CHAPTER 5 #2
“I don’t believe that,” Reese remarked. Jette shrugged noncommittally and fidgeted with her collection of rings.
It wasn’t exactly a lie. On any other night, Leah would have certainly been her type.
Blonde, femme, and not interested in anything more serious than a hookup.
And maybe if she had been alone tonight, she would’ve flirted more with Leah.
But when Leah slid into the seat next to her earlier, Jette felt a jolt of excitement until she realized that it wasn’t Reese.
Reese wasn’t typically the type of girl she would be interested in, but after staring at her all night, Jette felt that every other woman in the bar paled in comparison.
Desperate to change the subject, Jette asked, “Is she your type?” Reese rolled her eyes as she laughed in surprise.
She scoffed and shook her head a little too forcefully to be playful.
Jette quirked an eyebrow and continued, “Because you seem to be paying her a lot of attention. I’m sure I could go over there and get her number if that’s what you’re getting at. ”
“Oh shut up, I don’t even have your number,” Reese quipped in a huff. Her pupils were wide in the dim light as she met Jette’s lingering gaze. The combination of her expression and the tone of her voice was compelling. Jette didn’t want to be the first one to look away.
“I can give you that, too,” Jette replied a little too quickly but Reese reached into her pocket and slid a phone into Jette’s hands before she could second-guess herself. A smile danced across her lips and Jette found herself returning one of her own.
“So did you want my number or Leah’s?” Jette couldn’t resist the urge to tease her even further as she gestured in Leah’s direction.
She took a sip to mask the way the question made her pulse quicken.
Flirting had always been something that came naturally to Jette.
She knew exactly how to use her voice, body, and words to make a pretty girl flustered.
But Reese wasn’t the one who was flustered now.
It was as though she held a mirror, sending any flirtatious looks Jette gave right back at her.
Reese’s lips crooked to the side as their eyes met, her green eyes staring daringly into Jette’s. “I don’t need Leah’s number,” she said, her voice drenched in sarcasm.
“But you need mine?” Jette was blatantly flirting now, but she couldn’t help it.
“I want yours.” Reese replied swiftly. Jette felt something tense in her lower abdomen.
Reese’s calm and quiet confidence was captivating.
Momentarily speechless, Jette entered her number into Reese’s phone before letting her hand linger for an extra second as she handed it back.
The temperature of the room seemed to spike when Reese asked, “So what is your type?”
Jette inhaled quickly and laughed, “Oh boy, I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”
Reese agreed with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “I’m curious.”
Jette tried not to think about what else Reese might be curious about. “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “I don’t have a type. Like none of my exes really look alike or presented a certain way…” her voice trailed off as she tried to wiggle her way out of the question.
“Oh c’mon, you gotta give me something,” Reese pushed. Her charmingly cocky grin was slightly off-kilter as she asked, “Masc or femme?”
“Femme,” Jette replied. “Usually,” she added quickly.
“Okay, femme,” Reese repeated. “Hair color?”
“Red,” Jette blurted out without thinking.
“Ah-ha!” Reese cheered. “You answered way too quickly, see, you do have a type!” Jette shook her head in between embarrassed laughter.
She breathed a sigh of relief when Reese thankfully dropped the subject because Jette was struggling to think of a single characteristic that she could admit to Reese without describing the woman sitting in front of her.
Jette had barely noticed any one in the bar besides Reese all night.
The feeling felt foreign. Jette was no stranger to shamelessly flirting with women in dark corners of seedy dive bars.
It had been ages since she felt so drawn to someone.
Desperate to shift the conversation away from herself, Jette countered, “What about you?”
“Me? Like in girls, you mean?” She clarified.
Jette shrugged, “Sure. Girls, or guys, or both, or neither.” She felt herself rambling.
Reese laughed and Jette lit up at the sound. “It doesn’t matter. I’m dating Kiran,” she answered.
Jette fought the urge to roll her eyes. “You’re taken, not blind,” she teased. “That doesn’t mean you can’t acknowledge an attractive person.”
“Oh, I can recognize if someone’s attractive.”
Her curiosity piqued. “Really? Then what does this imaginary attractive person look like?” Jette felt her chest tighten as she waited for an answer.
Reese swirled the last few remaining ice cubes in her glass.
Jette’s stomach swooped uncomfortably low when their eyes met.
For a moment, Reese’s lips parted and Jette had to force herself not to stare.
Reese let out a nervous chuckle and snapped her mouth shut before Jette’s imagination had the chance to run wild.
“You know what? I think I need another drink before I even consider answering that question.” Her voice sounded exasperated as she ran a hand through her red locks.
“You and me both,” Jette muttered in a breathy voice that didn’t sound like it belonged to her at all.
. . . .
Hours later, Emery finally came to find them huddled by the bar.
Jette leaned on the back of Reese’s stool while Reese was showing her roller derby clips on Instagram.
She felt a jolt of electricity everywhere Reese’s skin brushed hers.
Jette promised she would come to Reese’s next home game even if it meant rearranging her schedule.
She wouldn’t miss the chance to see Reese doing something she was so clearly passionate about.
If she was being truly honest, she wouldn’t miss the chance to see Reese again, roller derby game or otherwise.
“Hi,” Emery said, drawing out the word as long as possible while slinging an arm around Jette’s waist. “So here’s the thing,” he began.
