Page 20

Becca had a French Roast available and a package of decaf. She also had some ground coconut-flavored coffee. She took the French Roast and coconut coffees out of the cabinet. She’d add a bit of the coconut to the former to provide just a hint of a softer flavor.

“So, go on…why can’t you talk to the press?”

While Krissy set about making the coffee, Becca then explained that as a fire department employee—and an officer at that—she was forbidden to talk to the press about any fire incident without express approval from the department, and only during an official fire department press conference.

This was all news to Krissy.

“So, are they going to hold an official fire department press conference?” she asked, thinking of how cool it would be to see Becca on TV.

“I’m sure they are,” Becca answered. “They usually do after something like what happened last night. They’re probably waiting for the investigators to dig up something about the cause first. Listen, I’ve got some phone calls to make.”

“Go,” Krissy told her. “I’ll bring the coffee to you when it’s done.”

Becca smiled.

“Best girlfriend ever,” she said, heading out of the kitchen.

“Wait a minute!” Krissy exclaimed. “I thought I got upgraded to wife!”

Becca stopped and turned.

“Hmm,” she began, “I don’t know if I want to marry a woman who could so easily be seduced by zombies. For now, just be happy with ‘best girlfriend ever.’”

“And we haven’t even had sex yet,” Krissy replied. “Wait until that happens!”

Becca stared at her, a playful half-smile on her lips.

“Think I’ll still be calling you ‘the best?’” she eventually asked.

Now Krissy laughed.

“Is ‘bestest’ a word?”

“Not on this planet.”

“Go make your phone calls.”

When Becca left the kitchen, Krissy let out a breath.

But I’d make you say it…

***

When the coffee was finished brewing, Krissy poured two mugs of it. She added two packets of Splenda to Becca’s and then found her best friend in the dining room, talking to her parents.

“Mother, I did not gain weight,” Becca was saying wearily. “The gear I wear just makes me look bigger. We’ve gone over this before.”

Krissy left the mug of coffee on the table, Becca smiling up at her in thanks, and then went into the living room, kicked off her Adidas and reclined full-length on Becca’s sofa. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to be the parent of a firefighter or a police officer. If she ever had kids herself—and she still hadn’t made up her mind about that—she wondered how she’d cope if they chose dangerous professions.

Her phone pinged.

It was a text from Maya.

So much fun! I think we have Anna hooked, BTW. Plane is about to board. See you next time.

Krissy’s clit pulsed. Hard. “Fun” wasn’t the word for her time with those two and even this simple text from Maya was making her core react.

She raised her head enough to look over the back of the sofa and into the dining room. Becca was still sitting at the table, chatting with her parents. Krissy rested her head again on the sofa’s arm. With her thumbs moving quickly over the phone’s virtual keyboard, Krissy tapped out a reply to Maya, stating that she couldn’t wait until they got together again—Anna or no Anna.