“A watched pot never boils,” Summer said from behind Lena, who had stood and turned to take in the clock. “For the record, that clock is fast. My phone shows 5:58.” She held up her phone and pressed the button to illuminate the screen. “See?”

  Lena smiled and nodded at her. She’d often wondered how it was fair that her twin got all the confidence of the two of them. Somehow, in the womb, Leo had gotten 100% of it. Lena was left with none. She’d made strides with her friends, and she had no problem at work, but that was out of necessity. If she weren’t confident, she’d have no chance in that world, but with Summer, she was nervous all the time.

  “I’ll have to fix it later,” she replied as Summer slid the phone into the back pocket of her jeans.

  “You look nice.” Summer looked Lena up and down.

  Lena had chosen to wear a pair of jeans and a light brown button-down three-quarter-length sleeve shirt. She’d worn matching brown boots and left her hair down and wavy.

  “You do too.” Lena reached out an open hand to reference Summer’s look and then dropped it at her side.

  Summer had chosen jeans too, but she wasn’t wearing her usual hooded sweatshirt. They were skinny jeans with knee-high black boots over them. Her hair was down and over her shoulders. She had on a simple black V-neck, but it appeared to be silk, and while it wasn’t exactly see-through, it did leave little to the imagination. Lena gulped at the sight and then lifted her eyes back to Summer’s.

  “So, I made a plan for tonight, but it involves a trip. Are you up for that?” Summer asked.

  “A trip?”

  “Can you pack an overnight bag?”

  “That kind of a trip? Where are we going?” Lena took several steps toward her.

  “It’s a surprise. We can come right back if you want, but I booked a place to stay and I think we should stay the night and come back tomorrow. Is that okay?” Summer asked.

  “And you’re not telling me where we’re going?” Lena smiled and found that her nervousness was still present, but it was now due to the fact that Summer had sprung an overnight trip on her and not because of Summer herself. “How do I even know what to pack?”

  “Just pack stuff to sleep in and something to wear tomorrow. It’s not a big deal, honestly.” She took steps toward Lena to take her hand. She pulled her gently in the direction of the stairs. “Comfortable stuff only, though.”

  Lena allowed Summer to usher her up the stairs into her bedroom before she turned around to face her and dropped her hand.

  “This is crazy,” she said.

  “I’ll wait downstairs.” Summer smirked at her and backed out of the bedroom.

  “This is crazy,” Lena whispered only to herself now.

  She pulled out a roller bag from her closet and rolled it into her bedroom, placed it open atop her bed, and then moved hastily into her drawers to find something to wear. Summer had said she should dress comfortably, but she hadn’t specifically told her where they were going or whether the place they’d be staying had one bed to two, or even if they’d be in the same room. She wasn’t sure if the comfortable clothing extended to the sleepwear, so she grabbed baggy flannel pants and a t-shirt, but she also grabbed something a little less comfortable just in case. She threw in her toiletry bag and made sure not to forget her phone charger. She tossed another pair of jeans, two shirt options for tomorrow, and zipped up the bag. As she placed it back on the floor, she couldn’t believe she was about to go somewhere without knowing the destination and with no time to prepare herself. She smiled and took a deep breath in before letting it out. She left her room and found Summer standing right outside the door and just out of view. She nearly toppled over with surprise.

  “Sorry, I thought I should help with your bag. I didn’t mean to scare you.” Summer grabbed Lena’s roller for her.

  Outside, the car waited for them. The driver took Lena’s roller and placed it in the trunk, while Summer held the back door open for her to climb into the backseat. Lena did, and Summer joined her moments later.

  “Are you really not going to tell me where we’re going?” Lena turned a little to her side to ask.

  “Can you not handle surprises? Is that something I should know about you?” Summer teased as the car moved in reverse.

  “I’m not great with them, no,” Lena said

  Summer stared at her eyes and brushed the hair away from her face.

