Page 4 of Bliss

Callie

Just as Callie was hitting the brew button on her coffee maker, her cellphone started ringing and vigorously vibrating on the kitchen counter. She groaned as she walked over to pick up the offending device, and when she saw the name on the caller ID, she sighed and steeled her nerves for a roller-coaster conversation.

“Good morning, Joselynn,” she huskily answered, as she put the phone on speaker and grabbed the carton of eggs to finish making breakfast.

There was a long pause, before Joselynn asked, “Where are you?”

“Home,” Callie answered, as she cracked an egg into a bowl. “Where are you?”

Instead of answering, Joselynn asked, “What happened last night?”

Callie froze as she was about to crack another egg, and asked, “Have you spoken with Alex?”

“Not yet. I wanted to call you first, since you called me in a panic last night. Based on the picture Alex sent, and that I didn’t hear from either of you again, I take it Alex forgave you for being a bitch?”

Callie winced from the term and the truth of how she’d behaved in the early part of her date with Alex.

“What happened after Alex sent that picture of the two of you?”

Part of her was grateful that Joselynn didn’t ask for a play-by-play of what happened before the picture was taken, but part of her also figured Joselynn was saving that question for Alex.

While she whisked the eggs, Callie answered, “Dinner was really nice. We mostly talked about our careers, but it kind of got a little flirty too. I just felt really safe and comfortable with her.”

With a smile in her voice, Joselynn asked, “What happened after dinner?”

“I asked if she wanted to get coffee and go for a walk, so we could keep talking, but she asked if we could make a detour to her place so she could feed Daphne. I guess Daphne had behaved like a little diva before she left for our date and wouldn’t eat earlier, and she didn’t want her self-destructive behavior to make her wait too much longer.” Joselynn released a quiet giggle, but she didn’t comment, so Callie continued, “After Alex explained her rules of how to interact with Daphne, we met, then she fed her, and she offered to make coffee there or to take me out for coffee. I decided to stay.”

“Of course.” Joselynn quietly laughed, and asked, “What happened next?”

Callie’s smile grew as she remembered the events of the previous evening. “It was really nice. We sat in her living room, talking about books for a while, then I explained why I had such a shitty reaction when she first arrived at the restaurant.” Before Joselynn could ask, she quickly added, “I’ll tell you later,” then continued to explain how they watched part of a movie, before she started to fall asleep.

“Why didn’t you just spend the night? Alex has a couple of guest bedrooms, if you weren’t ready to jump into the sack together.”

“She offered, but…” Callie blushed deeply as she poured the eggs into the hot, buttered skillet to cook. “I was right there on the edge, wanting to feel more than just her hand in mine or her arm wrapped around my shoulders. But it wasn’t the right time. If I had stayed, we both might have regretted it. I like her, Joselynn, really like her. I don’t want what we have to just be about sex.”

“Did you kiss?”

Callie smiled while she used a spatula to move the scrambled eggs around the pan, turning them into bite-sized golden yellow pillows. “She walked me out to my car a little after midnight. I could tell we both wanted it, but I think Alex was holding back out of respect, so I leaned in, and she accepted.”

Callie’s entire body reacted to the memory. She was suddenly hot and horny and wanted nothing more than to fly to Alex’s house and initiate another kiss and even more.

“How was it?”

“Jos…” Callie groaned, and Joselynn laughed. Callie rolled her eyes and shook her head as she plated her scrambled eggs next to an apple she’d already peeled and sliced. “It was the most amazing kiss of my life. It took all of my strength to get in my car and drive away.”

“What about B…?”

“No,” Callie cut in, “Britton never kissed me like that. I mean, okay, yes, I thought it was good with Britton, when she actually gave me the time of day to be affectionate and intimate, but…” Callie sighed as she remembered the way Alex’s tongue and lips completely possessed her but also begged to be possessed in return. It was the perfect balance of give and take and Callie was hot and tingling just thinking about it. “Alex gives me the breadth I need but never had before, not with Britton or any previous girlfriend. And that scares me. Terrifies me. Because we’ve only been on one date. What if I give myself to this, to Alex, and she changes? What if everything I’ve seen and experienced with her is a show? What if…?”

“No,” Joselynn firmly said, then allowed several moments to solidify the answer. “I have known Alex for more than half our lives. Alex is…” She trailed off with a long, deep sigh. “If I wasn’t straight, I’d already be married to her, Callie. She’s perfection, absolute perfection. And I only introduced you to her because I think you’re worthy of her, and your personalities, interests, and beliefs are compatible.”

Callie’s eyes stung with tears and her stomach churned with guilt for how she behaved at the beginning of her date with Alex. “Jos, I … fucked up when Alex first arrived. I was a … total bitch and…” Callie trailed off with a hard exhale.

“When you called me last night, you told me that you told her you weren’t ready to date. What did you really do?”

Callie closed her eyes against the world, steeling herself against the onslaught of judgment sure to come. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but please just let me get everything out before you interrupt and judge or cuss me out.”

Joselynn agreed, so Callie explained the reaction she had when Alex tapped her shoulder, what she said, why she said it, and their tenuous conversation at the bar, Bliss.

After nearly a minute of silence hung between them, Callie begged, “Tell me what you’re thinking, Joselynn.”

Her friend sighed, and answered, “I can’t tell you what I’m thinking until I speak with Alex and hear her account and how she’s feeling.” The cold judgment in Joselynn’s tone sent a shiver down Callie’s spine. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Joselynn didn’t even wait for her to respond before disconnecting the call.

