The Best Lines

by Nicole Pyland

  “He told me what happened. You need to understand that we had a church group here and you kissed another woman on the floor.”

  “Mom, no one could see. We were in the serving station,” she pointed out. “Dad walked in. That’s the only reason he saw us, but if this is supposed to be my restaurant, then I should be able to have a one second, innocent kiss with my girlfriend without getting yelled at by my father.”

  “Honey, he’s always had a hard time with you…” Francine appeared to be struggling.

  “Being gay? Yeah, I know. It’s not like that’s a big secret, but he’s also had a hard time with me, period, mom. Because he’s never tried to understand me, or what it means to be gay. It’s like it’s this scary thing for him to do. I’m tired of dealing with it. I deserve better, mom. I think it’s good that I get some distance and dad gets some distance from me, too.” She paused. “Maybe that’s been the problem all along. I never really left home. Technically, I have an apartment, but I’m here with you two every day, and we still have dinner every Sunday. I need to be on my own, mom.”

  “What’s your plan then? If we find a new manager, what will you do?” she asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “You can’t just be unemployed. I know what we pay you. I know how much your rent is, Ember.”

  “Mom, I’ve been putting money away for a while now. Remember those savings bonds grandma got me?”

  “For your graduation?”

  “I cashed them out and put them into an investment portfolio. It’s been growing ever since because I monitor it, but I’ve never touched it. It’s my nest egg. I figured I’d hang onto it, in case the restaurant hit a bad year or for an emergency.”

  “You’ve never said anything.”

  “I tried once. Dad dismissed it, like he does with everything I say. You had your hysterectomy and insurance only covered so much. He was trying to figure out how to pay the rest and not take money from the restaurant.” She paused her explanation. “I offered to help. He thought I was being ridiculous. He gave me the impression that he believed I had about a thousand dollars in savings.”

  “And just how much do you have?”

  “Mom, come on.”

  “What? I’m your mother. You’re telling me you’re quitting the only job you’ve ever had, and you don’t know what you’re going to do next? You plan on living on your savings, but I can’t know how much you’ve got stored away for a rainy day?”

  “Fine,” she said. “I’ve got an IRA that I won’t touch until I retire that’s worth $90,435.32 and I have a regular investment portfolio that, as of yesterday, was worth $143,556.93,” she stated.

  “Ember!” Her mother’s shock was more than evident. Her eyes were large. Her mouth was wide open. “You have $200,000?”

  “I have $233,992.25 in my investment accounts. I have a regular savings account that’s got $7,822.45 in it, and my checking account has $5,003.67.” She stopped for a moment. “Why do you think I’ve been trying to do the books and help expand the restaurant? Who do you think loaned Zack the additional money he needed to redo the bar? I’m good at this stuff, mom. I’ve been taking part of every paycheck and saving it since I got my first one at fifteen. I don’t have a car payment or live outside my means. I eat here most nights and I get insurance through the restaurant, so it just gets put away.”

  “Sweetheart, that’s remarkable,” Francine finally said after picking her jaw up off the floor. “Not the amount of money. I mean, that is also a big deal, honey, but the fact that you did that. You’re thirty years old, and you’ve saved up that much money.”

  “I’d probably have more, but I’m pretty conservative with my investments. I’ve never really cared about having a lot. I like the statistical predictions you make to determine your investments.”

  “My God!” She was still in shock. “I’m sorry, Ember.”

  “For what?” Ember asked.

  “I should have paid more attention,” she professed. “You were right. I was the parent. You’re my child. I knew you were special, but I never allowed you to be, and I am sorry.”

  Ember’s eyes welled with tears. She felt the heat in her cheeks that always came before tears streaked down them. She did the best she could to hold them in.

  “Mom, I-”

  “I can’t speak for your father. He’s stubborn and has to form his own opinions on things. You can tell that man it’s raining outside, but until he looks out the window and sees it himself, he won’t believe it. I can’t make up for the past, but I’d like to try to be better now. Outside of this restaurant, I want us to spend time together. The only time I see you outside of work is Sunday for dinner. Let’s change that.”

