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Chapter 5

“Glad you came back,”Jewel said, a hint of teasing in her tone. She had for one brief moment thought Brianna wasn’t going to return but had talked herself out of it.

Brianna gave her a pitying look as she slid into the booth across from her. “I wouldn’t just leave you here.”

“Good to know.” Jewel grabbed her chopsticks and took another piece of sushi roll, popping it in her mouth. “I never knew about this place. I don’t come to Dodge too often, but I really never thought this place even existed. Who knew you could get good sushi in the middle of nowhere?”

Jewel’s chuckle was nervous. She couldn’t stop it. She’d been nervous since she’d gotten halfway to town, and it hadn’t eased up. Something about being on a date with a woman set her on edge. She’d dated a woman exactly one other time in life, and that had been when she was a sophomore in college. Since then, she’d stuck to men. Not really planned, but that had been what her options were without going well out of her way to find a woman.

“Yeah, I was very excited when I heard they were opening last year. I came on opening night just to try it out, and I try to bring everyone here.”

“Well, it’s good.” Their conversation stalled. Jewel looked Brianna over while she ate. She did look decently enough like her picture on the dating site, but there were also differences. She supposed the same could be said about her, too. She’d picked the best pictures of herself she could find, and they weren’t exactly from that year.

“You said you’re a teacher, right?”

“Yes,” Jewel answered. “I teach music.”

“I always loved choir in high school.” Brianna grinned. “Though I don’t think I ever had a teacher quite as cute as you.”

The flirting was strong with this one. Jewel flushed but gave a genuine smile in return. “I wanted to be a teacher all through high school.”

“Really? I didn’t know what I wanted to do until after I’d graduated college.”

“Is that how you ended up at the bank?”

“Probably. It was a job, and I’ve stuck with it.”

Jewel nodded. “If it works for you, then stick with it. No need to rock the boat.”

“Exactly what I think.”

Silence fell over them again. It happened quite often, but Jewel couldn’t tell if it only bothered her or if it bothered Brianna as well. Still, she had to figure out a way to ease the tension because she was pretty sure the only person on edge was herself. Lea had been right. Online dating was an adventure into blind dating without connections.

As they finished their meal, it got a little more awkward. Jewel wondered to herself every moment how much this date was a rebound. Brianna was nice, and so far there were absolutely no red flags, but Jewel kept comparing everything to Brady, or worse, she compared it to all the time she’d spent with Lea. Why that kept happening, she couldn’t quite figure out, but it was a distracting train of thought she kept trying and failing to avoid.

They took one car to the casino, Brianna driving because she knew the way better than Jewel. They got to the casino and headed inside. It wasn’t Jewel’s preferred place to be, but she figured she’d give it a try. She’d brought fifty bucks with her to try her hand and figured the rest of the time she’d spend just learning about her date.

They played the slots for a bit, talked, had a couple drinks each though Jewel stopped well before she needed to so she could safely drive home. As well as the first date was going, she wasn’t going to push it by trying to convince Brianna they should spend the night together. They walked toward the exit a few hours later, Jewel’s feet killing her from the stupid heels she’d decided to wear.

Brianna tucked Jewel’s arm in hers, patting her hand. “Have you been on many dates with women?”

Jewel stiffened. “Uh…not many, no. Why?”

“You seem kind of skittish.”

“Oh.” Shame swarmed in her chest. She hadn’t known it was that easy to tell. She’d thought they were having a decent night. Not knowing what else to say, Jewel kept her mouth shut as they made for the doors.

Brianna leaned in, her lips brushing Jewel’s ear. “I’m okay if you’re just figuring it out.”

“Figuring what out?”

“That you’re gay.”

“I’m not gay,” Jewel answered quickly.

Brianna stiffened. “What do you mean?”

“I’m pansexual. I’m attracted to all the genders and sexes. I’ve just really only dated cis men, mostly because of the circumstances of where I live.”