“Not really.” Macon turned her eyes to the bartender, who noticed them, smiled, and nodded that he’d be right over. “You can go, though. I don’t mind. I’ll just get something to-go and head home.”

  “I don’t want to go without you,” Joanna said before she could stop herself and stood back from the bar. “I’ll tell them no. We can play some more.”

  “I think I’ll just get the nachos to-go. I’m kind of done. I was tired before I got here. You can come to my place, though. I’ll share.”

  Joanna glanced over at Emma and Keira, who appeared to be in conversation, and turned back to Macon.

  “Let me get them on their way. I’ll come back, and we can decide, okay?”

  “Fine,” she agreed as the bartender approached to take the order. “Can I get an order of nachos with no jalapenos, and an order of potato skins with extra bacon to-go?”

  Joanna smiled at the order she heard as she walked away back toward Keira and Emma.

  “We’re going to pass,” she explained. “She’s tired. And, honestly, she was going to stay at home tonight. I convinced her to come out with me. I think I’m going to walk her home and head home myself. I have an early shoot tomorrow.”

  “I can sense the lies falling from your lips, but I’ll allow it,” Keira offered with a smile. “Tell her I’m sorry, okay?” she said in a lower voice.

  “For what? She hasn’t exactly filled me in on what happened between you two.”

  “And she won’t. I know her. She won’t want to tell you, but it’ll be okay. She just needs to cool down and let me apologize, but she’s not there yet. Maybe you can help grease the wheels, so to speak?”

  “I guess,” Joanna offered back and noticed Macon finishing off her beer and setting the bottle on the bar.

  “Thanks,” Keira said and tugged on Emma’s hand before looking back at Joanna. “You two are good, right? Your friendship is good?”

  “As far as I know. Why? Do you know something I don’t?”

  “No, I just wanted to check.” Keira looked past her and toward the bar where Macon was still standing. “I’ve been spending a lot of time with this one here and at work.” She referenced Emma. “Hillary’s been busy herself. Kellan and Macon started to have a good friendship before she left for Tahoe. But, outside of that group, she doesn’t really have a lot of close friends. I want to make sure she’s taken care of, you know?”

  “Oh. I spend most of my free time with her. I think things are good between us. She’s probably my closest friend. I think she’s comfortable enough with me to tell me if things are bothering her. I’m not sure why she can’t tell me whatever you said to piss her off.”

  Keira’s eyes hadn’t left the spot at the bar Joanna didn’t need to turn around to see Macon occupying.

  “She will, someday,” Keira said after a moment. “We’ll leave you guys alone. Sorry to have bothered you and ruin the night.”

  “You didn’t ruin the night, Keira. It’s not a big deal.”

  “See you later?” Emma asked as Keira pulled her toward the door.

  “Enjoy the movie.”

  “We will. I’m planning on making out with her during.” Emma winked as Keira rolled her eyes at her playfully.

  Joanna waited for them to go, took a big gulp of her beer, and headed back toward Macon, who was now sitting at one of the free stools.

  “So, they’re on their way out. What did you decide you want to do?”

  “My place, food, and maybe a movie,” she replied directly. “Unless you want to just go back to your place.”

  “Alone or with you?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  “I’m asking you what you want, Macon. Obviously, Keira did something to tick you off. If you want to just go home and–”

  “I told you what I want, Jo.” She turned her head to reveal her still somewhat angry, though not as intensely, expression. “You, me, food, and a movie.”

  “Okay.” Joanna nodded. “I’m picking the movie, though.”

  “Fine. But nothing sappy,” Macon argued.

  “Action or horror?”

  “Action. Let’s pick up that wine I like from the store downstairs.”

  “Sounds good. But can we get the wine I like, too, since the wine you like is terrible?” Joanna teased and gave Macon’s shoulder a light bump with her own.

  “Fine. But I get one of your potato skins.”

  “You can have two.” Joanna slid her beer on the bar toward Macon, who took a drink.

