Chapter 14
When the entire family surrounded Court, Stephanie had to get away so she could breathe.
Though she didn’t want to leave Court alone, she needed space.
They hadn’t even known she was coming an hour before, and here they were faking excitement to see the woman.
But she knew most were just judging her.
Everyone was treating Court like they’d missed her all these years, and Stephanie couldn’t stomach it.
Court seemed to be doing her best to act like she was happy about the questions about her life and hugs from virtual strangers.
But Stephanie could tell it was all an act, a good one, but an act just the same.
If Stephanie hadn’t spent hours with her the week before, she might have missed that it was an act at all.
But the woman who walked in her parents’ door wasn’t the woman who’d been at The Button that night. This woman didn’t have the confidence, the swagger that Court had that night. Today she was trying to be someone her family would expect her to be. Not herself.
Since nobody was looking, Stephanie snuck to the bathroom. No need to introduce herself, so they had to pretend they didn’t know each other. Or worse, everyone would realize that they knew each other very, very much.
Locking the door, she leaned against it and pulled her phone out. There was only one person she could call who would understand. She just hoped she wasn’t on a date and wouldn’t answer.
Happily, she answered on the first ring. “What’s up, Stephanie?”
“She’s here.” She whispered into the phone, worried that someone would hear. That she’d have to explain that they had sex many, many times last weekend.
“Your mumbling, Stephanie, you need to enunciate?” She could hear the noise in the background as Jordan spoke. Which meant she was out for the night.
Rolling her eyes, she added a bit louder, “Court’s here.”
Jordan cackled at her words. “Court from the bar? Your one-night stand? Is she following you?”
“Worse, she’s Calvin’s goddaughter.”
“What? Didn’t you recognize her?”
Closing the toilet lid, she sat down heavily. “No, because I haven’t seen her since I was in middle school, and to say she doesn’t look like she did back then is an understatement. She had long hair, and I can’t see the Court of today having that hair.”
“Now what? Did she tell everyone about you two? What did your mom say to that? I bet she had something.”
Not even wanting to think about her mom finding out about her and Court, “There’s no ‘you two’ to talk about. I hope she’ll keep her mouth shut. The last thing I need everyone to know is that I slept with her.”
“It shouldn’t matter. If you haven’t seen her in years, nobody should be upset.
They should understand.” Jordan always felt everyone was more accepting than people actually were.
But her parents were accepting from even before they knew their daughter was part of the community. Stephanie wasn’t that lucky.
“They won’t.” She stated flatly, then added, “I’m going to have to talk to her, make sure she isn’t going to say anything.”
“Do you think she’ll listen to you?”
“Maybe I think she’s hiding that she’s gay, except for her hair she looks downright fem today.
Do you think she’s really fem? I mean, I wouldn’t have thought about it until she walked in.
She was so butch that night. Maybe she switches, which would be fine, but she just seemed butch.
” She knew she was rambling, but Jordan was the only one who she could talk about this with.
Jordan laughed at her. “Oh, is Stephanie worried that her amazing butch has lost her edge? What will pour Stephanie daydream about now?”
Blushing even though she was alone at Jordan’s accusation, she argued, “Shut up. I was just asking your opinion. I should have known better.”
“Steph, I think she’s walking into a stranger’s house for a weekend.
Maybe no matter how secure she's in her sexuality, she has no idea what she’s walking into.
She’s smart enough to play it safe.” Jordan said, reminding Stephanie how scary it must be for Court to come here today.
How she didn’t have to, but did it anyway.
She may have had swagger at the bar, but she had balls today.
“What happens when she sees them the next time?”
“This might be it. If you haven’t seen her in years, there might be a reason she’s there. Maybe you should ask her that instead of asking her not to talk.”
“You don’t understand. The last thing I actually want to do is talk to her, and no way are we having a heart to heart about why she’s here.”
“And I see you're completely over the fact that she ghosted you, aren’t you?” Jordan commented offhandedly.
“I have to go.” Miffed, Jordan was hitting too close to home.
“Please, just talk to her. Get to know her. Even if there’s no chance for a future, she’s still a part of your life.”
“Are you on a date?” Stephanie changed the subject, needing to get off the phone.
“No, laundry night.” She said, but the noise in the background sounded like a bar.
“What happened to your volleyball player?” She asked, because tonight was the night of the big date.
“Lost interest.”
“You or her?”
“Let’s say her so I don’t get the lecture about my love life.
” Jordan sounded as defeated as she always did when talking about dating after her ex.
The woman did a number on her friend before leaving her for a better life.
Something she had to do without Jordan. And though it had been three years, it was still hard on her sometimes.
“We’ll talk about this when I get back.” She suggested it had been a while since they had an actual heart to heart, and it was long overdue.
“Let’s not. Have fun with your family weekend. And your lover,” Jordan said before hanging up, not wanting to argue the point.
Stephanie took time washing her hands before heading back out to her family. They were no longer by the front door, but were all sitting at the table, making her wonder how long she had been on the phone. But didn’t care, she needed a break and had taken it. She wasn’t going to apologize for that.
The conversation about her brother’s flight earlier in the day stopped completely, and all eyes turned to her as she slipped into the only empty seat.
At least it was across the table from Court and not next to her, she didn’t think she could sit next to her for the next hour or more.
But sitting next to her brother-in-law wasn’t anymore preferable.
“Stephanie, I thought you were bringing your boyfriend this weekend?” Laura asked with a smirk, because Mom would have told her that he wasn’t coming by now, and her sister wanted to get a rise out of her. Unfortunately, she was so loud everyone could hear.
Across the table from her, she caught Court’s blue eyes before she looked at her plate with far too much interest, hoping the floor would open up and swallow her up. This was the last thing she wanted to talk about with everyone in her family at once and with Court listening to everything.
But she didn’t think there was a chance in hell that she’d get out of it now.