  “I like your hair when it’s like this; when it’s natural and wavy. It’s nice.” Summer replied.

  “Thank you.”

  Summer’s hand remained in her hair just behind her ear for a moment, before she finally pulled it away. Lena missed the contact. Summer’s hand there felt steadying. It felt like she was holding Lena together just with that one touch.

  “So, do you want to tell me about your day?” Summer asked with a smile.

  “My day? You’re really not telling me where we’re going that required me to pack a bag?” Lena asked.

  “No, I’m not,” Summer replied. “How was your day?”

  Lena accepted that she would have to submit to Summer’s surprise. She reminded herself that Summer’s spirit is one of the things she liked about her most. About thirty minutes after they left Lena’s house, they arrived at the airport, but not at O’Hare or Midway. It was a small private airport. When Summer pulled her out of the car, Lena glanced around to find a small private plane less than fifty yards away from them.

  “Why are we taking a plane wherever we’re going?” she asked as Summer’s hand took her own, and she was again pulled in the direction of the jet.

  “Because it was the only option.”

  “What are you talking about?” Lena asked, the sound of the engine forcing her to get louder as they grew closer. “Where are we going?”

  “Just come on, or we’ll be late. It’s going to take us three hours to get there,” Summer said. They climbed the stairs to the private plane. “They’ve got our bags. Don’t worry,” Summer added when Lena turned to check on her roller.

  Lena sat first in a seat on the ten-seat plane, before Summer stood over her and nodded for her to join her instead on the small bench-like sofa, that lined one side of the aircraft. Lena stood and followed her, sitting beside her instead.

  “Summer, I don’t-”

  “I swear I don’t use my money to take women on wild, whisk away dates. This is the first time. I am perfectly content just sitting in your living room watching a movie, but when I was trying to figure out what to do tonight, there was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, and it wasn’t local.”

  Lena smiled, as Summer turned to her, and said, “How not local was it?”

  “Nashville,” Summer replied.

  “We’re going to Tennessee?” Lena asked.

  “Just trust me, okay?”

  Lena nodded. Within fifteen minutes, they were in the air. A flight attendant offered them drinks and snacks. Lena was hungry. She hadn’t eaten lunch out of nervousness and then decided not to eat after that because they’d likely be going to dinner as a part of their date, but that had been a mistake, because they were flying to Tennessee. She definitely hadn’t been prepared for that. As she ate pretzels, nuts, and a variety of fruits and cheeses along with Summer, she contemplated where Summer could possibly be taking her in Nashville. She’d never been there before, but she’d never felt a particular pull toward the city either. As far as she knew, there was nothing there she’d wanted to see. She couldn’t recall mentioning anything to Summer about the city. She was at a loss for their destination.

  While they snacked, they talked. Lena loved Summer’s voice. It was so expressive. She could tell exactly how she felt about whatever she was talking about without even looking at her because her voice gave her away. She also loved looking at Summer. She crinkled her nose sometimes when she smiled. She had a small patch of freckles under both eyes that one could only see this close.

  It felt like only minutes had passed when the pilot announced that they were landing. Lena had never experienced that before. Even when she first started dating Damon, time had never moved like this. She’d always been aware of how long they’d been talking. With Summer, time stood still.

  They deplaned and headed into another car Summer had waiting. Their bags were placed in the trunk. Lena began getting nervous again. She still had no idea where they were going or, more importantly, where they’d be spending the night. Lena wondered if Summer had more in mind for their night together. They were in the car for another fifteen minutes before it pulled up outside what looked like some sort of a club.

  “We’re here to see Esperanza Spalding,” Summer said.

  Lena’s head snapped around to Summer and found the girl looking nervous for the first time all night.

  “What?” Lena asked.

  “You love jazz. When I was playing with your system the other day, I noticed you had a ton of it. Nearly every playlist had at least something in the jazz family. When I looked at the songs you played the most, Esperanza Spalding was eight of ten.”

