Chapter 33
“I would know if I needed self-defense classes, and I don’t need self-defense classes.
” Rebel grumbled as she made sure her breasts were as perky as possible in the bright yellow and black sports bra.
It was the only top she was wearing, and she was pretending it was an actual shirt and acceptable to wear in public.
Not to mention the matching shorts that were so tight Court could see the outline of her panties.
Ellis was silent, and that should worry Court even more than Rebel’s complaints.
Ellis was usually far more talkative than she was tonight.
Last night, when she had sent out the text, Rebel had said no, and Ellis had agreed just as fast. One she had expected, the other had her wondering if something was up.
Ellis wasn’t one for exercise and had never once said anything about self-defense.
Court hoped it wasn’t that she was ending it with her latest love interest, but was sure it was imploding.
Men were usually interested in Ellis for about three dates.
That was the sex one, and most men never got to see her naked.
There was always some flaw she couldn’t look past before that special moment. And her latest was getting there.
Signing them all up for the free class today had meant three new members for Stephanie’s gym.
If only for the month that they paid for.
Not that Court thought that any of them would go to the gym often.
Well, not the sisters. Stephanie was at the gym, so Court would be there. Not enjoy it, but there.
It had been four days since Stephanie had shown up at the Ellis house for brunch, four days and they had yet to spend the night alone.
It was the first time Court had spent more than two consecutive nights with the same woman.
The woman she was sure she’d be going home with tonight again.
They were spending all their time at Courts since Stephanie’s place was small, tiny.
And luckily farther from the gym and Court’s office, so it was just easier to stay at Court’s.
So far, their dating had gone smoothly. If Court could change anything, it was that Stephanie worked too much. But she also knew that’s how it was. If Stephanie and Jordan wanted to make the gym successful, they had to put in the time. It didn’t matter that Court wanted more time with Stephanie.
Of course, it was smooth because they hadn’t gotten into the fact that Stephanie’s parents would never accept Court into their family.
That Court was the last person they wanted for their daughter.
That anyone else would do. The last thing she wanted to get between a woman and her family.
But she was having feelings for Stephanie, feelings she couldn’t stop and really didn't want to.
“We need to support Court’s friend, Rebel.
” Ellis broke her silence as she put her black hair up in a ponytail.
This evening she was in a heather gray outfit of yoga pants and a loose tank that Court knew cost more than both her and Rebel’s outfits put together.
If Ellis was known for anything, it was that she was put together.
“Her name’s Stephanie.” Court reminded her friend, though she knew Ellis knew that already.
“Whatever. It’s not going to last, so why remember the details?” Ellis waved her off. “Why again do we have to be here?”
“Stephanie and Jordan need bodies for the self-defense class or the instructor is going to quit. And since you two are my best friends, you were happy to help them out.”
“Let them quit. Why force people to go to the classes? This is why I’m happy I’m not your business partner. I can tell you don’t have a head for business.” Ellis gave herself one last look in the full-length mirror.
“Because this woman’s a cop and great at teaching this stuff, they just can’t get new students interested in the classes.” Court shut her locker and tried to remind herself she was excited about this. Not that she was doing this only to make Stephanie happy.
“Because it’s self-defense.” Rebel slammed her own locker shut.
“I don’t know exactly.” Court admitted and smiled at her friend. “Just one night, please.”
“Okay, but you owe us a night out, then. And not because Ellis bet me she could kiss a woman.” Rebel said as they walked out of the locker room and Court led them to the room the class was taking place in.
“I’m not single, and besides, the bet was to pick up a woman. Not kissing one.” Ellis said quietly, probably hoping nobody would hear them. And it seemed since there were only five people in the room, nobody probably was.
“How do I know that it’s working if there’s no kiss?” Rebel made a kissing sound.
“You know I'm going to win, Rebel. But right now, I'm dating an amazing man, and I’m not cheating on him. He has an accent.” Ellis tossed a towel on the floor as if she was going to work out enough to need a towel.
“But the legs.” Court reminded her.
“And an amazing body.” Ellis told them.
