Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
CARA
“Well, well, well. Look who it is. Little miss, ‘butch isn’t my type, but I’m secretly dating the hottest butch in Seattle.
’ It was that good, huh?” As soon as I opened the door and heard Drea’s voice, I knew going to the bookstore was a huge mistake.
Why did I think I could get away with shopping in peace? I was a bigger idiot than I thought.
“Good morning, Dre. Don’t mind me. I’m just here to shop. I won’t bother you while you’re working.” I smiled sweetly, hoping she’d leave me alone.
“Take your time. Let me know if you need anything, love.” To an outsider, her smile was sweet and genuine, but to someone who knew her, it was anything but.
I didn’t dare question it, though. I planned to take so long she’d have to go handle some business in another part of the store, far away from me.
As it turned out, she had all the time in the world.
I literally walked around the store at a snail’s pace for almost two hours, and when I finally decided to check out, Drea happened to be handling the cash register.
Drea and Drea alone. Wasn’t the boss supposed to be in their office and not up front? Where was the rest of her staff?
“Did you find everything you were looking for today?” she asked as she checked out my books.
I had picked up six since I couldn’t decide. A dark romance, two fantasy, and three contemporary romance books I’ve read on my e-reader, but wanted the physical trophies of.
“Yes,” I said hesitantly. “Thank you.”
She smiled. “Well, not everything, I suppose. We don’t carry sexy latina lesbians. Maybe I’ll look into it, though.” She winked.
“Jesus Christ. Get it off your chest, Dre.”
Her laugh was maniacal. “I’m sorry, love, but imagine my surprise when my fiancée comes home after visiting her bestie, to tell me a tale of how our dear spinster friend found the love of her life.”
“Wow. Your sarcasm just gets better with time, doesn’t it? How long have you had that one brewing in your head?”
She shrugged. God, this was a nightmare. I felt like this was her way of getting back at me for how I reacted to her and Blair getting together, and it was only the beginning. I was pretty sure she had a lot more smart-ass comments. She probably had a whole list by her nightstand.
“I’ve been simmering on a few since she told me, but that one was my favorite. What the hell happened at that speed dating event you went to?”
I froze. Shit, had she somehow put together that Vera was the one I was with that night? “What? What do you mean?”
“Well, it’s just that since you came back, you’ve been… different. All of a sudden you’re dating someone that’s definitely not your type and bringing her to my wedding? That masquerade ball was only a few months ago, I assumed you met her there.”
I had never been more at a loss for words than I was in that moment. Do I tell the truth? My friends already thought we were dating, so would it matter if I admitted how we really met? I took a breath, steading myself. I should’ve stayed home.
“Can I have a receipt please? I need it for my taxes.” There. I told a truth while also evading her actual question.
She gave me a look like she had more to say, but thankfully left it alone. “Of course, love.”
“Thanks, Dre. Are we still on for our game tomorrow?”
Drea, Blair, Kaia and I were scheduled for a pickleball game and I was looking forward to it.
Kaia’s girlfriend, Daisy, had plans, so she was sitting this one out.
I’d been working so much for the past several months that I hadn’t gotten out on the court as much as I normally did.
I was looking forward to relieving some pent-up stress.
Her smile fell, and I prepared for her to tell me it was canceled. “So, here’s the thing. Kaia can’t make it. Daisy got sick, and you know how she is whenever her girlfriend is sick.”
“She doesn’t leave her side.” I smiled as I finished for her. The last time Daisy got sick, Kaia was out for almost a week. It was just a cold, but it was adorable to know that Kaia was worried about her so much that she missed work.
She rarely called off, so Drea was always happy when she did.
Kaia worked so hard and deserved to take time off, even though she never did.
When she lost her dad, Kaia tried to go back to work immediately after the phone call, but Drea told me she refused to let her and made Daisy take her home for at least a week.
Kaia’s work ethic matched mine and it was impressive.
“I hope Daisy gets better, and of course we can reschedule. It’s no problem.”
She shook her head. “Absoultely not. Blair and I have been looking forward to kicking your ass for a while! I’ve been practicing and everything!”
I snorted out a laugh. She was so funny. “Probably not enough. You could use the extra practice time, I’m sure.”
She rolled her eyes. “Piss off! We are not rescheduling. I have an idea, why don’t you invite your girlfriend to play? I’m sure she’s very active. She could probably keep up with you.”
“I don’t know. I’m sure she’s busy.”
“She’s not too busy for you. Blair told me how cozy you two got at your office. We need another player and we’d love to get to know her better. Invite her, Cara, or I’ll give her a call myself. You know I have her number, right?”
“Okay, okay. God! I’ll ask her, no need to threaten me.”
She smiled. “Good. Here you go, love. Have a good day and we’ll see you two tomorrow!”
I groaned. “Bye, Dre.” I turned around and left the bookstore so fast, not bothering to look behind me. I didn’t want any more questions from Drea. I was sure I was going to get a lot more of them over the next few months.
After I got home and settled on the couch with a bottle of wine, I unlocked my phone, checking emails and social media. I liked a few new posts and stories from some of my clients, and Blair of course.