  “I love her stuff,” Lena said.

  “I guessed that.” Summer smiled. “I looked her up today. She’s on tour. She’s here tonight. It’s the last night of the tour. I didn’t want you to miss it, or else, I would have just taken you somewhere else on another date and given you a little more notice.”

  “Summer…”

  “Is this okay?” Summer asked.

  “Of course, it is,” Lena replied, and the driver opened her door.

  “Good. She’s on in like ten minutes,” Summer said.

  Lena climbed out of the car. Summer joined her on the sidewalk.

  “This is amazing, Summer. I’ve never seen her live. I’ve wanted to, but I never found the time or had anyone willing to go with me. Not everyone likes jazz.”

  They proceeded to walk into the smoky lounge setting, with Summer showing tickets on her phone. Summer motioned to a booth off to the right that had a velvet rope in front of it.

  “We’re over here. VIP space.”

  “Summer, you-”

  “It was available,” Summer interrupted the soft background music and Lena with a whisper in Lena’s ear as she took her hand. “The rest of the place was sold out. I swear I don’t flaunt money around like this. I really am just a normal girl who likes normal dates.”

  “I think I know that by now, considering how many hooded sweatshirts I’ve seen you in and the fact that you spent an entire night making me grilled cheese sandwiches,” Lena replied.

  She sat in the booth behind the table. Summer slid in next to her. The booths around the outside of the room were all a deep red. The tables in the middle had red candles flickering light that bathed the whole room in red. It was an appropriate place for a jazz show. The tables were filling up with patrons as the show was about to begin. Lena was just trying to take it all in. She glanced at Summer, who was staring intently at her.

  “I have to confess something,” Summer said after a moment. “I know nothing about jazz. I’m more of a top forty girl myself.”

  “Then, it’s even more impressive that you brought me here,” Lena replied and then noticed someone approaching their table.

  “What can I get you?” the man said.

  “Sorry?” Lena wasn’t sure to what he was referring.

  “He’s taking our drink order,” Summer said.

  “I’ve never been to a show where they take our drink order,” Lena replied.

  Summer smirked at her and then turned her attention to the man, dressed in what looked to be a 1920s-inspired ensemble.

  “Martini?” Summer asked her.

  “Sure.”

  Summer ordered two martinis, and the man disappeared. Just as he did, the main lights dimmed even lower. The walls of the room illuminated with red accent lighting, and a few moments later, Lena recognized the opening notes of one of Esperanza Spalding’s songs. She couldn’t hold back her glee as her eyes made their way to the stage. She was immediately captivated and engaged. She hadn’t noticed when her martini was placed in front of her. She almost forgot she was in a crowded room, watching one of her favorite musicians amongst at least a hundred other people, but then she felt a hand on her thigh, and as the first song ended, she felt a pull in a different direction. She turned to Summer’s to find her expression reflecting nervousness. Lena found it endearing. Her eyes were flashing the reds and yellows from the flickering candles around the room. Her lips had a sheen of recently placed gloss. Lena wondered if she’d done that while Lena’s eyes had been glued to the stage.

  Lena placed her hand on top of Summer’s and felt Summer’s fingers link with her own before she pulled their now joined hands into her lap. Lena’s eyes remained locked on Summer’s until the second song was already in the slow, perfectly paced chorus. She flashed them to the stage and felt Summer turn forward to allow both of them to continue watching the show. Their hands remained linked, but Lena felt Summer’s thumb slide back and forth over her hand by the time the fourth song had started. They both sipped on their drinks but hadn’t finished their first round.

  With the sixth song, Lena felt Summer let go of her hand. She immediately turned to express her disappointment, but she watched Summer place her arm around her shoulders instead, and Lena smiled. She hadn’t been held like that in a long time. Summer’s hand met her shoulder and Lena slid her fingers into Summer’s fingers. When Damon had placed an arm around her shoulders, even early in the marriage, it was out of his own comfort more than anything. They’d never linked hands like this. Lena’s head went to Summer’s shoulder while her free hand moved to Summer’s thigh. It took only a moment for Summer to place her other hand over that one. They were as linked as they could be.

