Caitlin watched out the window as Michelle made it up the brick path to the brown front door.
“Michelle!” Caitlin shouted, louder than she had needed, and stepped out of the car.
Michelle turned around as Caitlin quickly walked up to where she stood with her key in the lock. “Did I forget something?”
“No, I did.” Caitlin closed the space between them and gently laid a soft kiss on Michelle’s lips. “Goodnight.”
Michelle’s mouth turned up into a smile as Caitlin headed to her car. When she looked back one last time before opening the door, Michelle gave a little wave and disappeared inside.
Fifteen minutes later, Caitlin arrived home. She toyed with her phone, deciding if it would seem too desperate for her to reach out to Michelle already. Not caring much for rules, she sent the text.
Caitlin:It was great meeting you tonight. I had fun and am looking forward to Saturday.
Within a minute, Michelle responded, reassuring Caitlin that she wasn’t the only eager one.
Michelle:It was great meeting you... again ;) Can't wait!
Caitlin went to sleep that night feeling lighter than she had in a while. She couldn’t remember ever having enjoyed someone’s company so much. Maddie had been right—it was time to get back out there and find a real connection with someone.
THE FOLLOWING TWO DAYS ATwork had dragged by, but finally, Saturday had arrived, and it was time for her date.
Caitlin stepped through the manicured front yard andpressed the doorbell of Michelle’s mid-century home. Its dark-wood Dutch door, framed by the white brick, like a postcard from another era. It was fitting that someone as charming as Michelle lived in such an inviting house.
Caitlin’s musings about the property vanished the moment Michelle opened the door.
“You look amazing,” Caitlin said, staring at Michelle. The woman leaned against the doorframe, wearing a smooth white tank top tucked into black leather shorts. A matching cropped leather jacket and six-inch strappy heels completed the ensemble.
“No, you…” Michelle didn’t finish the thought as her gaze trailed down Caitlin’s classic long blue dress. It dipped low on her chest, hugged her curves, and she knew that it made her eyes pop.
Caitlin handed Michelle the single red rose that she had been holding behind her back, eliciting a blush.
“Thank you, I love roses.” Michelle placed a soft kiss on Caitlin’s cheek. “Ready?”
Caitlin placed her hand against her midsection, gesturing for Michelle to take her arm. Caitlin escorted her date to the car waiting for them in the driveway.
Twenty-five minutes later, they had pulled up to the Sunset Tower Hotel and walked into the Tower Bar. The dining area was dimly lit, with a single candle placed in the center of each white tablecloth. The effect was an elegant yet discreet atmosphere.
The waitress approached with their drink order—Caitlin chose her typical scotch on the rocks with a twist, while Michelle opted for a glass of pinot noir. They placed their dinner request before the woman walked away, then clinked their glasses together in the warm glow of the flickering candle.
“Since you grew up in Pennsylvania, how do you like livingin LA now?” Michelle asked.
“It’s so different, but I like it here.” There were plenty of things that Caitlin loved about LA—the sunshine, the food scene, the beaches, the hiking, and the constant buzz of activity that came along with living in an entertainment-driven city. Still, the relentless traffic wore her down. And sometimes, she found herself longing for the quiet peace and ever-changing seasons of the East Coast.
“Do you think you’ll stay?”
Caitlin took a sip of her drink as she thought over the question. LA didn’t exactly feel like home, but she felt obligated to be here because of her career.
“I think it just depends on work, and if I were to meet someone who wanted to stay in California.”
“Like maybe a pretty brunette in The Valley?” Michelle’s lips turned into a flirting grin.
Caitlin smiled as their eyes connected.
“Do you ever go back to visit your family?”
“Not really. I used to for Christmas, but as I got older, I realized that I’m not obligated to be there just because we share DNA. I’m not close with my parents, and I don’t have any siblings.”
The rift had begun when Caitlin came out to her parents as bisexual. The distance had grown when she decided to move across the country only a few years later. These days, she only heard from her mom about once every six months. They hadn’t cut her out of their lives completely, but her parents had made sure that Caitlin always knew how disappointed they would be if she chose to marry a woman.
