Sarah wiped Lizzie’s face with the washcloth, gentle and thorough. “Better?”
“Yeah. Thank you.”
“You should brush your teeth. Change into pajamas. I’ll wait here.”
Lizzie made it to the bathroom and brushed her teeth three times. She changed into sleep shorts and a tank top, washed her face, stared at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes were too bright. Her cheeks flushed. She looked drunk and messy.
When she walked back into her room, Sarah was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking worried. She cared for Lizzie, it was clear now. Those soft touches in the car, that kiss at the party that had felt like more.
It had felt that way because it was.
It was.
It had to be.
Lizzie wasn’t sure what it was, the alcohol, the island spirit, or something else entirely, but whatever it was, it propelled her forward toward Sarah.
And then, she kissed her.
It wasn’t like the kiss at the party. This was deep and hungry, all the tension from the past week breaking. Lizzie’s hands found Sarah’s hair. Sarah’s hands gripped her hips, pulling her closer.
They stumbled backward onto the bed, Lizzie on top of Sarah. Sarah’s hands slid under Lizzie’s tank top, warm against her skin. Lizzie gasped into her mouth. Sarah took advantage, deepening the kiss, her tongue sliding against Lizzie’s.
This was everything. The taste of her, the feel of her body, the way she kissed like she was starving for it.
Sarah’s hands moved higher, thumbs brushing the underside of Lizzie’s breasts. Lizzie whimpered against her mouth.
Then Sarah pulled back, rolled Lizzie of off her and got up.
“We can’t.” Her voice was rough, breathless. “Lizzie, we can’t do this.”
“Why not?”
“Because you’re drunk. Because you’re my intern.” Sarah ran a hand through her hair. “Because I don’t do this. I never do this. It’s been years since I kissed a woman.”
So she had kissed a woman. This wasn’t the first time. Lizzie’s brain tried to process that through the alcohol. “Years?”
“Since before I married Billy.”
“So you’re bisexual?”
“No.” Sarah looked at her, something vulnerable in her expression. “I’m not bisexual. I’m gay. I’ve always been gay.”
The words hung in the air.
“Billy knew,” Sarah continued. “We had an arrangement. He needed a pretty woman on his side so people would stop trying to set him up with women after his wife died. He wasn’t opposed to an occasional hook up with a woman, but he didn’t’ want to date or marry. He… He loved his wife and…He knew I wasn’t into guys and so it was a perfect arrangement.”
Lizzie frowned, leading her to explain further. “Sarah—”
“You can’t tell anyone this.” Sarah’s voice was urgent. “Please. Jonathan’s lawyers would destroy me. The board would use it as ammunition. Nobody can know.”
“I won’t tell anyone.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.” Lizzie stepped closer. “But why did you tell me?”