  “Really?” Ember smiled.

  “Yes, I’ll tell your father we need to find your replacement. You and I can have lunch or go shopping.”

  “That sounds good, mom.” Ember’s tears dried before they ever actually fell.

  “And you have a girlfriend?” Francine wiped a tear from her own cheek, which Ember had never seen before.

  “I do. Eva. She’s pretty awesome.”

  “Ember, you don’t call a woman you’re dating awesome. That’s crass,” Francine chastised, and Ember laughed.

  “She’s amazing. I’m very happy.”

  “Then you should bring her to Sunday dinner.”

  “Mom, I can’t do that to her,” Ember objected and stood up. “I’m not making her sit through him ignoring me or asking us questions and then grunting his disapproval at whatever we say.”

  “I’ll work on him,” her mom asserted. “I’d like to meet her myself then.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes, you’ve never called any woman your girlfriend before, that I remember, so she must be special.”

  “She is.” She paused. “I love her, mom.”

  “Love?” Francine’s eyebrow lifted, and she turned to tackle the espresso machine again.

  “Yes, love. Let me fix that today please.” Ember pointed at the machine and then moved to walk behind the bar.

  “You can fix this? Your father said it needed a professional.”

  Ember just glared at her knowingly.

  “Of course. Have at it. I’ll pay you the fee we would have given the guy.” She paused. “On second thought, I’m keeping that money. You seem to have enough.”

  Ember laughed at her.

  “That’s fine. I got it.”

  “Maybe we can do lunch with Eva or dinner if that’s better for her.”

  “I’ll ask her,” Ember said and picked up the screwdriver they kept stored behind the bar to get to work on the espresso machine.

  “And honey?” Francine stepped out from behind the bar.

  “Yeah?”

  “I don’t say this enough, but I will work on that.” She paused and smiled thoughtfully. “I am very proud of you.”

  And with that, Ember’s eyes welled up again.

  “And if you have that much money, Ember, you really should own your own home by now. You’re just throwing money away renting. That doesn’t seem very responsible.”

  Ember laughed at her mother.

  CHAPTER 20

  Eva’s tongue slid between Ember’s folds and pressed firmly on her clit while her fingers pressed further inside of her. Ember quaked against her fingers and tongue. She heard the now familiar sounds of Ember’s orgasm take over. Eva opened her eyes and watched Ember’s body lift off the bed, tense, and then lower back down while her other hand continued to massage a breast that fit so perfectly in it.

  “Oh, I needed that,” Ember gasped out while Eva chuckled against her skin before moving up to kiss her stomach and then take a nipple into her mouth.

  “Do you need another one because I’d be-”

  “Babe, no. I need you to lie down next to me. I think three orgasms is enough for now,” Ember replied, and Eva laughed more before sliding next to her and leaving a little space between.

  “I can’t help i
t. You’re irresistible,” Eva admitted.

  “Hey.” Ember turned onto her side to take her in and run a finger along Eva’s hip bones.

  “Huh?”

  “Happy one-week anniversary.” Ember leaned down and kissed her. “I know it’s silly and you’ve had bigger anniversaries than-”

  “I have never had a bigger anniversary than this one, Ember Elliot. I love you.”

  “I love you too,” Ember replied.

  “Come here.” Eva opened her arms and Ember slid into her body, resting her head on Eva’s chest.

  It was Friday night. After a very long week and her first one back at the college, Eva had been exhausted. Ember worked late and as tempting as it was just to fall asleep and let Ember use the key under the mat again, Eva missed her and waited up for her instead. They’d spent about thirty seconds tearing each other’s clothes off and ended up in bed. Eva hadn’t commented on the fact that Ember had always worn that dog tag chain around her neck when they first met, but recently she hadn’t seen it. She’d wanted to bring it up but didn’t want to cause a problem since it would likely bring up thoughts of Ember’s father and their tempestuous relationship.

