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The smile on Allison’s lips dimmed. “No. It isn’t. But we’re going to be just fine.”

“Good as new.”

They stared at each other, not wanting to say good-bye. Megan held on to this little bit of time when Ally felt like hers. It was a mirage, a myth, but sometimes it was easier to lie to herself, and get lost in a fantasy.

“Shall we?” Allison asked.

Megan nodded, her heart sad. “Let’s get out of here.”

Chapter Six

Allison would classify Lacey Turner as a friend. Kind of.

They’d taught at the same elementary school for close to six years now, and as a fifth-grade teacher, Lacey often consulted with Allison about her students, because they were Allison’s former students, so it made total sense now to talk about her personal life with Lacey, who also happened to be, you know, gay. No biggie. Just two colleagues chatting. Correction, two kind-of-friends chatting. She sighed, aware of the stretch.

“Can I eat my sandwich with you?” Allison asked, popping her head around the corner of Lacey’s empty classroom. The kids were at lunch, which would be followed by a recess, buying them forty-five minutes. Allison usually ate at her desk while simultaneously grading papers or completing assessments or lesson plans, but today she was willing to forgo productivity.

“Oh, um, sure,” Lacey said, staring at Allison curiously, her eyes suspicious saucers, which made sense because they’d never eaten lunch together or anything even close, so why were they starting now?

“I just feel like we don’t talk enough, you know?” Allison said, making herself at home on the other side of Lacey’s teacher’s desk.

“Right. That’s not happened.” Lacey pushed her phone away.

She decided to make small talk as she unwrapped her turkey sandwich. “Did you find the faculty meeting yesterday unnecessarily long?” Allison shook her head like it was the crime of the century.

Lacey nodded along emphatically. “Sometimes I think opening up the end of the meeting to questions and concerns takes a whole extra hour right when we all think we’re about to be out of there.”

Allison leaned in, prepared to gossip, give up her opinion on a few things to get Lacey’s in return. “And I don’t want to point fingers, but first grade is part of the problem.”

“First grade loves drama. That’s why. I hear they argue over peanut butter in the faculty lounge. Congrats on your engagement, by the way.” Lacey then looked embarrassed. “I saw it in the paper. I hope that’s not weird.”

“Not at all, and you’re sweet. Thank you.” She paused as she chewed. “That’s actually why I wanted to stop in today, to bend your ear.”

“You wanted to talk to me about your engagement?” Lacey seemed confused and had every right. In fact, she glanced at the door, probably plotting her escape route or looking for help. “I don’t know much about weddings. I’m not sure if someone is lying to you about that.”

“No,” Allison said calmly. “But I have been spending time with this person I met, and there’s this connection that I can’t seem to un-notice.”

“Okay,” Lacey said, drawing out the word. “Is it someone from first grade? I don’t know that I would advise that.”

Allison widened her eyes, clearly a miscommunication. “No. God. No one at school.”

Lacey ran a hand through her short brown hair, and it sprang back into place impressively. “And this connection is a…problem?” She was searching for clarity.

Allison set her sandwich down and nodded solemnly. “I’ve only known her a few weeks, and already, I think about her too much for someone who’s…engaged to someone else.”

Lacey’s lips parted and she nodded. “Her. You said her.”

“Yeah.”

She exhaled, and understanding seemed to hit. “I’m your lesbian fairy godmother, aren’t I?”

“Well…”

She held up an excited hand. “No. Don’t apologize. I’m up for this job.” She rolled her shoulders as if preparing for a boxing match. “Born ready.”

“I get how cliché it is of me, rushing toyouwith this little problem, but…I wasn’t sure who else, and I’m not sleeping that great, as in at all, and I need a lifeline.”

“Of course you do.” Lacey shrugged. “Totally fine. And we don’t have to call me the fairy godmother if you don’t like it. Local Lesbian Consultant has a ring to it, but there’s only so much insight I can offer unless I understand more.” She took out a notepad and pen, poised to take it all in.