  CHAPTER 6

  “So, how’d the meeting with your conductor go?” Joanna asked while Greene sifted through the myriad of movie options available to stream.

  “It was good,” Greene replied. “Action, right?”

  “So, you’re not fired?” Joanna snagged a nacho and bit into it while Greene continued to sort.

  “No.” Greene laughed. “He offered me a job opportunity, actually.”

  “You already have a job.” Joanna leaned back against the sofa after biting into her first potato skin.

  “New action or old action?”

  “Don’t change the subject.” Joanna pushed at her shoulder, and Greene leaned back to match her posture.

  “I’m not. I’m trying to pick a movie.”

  “Then, pick one. I honestly don’t care what we watch.” Joanna motioned to the TV screen. “Seriously.”

  Greene hovered over a category on the screen and turned her head to Joanna. Joanna had all but finished the potato skin she’d grabbed and was sitting so close, the sides of their bodies were touching.

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. Answer my question.” She smiled at her and finished the last bite.

  “There’s a new romance I’ve wanted to check out but haven’t.”

  “I’m sorry.” Joanna laughed and turned her head to Greene. “Did Macon Greene just say she wanted to check out a romantic movie?”

  “It’s not the kind of romance you’re probably used to.” Greene turned back to the TV and scrolled over to the movie.

  “How so?”

  “It’s a lesbian romance.” She clicked on the film to reveal the title and details to allow Joanna to read. “I usually don’t watch them, because ninety-five percent of them have sad endings, but I read some spoilers. This one is supposed to have a happy one.”

  “Why sad endings all the time?”

  “Couldn’t tell you.” Greene shrugged and clicked on the purchase button to buy the movie for ten bucks. “It’s a trend that’s been around forever. I used to watch them when I first started to think I might like girls and then when I knew I did. They just depressed me, though. It felt like people were saying if you fell in love with a woman, you’d just end up losing her.” She waited before pressing the start button to begin the film. “Either she died of some illness, or she was straight and returned to the husband. It took me years to find one with a happy ending where they ended up together.”

  Joanna stared at her as she spoke. She seemed to be interested in what Greene was saying. She turned back to the TV, because the intensity of Joanna’s eyes was too much for her to handle these days.

  “That’s kind of depressing,” she finally said. “So, you want to watch it?”

  “If you’re up for it, yeah. If not, I’m sure there’s some other movie with car crashes and bombs blowing up buildings we can watch.”

  “It’s fine. Put it on.” Joanna laughed at her, leaned forward, and grabbed two potato skins. She passed both to Greene, who took them. “As promised.” She stood then. “I’ll grab my good wine and your terrible wine.”

  Greene laughed to herself as Joanna made her way into her kitchen to open both bottles. Greene started the movie. She watched Joanna open her cutlery drawer, grab the corkscrew, and then open bottle number one followed by the second. The woman put the corkscrew back and opened a cabinet next to the sink to pull out two wine glasses. She poured a glass from one bottle and then the other before carrying the glasses into the living room, placing them on the table, and moving back to grab the bottles, bringing them with her, and setting them on the table as well. She was one of the few people Greene let into her apartment. She was the only one who knew it so well.

  It hadn’t felt strange to Greene. But she was starting to wonder if the reason it hadn’t felt strange to her was because she secretly wanted to be in a relationship with the woman currently shoving a messy nacho in her mouth, trying to make room for the cheese that was congealed on top of it by moving her head to line up with it. Greene couldn’t help but find it adorable. That was scary. She’d never been in this situation before. She’d had relationships, and she’d dated women, but she’d never felt something like this for any of them. Joanna wasn’t an option. And Greene resigned herself in that moment to just being miserable until she could find a way to move past these feelings. She’d surely meet someone that made her feel the same. Joanna would start dating a guy. Seeing them together would set Greene’s mind and heart right.

  “Thanks,” Greene said.

  Joanna passed her the glass. She took a sip and placed it back, sinking into the sofa to watch the movie that had just started.