  “I love your body,” Ember told her and then lifted herself up, slid down on the side of Eva’s body, and kissed her hip. “Sometimes, I just have to touch it.”

  Eva closed her eyes as Ember’s lips continued to move across her stomach, paused at her belly button, and then moved to the other hip bone, which she kissed. She moved her mouth lower still to the inside of her thigh. All the while Eva felt Ember’s body begin to turn and she knew where she was heading.

  “Again?”

  “Mm,” Ember uttered and pressed her lips just above Eva’s center.

  “You’re… oh!” Eva felt a tongue slide from the top of her clit downward and then opened her eyes to see Ember’s ass was now right next to her face. She reached her hand out and cupped one cheek while Ember’s tongue continued its assault. “Yes,” she uttered and then slid her own hand down to Ember’s thigh and moved it inside.

  “What are you doing?” Ember asked between licks of Eva’s now swollen and still sensitive clit.

  “Nothing.” She breathed. “Keep going.”

  Eva’s hand moved to Ember’s center.

  “Eva!” Ember yelled out just as two fingers plunged into her from behind.

  “What?” Eva teased.

  “Jesus!”

  Eva became unfocused as Ember moved against her, but she quieted her thoughts and slid her fingers in and out of Ember’s body while Ember’s mouth encircled her clit and sucked it hard. The faster Eva moved, the harder Ember sucked, and when Ember’s hips began moving forward and back in time with Eva’s thrusts, her lips on Eva moved up and down. She sucked harder until Eva came in her mouth and Ember’s hips took control of her own orgasm. She rocked back and forth on all fours while Eva came down. Once Eva realized that she was almost there, she gripped Ember’s hip with her free hand, sat up a little more and thrust harder and faster until Ember came and fell face first onto the bed.

  “Happy anniversary.” Eva patted Ember’s toned ass and heard her mumble something she couldn’t quite make out. She moved to slide on top of her and kissed her back on the way there. “What was that?” She kissed the back of Ember’s shoulder and then dragged her tongue to Ember’s ear.

  “You think you’re real funny right now, don’t you?”

  Eva laughed and kissed her way back down her spine until she climbed off and half sat up against her headboard.

  “Come up here,” she ordered after Ember remained sprawled out in the wrong direction.

  A minute later, Ember finally lifted herself up. Instead of moving beside Eva, she spread Eva’s legs and then sat herself between them. Eva wrapped her arms around Ember’s middle and Ember lay her head against Eva’s shoulder.

  “I was thinking we’d go to sleep, babe.”

  “We can do that.” Ember went to move, but Eva held her in place.

  “In a minute.”

  She looked to see that Ember was smiling with her eyes closed.

  “How did Tulane take the news? I meant to ask when I got here, but I got distracted because you were dressed in your underwear again.”

  “They were disappointed, I think, but they understood. North Dakota was more upset. I get it. I made them wait until the last minute and then turned them down.”

  “So, St. Mary’s as of right now?” Ember’s voice softened.

  “Listen, I was thinking about something today,” she started. “I’m wondering if you can have an open mind about something with me.”

  “And this has to do with your future job and not our sex life?” Eva tweaked her nipple in response. “Hey!” Ember exclaimed and laughed.

  “St. Mary’s is about ten minutes from Notre Dame.”

  “Okay…” Ember pulled herself up and turned around to face Eva.

  “You quit the restaurant. You don’t have anything else lined up yet. I was thinking that maybe if I take the job there, you’d consider attending Notre Dame.”

  “Attending?” Ember asked.

  Eva sat up entirely and leaned forward. She saw Ember’s eyes flicker to her body, and because she wanted this to be a serious conversation between the two of them, she pulled at the sheet and covered herself.

  “Not cool,” Ember said and frowned.

