Page 43 of Electric Blue Love

“This just gets better and better.”

“What?”

“You haven’t slept with her.” It was a statement and not a question, so I didn’t bother confirming it.

“Court, this is huge. I know saying I’m proud of you sounds condescending but screw it – I’m proud of you. She seems smart and level headed and the way she talks about you with stars in her eyes it’s obvious she’s smitten too.”

“I –” Fuck, I didn’t know what to say.

“Sorry,” Bianca said as she slid back in beside Leika. “No matter how long I’m gone, as soon as I come back to New York my mother needs a play by play of my whereabouts.”

Leika and I shared a quick look. I didn’t have to be a mind reader to know she was thinking how nice that would be to have a family that cared so much. We didn’t often talk about our childhood, but it was a wound that hadn’t healed for either of us.

“So how long are you in town?” Leika asked Bianca.

“Through the weekend. I head back to Connecticut on Sunday afternoon.”

“We have to have a party at your place tomorrow night, Court. It’s been months since you’ve had people over and Bianca has to have a proper send off. Maybe it’ll help seal the deal, so we can convince her to take the job and move here.” She linked her arm through Bianca’s.

“I have to get the job first.”

We sat like that, Bianca and Leika across from me, chatting and drinking until Bianca began checking the time on her phone.

“I should get Bianca home. She has to be bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning for her interview.”

“Aww, I’m sad to see you go, but I just know you’re gonna kill it and we’re gonna be seeing a lot more of each other.” She wrapped her arms around a surprised Bianca and I chuckled under my breath.

“Alright, alright, let the poor girl go.”

Reluctantly, Leika let Bianca go and then proceeded to throw herself onto me next. “You did good, bro,” she whispered quietly before giving me a light squeeze and pulling back.

The trip back to her parents’ house was quieter and our strides slower.

“Leika’s nice.”

“Nice,” I chuckled. “Yeah, she’s nice.”

“Are you two –” the unasked question hung in the air and I suddenly felt like an idiot for not making it clear earlier.

“Leika’s like a sister to me. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”

“Oh. I see.”

From her tone, I could tell that no she didn’t see, and I let out a deep breath before divulging more personal information than I ever dreamed of telling her.

“Leika and I lived with the same foster family for a few years before I turned eighteen and was no longer a ward of the state.”

I waited for the canned pity statement or look, but Bianca surprised me by not doing either.

“It’s cool that you’ve kept in touch.”

“She’s the closest thing to family I have.” I shrugged.

And then little 8B took my hand. “Seems like a pretty good person to have as family.”

We shuffled outside her parents’ house. I was reluctant to let the night end and Bianca seemed like there was more she wanted to say but didn’t know how.

I finally broke the ice. “Good luck on your interview tomorrow. Will you let me know how it goes?”