Page 13

Meet Kyle

Leave it to the trees of Dreamer’s Bay to trot out their gorgeous autumn colors early, just in time for Fall Flicks and Fun, held every year in Bountiful Park. I’d had a spring in my step all day just imagining the top-your-own hot chocolate and cider stands lining the sidewalk. Of course I’d be introducing MJ to the freshly popped popcorn drizzled with caramel. I’d asked her to accompany me, thinking it would be a nice way for her to meet more people. Was it a date? Maybe. Probably. I was waiting to see where the wind blew us.

“Wow. Everyone is here. This crowd is huge,” MJ said, looking around.

“When there’s an official event, the world comes out. You should see the Groundhog Day breakfast. People literally decorate their cars and come in full dress.”

“I don’t quite know what to say to that except that I’m intrigued.”

“You’re right to be. I get into it, though.”

She squeezed my hand. The one she’d been holding since we’d taken our spot in chairs the town council had put out. Rows upon rows all facing the big screen. This year’s film was Little Women . I’d seen this adaptation in the theater but looked forward to the revisit. I gestured to the ad on the screen. “Which sister are you?”

“Amy. In a heartbeat.”

I turned to her. “Really? And you own it and everything.”

“I’m a go-getter and I know it. There’s something to be said for chasing after the things you want in life. I didn’t hesitate when I met you at the grocery store, did I? I feel like Amy would have done the same.”

“I think you’re right about that.”

“What about you?”

“I’ve always gravitated to Beth while longing to be Jo. Call me Bo.”

“If you really want.” She laughed. Her blond hair was a little shorter than it had been the last time I’d seen her, not quite touching her shoulders. I liked its thick layers. MJ had great hair along with a nice smile. Was I trying to convince myself of something? Why was I getting so specific? “Hey, isn’t that Elizabeth’s bestie over there? KC.”

“Yep, KC and Dan Collette. KC works with Elizabeth at her odd jobs company and Dan’s an ER doctor.” I smiled because he was hand in hand with their son, Gray. The seven-year-old tried to buy me out of fruit rollups whenever he had the chance. I enjoyed his affinity for sweets and high fives. Plus, who could resist that mop of curls and his toothless grin? “And that’s little Gray.”

“Oh, he’s adorable. Who’s his friend?”

I exhaled. “That’s Kyle.” Gray looked up at her in adoration as she chatted animatedly with him. Apparently, Dan and Kyle were getting along well at the hospital. KC gestured to a group of four seats diagonal from ours. They’d attended the fest together. How awesome. Even if I felt a little queasy.

“They’ll just let anyone into this thing,” I yelled playfully, deciding to get ahead of this thing. Kyle and I were in a good spot. There was no reason not to embrace this friendship without getting hung up on the past.

She turned at the sound of my voice and grinned. She went quickly to her knees, said something to Gray, and then made her way over. “Is this like Coachella for small towns? This place is packed.”

“We do not slack when it comes to fall gatherings. Or the celebration of any season, for that matter. I was just explaining the small-town dynamics to MJ, who also happens to be new around here.”

“Kyle Remington,” Kyle said, extending her hand.

“With a name like that, you might think she’s a TV character, but I assure you, she’s not.”

“MJ Wells. You’re the one Raven has a crush on. I was showing her spaces for her beauty supply shop this week, and she mentioned Dr. Remington who she’d seen at Roo’s.”

My eyes narrowed. Raven had her sights set on Kyle? I relented, because what lesbian wouldn’t?

Kyle laughed. “Yes, I know Raven. She’s supposed to be here somewhere.” She looked around, to no avail. Did they have plans to meet up? Was Kyle on a date? Not that I could hold that against her, given that I was, too. The world felt so off balance. If you’d told me last year that Kyle and I would be sitting at Bountiful Park about to watch Little Women , I’d have been ecstatic but not shocked. If you’d tossed in that we’d be on dates with other people, I’d have fallen out of my chair. “Anyway, any snack recommendations? I was overwhelmed by all the booths on the way in.”

