race.

  Chapter Thirty

  “How’s everyone doing tonight?” asked the woman at the microphone, and the patrons of the bar erupted into an echoing chorus of hoots and hollers. Elena just barely registered that one of those hooting people was Macy. She was so focused on Allison’s long blonde hair pulled back in a low messy bun. It was incredibly sexy and made only more so when paired with the radiant smile stretched over Allison’s lips as she looked out on the bar crowd.

  “All right! That’s what we like to hear. We’re gonna go ahead and get this open-mic night kicked off with one of our regular performers. You all know her. You all love her. You all can’t wait to buy her album when she finally decides to get her ass into a recording studio!”

  Elena smiled as she watched Allison chuckle and shake her head as several in the bar cheered once more. Her heart’s racing had yet to cease or even slow, and Elena’s entire body felt electric. She had heard Allison play and even hum a bit once before, but she had never actually heard her sing. She was on the edge of her barstool.

  “You’re in for a treat, love,” Macy said.

  “Is this for me?” Elena asked and Macy only winked.

  She sucked in a deep breath and turned back to face the stage.

  The woman at the microphone had taken a moment to remind everyone of half-priced pitchers at the bar before she clapped her hands together and said, “All right, everyone! Give it up for the one and only Allison Sawyer!” The woman then turned and patted Allison on the shoulder before walking off the stage.

  Once she was gone, Allison stood and reached for the microphone stand. She wore a white button-up shirt, mostly open to reveal a bit of her chest, adorned with a silver chain necklace, and a bit of her lower stomach. The sleeves of her shirt were rolled up above her elbows, and her dark jeans were practically pasted to her flesh and tucked into black motorcycle boots. Elena found her positively irresistible.

  Allison pulled the microphone stand over to her chair and lowered it so that the microphone hung right in front of her when she sat back down. Once she was settled, she offered the crowd an awkward little wave. “Hey everyone.”

  Allison tapped her guitar. “I know I usually do a few songs, but I’m only going to do one tonight, because I’ve got a hot date waiting for me at the bar.”

  The bar erupted in another round of hoots and hollers, including a particularly loud one from Macy, who even fist-pumped into the air.

  “Yeah,” Allison said, grinning. “So, I’m gonna take you back to 1999 with this one. I hope you guys like it.”

  Allison began plucking at her guitar, a melody that sounded familiar to Elena but a bit different on acoustic. Elena completely forgot the gui
tar, though, when Allison actually began to sing. Her voice was soft and even a bit raspy, and it blasted right through Elena’s flesh and straight to her soul.

  Mouth hanging slightly open, Elena stared up at the stage, mesmerized. There was a natural effortlessness about Allison’s singing that only added to the beauty of it, and it blew Elena away.

  Macy nudged Elena’s side with her elbow. “She’s great, right?”

  “She is magnificent.”

  Allison put her own little spin on Tal Bachman’s “She’s So High”, which only made it better in Elena’s opinion. It was softer, slower, and somehow more romantic than anything, which surprised Elena, given that the lyrics weren’t terribly deep. That raspy lilt in Allison’s voice made it sound like a lullaby, gently rocking Elena’s heart into submission.

  “I think she might like you a bit there, fancy-pants.”

  Elena arched a brow at Macy. “I’m wearing jeans,” she countered. “Hardly fancy.”

  “Yeah okay.”

  Smiling, Elena held a finger to her lips. “Shh. I’m being serenaded.”

  As Allison led into the chorus a final time, Elena watched her close her eyes and sing the final bits of the song, plucking her fingers expertly over the strings of her guitar until the music faded into silence. The bar erupted in cheers as Allison’s eyes fluttered open again. She smiled and nodded before rising from her chair and making her way off the stage.

  She disappeared behind a door just off from the stage, and a moment later, Elena felt Macy tugging on her arm.

  “Come on, love.”

  “Where are we going?”

  Macy called over her shoulder. “Alli reserved a table for us.”

  She led her around the bar to a table tucked into a corner with hardly any view of the stage at all. Elena slid into the small booth, and Macy took the seat opposite her. When the waitress came around, Macy ordered two beers and Elena requested an apple martini.

  “Appletini,” Macy said. “You are definitely fancy.”

  “I have a feeling you would say as much if I ordered anything other than a beer.”

  “True.” Macy tapped her fingers against the table top. “So, when is the wedding?”

  “Pardon?”

  “You and Alli.”

  Elena smirked. “Very funny.”

  “It’s only a matter of time.” Before Elena could respond to the teasing, Allison’s shadow clouded over their table.

  “Allison,” she murmured, a gentle smile touching her lips. She stood up quickly.

  Allison grinned at her. “Hey.”

  They stood a few inches apart, just staring at one another for a moment, before Macy sighed. “Just kiss already,” she said.

  Leaning in, Allison planted a soft whisper of a kiss to the corner of Elena’s mouth before pulling the woman into an unexpected embrace.

  Elena went willingly, wrapping her arms around Allison’s waist and sighing into the embrace. It felt nice to be in Allison’s arms again, even though it had only been a few hours since they were last together. It seemed like much longer.

  “What did you think?” Allison whispered into Elena’s ear as they hugged.

  “You were incredible. Thank you for singing to me.” They slipped out of the embrace, and Elena kissed Allison’s cheek. She then smiled and reached up with her thumb to wipe away the evidence of her lipstick. “But I am not high above you, dear.”

  “Yeah, actually, mate, it looks like she might be a bit shorter than you if she took those monster heels off.”

  They laughed as Elena and Allison slid into the booth, Elena’s hand finding Allison’s under the table. Their fingers laced together as they settled in, and Macy rolled her eyes.

