Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
On almost any given Wednesday, Kate went over to Hop’s Heaven for pierogi night.
Oma’s Pierogi Truck parked at the brewery from six to eight each Wednesday with their delicious pasta pockets of goodness.
They served the pierogies pan-seared with onions in fresh butter.
And that, in Kate’s opinion, was the secret to why Oma’s pierogies were one of the best things you could choose to put in your mouth.
Kate pulled into the parking lot and smiled when she saw the baby blue food truck with a smiling grandma on the side.
There were only four people in line waiting.
She’d rushed over straight from work to make sure she could get her regular order before the truck started selling out of the various types of pierogies.
Kate checked her text messages. Jax had sent her a GIF of dancing pierogies.
Kate
Six cheese and six sauerkraut?
Jax
You know me so well.
Kate got out of her car and joined the line.
Her mouth was watering. She’d been so busy at the store putting out the Christmas stockings she had on consignment that she hadn’t had a chance to run upstairs to her apartment and bring down something for lunch.
After looking at her bank mobile app, she realized she’d been spending too much on ordering out, and she needed every penny she could find to put toward buying the building.
But there was no way she was going to deprive herself of her favorite carbs.
Kate waited impatiently for her turn to order.
It had rained off and on all day, but now the sky had cleared.
The full moon shone so brightly that Kate found herself watching it almost like a meditation, at least until her stomach growled.
The full moon in the November sky made her think about Hannah.
What was it about the moon? Then it came to her, Hannah’s tarot cards had a full moon illustration that looked exactly like the sky tonight.
Kate let herself imagine Hannah here by her side.
Her long red hair tumbling over her shoulders.
Her plump lips begging to be kissed. If she were here, Kate would share her pierogies with Hannah.
She inhaled quickly. She hated sharing food—especially comfort carbs.
Finally, Kate had her and Jax’s food. She couldn’t wait to sit down and have these with a cold pint of beer. She opened the door with her shoulder and walked over to the bar.
Jax gave her a head nod while they finished a drink order. Kate sat down. Unable to wait a second longer, she opened her box and took out one of the potato and cheese pierogies and shoved it in her mouth.
Jax came over and shook their head. “You know they always put plasticware and napkins in the bags.” They yelled down the bar to the other bartender working, “I’m taking my break!”
The other bartender said, “Sounds good!”
Jax dove into their meal, “See how even though I am starving, I took the time to find a fork instead of using my fingers.”
“You are far better than me.” Kate bowed her head in jest.
Jax shook their head. Their long, dark brown hair was in an intricate fishtail braid.
“Who did your hair? That must have taken forever.”
“Ellie did it; she saw a tutorial on YouTube.”
Kate stuffed another pierogi in her mouth. This time she used a fork. She chewed and said, “I take it things are better with you two?”
Jax sighed and their shoulders slumped. “No, we’re really stuck. Like it sounds super lame, but we’re more like just roommates. I’ve got to—well, I should say we have to make a hard decision. I thought maybe she was just tired of monogamy. We’ve been together so long, you know?”
Kate nodded her head, “I hate to ask this right now, but can you get me a pumpkin ale?”
“Oh yeah, one sec.”
Jax got a pint glass and put it under the tap. When it was full, they placed it in front of Kate, who downed half of it.
“Do you want a water, too? I assume you drove here.”
Kate nodded, and Jax got water for both of them. “So, what happened, you tried to talk to her about seeing other people, and she didn’t go for it?”
“I haven’t worked up the strength to talk to her about it. I think she is in denial about anything being wrong. Even though it’s been weeks since we’ve done anything. She’s always asleep when I get home.”
“She isn’t sick, is she?”
“Only sick of me. Shit, we’re going to have to break up, aren’t we?”
“I’m the wrong person to ask. I’m still so messed up from my last long-term relationship that I haven’t had the strength to try monogamy since.”
“I mean, we don’t need to be monogamous. I told her that before, if she wanted to try an open relationship, I was for it. Heck, I’d be happy if we added another person to our relationship and committed to that.”
“I’ve never been able to share. I know many people find it to be amazing, but I’ve always been a jealous bitch.”
Jax finished off another pierogi and then packed up their leftovers. “Thanks for picking these up. Now I have food for tomorrow.”
