Chapter 7
Mel stared intently out her car window. Not that she could see more than ten feet in front of her car. Florida rain was a great balance to the Florida sun, and today it was coming down in buckets. Beside her, Willow sat with her arms crossed trying to keep warm. Mel glanced in the backseat and found her old flannel shirt. She grabbed it and handed the shirt to Willow. Willow looked at it confused for a moment.
“You’re cold. Put it on,” Mel demanded with a smile.
“Thanks,” Willow grinned and put the shirt on.
“Where are Sushi’s favorite places to go? Where do you take him on walks?” Mel asked. So far the drive through the neighborhood was turning up nothing.
Willow stared at her for a moment, her green eyes pondering her question.
“He really likes the beach,” Willow said.
“Then let’s try the beach,” Mel suggested.
Their subdivision had beach access so it was an easy drive. Willow gave a slight nod of her head, before staring out the window again. Mel couldn’t help feeling for Willow. She couldn’t imagine what a wreck she would be if Mase got out.
“Hey, we’re going to find him,” Mel said reassuringly. She patted Willow’s shoulder with her hand.
Willow glanced down at her hand and Mel pulled it away. She hadn’t meant to get so familiar with Willow. Willow was upset and Mel’s instinct was to comfort her. Still, she couldn’t help but feel the slight sting of electric charge from touching the woman.
“Thank you. You’re being very kind to me,” Willow smiled.
“See I’m not such a bad person,” Mel teased.
“I never said you were a bad person,” Willow protested.
They pulled up to the beach parking lot. The only way down to the beach was to get out of the car. Mel reached into the back and grabbed her umbrella. She pushed the bright pink umbrella open and headed for the wooden stairs that led down to the beach. Willow paused, the rain beating down on her. She looked like a drowned rat with her clothes clinging to her. Mel waved Willow over, inviting her under the umbrella. When Willow gave her a hesitant expression Mel gestured again more emphatically. This time Willow joined her under the umbrella.
They walked in silence. Mel scanned the beach in front of them hoping she would see a glimpse of Sushi. The rain was pouring around them. Willow pressed her body in tighter to Mel’s. Mel felt an electric wave buzzing through her at the contact. She forced herself to focus on the task at hand.
Mel looked towards the ocean and thought she saw a small figure near the waves. She bumped her shoulder into Willow and pointed. Willow followed the direction of her finger. At first the figure was hazy. As they stepped onto the sand and moved closer the figure came into view. There was Sushi running with the waves. As they approached and Mel could make out the dog’s face it was clear Sushi was having a great time.
Willow studied Sushi before shaking her head and breaking into a laugh. Mel startled at the sound. It occurred to her that this was the first time she’d ever heard Willow laugh. Willow’s laugh was a pleasant light and airy sound. Mel smiled and glanced over at Willow. Willow was soaked to the bone with rain, yet somehow still gorgeous. Willow bent down and called Sushi over. Sushi turned his head and happily ran in Willow’s direction. Sushi followed them back to the car.
“Thanks again for helping me. I really owe you one,” Willow said. She turned to walk down the sidewalk.
“Where are you going?” Mel asked, puzzled.
“Home,” Willow smiled.
“Don’t you want a ride?” Mel asked.
“I don’t want us to get your car wet.”
“Willow, get in the car,” Mel directed with a laugh. Willow’s face turned into a frown.
“Please,” Mel offered with a softer tone. Willow sighed, but she opened the back door for Sushi. Willow sat up front with Mel.
“Aren’t you afraid your car will smell like dog,” Willow argued.
“My car already smells like Mase. It’s not a big deal.” Mel laughed.
“Thanks,” Willow smiled. Mel noted that her teeth were flawless.
Sushi lay sprawled out on Mel’s backseat and fell asleep quickly. Mel smiled at the sight in her rearview mirror. She pulled up to the sidewalk in front of Willow’s home.
“Here we are,” Mel announced.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Willow said.
“You already have,” Mel smiled.
“No, I mean. Why don’t you come inside for dinner?” Willow offered.
Mel felt torn by the offer. She weighed both sides carefully before responding.
