Page 17 of Bliss

Alex

It was so common for Alex to have cancellations on Fridays during the summer months that she started to expect them, never knowing exactly who would be the one to bail on their appointment until the day before or the day of. But between June and September, she knew she’d have at least one less appointment on Fridays. And this particular Friday, she’d hoped it would be the last appointment of the day. The extra hour to get ready for tonight would have been nice, but the client didn’t cancel. In fact, no one had canceled their training sessions today, ironically.

After carefully weaving her way through rush hour traffic, she had forty minutes to feed and love on Daphne, shower, dress, and make a quick pass through the downstairs, making sure everything was clean and presentable. Nights like this made Alex grateful that she’d long ago disciplined herself to keep up after herself daily, rather than let things pile up, requiring her to spend hours each week cleaning up. She liked having her weekends free to do whatever she wanted, and she didn’t miss the stress or embarrassment of unexpected or last-minute visitors seeing her home filthy or in a disarray.

When the doorbell rang, she looked around the kitchen one last time, feeling confident she wouldn’t lose any points with Hannah for having a messy or dirty home.

Callie had known and been best friends with Hannah for just as long as Joselynn had been Alex’s best friend. Alex knew that kind of lasting friendship was unique and created a bond unlike any other. It made the friends extra protective of each other. Callie described her friend as being down to earth and outgoing, but Alex knew that no matter her outward expression, Hannah would be mentally holding a set of scales, weighing Alex’s pros and cons to determine if she was a worthy partner for Callie. Alex was nervous to see just how inward or outward that scrutiny may be tonight, but all she could do was be herself and see where the night led.

When she opened the door, Joselynn was sprinting back to her car parked in the driveway, after having deposited a zippered soft-shell cooler on the front porch. Pulling the door closed to keep the bugs out and keep Daphne and the cool air inside, Alex followed Joselynn to her open trunk.

While Alex picked up the forty-pound twenty-four-pack of beer bottles, Joselynn hugged a ten-pound bag of ice to her body with one arm and closed the trunk with her other hand.

While walking back to the front door, Joselynn asked, “Are you nervous?”

“A little bit,” Alex answered honestly. “I haven’t done this in a long time. Dating. Falling in love. Meeting the friends. And eventually the family.” Alex exhaled hard and shook her head, before she bent and looped two fingers in the handles of the cooler to carry it inside. “Callie said I have nothing to worry about, that Hannah already likes me from what she’s heard. But … she’s basically to Callie as you are to me, you know? Depending on how sharp her bite is, I might need a trauma surgeon after our little meet and greet.”

Joselynn’s head fell back with a raucous laugh, as she opened and closed the door behind them. “Are you calling me a raging pit bull, darling?”

Alex laughed as she nodded vigorously. After setting the insulated bag on the floor by the refrigerator, and while setting the case of beer on the kitchen counter, she answered, “Yes, darling , you’re my everything, including the most vicious guard dog the world’s ever seen.”

Joselynn smiled warmly as she wrapped her arms around the back of Alex’s neck, and Alex loosely gripped her trim hips. “You are my everything too, Alex, friend, confidant, pit bull,” she winked with a grin, “absolutely everything, except my lover.” She shrugged with a sad smile. “But that was never in the cards for us, and I’m okay with that. I like Callie for you, and for as long as you love her and believe she’s the partner for you, I’ll be by your side to battle any naysayers. Hannah included.”

“I know you will be, but let’s try not to treat tonight like a renaissance sporting match with jousting and so forth.”

Joselynn laughed hard, before leaning in to kiss Alex on the forehead. “I promise to only unleash my inner pit bull if Hannah unleashes hers.”

“Fair enough.” She pinched Joselynn’s sides, making her squeal and squirm out of her grip. Alex chuckled, and as she bent to pick up the insulated bag off the floor, the doorbell rang.

