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“God, I forgot about those.” Caz shook visibly. “I’m winging it. I couldn’t write a single thing that made any sense…or didn’t give it all away.”

Grace kissed her cheek. “You’ll be fine. You’re good on your toes.”

“I am—you’re right,” Caz said, filled with confidence in an instant, just from a few words. “See, this is why we’re the perfect match.”

“I know.” Grace laughed. “Come on, let’s go show each other off.”

Chapter Three

January 2024

The wine was good, the beer was cold, and the TV was off. But unlike any other Saturday night in together, this was far from usual.

Caz sat in the armchair, leaning forward, both elbows on her knees as she reeled off questions for Grace to answer.

Important things like, “Where are we going to live?”

“Buy a house on the outskirts of town. We’ve both got good finances. We’d get a mortgage easily,” Grace answered. She had answers for everything.

“And we’d tell everyone what? That we’re sad old farts who have given up on love, so we’ve settled for each other?”

Grace huffed. “I don’t see it as settling. I see it as we’re never going to find anyone else who brings what we do to this relationship—”

“Except sex and intimacy?” Caz choked out. “That’s important, surely?”

“Yes, and I think we could be—”

“Do not say it,” Caz said, standing quickly and walking to the window. She turned suddenly. “You’re straight. It’s not like hooking up with a bloke down at the pub, there will be feelings involved—platonic maybe—but still, feelings and emotions,and…” She moved to crouch in front of Grace. “Can you honestly say you’ve never considered sex with a woman?”

“I’ve considered it, yes…”

“And?”

“I decided it wasn’t for me, but—”

“See? So how do you propose we get around that?” Caz stood up and went back to the chair, flopping down into it.

“If you’d let me speak.” Grace glared, and then relaxed when Caz smiled apologetically. “I think we already share an intimacy, one of trust and love, and emotional attachment, and that if we wanted it to, could maybe turn into a more physical—” She held up a warning finger when Caz went to interrupt again. “We hug all the time. We snuggle up together and watch films, and don’t think I haven’t noticed how you take care of me when we’re out.”

Caz sat up straighter.

“Think I don’t notice the little guiding touches to the small of my back, or my elbow, or how you put yourself between me and any potential danger? Weareintimate, it’s just not a sexual intimacy…and no, I couldn’t consider sex with women in general, but maybe, in time...I could with you. Because you’re you, and not just any woman.”

This time Caz sat silently.

“You’re my person, Caz. And that means more to me than any man ever will.”

Caz felt her eyes moisten and blinked it away. Wasn’t that just the kind of thing she’d been waiting her entire life for someone to say to her?

For someone to really see her?

“But what if you metthatman? What if we did this, and we had a baby, and two years—three years—down the line, Prince Charming waltzes in?”

“That is a fear of abandonment that could happen to anyone, in any relationship. I am saying I’d make a commitment to you. I wouldn’t be looking to meet Prince Charming.”

“But I could have a hook-up situationship?”

“If having sex regularly with another lesbian means that much to you, then yes, I’d be okay with that.”