“The bar’s closing in like thirty minutes and I know we rode here together but…
” his voice dropped conspiratorially, “I’m one hundred percent going home with Lumberjack.
” He stuck out his tongue and all three of them giggled in unison.
“Got it,” Jette replied, “You’re all good?”
“Oh I’m good,” he said suggestively.
Jette jokingly pushed his shoulder. “Alright, alright. Text me tomorrow?”
Emery nodded and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Are you going home with Jette?” he asked Reese.
“I’m—we—we can take an Uber. Or I can call my own ride,” Reese stuttered nervously.
Jette interjected, “We can share an Uber back to the neighborhood. I think I can add two destinations.” She took a breath and silently cursed Emery.
“Oh, no, that’s what I meant,” Emery exclaimed. “I didn’t mean like going home, going home,” he said innocently. “Okay, I’ll see you gals later,” he said as he leaned in to hug Reese. “Thanks for coming out tonight.”
“I had a blast,” Reese answered. “Thanks for inviting me…I’ll be at every show from now on,” she promised. Emery beamed and winked at Jette before turning to find Lumberjack. Jette shook her head in gentle disbelief as she looked back at Reese.
“We should probably call an Uber soon to try and beat the traffic outta here,” Jette said as she set her glass on the bar.
Reese nodded. “Agreed. I just gotta hit the bathroom before we go. Wait with me?” She asked as she gathered her jacket.
“Good idea,” Jette answered.
The line was long but it moved quickly as they chatted, awkwardly shuffling single-file against the wall.
The night had gone by in the blink of an eye and she didn’t wasn’t ready for it to end just yet.
The bathroom door swung open and two girls exited looking flushed and disheveled.
Jette smirked to herself. She knew that look all too well.
Reese turned to face her and raised her eyebrows in mock surprise.
She grabbed the handle to the bathroom and before she could stop herself, Jette envisioned herself holding the door and trailing in behind Reese.
Her throat tightened as she imagined Reese’s face turning to her in surprise before being pulled close.
Would it be gentle at first? Or would it be more urgent because of the undeniable tension all night?
Her mind ran wild as she imagined their lips crushed together.
Reese’s hips pinned by hers with Jette’s hand on the back of her neck as they stumbled against the tiled wall.
Jette could feel heat rising in her chest at the thought.
She knew she shouldn’t be picturing it, but it was too late.
The alcohol in her system was taking over and her heart was racing at the very idea of Reese’s hands on her, those perfect pink lips trailing down her neck.
She took a deep breath and shook the indecent thoughts from her mind.
When the bathroom door opened again, Reese held the door before moving to wait outside.
Jette rushed inside and locked the door behind her.
The bathroom was dark and quiet, and she could finally feel herself breath normally again.
She splashed some water on her hands and ran them through her hair as she adjusted her ponytail. Behave, she thought sternly.
Turns out they hadn’t left early enough to avoid the end-of-the-night traffic jam in Center City.
But the driver was nice enough, handing the aux cord to Reese for the nearly thirty-minute ride home.
Jette didn’t recognize most of the music Reese chose.
It was some kind of quiet indie mix that felt calming after the long sexual-tension-filled night.
When they pulled up to Reese’s house, Kiran was waiting on the front porch.
Jette’s chest deflated slightly as he came into view.
It deflated even more when she saw the way Reese’s eyes latched onto him.
Jette had been so caught up in the moment, she almost forgot about Kiran.
She swallowed with difficulty as the car came to a stop.
“Will you text me when you get home?” Reese asked earnestly before a hiccup leapt from her throat.
Jette had to suppress a giggle as she shrugged. “I would, but I don’t think I have your number,” she teased. An emotion flashed across Reese’s face, but it was too dark for Jette to discern what it was before Reese playfully rolled her eyes.
“Thanks for everything tonight. I had a great time,” Reese said cheerfully. “Can we do this again soon?” she asked, her emerald eyes sparkling under the streetlights as she opened the car door.
Jette tried to squash the butterflies in her stomach as she heard the hopeful tone in Reese’s voice. “Yeah of course!” she answered. “I actually have a couple shows in the neighborhood next month,” she began. “You and Kiran should come.” The lump in her throat solidified around his name.
“I’ll be there. Just let me know the date and time!” Reese said with a smile as she slid out of the car.
Jette watched her jog up the steps and felt a pit sinking in her stomach as she saw Reese embrace Kiran on the front porch.
He put his arms around her and waved to Jette as the car started to pull away.
Jette tried not to feel disappointed as she waved back.
She knew she shouldn’t have been flirting with Reese all night.
But to be fair, it seemed like Reese had flirted back.
There had been definite chemistry between them at the party weeks ago, and again tonight.
Hell, even Emery had picked up on it immediately.
Jette’s phone vibrated in her lap as the car turned onto her street.
UNKNOWN NUMBER
This is Reese
She tapped out a reply while climbing the steps to her apartment door.
JETTE
Reese who?
REESE
You’re impossible, you know that?
Jette quietly chuckled as she locked the front door behind her.
JETTE
Just got home. Goodnight, Reese
REESE
Goodnight, Jette
A shiver ran down her spine as Jette adjusted to the warmth in the entryway. The stillness of her apartment usually felt like solace after a night out, but tonight it only made Jette feel alone.