“I think you’ve skipped them. You can claim your full lesbian licence now.”
“Not strictly accurate, I think. Pansexual? Bisexual licence, maybe?” She nudges Kim. “Like you.”
“Like me, yes.” Kim drinks another mouthful of wine. The desire for a proper date, with dinner, is fading. What she wants now is to take Danika back to her house, and peel her silky top away from her body, kiss each exposed centimetre of skin, then start all over again when Danika’s bra goes the way of her blouse. It’s taken them so long to get to this point, through the mishmash of antagonism, past the spectre of the man who stood between them.
She shakes her head slightly to cut Chris loose from her mind. He does not belong with them, nor between them. His place now is only as the father of their children. Kim won’tdemonise him to Bella or Cami—indeed, he was a good father, a loving one—but for her and Danika, he’s history.
Although it’s still early, the Thai restaurant is busy. A large gathering for dinner, maybe. As Kim watches, two more couples enter.
“I hope we can get a table,” she says.
Danika turns to see. “There’s always takeaway.” She pulls out her phone and scrolls to the food order app. “Hmmm. Wait time for takeaway is forty minutes.”
Kim takes the last mouthful of wine and leans over the table. “We could order now and go for a stroll while we wait. Or try somewhere else. I’m easy.”
“Or we could just go home, forage in the cupboards. I’m sure I’ve got cheese, crackers, falafels.” Danika looks across the road again. “I wanted our date to be perfect. Our first actualdatedate, where we both know what’s happening, where we’ll end up.”
Kim’s heart swells. “It is already perfect. I’m here with you. Honestly, if we sat in the middle of the roundabout and drank water, it would still be perfect. As long as I’m with you.”
“The traffic fumes would probably kill us,” Danika says. “But yes, being with you is all I need for a wonderful date.”
“Let’s order Thai, and go for a walk while we wait,” Kim says. “Show me your neighbourhood.”
“It’s not as eclectic as yours,” Danika says. “It’s just suburban and green. Houses with yards. Some even have fences.” She passes across the app. “Pick what you want.”
Together, they order spring rolls, green curry tofu, and a veggie stir-fry, then leave the pub. Kim takes Danika’s hand as they stroll along the street. A mishmash of small shops jostle for space alongside the supermarkets and discount stores.
Danika pauses at a bakery that sells baked dog treats. “Cami has decided this is where she and her future dog will comeon Saturday mornings before soccer. At least her hobby horse doesn’t eat much.”
Kim laughs, grips Danika’s hand tighter. The bubble of joy expands in her chest so much she can hardly draw breath. This isreal. This is her and her girlfriend strolling along a street together, doing couple things, being openly affectionate. She presses a kiss to Danika’s cheek, just because she can.
They reach the end of the shopping strip, wander through a park, then return on the other side of the street.
The Thai restaurant is flat out when they go in, but their takeaway is ready, kept in an esky to stay warm.
Once home, Danika flicks on floor lamps in the living area, asks Alexa to play her mellow playlist, and finds bowls, hot sauce, forks, and napkins.
They sit on the same side of the bench to eat, interspersing the food with kisses, with caresses, with sips of the wine Kim brought. Neither of them can finish it.
They stack the dishwasher together, then Danika puts the leftovers in containers. Such banal domesticity is fresh and new, because it’s Danika she’s sharing chores with. And even something this simple is overlaid with the anticipation of later. Of soon.
Kim watches Danika’s hands as she puts the food in the fridge. Short nails, buffed, not varnished. With a jolt, she realises Danika has removed her wedding ring. There’s a thin strip of paler skin where it used to sit. When did she do that?
Her gaze travels up over Danika’s loose shirt to the curve of her neck. Pale skin there, hardly touched by the sun. Danika is ferocious with the sunblock, so that’s no wonder.
Kim closes the dishwasher and looks up to see Danika bending over to place the last container of food in the fridge. Her bottom encased in snug jeans beckons, and she stands behindher, running her hands from Danika’s waist to her bottom and back.
“I may stand here all night if you keep doing that.” The hum of the fridge muffles her words.
Kim continues, and strokes lower until her fingers are reaching around, stroking over the seam at the crotch of Danika’s jeans. Danika shudders.
The fridge beeps. She stands, slams the door of the fridge and turns into Kim’s arms, looping her own around Kim’s neck. “I think it’s time for bed.”
“It’s not even nine o’clock.” Kim nuzzles her neck.
“That’s bedtime if you’re nine years old. Or horny as hell. Take your pick.”
Kim’s been in Danika’s bedroom before, but not with this intention. The room has changed little since the last time, but the doona cover is now ash pink, a modern pattern that looks good. It’s turned down invitingly, showing the fold marks still on the sheets.