Joselynn grinned as she took the bag from Alex. “You answer the door, and I’ll put these in the fridge and grab a cooler from the garage for the beer.”

“I already put two in the sunroom.”

With her nerves slightly elevating her heart rate, Alex jogged to the front door. But as soon as she pulled the door open, and her eyes locked in on Callie’s stunning smile, her excitement and love palpable and wrapping Alex in an invisible hug, her heart and nerves settled.

“Hey, beautiful,” Alex greeted, as she stepped out onto the porch to take the large canvas bag and leather duffle bag from her.

She leaned in to kiss her cheek, but Callie turned her head, catching her lips with her own, making Alex smile and further relax. “Thank you.” She motioned to Alex’s left, and introduced, “Alex, this is Hannah.”

Alex quickly shifted the bags to hold both in her left hand, and offered her right to Hannah. “I’m glad you could join us tonight, Hannah.”

The pretty dishwater blonde accepted her hand with a curious smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Alex. And thank you for the invitation.” After releasing her hand, she looked up and gestured side to side. “You have a gorgeous house. The black with cedar is very aesthetically pleasing.”

“Thank you.” Alex stretched her right hand towards Hannah’s left. “May I?” A flash of approval lit in Hannah’s eyes as she nodded and allowed Alex to take the bag she was carrying. Alex stepped aside, saying, “After you.”

Callie gave her another quick kiss on the lips, then led the trio inside. As soon as they walked into the kitchen, Daphne came strutting out of the sunroom. She stopped just between the kitchen and dining room, tilted her head to the side, and released a loud, chirpy meow.

“Well, who do we have here?” Hannah turned to face her, matching her head tilt and placing her hands on her hips. “You must be Daphne. I’ve heard quite a bit about you, Princess.”

Daphne perked up at her name and being called Princess, then slowly walked forward. As Hannah was about to squat, Alex opened her mouth to warn her about Daphne’s boundaries, but Hannah quickly stood back up.

“I almost forgot the four Daphne rules.” She looked back at Alex with a chuckle, and promised, “I’ll probably fall in love with this beauty, but I promise not to petnap her.”

“It’s in your best interest if you don’t.” Hannah spun back around. Joselynn, who was leaning against the doorway to the sunroom, smirked, and said, “Daphne may live with Alex, but that’s my baby and I’ll murder for her.”

Hannah nodded, and hummed, “Ah, a kindred spirit. Less than a minute in the door, and already one death threat on behalf of someone you love.” Hannah laughed, and added, “This is going to be fun.”

Joselynn’s smirk remained in place as she winked, then closed the distance between them to give Callie a hug and kiss on her cheek. “Hello, again.” She faced Hannah, offering her right hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Hannah.”

Hannah returned the sentiment with a handshake, then quickly stooped to say, “Hello, Daphne,” and hovered her hand above Daphne’s head, who had completed her serpentine weave between her legs and gave her double-chirp greeting.

While she petted Daphne, she crooned, “God, her eyes are mesmerizing.” Daphne released a rumbling purr, as if understanding the compliment. She brushed her body against Hannah’s shin once more, then strutted over to Callie to greet her. Standing upright, Hannah turned to Alex, and asked, “Can I help with anything?”

“Can you unpack the bags you brought? I’m going to run Callie’s duffle upstairs, then get the grill heating so we can cook soon.”

“Sure, I can do that.”

“Alex.” Alex turned back and walked a few paces to be able to see Callie while she was squatting and petting Daphne. “ Dead Woman’s Pond is on the top of my clothes wrapped in a piece of packing paper. Can you pull that out and can you put my toiletries bag in the bathroom, just in case I didn’t secure a lid properly?”

“Yeah, of course. Do you want me to line up the bottles on the vanity?”

Callie briefly bit her bottom lip, then nodded, and answered, “Yes, please. I was kind of rushing to pack.”

“Okay. I’ll be back in a few. Oh, and I’ll pack the other two books in the trilogy for you so neither of us forget.”