“You want me to come inside for dinner?” Mel asked.
“Of course. I wouldn’t have asked if that’s not what I wanted.”
“But why?”
“Mel, don’t overthink it. Just come in the house,” Willow directed. Mel gave a small chuckle.
“Okay. But only if you let me help cook,” Mel smiled.
“I think I can abide by those terms,” Willow laughed.
Mel followed Sushi and Willow inside. In the air conditioning of Willow’s home Mel felt cold for the first time. She wrapped her arms around herself. Willow noticed the move almost immediately.
“Here. Let me get you some dry clothes,” Willow offered.
She disappeared down the hallway. When Willow came back she was carrying sweat pants and a hoodie.
“Just put your wet clothes in the dryer. It’s in the closet beside the bathroom,” Willow directed.
Willow directed Mel to the bathroom down the hallway. Mel disappeared, clothes in hand. She turned on the light in the bathroom and looked around. Pale blue walls with soft white towels and artisan hand soap greeted her eyes. There was something strangely intimate about being in Willow’s home. How had they gone from yelling at each other to Mel wearing Willow’s sweatpants over the course of the day? Life could be a funny series of events. Mel undressed and slid into the comfortable warm clothes. Mel noted that she and Willow were practically the same size. She put her wet clothes in the dryer on her way back down the hall and started it.
Willow was in the kitchen. She had changed clothes as well. Willow wore black yoga pants and a white t-shirt, neither of which left much to the imagination. Mel swallowed hard. Willow turned and gave her a wide smile.
“Oh, there you are,” Willow said simply. The statement made Mel feel strangely at home. As if there was nowhere else she should have been other than in Willow’s kitchen.
“What are we making tonight?” Mel asked with a smile.
“Well, I have the supplies needed to make spaghetti. Is that okay with you?” Willow asked.
“More than okay. I love spaghetti.”
“That’s wonderful news. The water is already boiling so why don’t you put the pasta in,” Willow directed.
Mel worked around the kitchen. Occasionally, she and Willow would bump into one another. Working in a cafe meant that Mel was adept at navigating tight kitchen spaces with multiple humans. Mel checked the noodles and found that they were done. She moved them to an eye of the stove that wasn’t turned on. Willow was finished with the sauce and handled it similarly.
“I guess that takes care of that,” Willow smiled. Mel could swear there was a fondness in her tone that hadn’t been there before.
Mel smiled at Willow. There was something about the adventure of finding Sushi that had endeared them to each other. Willow opened the cabinets above the stove and reached high to pull down a couple plates. Mel watched and appreciated the stretch of fabric tight across Willow’s chest. Willow caught her looking and blushed. Mel looked away guilty at having been caught in the act of checking Willow out. Her previous beliefs that Willow was cold and frigid seemed farther away by the second. Mel carried her plate over to the table and set it down. When she turned she was surprised to find Willow’s eyes were scanning her body. She supposed turnabout was fair play.
There was a thrumming ache forming between Mel’s thighs. Mel was determined not to listen to her body on this one. After all she and Willow had only barely moved from tolerating each other to liking one another. Now wasn’t the time to throw sex into the mix. Mel turned back to the table. She was about to sit down when she heard Willow’s voice behind her.
“Do you want a glass of wine?” Willow asked. Mel turned to see what she was offering and bumped hard into Willow.
Willow held an already poured glass of wine and Mel watched as the liquid sloshed in the glass. On instinct Mel reached out and cupped both of her hands around the glass keeping it steady. Not a drop spilled out.
“We really are pretty clumsy together aren’t we?” Mel teased. She took the glass from Willow and set it on the table. As she turned back around she was surprised to find Willow closer to her than before.
“Yes, we are,” Willow rasped the words out.
Willow’s hand rose to brush a strand of auburn hair out of Mel’s face, tucking it behind her ear. Together they moved forward. Two magnets drawn together by forces outside of their control. Their lips met in the middle. Willow’s lips were softer and more welcoming than had expected. Mel felt a jolt of electric current run through her body as she gave herself wholly over to Willow’s kiss.