She laughed, rich and throaty. “It’s fine. I just came home, as a matter of fact.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. Spent the night at Tasha’s.”
“That answers my next question. So, things’re good with you and her?”
“Yeah. A little stressful at times, especially with her home life, but we make it work.”
“Cool.”
“Although…?” she began. “You remember that thing we talked about? How she occasionally wants a guy? Well, we talked about planning something, which is better than the shit Daphne used to pull.”
“How is she, by the way?”
“Daphne? Fine, last I heard. Planning her wedding.”
“So, banker guy popped the question?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay with that?” I asked.
“Are you a shrink?”
“No, I’m your friend. And I care about you.”
“Sometimes you make me feel two inches tall,” she muttered.
“It’s your fault. You’re the one who let me into your life.”
“Worst mistake I ever made.”
I smiled at the fondness in her voice.
“Am I okay with it?” she mused. “I don’t have much choice. I still love her, but…”
“You want her to be happy,” I finished.
“Yeah. She’s had such a fucked-up life, way worse than mine. She deserves to be happy, if anyone does.”
“We all deserve to be happy,” I said.
“I’m not so sure.”
“You’re happy, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am,” she said, as if it surprised her.
“Because you deserve it.”
“You’re always so fucking positive,” she laughed.
“It’s a character flaw.”
“Whatever. Let’s change the subject. I told Tasha I know someone. She wants to meet you first, though.”
“Good idea. Lemme talk to Christy.”
“Bring her with you.”
“No shit, Sherlock. Isn’t that the point? I fuck your girlfriend while you fuck mine?”
“At least I’m not trying to steal yours,” she shot back. “Unlike some people.”
“Hey, I never tried to steal Daphne.”
“Tried and failed.”
“Whatever,” I said. “I’ll talk to Christy. We’ll be out there in a month.”
“In San Francisco?”
“No, San Diego. Brooke’s graduating from UCSD.”
“She’s Christy’s other girlfriend, right?” She laughed. “How do you keep them straight?”
“It’s pretty easy, actually.”
“So, you’ll be out here in June…?”
“Yeah, maybe we can fly up and have dinner or something.”
“Maybe. We have to be careful, though. She can’t let her in-laws find out. San Francisco’s a big place, but they’re well-connected. They hear about everything.”
“You wanna meet us in San Diego?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. No rush. Besides, Max is talking about putting on a show of my work. And I have a bunch of new clients after the cologne thing.”
“Cologne thing?”
“I didn’t tell you? I shot an ad for Giorgio Beverly Hills.”
“Wow, congratulations!”
“Yeah, thanks. It was only print ads around the Bay Area, but still a big deal. They wanted someone ‘edgy and new.’” She snorted dismissively. “That usually means ‘inexperienced and cheap,’ but my style fits their campaign. Besides, Max knows the creative director for their ad agency. She’s sort of like my agent now.”
“Max?”
“Yeah. She takes her cut, but she’s getting me a lot of work. Tasha’s mother told people too. All these women know each other. It’s crazy. They’re a lesbian cabal. Some of ’em are even married. And not to losers. To rich and powerful men.” She laughed darkly. “The kind of guys who used to drop a couple’a grand in the clubs without batting an eye. Not mob guys, either. CEO-types. So these women know people who really know people.”
“Sounds like you’re doing well.”
“I am, but sometimes I wonder when I’m gonna get fucked.”
“Maybe never. You’re smart, talented, and hard-working.”
“I don’t know,” she wondered aloud. “It seems too good to be true. Anyway, let’s talk about you. I’m sure you didn’t call to hear about my life.”
“That’s exactly why I called. But yeah, I also wanna ask you about something.”
“Lemme guess, the little princess? Is she pregnant yet? Jesus, I sound like such a bitch! Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I chuckled. “But no, she isn’t pregnant. As a matter of fact…” I told her about Easter and Marianne’s announcement and the fallout since.
“No shit?” Sara said. “Her mom told her to get on the pill? And she just… did it?”
“Yep. She still feels guilty sometimes, but—”
“You still don’t understand.”
“What? Catholic guilt?”
“Yeah. They fuck you up.” She snorted in derision. “Birth control would be a fucking sacrament if men could get pregnant.”
“Preaching to the choir,” I reminded her.
“Yeah, I know. At least her mom’s rational about it.”
“She is.”
“I think I like this woman,” Sara said. “And no wonder I like Christy. I wish I’d had someone like that growing up. Maybe I’d’ve been more like her.”
“And maybe you’d’ve been a militant lesbian with a thriving career and a happy relationship.”
“Fuck you,” she laughed. “Besides, I’m not thriving yet—”
“You will be.”
“—and ‘happy’ can change in a flash.”
“It won’t.”
“Oh, and watch who you call militant,” she added. “I’m a mild-mannered girly-girl compared to some of the dykes around here.”
“Fair enough.”
“Anyway,” she continued, “we were talking about birth control. I’m glad Christy’s taking it. I know it makes your life easier.”
“Yeah, it does,” I said. “That’s good, because this other thing makes it more complicated.”
“What other thing?”
“Well… there’s a girl,” I said.
“Ha! That’s what you said last time, about Christy.”
“It’s a different girl this time.”
“No shit. Hold on, not a third girlfriend?”
“No,” I said, “but Christy still wants to sleep with her.”
“What’s the story?”
I told her how Christy and Lily had met, and most of what had happened since then.
“And now they want us to get together next weekend,” I finished. “It was Lily’s idea, but Christy probably planted the seed. That’s how she works.”
“What do they want to do?”
“Rent a cabin in Gatlinburg. For Memorial Day weekend.”
“Do you have time? I thought Christy was working on her final project. And she has her portfolio review, right?”
“She’s been killing herself to get it done early. That’s how much she wants to go.”
“Is it a romantic getaway?”
“More like a party than a getaway,” I said. “But still… two couples? In a cozy little cabin?”
“Been there, done that,” Sara said. “Mostly against my will, though. Men are such assholes.”
“Well, I’m not one of them,” I snapped.
“Yeah, no, sorry.” She returned to the original question. “So, this party? Is it your kind, a swinger party?”
“Not explicitly,” I said, “but I think that’s what Christy’s hoping for. Who knows about Lily. She just wants to have a good time.”
“You think she might be into that, though?” Sara asked. “The swinger thing?”
“I think so, yeah. Maybe not a full-blown orgy, but two couples getting naked in a hot tub and fooling around? Sure, it’s possible.”
“What about her boyfriend, this Will guy?”
“He’s nice enough,” I said. “He’s still a Baptist preacher’s son, though. Not exactly the swinger type.”
“Maybe it isn’t that kind of weekend. Then what’s the problem?”
“Well, part of it is that Will’s nineteen too. He can’t afford it. Not even half. Christy said we’d pay for it. But what she really means is I’ll pay for it. Her father’d kill her if she wrote a check for a weekend getaway.”