“I definitely recommend the warm popcorn with melted caramel.” Glancing down at our bag, I realized MJ and I were still holding hands. Kyle would have caught that, too. She was one who observed all the small details. I felt a little nauseous. I slid my hand out of MJ’s and used it to hold up the popcorn, realizing how much I would have enjoyed introducing Kyle to all of my favorites. In fact, I would have loved it. But I’d chosen to invite MJ along for a reason, and it was up to me to not abandon that cause now.

“She’s not wrong. We’ll need a big bag.” Raven. She’d surfaced, popping up behind Kyle. Her short bob haircut had been parted in the middle. The look fell somewhere between nerd and ahead-of-the-fashion-trends-supermodel, depending on what she wore. Supermodel was definitely winning tonight with her high waisted jeans and short waisted brown sweater. Watching them interact made me squint in annoyance. Kyle and Raven took a moment to small talk with MJ, and now that we were all best friends, I grinned at the group, firmly committed to focusing on the event at hand. It was, in fact, the star of the show, and I wasn’t about to let Kyle on a date get to me.

“Well, I hope everyone has the best time. Tonight is one of my favorite nights of the year.”

“You are easy to please and I like it,” MJ said with a laugh and side hug. I laughed right along with her, not sure if that was a compliment for me or commentary on the film fest. The slight raise of Kyle’s brow was not lost on me, however. She’d heard it, too.

“It’s amazing. The whole setup. Even the weather is perfect.”

“Right?” Raven said. “And this is an awesome jacket.” She gave the sleeve of Kyle’s green suede jacket a tug. It was fitted in the waist and looked killer on her. Raven could take her hand right back, though, and that would be fine.

“Thank you,” Kyle said, meeting her gaze. She turned back to us. “We better go grab snacks before the movie. Enjoy the show, okay?”

The interaction shifted my entire mood. MJ talked a lot about work and the different clients she was juggling, but I had trouble focusing on our conversation. Kyle and Raven settled into their seats alongside the Collettes, and I found myself stealing glances. When the movie started, I wondered what Kyle was thinking of each impactful scene. I could see the side of her face and checked in on the funny parts, the sad ones, the joyful. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap. She occasionally reached for a bite of popcorn or a sip of the Octoberfest beer at her feet. I was jealous, plain and simple. I wanted to be sitting next to Kyle and experiencing all of this with her, and it was my own fault that I wasn’t. I was frustrated and confused and seemingly unable to bench my fears long enough to be open to love.

Bringing MJ had, perhaps, been a mistake that was in no way her fault. It was time to face facts. Kyle had my head spinning, and I probably needed to deal with the fallout before involving someone else. I needed to be clear with MJ and myself about where I stood. I took a final look in Kyle’s direction as the crowd filed out to the sound of the credits rolling. To my surprise, she was already looking over her shoulder right back at me. Only she wasn’t smiling, and neither was I. That moment, the sizzle, the intention, the yearning, burned right through my chest and radiated downward. In just a four-second exchange, I could feel Kyle all over.

“That movie was so much better than I was expecting,” MJ said on the drive back to my place.

“Wait a minute. Are you not a fan of the book?”

She held up a hand. “I love the book.” She laughed. “Look at you getting all up in arms.”

“It’s my duty to protect Little Women at all costs. They’re little, after all, and need my undying protection and loyalty.” I smiled, signaling that my outrage was all in good fun.

“You’re adorable.” She looked over at me with clear affection. “I’m possessive of the original novel, too, and was really happy to see the characters as I knew them come to life.”

“Now, that is a satisfying answer.” I smiled and watched through the window as the sights of Main Street ambled by. I loved the Bay at night. The little shops all lit up and only a patch or two of people walking up and down the sidewalks, illuminated by the curvy lampposts the city council had installed for extra-quaint strolls. The drive home was short, but it definitely gave me time to decompress and relax out of the emotions that had fired and shook.

I really did like MJ. Everything seemed so much less terrifying when it came to her. We had decent enough chemistry. We had similar world views. Plus, the lack of fire and feeling was so incredibly…comfortable.

She killed the ignition and turned to me. “Can I come in?”

“You know, I’m a lot more tired than I’d planned on.” Tell her. Tell her. Tell her like a fucking adult.

“Then I’ll walk you up.”

I’d gone without my crutch today, which made my pace a little slow. “Cool. Thank you. Tonight was great.”