“Who can see it for the bowed legs?” Rebel said, even if her eyes were on the front of the room and the woman who was going to teach the class.
Her attention was taken so fast, Court had to look at the front of the room. Stephanie had said that Micah was a cop, and she really had the look. Though she wasn’t Court’s type or even Rebel’s, it seemed that Rebel had forgotten that tonight.
Within minutes, the class had started, and the two other women in the class seemed to be just as interested in self-defense as the three friends were. Not at all.
Micah was trying to get her students motivated, but there was no way that was going to happen.
Then, during a basic move that should have been easy, but since Court didn’t exercise all that often was the most difficult thing, she fell over.
Which caused both the Ellis sisters to start giggling.
Which they tried to suppress, but that wasn’t happening.
And the three kept giggling for the next forty minutes until it was finally over.
Court knew that Stephanie had wanted them to try, but trying was hard and just getting by was so easy.
She had only done this class for Stephanie, not because she was interested.
Which wasn’t usually her way. There were only a select few people's Court would do favors for, only she had done one for Stephanie without any thought of saying no. And she should have said no.
At the end of class, Micah had no parting words for her students, just grabbed her towel and walked out of the room. Away from everyone there. She probably never wanted to see them again.
“Are you hot for teacher, Rebel?” Ellis giggled as she dabbed at her not sweaty forehead with her towel.
“Not my type, Ellis. With too many muscles and abs and…” Rebel stared at the door Micah had walked out of. “Short, she’s short.”
“And Asian.” Court huffed and sat down. “I don’t think you have ever gone out with an Asian woman. Do you date Asian men, Ellis?”
“I would, but there are so few that are the correct size.” Ellis didn’t even pretend she wasn’t picky about who she dated.
“How about we go out for drinks tonight?” Rebel said from the floor.
“I’m in. Greg and I are between dates two and three.”
Court grabbed her towel and whipped her own forehead with it. “I thought you were on three already.”
“No, just two. There was one that didn’t count because it was too close to the first one.” She held up two fingers.
“How long is that waiting period?” Rebel
“Seven days.” Court and Ellis answered at the same time, because even if Court knew that Ellis’s dating timetable was ridiculous, she still knew the rules. They were strict and archaic and followed to the letter by her best friend. Then again, she had made each and every one of them up years ago.
“You are so lame, Ellis,” Rebel said to her sister, “but you are free to go out.”
“I’ll have to talk to Stephanie,” Court said, and both sisters turned to look at her as if she had started speaking in tongues. “What?”
“Can’t get away from your girlfriend, Court? Does she tell you what you can do?” Rebel teased her.
“No, I just want to talk to her before making plans.” Court realized she had never said those words before.
Rebel stopped walking and turned on her. “Which just means one thing, you are in love with this girl. Madly in love with her.”
“She's not.” Ellis stated for her.
“I’m not.” Court argued and realized that Ellis had said the same thing.
But were they both in denial? Because this week was the first week in years that she hadn’t gone out at least once.
Even when they were stressed at work or she was sick, she still managed to go to the club one or two nights a week.
Since meeting up with Stephanie again, she hadn’t even thought about it.
She had been thinking about what she wanted to do with Stephanie when she got home. Another woman just wouldn’t do.
“In love, you, yeah, you are. And just because you won’t admit it to yourself doesn’t mean it’s not true. It is so true. Court’s in love, in love.” Rebel started singing the in love over and over again.
“You haven’t known her long enough to be in love with her.” Turning to Court, Ellis stated, ignoring her sister.
“Come on, Court, come out with us. You can bring your girlfriend,” Rebel said.
Every other time Court had thought she wanted a relationship, they had fizzled when out of the bedroom. Nobody got along with her friends, nobody kept her interested as long as Stephanie had.
She had just decided not to ask, to just go out with her friends, when the woman herself walked into the gym and Court stopped breathing for a moment. It was just a moment, but she had never had that happen with another woman. Just this one. And she wasn’t ready to let this one go yet.
But if she wasn’t good with her friends, how could she keep going? If all their family and friends were against them, how could they make this work?