  “Are you having a good time?” Summer whispered into her ear.

  Lena lifted her head slightly and pressed her lips to Summer’s ear.

  “This is the best first date I’ve ever been on,” she replied.

  “Me too,” Summer said and turned her head.

  Esperanza began singing Unconditional Love, a song Lena knew by heart and felt like she’d never related to the lyrics.

  “We could change the whole story of love. Same old play I’m getting tired of. No more acting these predictable roles. Just us living unconditional love. Could it be real love?” Esperanza sang the first verse.

  Lena tried to focus on really hearing the lyrics for maybe the first time. She’d been in love before. She’d felt a pull toward another person, but she’d never felt it this intensely. She’d been waiting for that magic the song spoke of. People always talked to her about the ‘it’. Charlie and Hailey found it. Ember and Eva had as well, and from what Lena knew of Alyssa and Hannah, they’d found it in one another. She’d never found it for herself and wondered if, at thirty-six, she ever would. Then, she met Summer Taft, and as she stared into those welcoming brown eyes and felt their fingers aligned perfectly together, she wondered if maybe she finally had.

  Their faces were inches apart. Their lips needed only to reach out for each other, and they’d be linked as well. Lena knew it was what she wanted. Based on how Summer was looking between her eyes and her lips, it was likely what Summer wanted as well, but Lena couldn’t close the distance.

  “Don’t be scared,” Summer said.

  Summer let go of Lena’s hand and placed her own on Lena’s cheek. Lena’s heart thudded loudly in her chest. She hoped the sound of the music would drown it out. Summer leaned in just an inch more, and Lena waited. Her eyes flitted up and down, and up and down, as she watched Summer do the same. Their lips met. Again, it was gentle. It was light, barely there, and Lena was burning inside. Fireworks burrowed out of her body, up through her lips, through her fingers as she lifted her hand to the back of Summer’s neck to pull her closer.

  Within moments, those glossed lips were gliding against Lena’s. The lips wove their way between her lips and sucked for only a moment on Lena’s bottom one before letting it go. Summer found her top lip and then her mouth opened for Lena. Lena’s opened in return to welcome Summer’s tongue, as it tentatively made its way inside. Lena allowed it to explore while letting out a soft moan that seemed to entice Summer further. Her hand slid down and around Lena’s neck. Her lips moved faster against Lena’s. Lena’s breath came faster as Summer’s arm around her pulled her closer. Lena’s body reacted in ways it never had. She wanted more. She wanted it now. But just as she was about to be brave for the second time in as many nights and place her hand high on Summer’s thigh, the song ended, and applause erupted around them. The moment was broken. Summer pulled her lips away but left her hands and the rest of her body in place. No words passed between them as they stared at swollen lips and glazed over eyes.

  “Best date ever,” Lena muttered under her breath as the next song started.

  “We can do more of that later, but I don’t want you to miss your show.”

  Summer kissed Lena’s cheek and pulled away, keeping her arm around Lena’s shoulder and pulling her back into her side. It was a position Lena was more than happy to occupy.

  CHAPTER 15

  Summer heard the final song in the set, but she wasn’t really listening. She couldn’t stop replaying their first real kiss in her mind. Lena’s lips had matched her own in pace and desire, and she wanted nothing more than to experience it again. She hadn’t tried again because she’d brought Lena all this way to see the artist. They’d have time after the show.

  When goodnights were shared with the room, the crowd began to disperse. Lena downed the remainder of her martini. Summer left the last sip of her own for the server to pick up. She stood and waited for Lena to join her, reaching out her hand for Lena to take. They waited until most of the crowd was out of the club. Then, Summer felt Lena tug on her this time. Summer smiled as she enjoyed being led out into the night.