  “So, what’s this movie about exactly?” Joanna did the same.

  “Girl meets girl. Girl loses girl. Girl gets girl back. It’s just like every other movie, but it won a few festival awards. I thought it had to be decent enough,” Greene told her.

  “Well, I hope so,” Joanna replied.

  “If not, we can turn it off.”

  A few minutes later, the first female lead had met the second female lead. The movie had a high-quality feel to it, with a decent score. Greene always noticed the music in movies, even more sometimes than the plot. If it was terrible, she’d cringe and turn it off. If it was great, she had respect for the people who had put it all together. Ten minutes later, Joanna’s head was on her shoulder. The two women on screen had shared a fun, awkward moment where it was clear they were progressing toward something more. Greene couldn’t hear the music or the dialogue anymore because Joanna’s head was on her shoulder. They’d stopped eating and had only snuck a few sips of their wine. Joanna had snuggled into her side, apparently, for the long haul, because at the thirty-minute mark, when the characters shared their first kiss, she was still there.

  Greene’s heart was racing. She’d been able to keep herself together as the characters moved into their first fight. Joanna stirred for a moment before getting up to use the bathroom. Greene missed the press of her body next to her immediately. When Joanna returned, though, she was torn. She wanted Joanna to move back into position. She also didn’t want that, because it felt too good. Joanna finished her glass of wine and poured herself another. She topped off Greene’s and settled back into her.

  “What did I miss?” she asked.

  “They made up,” Greene replied. “Actually, they’re still making up,” she added and pointed at the screen.

  “Oh.”

  The two very attractive women were nearly naked. One was on top of the other. Greene felt herself grow uncomfortable, which surprised her because she had no problem watching two women have fake sex in a movie. That was especially true because most of the lesbian sex in movies was pretty terrible or shot through a filter that made it nearly impossible to see anything worthwhile. Having Joanna next to her, touching her skin, was enough to light her on fire. Once the women were both completely nude, and the camera was not shying away from particular areas of their bodies, Greene tensed. She felt Joanna also tense beside her. The scene continued. Greene’s face grew red. She hadn’t known the sex scene in this movie would be so graphic. The two actresses were clearly giving the scene their all. Greene’s cheeks reddened further as one slid down between the other woman’s legs and began a very specific activity she had not prepared herself to see with Joanna tucked into her body.

  After a few more seconds, Joanna moved to sit up straight next to her. Greene didn’t chance a look over at her face to check her reaction but noted that Joanna’s hands were clasped tightly in her lap for the duration of that part of the scene. As the actress continued making sounds indicative of her impending fake orgasm, Joanna’s hands tensed further. When the orgasm came, her hands released. Greene watched the remainder of the scene while Joanna sipped on her second glass of wine and seemed to be looking around the room at anywhere other than the TV.

  Greene didn’t know what that meant. Was Joanna turned on by the scene and needed to look away? Was she grossed out by the scene but didn’t want to make Greene uncomfortable, so she looked elsewhere to save herself from having to watch two women have sex and then exchange their first ‘I love you’ at the end of the scene?

  “Sorry, I didn’t know it was this graphic,” Greene said.

  “No, it’s fine. It’s a good movie so far.”

  Joanna downed the rest of her wine. She picked up the bottle to refill her glass. Greene hadn’t seen her drink this much this quickly possibly ever.

  “I can turn it off. We can just–”

  “No, it’s okay, Macon. Really; it’s a good movie. They’re…” Joanna seemed to stumble as she stared at the screen and at the two women who were now spooning and enjoying their shared afterglow. “Cute together.” She drank half the glass she’d just poured.

  “I was going to say hot together, but… sure.” Greene tried to laugh it off and took a gulp of her own wine.

  “That too.” Joanna leaned back again but held onto her wine glass this time.