Smiling, Callie told her, “I wouldn’t forget. The first book was epic. But thank you.”

“I know, right? I can’t wait for you to read the last two books so we can discuss them.”

Joselynn quietly snickered, and whispered to Hannah, “If they start talking about books, you and I will have to do the grilling or we’ll never have dinner.”

Callie playfully scoffed, and as she swung her head around to look up at Joselynn, she teased, “Oh, look who’s talking! Should we discuss how you talked with barely a breath between words and sentences during every lunch break for a week when you were reading that crazy dark romance a few months ago? You ended up having to eat your lunch at your desk because you were so animated in telling me every detail about what you’d read the night before and your thoughts.”

“Do you blame me? That book was fucking insane! Reading it was like being strapped to a chair and being put through a cycle of physical and verbal beatings and injected with heroin laced with psychotic drugs and probably some kind of poison that has left me with some level of permanent damage. I wanted to put it down, drown it, burn it, shred it to pieces, but it had some kind of crazy mind control over me. Ugh, it was so damn toxic and made me feel all sorts of dirty and abused after I finished it.”

“You know,” Hannah started with a laugh, “I bet that author would fucking love that review. They’d probably have a huge art piece commissioned with it engraved on it and hang it on a wall and add it to all of their online platforms.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that! The woman is crazy!”

Alex chuckled, said, “I’ll be back,” and as she walked out of the kitchen, she heard Joselynn ask, “Either of you want a beer? I just filled a cooler in the sunroom. It’s a local summer pale ale.”

Hannah answered, “Sounds great.”

And when Callie answered, “I’ll help you, so I can get one for Alex too,” Alex couldn’t help but smile.

After she grabbed the two books from the living room, and she was halfway up the staircase, their conversation was too muffled to hear what they were saying, but some laughter floated up to her in the bedroom. That was a good sign. Upon first impression, Alex’s nerves had settled some. Hannah didn’t give off the vibe that she’d come prepared to do battle or to perform an aggressive interrogation. Alex was feeling good about tonight and looking forward to having some fun and interesting conversations, getting to know each other.

Alex carefully removed book one of the Nearly Departed trilogy from Callie’s leather duffle bag, then wrapped books two and three and set them on the stack of neatly folded clothes on the right side of the bag. She then removed the toiletries bag and brought it into the bathroom to unpack.

“Uh oh.”

Alex grimaced as she grabbed the shampoo bottle, fingers slipping through viscous liquid. She pulled the bottle out and inspected it and inside the case. The cap appeared to be properly secured, but about an ounce or two of the shampoo had spilled into the bag. That wasn’t uncommon. Whether the bottle or cap had become somewhat warped from the heat of the shower, or it was just poor manufacturing, bottles of all kinds were prone to leaking. While Alex washed the bottles and inside of the case, she mentally decided to order Callie the set of leak-proof travel bottles she liked.

Or maybe I should just buy the products she uses so she doesn’t have to tote them back and forth.

After everything was washed and dried, she took pictures of the bottles of shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, and perfume, as well as the tube of toothpaste.

When she walked into the kitchen, Callie sidled up next to her, offering her an open bottle of beer.

“Thanks, babe.”

As Alex accepted the bottle, Callie’s brows pinched and she leaned in, sniffing Alex’s hand. “Oh, no. Your hand smells like my shampoo.”

“Good thing I like the scent,” Alex answered with a smile, and Callie’s lips turned up in a somewhat shy and relieved smile.

“How bad was it?”

“It was contained in your toiletries bag. I got everything washed up.”

“Shit. I’m sorry, Alex. I should have…”

Shaking her head, Alex assured her, “The cap was twisted on tightly and the lid was closed properly. I think it was just a manufacturing defect. I’m going to buy bottles of your products to keep here so you don’t have to worry about that again.”

Smiling, Callie perked up and kissed Alex on the lips. “Thanks for the offer to keep some stuff here, but I can buy them.”