  Eva beckoned for her to join her under the sheet, which she did, and they faced one another, holding their heads up on their hands.

  “You are incredibly brilliant, woman I love.” Eva ran her hand over Ember’s cheek. “And you and I both know you’re supposed to do something with that. For the career you want, you have to get a degree.”

  “I can’t stand that for four years.”

  “Most universities will allow someone like you to build your own program. I looked into it and Notre Dame is one of them. Now, I’m not saying I’m taking the St. Mary’s job yet, and I don’t want you to do this for me. It can be any school you feel is right for you. We’d figure out how to be together, but I think you should find a school and go, babe.” She paused. “There are scholarships and grants, especially for people in the sciences and people like you. You-”

  “You think I haven’t gone to school because of the money?” Ember asked.

  “No, I thought it would help to know that funding is available.”

  “Oh, I see. Go on.” Ember seemed to be holding something back, but Eva continued.

  “You can write it all up on your wall if you need to, so you can make the right decision, but I think you should research universities and maybe come up with a few you might consider. I can…” Her words trailed off at this part because this was early on in their relationship. “I can maybe consider schools in those areas too.”

  “And if I did agree to do this research and found somewhere here?”

  “I’m already considering here, obviously.”

  Ember leaned in and pressed her lips to Eva’s nose.

  “You’d really move somewhere and get a job there to be with me while I went to school?”

  “Well, not North Dakota, obviously.”

  “Obviously,” Ember replied with a smile.

  “But yeah, I would.” Eva placed her hand on Ember’s back. “I went to school, Em. I loved it. You never had that, and you are so special. You’re so special, babe, and you’ve hidden it for so long. I want you to know that you’re wanted out there and needed, with the things you can do. I can find somewhere to teach nearby if I’m lucky and if not, we’ll figure it out. I love you. We’d make it work.”

  “Will you have lunch with my mom?”

  “What?” Eva laughed out against Ember’s skin. She rolled Ember onto her back and rested herself against her chest. “Where did that come from?”

  “I had a good conversation with her yesterday. She wants to meet you. If we’re going to talk about all this future stuff, she’d really want to meet you, because she’s on me to figure o
ut my next steps and buy a house and-”

  “Buy a house?” Eva’s head shot up. “You manage a restaurant. How good are they paying you, babe?”

  Ember smiled and brought Eva’s lips to her lips for a sweet kiss.

  “I’m doing alright, but I think she’d like to meet you. I know I’d like you to meet her, if you’re okay with it.”

  “You met my whole family before we were even dating. I think I can meet your mom, but will you promise to look into the school thing?”

  “I promise.”

  “Good.”

  “I have to get up early tomorrow for the deliveries. I don’t want to wake you, but I was thinking about coming back and hanging out with you before I have to go in later.”

  “Sounds great, babe.” Eva’s eyes were beginning to close on their own.

  “Can I take your key with me, so I don’t have to wake you if you’re still sleeping when I get back?”

  “Just keep it,” Eva told her as she felt sleep begin to take her. “It’s my spare.”

  “Keep it for good?”

  “Yes, babe.” Eva wrapped her arm around her tighter. “Keep it for good and come here whenever you want.”

  “I like that.”

  “Me too.”

  “I love you.” Ember kissed Eva’s head.

  “I love you too. Good night.”

  “Good night,” Ember said, and Eva relaxed into her body and fell asleep, sated and happy.

  ◆◆◆

  Ember sat on her couch scrolling through her computer while Charlie stood in front of the chalkboard.

  “Okay. Next one,” she said after finishing what she’d written.

  “Well, all of the Ivy schools have programs that could work for me, so I think I have to include all of them in my analysis,” Ember said.

  “So, Harvard? Yale?”

  “Cornell, Dartmouth, Princeton, Brown, Columbia, and Penn,” Ember added.

  “Those are all east coast. You’re moving to the east coast?” Charlie scribed the names of the schools under Notre Dame, UC, Michigan, Purdue, and MIT.