CHAPTER 15 #2
Maisie had to remove one of the nicest shirts she owned, which wasn’t saying much, and India held out the shirt she was holding.
“Wear this. I’ll grab something else.”
Maisie swallowed as she looked down at her date’s full breasts that were held only in a black lace bra.
“Yes, I just put this on. It’s my date bra. What do you think?”
“You have a date bra?” she asked, putting India’s shirt on quickly to cover her very non-date bra.
“I have a few. Maybe you’ll see all of them one day,” India teased.
“I own, like, three bras, just so you know.”
India laughed and asked, “Do you want me to get you a sweater or something?”
“No, I have one in the car.”
“Okay. Well, should I finish making your coffee?”
“I’ve got it now, but thanks.”
India nodded and said, “I’ll be right back.”
“Please. I feel like your coffee maker hates me. I don’t want to be alone with it.”
“It’s an espresso machine. It’s mad at you because you keep calling it a coffee maker. Grab your cup and walk down the hall. You can see the jacuzzi tub.”
Maisie nodded, and India walked back that way to continue getting ready.
Maisie proceeded to add syrup to the coffee she wasn’t sure she’d actually drink and tried to clean up the mess as best she could.
Either India was a neat freak, or she had a housekeeper, because the place was spotless, as if it got cleaned daily.
Once done, Maisie walked down the hall and saw the den, one guest room, the main guest bathroom, then another guest room, and finally, India’s bedroom.
She knocked, not wanting to just walk in.
“I am fully clothed. Come on in.”
Maisie did and took in India’s bedroom. She had a four-poster bed with a white comforter and equally white pillows, and there was more artwork on the walls along a very nice-looking dresser.
“The tub is in the bathroom,” India said.
Maisie walked in farther before turning to the open door. She shouldn’t have been surprised anymore to see a very expensive-looking bathroom with the aforementioned jacuzzi tub, but it was all just so nice. Oddly, though, it was all still welcoming.
“What do you think?” India asked.
“It’s big enough to fit two people,” she said.
“Four, but it’s tight. Two is just right.”
Maisie laughed.
“Sorry, that’s the rhyme the sales guy sold me on.”
“And you bought it?”
“Well, I liked the idea of having a beautiful woman to share the tub with me, so, yeah.”
“Did Finley ever share that tub with you?”
India stopped putting on her lipstick and turned to her.
“No. Fin prefers showers. I prefer baths.”
“Sorry, that was just petty jealousy showing through due to insecurities,” Maisie said and shrugged a shoulder.
“You’re jealous of Finley?”
“Not specifically her. I guess it’s just that you two were together for a while, and she’s probably been here a bunch, so, you know, you two did things here.”
India moved closer to her and replied, “Yes, that’s true. Not in that tub, but Fin and I were together for a long time.” She took Maisie’s hand again. “We’re not anymore, though. And you were with Lainey, but you’re not now.”
“For, like, six months, years ago. And I also don’t have a jacuzzi tub.”
“Maybe you can use this one,” India said, nodding toward the tub. “With or without me in it. I’m happy to loan it to you for the night, and you can use all my good bath stuff. I’ve got lavender, eucalyptus, some citrus, and some cherry stuff, too.”
“You have a variety of coffee syrups and bath stuff?”
“Where is your coffee?”
“In the kitchen. I didn’t want to risk spilling it in your fancy tub,” she joked.
“Should I skip redoing my hair so that we can go grab that drink?”
“Yes, you should. Your hair looks perfect anyway.”
Maisie ran a hand up to India’s ear and pushed a rogue strand behind it.
“I think if it were perfect, you wouldn’t have had to do that just now.”
“You like that I did that just now,” Maisie replied with a wink.
“I did, yes. But I like having my hair behave. Can I have five minutes to handle these flyaways?”
“No. Let’s go,” she said and tugged on India’s hand.
“You’re killing me, Lincoln.”
“Your espresso machine tried to kill me just minutes ago. Consider this payback. And you’re trying a different beer tonight, by the way. I’m convinced there’s one out there for you.”
“What? No. Wine or a martini.”
“I said try,” she replied as they made their way through the hall. “You can order something else, too.”
“This is a lot of you bossing me around on a date.”
Maisie stopped when they got to the living room and asked her, “Hey, want to go to a soccer game with me tomorrow?”
“Random,” India said.
“Sorry. But do you?”
“Do I what, again?”
“Soccer game. Lainey and Paige’s team. They’re in the state tournament.
It’s a big deal. It’s a home game. I’m going to cheer from the stands and try to pretend like the election isn’t fast approaching.
Thank God, I got a big donation today, but it’s still crazy.
Anyway, come with me. We’ll cheer together. ”
“To a sporting event?” India squinted. “A high school sporting event?”
“They’re really good.”
“I’m sure they are, but I don’t do sports, Maisie. They’re boring to me and confusing, and if it’s high school, there are bleachers, and those are cold and uncomfortable. I’d be uncomfortable, and I don’t want to ruin the night for you and your friends.”
Maisie forced a smile and said, “Yeah, okay. It was just an idea. Like you said, random. Let’s just get that drink.”
“A martini?”
“I’m getting an IPA. You’re going to at least taste it.”
“Fine,” India said.
As they made their way downstairs, Maisie tried not to think about the fact that India had turned her down for the game, and when Justin met them and opened the door to the garage, India just stood there for a second before she realized that he wasn’t bringing the car to them.
She caught up to Maisie then, and they walked to her car, which was no Jaguar.
India didn’t comment on it, though, and later, she tried that IPA, shaking her head immediately after.
While Maisie knew it was only a beer and no big deal, the whole night had still reminded her just how different the two of them were, so when she dropped India off for the night, she kissed her on the cheek instead of the lips and told her goodnight.