Kate was full as well and put away her food. “Same. I’ll be so happy to have these around three p.m. tomorrow when I realize I’m starving because I forgot to eat lunch again.”
“So, no relationships for you, huh?” Jax asked.
“Nope.”
“Huh,” Jax said, rubbing their sleeve-tattooed arm. “So, on Halloween, all that texting and smiling at your phone, that was just a one-off? Someone you met on an app and hooked up with?”
Kate took another drink of her beer. “No app hookup.”
“Then you are seeing someone!”
Kate made air quotes. “I’m not ‘seeing someone’.”
“You should have seen your face on Halloween; it sure looked like you were into someone.”
Kate frowned, extra acid made her meal swish in her stomach. Part of her knew she was into Hannah, no matter how she tried to slow down her feelings and talk herself out of it. She hadn’t realized it would be obvious to others. “We’re just having a little fun.”
Jax pointed at her. “I knew it. There is someone. How long has this been going on?”
Kate’s ears burned. “We’ve just hung out a few times.”
Jax took their turn to make air quotes. “Hung out. Listen, I get it; your ex really did a number on you. Especially when she took the dog. But why let that dictate the rest of your life? Why not date someone?”
“I–it’s just that I’m her first, and I’m tired of being an emerging bi’s first experience. I told myself I wasn’t going to get invested in another woman navigating their sexuality only to get left for a guy again.”
“I hear you. But—”
“I know what you are going to say, I shouldn’t judge Hannah by what Brittany did.”
Jax raised an eyebrow. “Hannah?”
Kate clamped her hand over her mouth.
“My Hannah? The sweet little redhead who works for Zaina?”
Kate put her head on the bar. “Yes, that’s the one.”
“I thought she was bi, but I wasn’t very sure.
This is exciting! We have another baby queer in Marley Creek!
She is delightful! And all that gorgeous red hair and her tiny waist. The gentle curves, and I can’t say I haven’t noticed her boobs.
They’re smallish and frankly, I kind of love that.
” Jax leaned their forearms on the bar while speaking.
Kate punched them on their bicep.
“Hey, what was that for?”
“Stay away from Hannah, she’s—”
“You were going to say mine, weren’t you?”
Kate bounced her knee, trying to take in the fact that she had been about to say mine. Here she was, almost forty years old and unable to admit she wanted more than sex with Hannah.
Kate crossed her arms. “Look, I just came here for tasty carbs and beer. Do I need therapy? Of course, but do I want it right now?”
“It’s free with your purchase.” Jax grinned and rubbed the spot she’d punched.
“Sorry about that, I don’t know what came over me.”
“I have some thoughts, but I’m sure you don’t want to hear them.”
Kate held up her hand. “I definitely do not.”
“If you change your mind about things, you should invite Hannah to Friendsgiving.”
“I wasn’t planning on bringing anyone or anything besides whatever I buy pre-made. But thanks for mentioning that.”
Jax put their hands in the front pockets of their black jeans. “I don’t think Ellie is going to make it this year. She’s been talking about wanting to spend time with her family.”
“But Friendsgiving is way before actual Thanksgiving. She can miss work like that?”
“She’s been working remote since last fall, remember?”
“I totally forgot, but still?”
“Maybe time apart will help things between us.”
“Or completely wreck it.”
Jax started to run a hand through their hair and then stopped when they hit the braid. “Either way, we’d have clarity, and I think that’s what we need.”
“I’m sorry,” Kate said.
“It’s okay. Nothing lasts forever.”
“At least she isn’t cheating on you.”
“As far as I know,” Jax said, deflated.
“On that depressing note, I’d better get going.” She put a twenty on the bar top to cover her beer.
Jax walked away to get her change. When they returned, they placed it on the bar. “Just because my relationship is crappy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t date Hannah.”
She pocketed some of the change and left the rest for a tip. Kate didn’t say anything. She was still mulling over her possessive response to Jax earlier. “You’re right,” she said to stop the conversation. Kate picked up her carryout bag and stood up. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“I hope I didn’t upset you. You know I love you.”
Kate gave a half smile. “I’m not upset. And I love you too.”
“Think about inviting Hannah; I’d love to see her.” Jax said.
Kate just nodded uncommitted, left the taproom and went home.
It wasn’t long before she was nestled in bed, alone again. She was tempted to text Hannah, but the carbs and the pumpkin ale pulled her into sleep before she could.