“I don’t mind,” Alex countered with a shrug. “But I won’t fight you on it.” After taking a sip of beer, she kissed Callie again, then took a step towards the French doors. “I’m going to turn the grill on. It needs ten minutes to heat up.”

“We’ll come with you.”

Callie slipped her hand in Alex’s, lacing their fingers together, and as they started walking towards the French doors, Daphne darted ahead of them, looking back for just a moment to make sure they were following. Callie giggled as the long, sleek cat sprinted out into the sunroom, darted between the nice patio furniture, then sat on her haunches in front of the sliding glass door, turned staring after their slower approach. Too slow, if Daphne’s sharp yowl was any indication of her assessment of their speed.

“We might have you in height, Princess, but your species can outrun us on your laziest day.”

Callie chuckled when Daphne pointed her little pink nose up with a single chirp, as if agreeing with Alex’s words.

“How fast can house cats run?”

“About 30 m.p.h. on average, which is about five times the speed humans can accomplish,” Alex answered Callie, as she slid the sliding glass door open. “I’ve never clocked her speed, but Daphne can move like she’s been shot out of a cannon when she wants to.”

While Alex lifted the lid on the barbecue grill, and turned the valve on the propane tank, Callie, Joselynn, and Hannah watched Daphne strut around the perimeter of the cedar fence and stone-edged garden beds as if she owned the place, then shot across the center of the recently trimmed green lawn. When she leapt once, twice, three times, climbing to the top platform of a cedar cat tree, each platform carpeted with faux grass, they shared a laugh. Daphne was sitting tall, eyes slightly narrowed as she slowly turned her head about, scoping out the yard again, before she relaxed and shrunk into a loaf to watch the humans.

After Alex closed the lid on the grill, Hannah turned to her, asking, “How did you name Daphne? I mean, I know the story of how you found her and the meaning of her name. What I want to know is if you had to research name ideas or if you were already well-versed in Greek mythology.”

“Ah.”

Alex’s brows momentarily lifted as she took a sip of beer and her eyes zeroed in on Daphne, who’s one blue eye and one golden brown eye were already locked on hers. Seeing her feline companion was intently focused on her made Alex feel supported, as if the cat understood the scrutiny that she was under with Hannah being here. It wasn’t the first time and it wouldn’t be the last time that her intelligence was questioned. When people heard she was a personal trainer, they automatically assumed she was of average or below average intelligence. She was brawn, not brain, by most people’s ignorant calculations. Callie knew differently, but it seemed that Hannah wanted to challenge that. Or maybe it was just friendly conversation. Alex wasn’t sure which, so she pushed her defenses down and tried to keep it light and friendly and honest.

“My dad is a professor of anthropology, specializing in ancient Greek and Roman history. He read me stories of the ancient gods and goddesses as a kid, and I was his practice audience for his lectures all through high school, and most weeks through college, when I had time to listen to him. And I always tried to make time. My dad is brilliant and funny. It’s hard not to want to hear what he has to say. Anyway, I knew what to name Daphne the moment I saved her from that stream because of my father. He’s the expert, and I’m the gobsmacked apprentice, if you’ll forgive my British.”

“I think it’s totally unfair that the British get to hoard certain words and phrases. Gobmacked, snogging, bloody hell, chuffed. Why can’t we use them without people looking at us like we’re posers? But, then again, I guess that’s what we get for throwing their tea into the Boston harbor and fighting for our independence all those many years ago.” Hannah dramatically rolled her eyes, then asked, “What does your mother do?”

“She’s a doctor specializing in sports medicine. She cut back her hours to more of a consulting role after I was born, wanting to be a stay-at-home mom instead of a daycare or nanny raising me. But after I turned eighteen and left home for college, she returned to medicine full-time. We work together sometimes, sending the occasional clients to each other, and her extensive knowledge in sports medicine has helped me to be a better physical trainer.”