I even commented on a post Kaia had made, posing with Daisy who was smiling wildly and showing off a gorgeous diamond ring. I’d be asking her about that soon, hopefully before the wedding. I wanted to congratulate them in person.
I did a quick internet search and taught myself how to congratulate them on their engagement since Daisy was deaf. I’d save the link so I could keep practicing.
I had been practicing my sign language skills, or rather, trying to gain some, ever since she started dating Daisy. I’d even attended a few of the basic classes she taught. I could say a few phrases, but I’d perfected my spelling.
I went back to doom scrolling until I saw an ad in spanish and got a stupid idea in my head.
She probably didn’t even have social media.
I only knew her first name so I went to Drea’s profile, just to see if, on the off chance, she was listed under her followers or following list. Sure enough, there she was.
Listed next to a picture of her wearing a tight white tank top was the username, “VeraLaJefe.” What the hell did that mean? After a quick Google search, I nodded to myself. She was the head of the construction team, so it checked out that her username would say, “the boss.”
“Fuck,” I moaned, perhaps a little too loud. Her arms were on display, and I remembered how they lifted me up and tossed me on the bed that night, like I weighed nothing.
I clicked on the picture, and it took me to her profile. She had almost two thousand followers? How? Then I scrolled down to some of her posts. “Oh, that’s how,” I spoke into my empty house. She had a lot of pictures and videos of her at the gym, at construction sites, and…
“No fucking way! She’s a volunteer firefighter, too?” I shut my eyes and groaned. Of course she was. As if she wasn’t sexy enough, she had to be sweet and compassionate?
I shook the growing pulse between my legs away.
It didn’t matter. She wasn’t my type. We were just too different.
She worked with her hands, I worked with my brain.
She built things and saved lives, I built brands and saved careers.
The two were like oil and water and would never blend seamlessly together. It just wasn’t a possibility.
Still, I couldn’t hide my body’s reaction to her, as much as I tried to.
I kept scrolling for a little longer, until I saw a video of her snuggling with the cutest black pug I’d ever seen.
I clicked on it to get a better view. She was laying in what I assumed was her bed and only showed her collarbone up, which told me she was shirtless.
A shirtless woman snuggling an adorable dog was not the image my ovaries needed right now.
I tried to pause the video, but instead, I somehow liked it. Oh shit. Oh shit! I immediately unliked the video. The last thing I needed was for her to know—
A ping coming from my phone stopped my breath. I glanced up to see a new text message… from Vera:
Vera: Are you stalking me, princesa?
“Oh my fucking god!” I groaned. This was so humiliating. I clicked on the message to reply when a notification came through, telling me I had a new follower.
Me: I don’t know. You tell me, new follower…
Vera:
Vera: Did you like the video for me, or my dog?
Both, I wanted to say. The dog was adorable, and my favorite breed, but knowing what was beyond the camera? Jesus! If I ever questioned my sexuality, I’d just need to look at that picture again, or think about our night together, and I’d get my answer.
Me: The dog, for sure. They’re my favorite breed.
Vera: Another point for me, yes! And his name is Onyx, but he goes by Nyx.
He says thank you for saying he’s cute, and says you’re very beautiful.
He especially likes the picture of you wearing no makeup and cuddling up in a blanket with your hair in a messy bun wearing a silk robe and holding a mug.
I’m glad she couldn’t see my smile.
Me: I’m glad he likes it.
I chuckled when a notification that she liked the post had come through.
Me: While I’ve got you, I have a favor to ask. Feel free to say no! I know it’s last minute and you’re probably really busy.
Vera: For you? I can make it work. Whatever it is. And you’ve got me for as long as you want me, Cara. What’s up?
I smiled again. Dammit! I needed to stop doing that. She was trying very hard to worm her way into my life, and I couldn’t let her. We could be friends who were pretending to date, but that was it.
Me: So, tomorrow, I have this pickleball game with Drea and Blair. Kaia is taking care of her fiancée, who is sick, so she had to cancel. Anyway, Drea told me to ask if you could fill in? Again, feel free to say no.
Vera: Yes I know them. They are all lovely. I’d love to join. I’ve never played, but I’m a fast learner. After all, I learned what you like rather quickly.
“Stop that, vagina! Come on, legs, clench together.” She really needed to stop reminding me of that night. Not that she could even if she tried. Every time I saw her I was reminded of it.
Me: You’re breaking a rule! And really? You’re not already busy?
Vera: What time is it?
Me: Not until the afternoon, like 4.
Vera: Nope I’m free. I work at the station until about 2. I can shower and you can meet me there?
Me: The fire station?
Vera: Yes… is that a problem?
Me: No, not at all. I’ll be there. Is 3 okay?
She sent me a thumbs up emoji and confirmed the location of the station. I took a deep breath and got off social media. The last thing I needed while feeling a little turned on, was to look at more pictures and videos of the person who was making me feel that way.
I needed to focus on the facts. Tomorrow was our first outing as a fake couple. Not a big deal. We’d be so busy, we wouldn’t even have to interact that much. It’d be fine.
Keeping that thought in mind, I hopped off the couch and headed to my room, determined to find something to wear for the occasion. Something comfortable, and maybe just a little revealing.