In a panic, Callie opened her text thread with Alex, and started typing, “Good morning,” then froze before she could hit the send button.

“Shit. I can’t message Alex without it appearing as if I messaged her just because Joselynn is out fishing for details about last night. Fuck! I should have texted Alex as soon as I woke up. God damn it.” She threw a dish towel across the kitchen, then quickly picked up her cellphone. “I’m not allowing Joselynn to ruin this for me.”

Callie: Good morning. I had planned to call you after I had my first cup of coffee and breakfast so I’d be a better conversationalist, but… Our matchmaker should be calling you right now. She wanted to know about last night. I told her the good, the bad, and the ugly. The bad and ugly being caused by me and my fear of being hurt. I didn’t call because I figured Joselynn is calling you right now, but I need to reaffirm that I want to continue seeing you, Alex, and I hope you still want the same. If you don’t, I understand.

Alex: Good morning, Callie. I got a good night’s sleep, went for a five-mile run, showered, and now I’m having breakfast. I’ve had plenty of time to think about everything that happened last night. Nothing has changed. I want to continue seeing you as well. And, yes, I’m talking to Joselynn right now, and she’s all spitfire and love, but mostly she wants us to work out. Are you free tomorrow?

Callie blushed and bit her bottom lip, thinking of Alex in the shower, then smiled as she rubbed her hands over the very soft hooded sweatshirt she’d borrowed from Alex as she reread the sentence, I want to continue seeing you as well.

Callie: Yes, I’m free tomorrow. What do you have in mind?

Alex: Would you be up to going on an adventure with me?

Callie: Intrigued. Tell me more.

Alex: I’d like to take advantage of the beautiful weather before we have three straight days of rain this week. I was thinking we could go kayaking at Crescent Pond and picnic afterwards.

Callie: I haven’t been kayaking in many years, so I’ll need a quick tutorial, but that sounds like fun. What can I bring to contribute to the picnic?

Alex: Nothing. I’ll take care of the food and drinks. The only thing you need to bring is a change of clothes, just in case. Oh, and I’d recommend wearing a hat and sunglasses. It’s supposed to be very hot and sunny tomorrow.

Callie: Alex, this isn’t a thing with you, is it? I don’t want or expect you to pay for all of our dates.

Alex: No, Callie, this isn’t a thing for me. I’m happy to split costs or alternate paying. My ego doesn’t need to be the one to pay for everything. You’re more than welcome to bring something for our picnic, or you can treat next time, or both. Whatever you’re comfortable with.

While Callie reread, whatever you’re comfortable with , she absently lifted her left arm to her nose and inhaled deeply, savoring the spicy and woodsy musk of Alex on the unbelievably soft material. It wasn’t just the hooded sweatshirt making her comfortable. Alex did that, made her feel comfortable and safe and heard and seen. Alex offered her space to be herself. Alex was the opposite of her ex in every way, but Britton hadn’t been controlling and manipulative in the beginning either. However, she did always insist on paying every time, for every date for the first year of their three-year relationship. In the beginning, Callie thought it was romantic, but when Britton suggested Callie add her to her bank accounts and allow her to take the burden of paying her bills and deciding how to invest her surplus income, fire alarms blared and bright red lights blazed and flashed in her mind. It wasn’t about being romantic; it was about control. She’d wooed Callie, then planned to take total control of every aspect of her life. She’d managed to say no and keep her financial independence, but she regretted not listening to her instincts to end the relationship right then or any one of the hundred or so other times she had brought it up over the next two years or over any of the other dozens of red flags. It would have saved her a lot of stress, pain, and heartache.

Callie: You don’t know what that means to me. I’ll plan and pay for our next date.

Alex: I’m looking forward to it.

Callie bit her bottom lip and drummed her fingers against the back of her phone, trying to think of something to say or ask to keep the conversation going. But before she could decide between asking if she went for a run every morning or how Daphne was doing today — both were mundane subjects and probably would appear as uninspired — Alex sent another message.

Alex: Can I pick you up at 9 a.m., or is that too early?

Callie: No, I can be ready by then. But would it be easier for you if I meet you at your house, since you have more to get ready than I do?

Alex: Actually, it would, if you don’t mind.

Callie: Not at all.

Alex: Great, I’ll see you here at 9 a.m., Ms. Davenport.

Callie: Affirmative, Ms. Coleman. I’ll wash and bring your hoodie back tomorrow.

Alex: Don’t you dare.

Alex: Wash it, I mean. But I’m also not in a rush to get it back.

Callie’s cheeks flamed hot and a pulse of pleasure and excitement rippled throughout her body. Does she want to be able to smell me on her clothes , she wondered.

Alex: Are you wearing it right now?

Callie’s activated libido considered telling her it was the only thing she was wearing. But like she told Joselynn, she didn’t want their relationship to just be about sex, so she decided against telling the little fib.

Callie: Yes. It’s very comfortable. And I like your scent.

Alex: I like yours too. If I don’t respond for a while, it’s because I’m getting in my car to run a couple of errands.

Callie: Okay, please be careful.

Alex: Always. Have a good morning, Callie.

Callie: You too.

Callie wanted to keep talking to Alex, but she didn’t want to be a distraction while she was driving, so she pocketed the phone and took her now cold breakfast out to the living room to eat.