“You’re not going to give up, are you?”
“Nope.” Lindsey took one of the cookies out of the paper bag on the table, broke it, and gave half to Riley. “So you might as well tell me.”
Riley chuckled, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. “I’m seeing her tomorrow,” she said, her libido firing at the prospect. Yesterday had dragged by, and this morning was no better, even though she’d been busy grooming herself and getting groceries.
“Where?”
“My place. I’m cooking for her. Anything else you’d like to know? What color lingerie I’ll be wearing?”
Lindsey grinned. “Feel free to tell me.” She stared at Riley while she dipped her cookie into her coffee and sucked on it. “You’ve never been with a woman before, right?”
“No. Never.”
“So why Quinn? I mean, she’s my best friend and I love her dearly, so I can see why you like her, but it must be strange to have dated men all your life and then suddenly realize you’re attracted to a woman.” Lindsey’s expression turned serious. “How did that happen and how do you feel about it?”
“I have no idea how it happened. It just did. It’s unexpected, but it’s also…” She hesitated, searching for words. She wasn’t used to talking to a friend, or even having a friend, and she’d never opened up to her sister either, but deep down, she did want to talk about it, and even though Lindsey was nosey as hell, Riley liked her very much, and she trusted her. “I don’t know. Better late than never, I suppose. I’m as surprised as you are, but it feels right. Like I was meant to meet her.”
“Wow. So you’re not just experimenting.”
“Is that what you thought?”
Lindsey tilted her head from side to side. “I wasn’t sure what to think, to be honest with you. Quinn is popular with straight women. She seems to have a way with them, and I thought you might have fallen for her charms just like all the other curious ladies looking for a one-night stand. Nothing wrong with that, of course,” she added. “You’re both adults.”
“No, it’s not curiosity.” Riley sipped her coffee. “At least, Iwascurious, I won’t deny that, but this has been …” She paused. “It’s been building for a few weeks. Looking back, I could feel there was something all along. I just didn’t understand it, and maybe I was afraid or in denial.”
“And now?”
Riley met Lindsey’s eyes and smiled. “I’m scared, but I’m not scared of my feelings. I’m scared that it won’t work out,” she said honestly, her thoughts falling into place as she voiced them out loud. “And I’m not confused. If anything, it all makes sense now. My lack of interest in men, my failed marriage, my uninspiring dating history…”
Lindsey returned her smile and nodded. “Then I hope it works out, for both of you.”
“Thank you. So I’m not getting the ‘you better be good to my best friend’ speech?”
“No, Quinn’s a big girl. She can take care of herself,” Lindsey said. “And besides, we’re friends too now, right?”
“Yeah.” Riley felt a lump form in her throat. Friendship was a beautiful new concept to her, having people she could talk to, people who really listened and even cared about her feelings. Why had she been so solitary? So anonymous? “And as we’re friends and you’re sharing your cookies with me,” she continued with a smirk, “would you like to come over for dinner next week? It’s getting warmer, and I’ve just ordered an outdoor dining table.”
“Yes!” Lindsey clapped her hands together. “Count me in. I’ll bring dessert.” She got up and left some money on the table. “I have to get back to work. I’ll see you soon.”
44
QUINN
“Come in.” Riley stepped back into the hallway. “What do you think?” Riley looked nervous as she waited for Quinn’s reply. “If you’d prefer to keep everything in the basement, I can put it back. I just thought that until you decide what to do with the furniture, it would be better off polished and on display, right? It’s a shame having them down there covered in dust when they look so perfect here. If you want, you could even have it valued and I’ll buy it off you.”
Quinn’s lips parted as she glanced over the hallway. The furniture was back in its place like it had never left, and for a beat, it felt like home again. Like her grandfather would descend from the staircase any moment accompanied by the rhythmic click of his walking stick. “It’s perfect,” she whispered. “How did you know where to put everything?”
“I remembered what it used to look like from the pictures you showed me.” Riley opened the door to the living room. “It’s slightly different in here without the carpet and the wallpaper, but it still works, right? The rugs were a bit moldy, but I managed to get them back to a reasonable state with a carpet steamer. I’ll buy new ones, but for now, it makes the space sound less hollow.”
Quinn was too baffled to get a word out. Riley’s modern, white corner sofa was covered in throws and pillows, and her glass coffee table had been replaced by Quinn’s grandparents’ antique chest. The long, Chinese sideboard was placed along the side wall, topped with the collection of vases that were now filled with white lilies. Riley had brought up the dining table and chairs too, and on the table was a brocade runner and two silver candelabras with white candles she’d never seen before.
“I bought some antique decorative pieces online to spruce it up. Is it weird for you? Or uncomfortable? As I said, I can put everything back.”
“A little weird, yes, but it’s not uncomfortable. How did you manage all of this?”
“Gareth came in to help me this morning. I employed a cleaner too. She’s been polishing for hours.”
“It looks beautiful,” Quinn said as she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around Riley’s waist. She’d been wanting to do that since last time they parted. “Absolutely beautiful. Please leave it here for as long as you want. I’m not ready to say goodbye to it, so you might as well enjoy it.”