“When are we doing it again?” MJ didn’t shy away from what she wanted. “I like you a lot.”

“I like you, too, but I need to—”

I’m not sure she heard anything past those first four words because her lips were on mine so quickly I didn’t have time to blink. In fact, I took a step back from the force at which the kiss had landed on my surprised lips.

“Sorry about that,” MJ murmured before pulling back, adjusting, softening her lips and pressing them to mine a second time. It took me a moment to fully tune in, but I did. I kissed her back, closing my eyes. Trying . There was the problem: I already knew what it felt like to kiss someone who made my toes curl, who I craved, and who kissed me like we were born to do it. You couldn’t unknow that feeling, and it sadly made all other experiences seem as mundane as the nightly dishes. MJ pulled back from the kiss and smiled, and for the first time since I met MJ, I saw a glimmer of self-doubt, which meant she saw straight through me and my reaction to our kiss.

“That was nice.”

“Nice?” she said. “Ouch. See, I was hoping for more than nice .” She raised a shoulder. “We could try again.”

I wasn’t up for that and had to find a way to explain my situation. Honesty had always been my go-to, and today should be no different. “Here’s the thing,” I told her, meeting her gaze. Her soft brown eyes held mind attentively. “I don’t think I’m at a place where I can leap into a relationship.”

“Right. Okay.” She seemed to mull this over, hands easing into the back pockets of her gray jeans. “I hear you. Let’s have a nice time, then. We’re adults. You could invite me in. We could see where things lead.” Oh, MJ. Always the go-getter.

“A few weeks ago, I think I would have taken you up on that offer.”

She frowned and rocked back on her heels. “I hear a but on the way.”

“But I have some personal matters to sort through.”

“The soap doctor?”

I narrowed my gaze. “What have you heard?”

“Well,” she slid a hand through her hair, “I work with Devyn Winters, you know, and we spend a lot of hours in the office.”

Devyn had dished on me. I should have considered the connection. “Aha. I see.” Devyn was there when I spilled pretty much everything about Kyle and me, and her wife would have surely filled her in on the finer details. Couldn’t blame Elizabeth and Devyn for being ridiculously close and cute. Plus, I hadn’t wrapped the information in secret society tape.

“But I’d already heard something about you getting stood up by a woman from out of town.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me? Nothing is sacred in these parts.”

“Well, not at Ronnie Roo’s anyway. People drink and talk. It was Cricket someone. Red hair. Lots of Botox and opinions.”

“Cricket Johansson should be the villain on Real Housewives of Dreamer’s Bay . In fact, I have it on good authority that her lifelong goal is to make fur coats out of Dalmatians.”

“Hell, this place just gets more and more interesting all the time.” She looked me in the eyes. “So, what you’re saying is that your plate’s a little full.”

“My confused brain is.”

“Well, that’s a shame because you’re a catch.”

It was the nicest sentence, and I took a moment to turn over the compliment in my hand and absorb it. “That might be the nicest thing I’ve heard in a while.” My ego had taken a hit in the romance department as of late, and hearing the words made a much larger impact than even I would have predicted.

MJ held up a hand. “I’m gonna say this, and I want you to hold on to it.”

“Okay. I’m ready.”

She stepped into my space. “There’s always room to change your mind. And I’ll be here if you do.”

“I will remember that.”

“Hey, and if nothing else, you have a cheerleader and friend. Because I happen to think you’re really awesome.” She walked down the sidewalk a few steps and turned back. “And also the hottest woman I know.”

“You’re good for my ego, MJ. And pretty awesome yourself.”

“Stop!” she called without looking back this time.

Alone with just my porch light, I was overcome with the unmistakable desire to take control of my life in other ways. This exchange with MJ had given me a little burst of power I had apparently been missing. I’d said what I needed out loud and improved our situation. A little drunk with relief, I knew I needed even more. That meant addressing the loose ends. What was I going to do about Faber at work? The temptation that Kyle presented? Seeking out Jacob Kielbasa once and for all? Maybe I needed to make a list. Either way, I was prepared to reclaim my life for myself, and that meant taking the reins. Hell, maybe I’d even get a puppy.