“Did she ever pressure you to become a doctor? Or did your father ever pressure you to study anthropology?” Hannah asked, folding her arms over her chest and looking and sounding guarded but very interested in the answer.

Alex slowly shook her head, knowing a little bit about Hannah’s parents and their expectations for her to become a surgeon. “I wouldn’t describe it as pressure, not from either of them. Both had hoped I’d choose to go into either of their fields, but I never felt like I’d be disappointing them if I didn’t choose the same path they’d taken. Nor have they ever made me feel that way when I made my choice. Although, it was rough there for a little while when I was seriously considering becoming an erotic dancer.”

Hannah and Callie’s jaws dropped and eyes shot wide open, while Joselynn’s head fell back with a loud cackle. As Alex’s grin grew, and she too started laughing, Callie lightly slapped her right pectoral muscle and shook her head.

“You’re such a goof.”

Feigning offense, Alex scoffed, leaning backwards with a hand on her chest. “Are you saying I couldn’t cut it as an erotic dancer? Masculine-centered women can pole dance and give lap dances too, you know.”

Callie’s cheeks shaded from pink to bright red in the matter of seconds, as she bit her bottom lip and her eyes flickered like flames over Alex’s exposed arms in her loose tank top and down her legs, her shorts reaching two inches above her knees.

“Woo wee! It’s getting hot out here.” Joselynn fanned herself while releasing a whistling breath through puckered lips. “I don’t have to be able to read minds to know Callie is having some very X-rated thoughts about Alex that would blow clear past the Ghost Pepper and Caroline Reaper on the Scoville scale. We might have to turn the hose on them soon.”

“Oh, my God,” Callie groaned, as she placed a hand over her face and turned away from the group, making Joselynn and Hannah snicker.

Alex wrapped a strong arm around her shoulders, and Callie immediately curled up against her side, burying her face in Alex’s chest and peeking at their friends between her fingers.

After kissing the top of Callie’s warm, silky hair, she squeezed her shoulder and tugged her along with her to the back door. “Come on, babe. You can help me get the meat and veggies to put on the grill.”

“Convenient excuse. You’re probably going in there so you can do some snogging .” Joselynn teased with an eye roll.

“Of course,” Alex confirmed, without losing a beat.

“Hey.” Alex stopped at the doors and looked back at her smiling best friend. “Grab a wireless speaker on your way back out so we can put on some music.”

“Sure, but I am not stripping or giving lap dances.”

“For us, you mean.” She winked in Callie’s direction, and Callie released a bashful giggle and hid her face against Alex’s chest.

“Aren’t they just the cutest,” Joselynn said to Hannah, who was also smiling and looking both amused and approving of the new couple.

Nodding, Hannah answered, “The cutest,” which made Callie perk up with a broad smile.

When they reached the kitchen, Callie laughed as she looped her arms around the back of Alex’s neck and rested her forehead on her chest, shaking her head side to side.

“I love you, Alex.” While snuggling in closer, Callie lifted her head, smiling up at Alex. “Hannah would have been okay — maybe a little stiff until the subject changed — but thank you for lightening things up when you noticed she’d been a little triggered by learning your mom is a doctor.”

“It sucks that she didn’t have the same experience. I hope she and her parents can get to a place where they can talk about their respective careers without any resentment and judgment. Having my parents’ support has been so invaluable and helped us stay close as I’ve gotten older.”

“It’s gotten better over the last couple of years, but I know she doesn’t feel as supported by her family as she’d like or that she deserves.” Callie exhaled hard, then slowly pulled away from Alex. “Okay, we better bring that food out there. If we’re in here too long, Joselynn might just spray us with a hose as soon as we step outside.”

Laughing, Alex walked to the fridge. “There’s a very good chance that will happen regardless of how long we’re in here. Let’s hope her hunger and curiosity about Hannah will keep that little devil on her shoulder in check.”