12. Miquela
Miquela
M iquela had tried to talk herself out of coming multiple times.
She had no other reason to be in New York.
There was work to do at home. American Independence Day didn’t mean anything to her.
Netflix called and said she had yet to watch the final season of her favorite show.
Yet no matter how many excuses she came up with to stay where she belonged in America, she still booked the first flight to JFK she could find.
She had to know.
For the past week, Miquela had been driving herself crazy, not only with thoughts of June and where she stood with her, but also with what she really wanted from her.
Of course, she wanted the sex and fun and passion.
Of course, she claimed that she loved her more than she had loved any other woman – even more than Rosa!
Yet there was no denying that she spent much of her time sitting with a bottle of whatever, playing whatever streaming deemed good enough while she stared at her ceiling and wondered what she should do about June… and Sette.
I never expected a woman like that to throw the first punch.
Right after Sette finished her speech of gratitude, she met Miquela’s eyes in the back row of the crowd.
Miquela turned away and pretended to be fascinated with a woman’s intricate French twist laden with a thin veil of sapphires.
What she really wanted to do was stare at June.
Then again, that’s what everyone there wanted to do.
Nobody could take their eyes off her once it was revealed she was the model in these paintings.
The damned paintings . Miquela had only glanced at them on her way in. Once she spotted June hanging around Sette, she couldn’t look at anything else.
They looked good together. They were even somewhat coordinated, and people commented on this as if they had planned it.
The way June brushed her hand against the painter’s arm was not the practiced movement of a professional trying to squeeze more money out of her. It was a genuine touch of affection.
Fuck off with that.
“Oh, my God,” June gasped ten minutes later, when she was sent to mingle with the crowd. Sette was in another corner with another woman. Probably her agent . They were shaking hands with an older man and his younger wife. “Miquela? What are you doing here?”
She forced a smile. Well, “forced” wasn’t how she would put it. I can’t force anything around her. She’s the light of my life. How corny. Yet it didn’t sound corny at all in her head. “How could I miss this? Don’t worry. I won’t bother the woman you are with. I wanted to see how it was going.”
June, torn between glaring and smiling, gave Miquela’s arm the same touch she bestowed upon Sette earlier. “Thank you. That’s sweet of you.”
“That said…” Miquela sent a warning glare to a man trying to approach June. The guy shuffled off. “Could we speak in private for a moment? There’s something I want to ask you.”
When June was satisfied that nobody else wanted her attention – least of all Sette – she finally agreed to go with Miquela.
As long as she made it quick. There was only one place for them to talk privately in that large, broad room.
Although partitioned off with many cream-colored walls, there were not many nooks and crannies not already occupied by someone.
This left a small alcove in the far back of the gallery, beyond the paintings, the lights, and even the closets.
Miquela kept an eye out for anyone following them. So far, so good.
“What is this about?” June stood up straight against a dark wall.
It didn’t matter how little light there was in there.
Miquela could still see the warm dark gray of her sweater dress and every golden part of her illuminated in the shadows.
I love this woman so much, all I want to do is…
No. She wouldn’t. First things were first. Besides, did she really want to pull what Sette did when June was supposed to be on a date with Miquela?
“It must be important if you can’t wait another week. ”
Her words were harsh, but her tone was soft. Miquela didn’t mind if she was brusque with her as long as she used that tone. True definition of love.
At any rate, next weekend was when they were supposed to formally start their new business relationship. Monique would send over Miquela’s copy of the contract as soon as the holiday weekend finished. That wasn’t what Miquela wanted to talk about.
“As I said, I wanted to come see what kind of paintings this woman has done of you. The one in your bedroom isn’t good enough, mi amour. I wanted to see if she really loves you as much as I do.”
“Well?” June put both hands on her hips. “Does she?”
“It certainly seems like she cares for you.”
“Hmph.” Now her arms crossed. “You do love to say how much you love me, Miquela. Yet so does she. You get used to such things in this business.”
Miquela finally said what she intended all along.
“Do you love me, June? Will you really tell me that after everything… you don’t love me back?
” She had heard her at the wedding, but who knew what she meant by that.
Besides, she was in a bit of a daze from Sette’s fierce right swing. The woman works out more than it looks.
For the first time since she met her, June looked…
scared. Frightened. Maligned . She refused to meet Miquela’s eyes as she bit her lip and stared at the floor.
“I care for you very much,” she finally relented.
“You’re one of the best clients I’ve ever had.
I think you’re going to be the best patron a girl like me could ever ask for. ”
“Forget that shit for one minute!” Miquela had caught her anxious eyes by surprise. “I’m not asking you about our work relationship. I’m asking you about our personal relationship. I know you pride yourself in separating the two facets of sex… but are you really that divided?”
“Don’t ask me these things.” June put a gentle hand on Miquela’s chest. “I can’t fall for a client, even if she is my patron. I’ve seen shit, Miquela. I’ve seen how it can destroy a woman more times than you can count in any language you know.”
“Let me guess… all those clients those girls fell in love with were trash to begin with. I may not be a rocket scientist, but even I can put two and two together. I know other clients like you know those girls. They love to pick out a new woman, change her life for the better… and then cast her aside like yesterday’s dinner plates.
Sometimes they rewash them and use them again, but every time things get a little more run-down. Emotionally speaking, of course.”
“Uh-huh.” June was not impressed. “I’ve heard those gross euphemisms before. Keep going if you insist.”
“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that I came to you as nothing more than a client looking for sex, some company, and maybe a new friend.
That’s true. That’s how I’ve operated for years, but for some reason, you’ve killed me inside more than any other woman has.
Maybe it makes me sound like the most foolish woman in the world, but I love you, June.
I have no strings attached to me. No other women.
Fuck, I’ve only been with one other woman since I met you! ”
She cocked her head. “Now, I find that hard to believe. A woman like you? They’re lining up to ride your—”
“You told me yourself that I should sleep with someone else before I was sure. Well, I did.” Miquela was a master of not giving herself away by glancing in Sette’s perceived direction. “And I still always think of you first. I want to think of you forever.”
“Miquela… please, please don’t do this to me.”
“So you’re going to tell me that you don’t feel anything like that for me at all.”
“It’s not that simple. Miquela, I…” June turned toward the dark corner.
Miquela held herself back from putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“There’s no point, don’t you see? I don’t intend to retire from my career yet.
Part of that reason is because I’m not like most, I guess.
I never understood the appeal of having only one person for the rest of your life.
I like the variety in my life. I’m bound to break your heart, no matter how much I really love you. ”
“June.” Miquela put both hands on her shoulders, easing her to look up at her. “You love her, don’t you?”
Her cheeks flushed deep crimson. I knew it. June would never be able to choose. Not because she was unaccustomed to choosing… but because her brain was wired in a way that set her up for a different destiny from most women.
In a way, that was one of the biggest reasons Miquela loved her.
“I love you both,” she whispered. “Is that wrong?”
“Not if you’re honest about loving me as much as you say you do, June. I consider it an honor to be loved like that by you. I guess it doesn’t matter that much if… you love someone else, too. Don’t be dishonest with me.”
“I would never.” June shook her head so violently that her braid threatened to come undone.
“My games with you ended many weeks ago. I didn’t want to admit it then, because it was so unfamiliar to me.
I thought I merely liked you a lot, but I always looked forward to your visits.
Not just for the sex, but because you were fun to talk to and treated me well.
I like the way you feel and smell. Is that weird? ”
“I’m pretty sure that’s normal, June.” You have no idea how much I want to smile like a kid on Christmas right now! Was it possible that June truly reciprocated her love? It didn’t seem possible, yet…