CHAPTER 53
Jennifer
“I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing?” Kristina asked.
“Because this wasn’t how the week was supposed to end. You wanted to stay.”
Jennifer picked up her suitcase off the floor and placed it on the bed, unzipping it quickly.
“You have a pretty good reason for needing to leave,” Kristina said and sat on the bed next to the now-open suitcase. “Besides, I think I wanted to stay for another reason.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m really nervous.”
“About what?” she asked as she opened a drawer where she’d placed most of her stuff the day she arrived.
“This place is magical.”
“The bedroom?”
“No, Jen.” Kristina laughed. “This house or this event; I don’t know. The week has been magical. I think the location is just the location.”
“You’re nervous about going home?”
“I am really boring,” Kristina said.
“What?” Jennifer chuckled as she put clothes into her suitcase.
“We’ve talked a lot about your job, your very nice condo, there’s also a cabin, and yes, you want to get married and have kids; all good stuff.
But I’m really boring. You save lives. Your new job may not be exactly that anymore, but you are still a doctor.
I’m in the orchestra, and not even the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
I’m in a smaller, less popular orchestra, and I teach kids how to play to make ends meet.
I don’t have a lot going on outside of that.
My divorce wasn’t cheap, so I’m starting from scratch in a lot of ways.
I don’t want you to think I’m interesting, because I’m really not.
It might just seem like that here because I turned off some of my inhibitions, but I don’t think I’ll ever be the kind of woman you can take into a bar bathroom and go down on or something.
That’s not the kind of public sex I’m into.
Maybe public sex is even the wrong way of–”
Jennifer sat down next to her and replied, “Kris, I don’t care.
I’m very good with boring. Did the whole sitting on the couch, sipping wine, and watching TV, or just holding you by the fire not give that away?
I remember us talking very specifically about a bathtub. That’s what I’m hoping for here.”
“A bathtub?”
“With you in it,” she said with a little laugh.
“Don’t get me wrong: this week has been magical for me, too.
The only reason I suggested yesterday that we go home early was that I wanted that stuff as soon as possible.
I am about to stand next to other doctors, nurses, and staff, watching a young person save lives after she lost hers for the very last time, hopefully.
I’ll finally be able to be a general physician and help people who come in for physicals, coughs, or a wrist sprain.
I was worried it would be too boring for me after all these years in the ER, but I know now that’s what I want.
Just because we won’t be at this singles’-week-with-a-side-of-sex thing doesn’t mean everything has to be boring.
I’m hoping for quiet in most things and maybe loud in some others. ”
“Loud, huh?” Kristina laughed.
“Sometimes, yes. Quiet isn’t bad. It’s what I need.”
“Me too,” Kristina replied. “I guess I’m nervous that we work here, but when we get home, you might be interested in–”
“No,” she interrupted, took Kristina’s hand, and placed it in her lap.
“No, Kris. I want you, okay? I can’t wait to just be home with you.
If that makes me sound lame, so be it. I want to take you out on a real date, and I want to wake up next to you.
I don’t care if it’s at my place or yours.
I want to start my new job and be home at a regular time most days.
I want to hear you play for the first time and a million times after that.
I’d like to hear some of that music you write, even if you’re nervous to share it with me, and I’d like to do all of that as your girlfriend.
I don’t want anyone else.” She looked into Kristina’s eyes. “Girlfriend. Did you hear that part?”
“Are you sure?” Kristina checked. “We’ve only known each other for a week; less than that when you consider the fact that we spent the first two nights with other people.”
“I’d prefer not to consider that, if you don’t mind.
I get why Nia had us do that, but I’d like to think that I came here to meet you, and I did.
I’d like to leave with you as my girlfriend because I think Nia got it right.
Look at Helena and Becky, Gage and Carrie, and Sharon and Debra, too.
How unlikely is it that she could pick eight women out of however many women apply to come to these things and have all eight of them meet someone who might actually be the person they could fall in love with? Hell, I’m well on my way already.”
Kristina’s eyes went wide.
“Sorry. Too soon?”
“No,” Kristina replied. “And I understand what you’re saying. It’s just still hard for me to believe it. I spent a lot of time thinking someone loved me, when she probably never did, and that was after we dated for a while, got engaged, and got married. You and I just met.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” she suggested. “I’m scared, too, okay?”
Kristina nodded.
“But I’m not willing to risk losing what this could be because of that fear,” Jennifer added.
“Me neither,” Kristina replied. “I can change our flights while you pack, if you want. I just need your info. Then, I’ll throw my stuff into my suitcase, and we’ll say goodbye.” She laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I don’t even know your birthday,” Kristina said. “Or your address, your middle name, your favorite–”
Jennifer kissed her and replied, “All in time. That’s the exciting part. Oh, and my birthday is September fifth, and my middle name is Jessica. I’m Jennifer Jessica. My parents called me JJ growing up, but I hated it, so don’t even think about it.” She winked at Kristina.
“Okay, JJ,” Kristina teased.
“Oh, you’ll pay for that,” she said with a laugh.