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“Well, duh! Jillian’s books should be required reading for all baby dykes.” Her eyes went wide. “Ooh! Did you do Chapter 25 with her?” she asked, referring to the famous section in Jillian Ashley’s first book.

Ainsley rolled her eyes.

“That’s advanced lesbian stuff, Char! I don’t want to risk injuring the poor girl.”

She checked her watch.

“Okay, I need to start getting ready to leave,” she told her friend. “I have an appendectomy to get ready for and then an appointment at the title company to sign all the documents about the house I’m buying.”

The appointment was in Carlsbad and then she and Rachel were going to go on a date afterwards to celebrate because once all the documents were signed, the house was officially hers.

“Wait,” Charlotte said, “did you give Rachel the petition?”

Ainsley laughed.

“Yes, and she thought it was cute!”

“Cute?” Charlotte asked, looking put out. “I was fucking serious when I signed that!”

“Shut up!” Ainsley ordered. “Anyway, she already checked her schedule and, yes, she can play with us on Sunday.”

***

After the appendectomy, Ainsley changed out of her scrubs and into the outfit she had brought for her date with Rachel later. It was going to be a casual date: take-out fish tacos which they’d then eat on the beach as the sun set. And so Ainsley’s outfit was super casual also: capri-length yoga pants with a tie dye pattern and one of her favorite tank tops. She’d carry a hoodie with her as well just in case it got too chilly later to go without.

After leaving the female staff locker room, she was heading towards the elevators when she heard her name called.

“Ainsley.”

Ainsley turned to find Casey standing in the waiting area used by family and friends of patients. Unlike the last time Ainsley had seen her, back when she showed up at her condo unannounced, Casey was dressed more demurely in a simple white blouse, a black cardigan and black slacks. She looked like a woman on her way to bible study and Ainsley wanted laugh and ask her what was with the costume. “Demure” was not a word anyone would use to describe Casey Langostine.

Ainsley approached her.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for you,” Casey answered.

Ainsley looked around. She wanted to rip Casey a new one but there were people sitting nearby, evidently waiting for their loved ones to get out of surgery. Also, the nurses station was close by as well and she didn’t need any gossip-hungry doctors or nurses listening in on the very heated discussion she was about to have with her ex.

“Follow me,” she hissed.

Instead of waiting for an elevator, Ainsley pushed open the door leading to the staircase, knowing it would be empty.

“How long have you been here?” she asked as she started walking down.

“Since ten a.m.”

Ainsley stopped and looked back at Casey who was behind her by a couple of steps.

“What the fuck?” Ainsley asked.

“Well I knew you wouldn’t answer my calls so what else was I supposed to do?” Casey pressed.

“Leave me the fuck alone, that’s what you were supposed to do!” Ainsley resumed her downward climb.

“Ains, please!” Casey said, following the doctor. “Doesn’t it show you how much I want you back that I was willing to wait all day for you if I needed to?”

Ainsley shook her head.