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There was silence on the other end of the line. Rachel knew it was silly but she started to worry that she had scared Ainsley off somehow.

Eventually, Ainsley said, “That actually sounds like a great idea. If you have room, I mean…”

“I have a guest bedroom,” Rachel assured her. “My hotel even provides free wi-fi, free guest parking and a complimentary breakfast.”

“Hmm,” Ainsley began, “hotel breakfasts usually suck.”

“Oh, fuck you! I’ll have you know I am a great cook!”

“Which is what I’m sure a lot of those hotel chefs say,” Ainsley replied. “But you do have free guest parking, which is nice…”

“So, we have a deal?” Rachel asked, hoping beyond hope Ainsley said yes. For some reason, Ainsley staying in her house—even in the guest bedroom—was something Rachel wanted to experience.

“Of course we have a deal! Thanks for saving me from all that driving!”

Chapter 12

“Nope…Nope…Nope…Ooh! I like this one! I’ll try it on myself!...Nope…This one, yes…Aaand, this one!”

Krissy was finally done selecting clothes for Ainsley to try on at the upscale boutique they were at in one of the tony neighborhoods of San Diego. It was Saturday and Ainsley had wanted someone to come shopping with her because she wanted to find a new dress for Valentine’s Day, which was, thrillingly, now less than a week away.

Of course, she had a closetful of dresses—none of which Rachel had seen. Also, instead of buying new clothes—and who was she kidding? She wasn’t going to end up buying one dress; she’d end up with bags of new clothes by the time this shopping trip was over—she ought to be packing her old clothes and everything else up, preparing for her move to Carlsbad.

She had considered inviting Charlotte. After all, Charlotte lived in San Diego also, whereas Krissy lived up in Carlsbad. But lately, Ainsley had begun tiring of Charlotte and her downer attitude and Ainsley wanted today to be about having fun. And fun meant Krissy.

Krissy hadn’t minded making the drive and Ainsley even sweetened the offer by suggesting that Krissy just stay the night with her at the condo. Provided Ainsley wasn’t called in to the hospital for any reason, the two of them could look forward to a night of wine, Netflix, take-out Korean and, for dessert, cheesecake.

“We’ll try these on,” Krissy informed the saleswoman, holding up the three dresses she had selected, along with two additional tops she had selected earlier.

“Dressing rooms are right this way,” the saleswoman said, a pretty young girl who Ainsley guessed might be a college student.

After escorting them to the back where the changing rooms were, the saleswoman gestured toward one room to her left and another to her right. But when Ainsley stepped into the first-indicated room, Krissy followed her right into it also.

“We’ll just share this one!” Krissy informed the young woman, shutting the door.

Ainsley laughed.

The room was spacious enough for two, with plenty of mirrors for them both to share. Krissy immediately started lifting her casual swing dress over her head. Meanwhile, Ainsley started removing her fitted tee and then unfastened her denim shorts.

“I like the idea of this friend-date with Rachel,” Krissy said as she started removing the dress she had selected for herself to try on from the hanger. “After we’re done here, our next stop is lingerie shopping.”

Ainsley rolled her eyes.

“Krissy, I have plenty of lingerie at home. Besides, a woman makes an effort with lingerie when she’s more than ninety-percent certain her date is going to see it.”

“Uh-uh!” Krissy exclaimed, turning to face her and using her hands to indicate her body. “Are we on a date? And yet look at what I’m rocking!”

Ainsley swallowed.

She had to admit that her friend’s lingerie game was on point today. Krissy’s breasts were encased in a soft pink mesh bralette through which her dark nipples were clearly visible. And the mesh thong panties she was wearing matched perfectly. On Krissy, the combination was mouth-wateringly alluring. It certainly wasn’t a woman’s everyday-type underwear. By comparison, Ainsley had on her all-purpose white Maidenform bra that had the sex appeal of a pair of mittens, and black comfort panties which would hardly make even the gayest of gay women crazy with desire.

Krissy started pulling on the dress she wanted to try on.

“There is nothing wrong with a woman wearing sexy lingerie just for herself, Ains,” she said. “It makes you feel pretty and confident, even if no one else sees it.” She looked at Ainsley. “Don’t you want to feel pretty and confident during this…friend-date with Rachel?”

Ainsley cocked an eyebrow at Krissy.

“Why do you say it like that?” she asked, smirking.