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“Listen, about Ainsley,” she said. But before she got any further, Amy held up her hand and rolled her eyes.

“Wait! Don’t tell me…She’s gotten even taller and more beautiful?”

Rachel laughed.

“No. But you should see her in heels. I mean, like…wow!”

“Shut up,” Amy said in an annoyed tone.

“Anyway,” Rachel continued, “what I was going to say was, I really, really like Ainsley.” She held Amy’s eyes with her own. “As in, I’ve decided that I love her, Amy, and also that this whole being-with-a-woman thing is no longer some kind of experiment for me. I mean, I don’t know if that makes me gay or bi or what. To tell you the truth, if anybody wants to call me a lesbian, I’m fine with it; it doesn’t matter to me, it’s just a label. The only thing I definitely want to be called is ‘Ainsley’s girlfriend.’” She swallowed. “And then, if things go well, maybe Ainsley’s something else as well.”

Her eyes darted down to Amy’s left hand, which was on the table. Specifically, her eyes zeroed in on the gorgeous engagement ring on Amy’s finger.

Amy smiled.

“Wow!” she murmured. Then, “Do you want me to do the whole best friend thing and try to make you really think about if you’re actually in love with this woman?”

Rachel laughed.

“You mean like how I did with you when you told me you were in love with Sally?”

“Exactly!”

“You can try,” Rachel said, “but it won’t make a difference.”

“Then I won’t bother,” Amy replied. After a moment, she added, “It feels good, doesn’t it?”

Rachel knew what it Amy was referring to and she couldn’t agree more. Finding that special someone and falling in love did feel good.

“It feels amazing,” she said.

Amy suddenly groaned.

“Oh my god!” she whined.

“What?”

Amy sighed.

“I just realized that this means me and Sally are going to be hanging out with you and Ainsley now! Ugh! And I had just devoted my life to keeping Sally and Ainsley as far apart as possible!”

“Ainsley is harmless, Aims,” Rachel chided.

“No, she’s not!” Amy stated. “She’s blonde devil spawn from the same planet Vanessa is from and now she’s going to be hanging out with us for dinners and drinks and…oh my god! Coming to my house?”

“God, you’re so silly,” Rachel said, laughing. She narrowed her eyes at Amy. “Should I be offended that you think Sally could steal Ainsley away from me?”

Amy smirked.

“Probably. Because at least Sally knows that she’s supposed to go to my left and not hers during a Chapter 25 re-enactment where she’s the Marisol.”

Chapter 36

Later that afternoon, Ainsley was sitting in the cafeteria of Scripps Memorial.

Her day here was done; technically, she could head home to Carlsbad but she was waiting for someone who had sent her an email yesterday practically begging Ainsley to meet with her for a quick chat. Ainsley had been inclined to say no but for some reason the better angels of her nature had insisted she agree to the meeting, if only to help her get some answers.

The woman arrived on time. Even though Ainsley had met her only once (and that over nine months ago), Ainsley had no trouble recognizing her. It was the eyes and the cheekbones. Casey had gotten both from this woman, her mother.