“I don’t know. The alcohol. The fact that you’re standing here and I’m tired of pretending.” Sarah moved toward the door. “I need to go.”
“Stay.”
“I can’t.” Sarah paused. “Get some sleep. Drink more water. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Then she was gone.
Lizzie sat there, her lips still tingling. Sarah was gay. Had always been gay.
Sarah wanted her.
And yet, she’d walked away.
Chapter 10
Sarah
On Sunday, Sarah found Carlos in the maintenance office, elbow-deep in a toolbox. His wife Esmeralda sat at his desk, reviewing the housekeeping schedule on her tablet. They both looked up when Sarah walked in and closed the door.
“We need to talk,” Sarah said.
Esmeralda set down the tablet. “That sounds ominous.”
“I kissed Lizzie last night.”
Carlos dropped the wrench he was holding. It clattered against the concrete floor. “You what?”
“Actually, she kissed me first. But I kissed her back. And then I told her I was gay.” Sarah leaned against the wall. “I told her about Billy. About the arrangement. Everything.”
Esmeralda and Carlos exchanged a look.
“Okay,” Esmeralda puckered her lips, then gave one nod of the head. “How drunk were you?”
“Drunk enough to forget why this was a terrible idea. Sober enough to remember every second of it.”
“Was she drunk?” Carlos asked.
“Very. Well, she threw up and that kinda sobered her up. The kissing happened afterwards.”
“Hopefully after a tooth brushing session,” Esmeralda chuckled.
“Yeah, of course. I’m just lucky she isn’t in shared housing.”
“Yes, that’s the problem,” Carlos commented with a laugh.
“It would have been if someone saw us,” Sarah fired back. “I’m such a moron.”
“Ay, Sarah.” Esmeralda shook her head, but she was smiling. “You’re human after all.”
“This isn’t funny. She’s my intern. Peter and his ilk want me out. If they find out I’m sleeping with an employee—”
“Are you sleeping with her?” Carlos interrupted.
“No. But I want to. That’s the problem.”
Esmeralda stood up and came over. “Look at me. When was the last time you wanted someone?”
Sarah thought about it. “I don’t know. I mean there were women I liked over the years and Billy didn’t care. I know he had the occasional one-night stand but this much? I haven’t wanted anyone this much in ages.”
