“You know I would have picked some up on the way.”
“I do. But then you wouldn’t have been early and we couldn’t have hung out and talked about how it’s so obvious that Tim has a thing for Mary.”
“Ohmygosh, isn’t it?”
It was such a gift that she and her best friend worked in the same office, where they worked in fundraising for a private school. It had been Clem who had given Lily the tip about an opening two years before, and she was forever grateful that her boss had seen how qualified Lily was for the position. Clem wasn’t a person who could call strangers and ask for money, but Lily sure was. Her presence made the office dynamics more bearable for Clem.
They took ten minutes to gossip about about how Tim and Mary just needed to admit their feelings and get on with it already. “I mean, if you have someone you feel that connected to, you need to grab with both hands and not let go,” Clem declared.
“Speaking of which …” Lily’s voice took on a tone that set Clem immediately on edge.
“…Yes…?”
“Well, there’s that new girl in admissions.” At the look on Clem’s face Lily put her hands out and rushed to continue. “No, listen! I was talking with her at lunch yesterday and she causally dropped that she and her girlfriend had broken up a few months ago and I just thought —”
The doorbell rang, cutting her off and interrupting the chance for Clem to reply.
The door opened, and a woman with red hair thrown into a messy bun entered. She had on a lime green Christmas sweater and jeans with heels, and victoriously held up a bottle of wine as she entered. “Damn, Clem, I always forget about those stairs,” she huffed. “But I am still upright and I didn’t drop the wine!”
“Very grateful on both counts, Darcy,” Clem chuckled. She went to take the wine and hug her friend hello.
Darcy McCoy threw two peace signs up and cheesed in a wide grin, then raised an eyebrow. “So, what conversation did I just step into?”
Before either Clem or Lily could respond, the door opened again, revealing Vanessa Clemons and Jules Hartman, the last two of the group.
“Whoa,” Jules said when the door bumped into her. “We’re all in the same four square feet. I love being so close to everyone.”
It was an exaggeration, but only slightly. Clem stepped back to allow everyone else into the apartment. “I’m happy you guys are here.” She held Darcy’s wine aloft. “Darce brought some wine, so we can get going with this.”
Vanessa and Jules looked at each other in faux concern, then each held a wine bottle in the air. “We brought wine, too.”
They all laughed, and Clem gestured that they should follow her. She picked the bottle opener off the counter and passed it around. “Might as well open them all now. That way everyone can have their preference.”
“Now,” Darcy said after pouring herself a glass of wine. “You were about to tell me what conversation I stepped into when I got here.” She pointed between Clem and Lily with her wine glass.
“Were we?” Clem’s voice was innocent. “I don’t remember that.” She sat at the table and opened one of the Christmas cookie books there.
“Oooh.” Vanessa sat and opened another book, but her interest was piqued. “Do tell.”
“There’s nothing to tell,” Clem insisted.
“Might as well give in, Clem.” Jules plopped into a chair beside Vanessa and threw an arm across her shoulders. “She’s like a dog with a bone, this one.” Jules dropped a kiss just beneath Vanessa’s ear, then shot Clem a pitying look before sliding the book from in front of Vanessa to in front of her. Clem took a moment to appreciate how much Jules was glowing. It seems Vanessa had been the perfect nurse after her gender affirming surgery. With all that time together, the two had flowed from roommates to dating with an ease that felt like a sigh, like pieces finally settling into their place.
“I second Jules.” Lily picked her favorite recipe book off the table and opened it to a well worn page. She didn’t actually need the recipe, since she had made these peppermint bark cookies too many times to count, but that didn’t mean she didn’t like the safety net of having it near. Lily turned to face the rest of the group. “I was just telling Clem that the new girl in the admissions department is singleandmentioned having had a girlfriend.”
“Okay,” Darcy said, her voice warming in approval. “This could be fun for you.”
Clem covered her face with her hand. “You guys.” She dropped her hand and fixed Lily and Darcy with a look. “Okay. It has been a while since Perry…decided she wanted to be withsomeone else.” Her friends grimaced at the mention of her ex-girlfriend. “And you guys know I am not interested in dating men right now. I appreciate you looking out for me. But doesn’t mean that I will automatically mesh with someone just because she is also queer.”
“Of course not,” Vanessa acknowledged. She flipped through a few more pages, then tapped the recipe she wanted before looking back up at Clem. “No one is trying to say that’s the case. But not giving someone a chance just because you think that it might not work isn’t the way, either.”
“I hear what you’re saying.” Clem’s voice trailed off as her attentions as caught by a cardamom and orange sugar cookie recipe. “Ooh, this looks tasty.” She went into the kitchen and started gathering up ingredients. When she looked up, four pairs of eyes were staring at her. It snapped her back to the topic at hand. “Right. Like I said, I hear what you’re saying, but I’ve sat next to her at lunch a few times and I just don’t think we mesh.” Clem thought about the attempts she’d made at conversation with the woman and wrinkled her nose. “Like, at all.”
Lily handed her the Secret Ingredient canister. “Okay, that’s valid. But what are you looking for?”
Standing hip to hip with Lily in the tiny kitchen, Clem dipped a quarter cup scoop into the sugar and considered. “I want someone I feel passionate with — and about. I want to be attracted to her and also able to just sit and talk and be my true self around her. You know, someone safe and honest.” As a joke, she held the full scoop in front of her chest and closed her eyes to make a wish. “May the universe please send me an exciting, sexy lady who is trustworthy and fun to talk to.” She opened her eyes and grinned wolfishly. “And who also likes to fuuuuck.”
Lily barked out a laugh, then took the measuring scoop from her. “While you’re at it, bring me a gentle man who makes me laugh.” She shot a glance at Clem. “And who also likes to fuck.”