  “You two and your lovey looks are gross.”

  “Jealous,” Allison sing-songed.

  “Agreed,” Elena said.

  “Maybe a little,” Macy said, like it was an admission.

  The waitress arrived with their drinks, and Macy handed one of her beers over to Allison. “So, Alli, you’ll be happy to know that your lady here passed my test with flying colors.”

  “Your test?”

  “She hit on me,” Elena said, and Allison cracked up.

  “Did she call you ‘Elena-r’?” Allison asked.

  Macy glared.

  “I can’t help it, you arse!” Macy laughed as she slid her moist hand from her sweating beer bottle and flicked the cold water droplets at her best friend.

  “She did, but only once,” Elena said. “She mostly called me ‘love’.”

  “Oh yeah,” Allison said. “She called me that a lot when we first met.”

  “But she didn’t like it,” Macy said. “She likes ‘mate’ better, so it’s been that for years now.”

  “So, you two met at NYU?” Elena asked as she sipped her martini. Both Allison and Macy nodded.

  “And we’ve been inseparable ever since,” Macy said.

  “Pretty much.”

  “That’s nice,” Elena said. “My best friend Vivian and I are much the same.”

  With Allison by her side, Elena felt incredibly at ease, and she was quite pleased with how well she and Macy clicked. There wasn’t an awkward moment the entire night, and Elena found Macy charming and amusing, much like Allison. She could only hope that Macy liked her as well.

  * * *

  Elena passed a wad of cash to the cab driver as the taxi came to a stop in front of her house. Allison stepped out first and reached for Elena’s hand to help her exit the vehicle.

  They walked silently toward the door, Allison’s pulse racing and her skin prickling with the tense anticipation that seemed to live in the air around them. She trailed a bit behind Elena, led by the other woman as the fingertips of her right hand barely dusted through the spaces between those of Elena’s left.

  Elena pulled Allison into the house and down the hall. Allison’s heart thundered in her chest as she followed Elena into her bedroom.

  The air felt electric as Elena opened the door to her bedroom and, leaving the light off, pulled Allison inside. Their free hands found their way together so that they were connected like shy little girls on the verge of singing “Ring Around the Rosy”.

  They stood at the foot of Elena’s enormous bed, and Allison could just make out Elena’s features as her eyes began to adjust to the dark. Elena released one of Allison’s hands and let her fingers trail slowly up the length of Allison’s arm, dusting along her collarbone through her shirt, and up her slender neck to rest around Allison’s cheek.

  Elena took a deep breath and whispered, “I am so crazy about you.”

  Allison’s breath escaped her in a rush. “Really?” she asked, her voice strained with the magnitude of all that she felt in that moment. She was astounded by the way this woman could make her feel so much with so few words, with a gentle touch, with a quiet connection in a dark room.

  Elena nodded. Her hand slipped down from Allison’s cheek to rest on her chest, just over her heart. “And I think I deserve this,” she whispered. “I think we deserve this.”

  “This?” Allison asked, her own hands settling on Elena’s waist.

  “This,” Elena repeated, tapping her index and middle fingers lightly over Allison’s heart. “Whatever this is.”

  Allison swallowed, her breath coming out in a shaky whisper. “Feels like…”

  She hesitated as she searched for the right word. Her throat felt like it was on fire, her eyes stinging just as horribly as Elena’s, but for the first time in her life, Allison didn’t fight the tears that sprang up and spilled over. They were soft, like a release, because she wasn’t running. She was standing still. Finally, she was standing still, and Elena was standing with her. “Feels big.”

  Elena’s eyes shimmered in the dark as the small bit of light shining through the window caught them in fractured movement. Allison’s fingertips slipped beneath the hem of Elena’s shirt and danced across the flesh beneath. “You don’t think it’s too fast, all of
this?” she asked as she began to slowly lift the garment, slipping it up the length of Elena’s torso.

  “Yes,” Elena whispered, and Allison’s hands halted on her flesh. “It feels fast, but it feels right as well, to me, at least.” She brought her own hands back to rest over Allison’s just under her bra. “I am so tired of being afraid, Allison.” She slipped her fingers under Allison’s and latched onto her own shirt. She lifted it the rest of the way up and over her head before letting it fall to the floor. “I’m so tired of being afraid of reaching for something that I know I deserve, something that I have denied myself for such a long time now.”

  “Me too,” Allison choked out as Elena’s fingers then slipped over the buttons of her shirt and slowly began to pop them open, one by one. “I just…I’m not used to being…” Her voice cracked as she let out a shaky breath. Her hands came up to cup around Elena’s wrists and halt the other woman’s task. “Elena,” she whispered. She hated the feeling of being vulnerable. She had hated it her entire life, but, in this one moment, Allison didn’t care. She could be vulnerable with this woman. She could be afraid. She could be honest. She trusted Elena to remain. “I’m not used to being wanted, not like this.”

  “Like what?” Elena asked, turning her wrists in Allison’s hands so that she could tangle their fingers together.

  Allison took a deep, steadying breath and squeezed Elena’s hands. “Like you might actually want to keep me.”

  Elena pulled Allison to her, releasing her hands, and wrapping her arms around Allison’s neck. She peppered kisses along Allison’s jaw and then pressed two soft kisses to her lips. “I do,” she promised, and those quiet words blasted through Allison’s heart.

  Allison let out a shaky sigh as she dove forward to capture Elena’s lips again.

  “Stay, Allison,” Elena whispered. She kissed Allison again, hands returning to the buttons on her shirt. “Stay with me.”