Chapter 11
Mel often gathered her thoughts for the day in the shower. After her encounter with Willow this was especially the case. She turned the water on as hot as she could stand it and stood underneath the shower head. The world around her faded blissfully away. When she was finished she got dressed and found Brianna in the kitchen. Mase was outside running from one end of the yard to the other.
“You had a visitor while you were in the shower,” Brianna grinned.
“So early in the morning? Who was it?”
Brianna laughed and pointed to a stack of clothes on the kitchen table.
“Willow?” Mel asked. Her heart fluttered in her chest.
“Yes. But I don’t think she knew what to do when I opened the door. She seemed very thrown off,” Brianna said with her typical easy grin.
“Did you answer it in your pajamas?” Mel asked with a smirk. Brianna looked down as if noticing what she wore for the first time.
“Oh,” she laughed.
“Willow is probably trying to figure out if we’re really only friends or if you and I are together,” Mel chuckled.
“How could anyone think we’re together?”
“Well, we both prefer women and you’re at my house almost every day. It’s an easy assumption to make.”
“Hmm, you might be right about that.”
Mel was surprised when Brianna seemed to need a minute to ponder. Surely the realization must have occurred to her at some point. Mel smiled at her friend and gave her a pat on the shoulder.
“I wouldn’t worry about it. We know we’re best friends and that’s all that matters,” Mel encouraged.
“What are you going to do about Willow?” Brianna asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Aren’t you going to talk to her?”
“I’m sure we’ll see each other around,” Mel explained.
“Friend, come on.” Brianna shook her head.
“What?”
“It’s pretty clear you like Willow. So go over there and deliver her clothes to her. Then ask her out.”
“You really think I should ask her out?”
“I think it’s pretty clear that you like Willow. And let’s face it, you haven’t gone out on a date in a while.” Brianna tried softening her words with a smile.
“First of all, ouch,” Mel teased. She covered her chest with a hand and laughed.
“I don’t mean it offensively. I’m obviously not dating much either,” Brianna laughed.
“Fine. I will take Willow her clothes. But only because I’m being polite. And if we happen to talk about seeing each other again, then so be it.”
Mel grabbed Willow’s clothes from the previous night.
“Wish me luck,” Mel teased.
“Oh, look at you. You don’t need luck,” Brianna laughed.
Brianna plopped down on Mel’s couch and watched her leave. Mel felt a pang of nerves as she approached Willow’s door. She rang the doorbell and waited. Mel could hear Sushi barking inside, and was a little surprised when Willow didn’t appear. She gave one final knock on the door and heard movement inside.
“Coming,” Willow called as she pushed the door open.
Mel caught the moment when Willow’s eyes landed on her. There was a note of surprise and excitement on her face.
“You left before I could give you back your clothes,” Mel smiled. Willow rearranged her face. Willow smiled courteously but the excitement was gone.
“I was afraid maybe I had interrupted something.”
Mel caught the subtext. Willow was wondering if she’d interrupted something romantic between her and Brianna.
“Brianna is my best friend. She spent the night in my extra bedroom. But nothing romantic has ever happened between us,” Mel explained.
Mel wondered why she wanted Willow to believe her so badly. Was Willow’s opinion of her really that important? There was a momentary flash of a smile across Willow’s face.
“In that case, would you like to come inside for coffee?” Willow asked. Mel offered her a small smile.
“I would like that. I have a couple of hours before work.”
She followed Willow inside. Mel felt a pang when she looked down the hallway and remembered Willow’s bedroom. There was a pleasant soreness that still lingered between Mel’s thighs from the night before. Willow disappeared into the kitchen and brought back two cups of coffee.
“Thank you,” Mel said, taking one of the cups from Willow’s hand.
Willow directed her towards the couch. They sat in awkward silence that Mel wished she could escape. She was trying desperately to think of something she could say to fill the silence when Willow beat her to it.
“I think I accidentally hurt your feelings last night. When I suggested that sleeping with you didn’t have to mean anything.”
Mel was surprised that Willow was so ready to bring the subject of last night up. If Willow was ready to lean into the moment there was no reason why she couldn’t do the same.
“It didn’t feel great to hear that,” Mel admitted. Willow glanced away frowning. When she looked back Mel offered her a genuine smile.
“I’m sorry that I didn’t find a better way to say what I was thinking. I didn’t want you to think I was putting any pressure on you. I’m not holding you to any expectations. But if you’re up for it, I would love to go out on a date sometime,” Willow offered. The sunlight through the window caught Willow’s red hair and made it look even more vibrant.
“I would like that very much,” Mel admitted.
“Do you have any plans tonight?” Willow asked.
“As it happens, I’m free tonight.” Mel smiled.
“Could I come pick you up around seven?”
“Seven works for me,” Mel laughed.
“Then I’ll see you at seven,” Willow said. Mel watched as Willow tucked a strand of red hair behind her ear.
“I should get going. I’ll see you at seven.” Mel could feel her cheeks redden with a deep blush.
Mel handed the cup back to Willow. She walked towards the door, painfully aware of the possibilities she was leaving behind. But Mel wanted to go on a date. She wanted to be romanced. On top of that Brianna was definitely still waiting for her to give an update about what had happened.
Brianna practically leaped up from the couch when Mel came through the door. Her face was lit with anticipation. Mel watched as Brianna folded her hands in her lap, desperately trying to seem calm.
“Well, what happened? You were over there for a long time,” Brianna said. Her words fell out of her mouth so fast they jumbled together.
“We had a cup of coffee together,” Mel began.
“And?” Brianna asked.
“And… Willow asked me out on a date tonight,” Mel smiled.
“Look at you getting asked out on a date,” Brianna laughed.
“Let’s not make it sound like me getting out is so far-fetched,” Mel protested.
“I mean you spend all your time at home and work, and with me. So the chances of you getting asked out aren’t great,” Brianna teased. Mel hated that her friend made a good point.
“I run into new people all the time,” Mel said with a frown.
“I know. This time running into someone even got you a date,” Briann laughed.
“That was just rude,” Mel smirked.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. I am excited for you. Where are you guys going to go?”
“I don’t know. We didn’t really hash out logistics.”
“Such rebels,” Brianna grinned.
“I have a rebellious side.” Even saying the words felt wrong. There was nothing Mel liked more than some well laid rules.
Brianna hopped up from her spot on the couch and stretched her arms over her head. She gave Mel a huge hug as she walked towards the door.
“I should get to work. But let me know how everything goes tonight.” Brianna arched her eyebrows mischievously.
“I want all the details,” Brianna laughed. Before Mel could reply Brianna had disappeared through the closed door. Mel shook her head.
Mel plopped onto her couch. She had a date tonight, with Willow. So much had changed in the last twenty-four hours. It was enough to make Mel’s head spin. It was enough to cause her cheeks to flush bright red. She and Willow were actually going on a real date, Mel smiled to herself. Part of her still couldn’t believe her current reality.