After she left, Kaelee started to make her round of goodbyes. Only one person remarked on her book deal, so Kaelee was fairly sure most of them hadn’t seen the newsletter yet.
“Did you just turn that woman down?” Cherie gave Kaelee a look that she usually reserved for criminally bad fashion choices.
“Don’t overthink it.”
Cherie swirled her drink and stared at Kaelee. “You sick?”
“No.”
“You don’t have a thing forme, do you?” Cherie’s expression was taunting, and her gesture at her voluptuous self was one Kaelee dutifully followed with her gaze. She was a gorgeous woman. Generous curves. Confidence. There was nothing at all unappealing about her. Cherie said, “You know, I might be curious, but you’re too… not my taste, so there’s no reason to turn down”—she waved toward the exit—“her.”
“I am not even going to try to unpack that.” Kaelee paused. “If you need to talk about that curiosity, I’ll listen, but I don’t crawl into bed with bi-curious friends.”
“Ouch. And also, glad to hear you are actually admitting we’re friends.” Cherie’s gaze traveled over the bar. “I heard that word, you realize. You called me a friend. Now you’re stuck with me.”
“Oh no. How horrible.” Kaelee rolled her eyes. “Fine. Yes, I hereby acknowledge that we are friends.”
“Good.” Cherie tapped her fingernails on the glass as she watched Kaelee. “Did youmeet someone?”
“Not really.”
“Oh my goodness! You did!” Cherie leaned in. “Tell me everything.”
“Just a woman I connected with through the app.” Kaelee tried to change the subject. “Casual. Not like it was anything.”
“Uh-huh.” Cherie put her empty glass on the bar. “You don’t look like it was nothing.”
“It is. I got the taste of her, and it’s clouding things.”
Cherie gestured. “Walk with me. My car is across the street.” Asthey made their way through the crowd, she added, “So do I take that as aliteraltaste? Or is this metaphorical taste?”
Kaelee laughed. “Are you asking out of your own curiosity or…?”
“Both maybe?” Cherie looked a little sheepish. “I don’t think I could dothatwith a stranger. You always say it so casually, though. Like you just met her and you…” She gestured toward the floor.
“Went down on her?”
Cherie nodded.
“Do you go down on men the day you meet them?” Kaelee asked.
“No, but—”
“No different, Cher.” Kaelee opened the door for her. “There’s not, like, a lesbian rule book. I’ve known who I am and what I like for a long time. When I first came out, I wasn’t all about the pussy as soon as I met someone, but I met Marie through an app designed to let me get laid and get gone afterwards.”
“Oh.”
Thinking nothing of it, Kaelee put her hand on the small of Cherie’s back as they crossed the street. They were always touchy-feely. It was no different to Kaelee from steadying a stranger. Cherie had had a drink or two, and they were friends.
“You do that all the time. You’re, like, a gentleman,” Cherie blurted. “I like it. You’re more chivalrous than any of the guys I’ve dated. I want that.”
“So date a different type of guy.”
“I don’t want to lately. I want someone who gets me. Someone like you.” Cherie folded her arms. “Notyou,though. Sometimes, I just want a woman to actuallydate.Preferably one with arms like yours. All those hours at the gym. Maybe that’s the answer. Go to your gym.”
“Okay. Is there a question in there? And can you find it for me?”
Cherie leaned against her car. “I should get a rideshare. I think I’m tipsy.”