  Another forty minutes went by. The characters had a few nice make-out sessions and a shorter sex scene, where they were still half-clothed and up against a wall. By then, Greene sensed Joanna was more than comfortable with what they were showing. That could’ve been due to the amount of alcohol she’d consumed more than the movie itself. She’d finished her beer at 7Ups earlier. Then, she finished the entire bottle of wine she’d bought and even had half a glass of Greene’s, despite telling her it was terrible more than once. When the movie ended, Joanna’s legs were in Greene’s lap. Her head was against the arm of the sofa and the small square pillow there. Her eyes were glassy. She was seemingly both tired and drunk.

  “How about we call it a night?” Greene suggested and patted Joanna’s legs, which she’d been innocently touching, thinking about what it might be like to slide her hands up the jeans and touch her bare calves.

  “Huh?” Joanna turned her eyes from where they’d been entranced on the rolling credits.

  “You’re totally drunk.” Greene laughed at her. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you drunk before.”

  “I’m not drunk. I’m tipsy. There’s a difference.” Joanna moved her legs and sat herself up. She was a little wobbly. Greene’s hand went to the small of her back to try to settle her. “Okay, I might be a little drunk.” She placed her hand on her forehead. “I’m calling an Uber to drive me home.”

  Greene watched her attempt to stand and stood with her, holding onto her waist to prevent her from falling over.

  “Just stay here,” Greene offered. “I’ll get you something to wear. Come on.” She motioned for Joanna to walk with her toward the bedroom.

  “No way. That’s your sanctuary,” she argued without moving.

  “You’ve been in my sanctuary for the past several hours and many more before that. It’s not a big deal,” Greene insisted. “It’s better than you taking an Uber home. I’m too tired to get in the Uber with you to make sure you get home safely and then take the car back here. So, just borrow some clothes and go to sleep.”

  Joanna didn’t respond but followed Greene as she pulled her by the hand into her bedroom. Greene pulled out a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants for her to put on, and then left her there to go to the bedroom and change clothes herself. She brushed her teeth and then returned to the bedroom to find Joanna sitting on the edge of the bed, changed but looking groggy. Greene pulled her up by her hands and took her to the bathroom, where she pulled out the toothbrush she’d bought to replace her current one, put toothpaste on it, and handed it to Joanna before closing the door to give her privacy. A few minutes later, she heard the bathroom door open and turned to see the woman walking almost zombie-like toward the living room. Greene finished pulling the blankets back on the bed and followed her out there. She found Joanna lying on the sofa, pulling the throw blanket over her body.

  “Goodnight,” Joanna said when she realized Greene was in the room with her.

  “What are you doing?” Greene laughed at her.

  “Going to sleep.”

  “Why are you doing that out here?”

  “Because you have one bed,” Joanna argued and rolled onto her side to face Greene.

  “Yeah, and it’s a queen. There’s plenty of room for both of us.” Greene moved toward her. “Come on.”

  She moved them back into the bedroom and walked Joanna around to the other side, pulling the blanket back a little more so the woman could slide in. She tucked her in and went back to the living room, where she moved the dishes and trash into the kitchen, turned off the lights, and made sure to lock up before returning to the bedroom. When she got to the doorway, she saw a gorgeous, blonde woman already asleep in her bed.

  No woman had ever slept in that bed. As she stared at Joanna lying there, sleeping peacefully, she wondered if maybe this was a bad idea. Maybe she should have gone in the Uber with her and then come home and fallen asleep in her bed solo, as she’d done every other night, but she shook her head sideways and approached her own side of the bed. She slid under the blankets and flipped off the bedside lamp, leaving her in near complete darkness, save the light coming from the street lamps outside.

  “Macon?” Joanna whispered.

  Greene turned her head to see that she’d rolled on her side to face her.

  “Yeah?”

  “Am I the only woman that’s been in this bed?” she asked a little louder.

  “Yeah,” Macon admitted.

  “That’s kind of nice,” she replied and drifted back to sleep.

  “Yeah, it kind of is.” Greene slid in more comfortably, watching Joanna sleep.