Page 155 of Elite Connections: an LGBTQ Romance Charity Anthology

Stock is up.

And it keeps going up, according to Keaton. I could never care enough to even pretend to understand it. I don’t want to understand it. It’s enough that I know I’m its victim. That it’ll dictate my life for the rest of the year I’ve got left with Keaton.

And Keaton is taking full advantage of this new development. He’s upped his sharing game on his social channels.

“Picture this.”

“Picture that.”

“Look at this funny text Milo sent me.”

“Oh look. His cat thingy has adopted me. Apparently.”

And on and on it goes. Our whole life is on blast.

It’s what I signed up for.

I have to keep reminding myself of that. That this is the deal. This is why I’m now a “millionaire.” This is why I can’t go out in town or even to the gym without some weirdo following me around with a camera, waiting for me to slip up.

It’s a good thing Keaton is away on a work trip in China because I definitely need a break from all of this.

It gives me an opportunity to visit Blanche more often, spend more time with my goddaughter after school, and focus on my passion for a while, shuffling through hundreds of photographs, trying to decide which are exhibition-worthy.

“Thank you so much!” Sierra says as soon as I open the door and she ushers herself and Nia into my apartment.

“How many times have I done this?” I ask her.

“Too many times.”

“Exactly. So why are you still thanking me? Besides, who wouldn’t want to hang out with this smart lady for a weekend?”

Nia gives me a big hug and drops her bag by the sofa before slumping over it with her Nintendo at hand.

“Any news from Keaton?” Sierra helps herself to my wine, and I let her have a sip before I take it back.

I shake my head.

“He should be back on Sunday, but I expect he’ll be tired, so I’ll probably see him next week. Forget Keaton. What are you up to this weekend?” It’s my turn to drink wine, but I only find a mouthful. When did she drink all my wine?

“This big-shot lawyer is trying to make partner and wants to flash her new girlfriend at the company retreat. Enter Sierra!”

I eye my friend suspiciously as I refill my glass, but even so, she still manages to snatch the glass away from me.

“Would you like some wine, Sierra?” I stress her name to tell her it’s my wine, but she shrugs.

“No, babe. I’m okay,” she says and proceeds to drink my entire glass before handing it back to me.

“Anyway.” I fill up again, but this time, I make sure to put the kitchen island between us so she can’t steal my glass again. “A little lesbian romance for this retreat, huh?” I make sure to whisper because even though Nia is in the living room with headphones on, I still don’t want her to overhear anything she shouldn’t.

Sierra wiggles her eyebrows with a smirk, and I don’t even want to imagine what she’s got in store for the poor woman.

Although if she can afford Elite, I’m sure she’s not that poor.

“How long since you’ve bagged a sapphic client?”

Sierra shrugs. “It’s been a couple years, I think. If not longer.”

“Do you even remember how to…” I lean even closer and drop my voice even lower. “…polish the scissors?”

Sierra chortles and starts laughing.

“Oh, honey. That’s like riding a bike. You never forget how to…polish the scissors as you put it. Besides, you know girls peg too, right? You’re not one of those idiots that think lesbians only scissor, right? Do you even know how limber you have to be to successfully scissor? So much effort.”

“Oh yeah. What an inconvenience.” I roll my eyes, and it’s my turn to down the wine.

“Hey. It’s not all bean-flicking and multiple Os, you know.”

“Yeah, because multiple Os are such a bore. Please, darling. You’re about to have the most scrumptious couple of days. Don’t act like it’s hard work. Wine?”

“I’m okay.” Once again, she reaches for my glass and takes a generous gulp before she gives it back. “And what are you complaining about? Last I heard, you’ve been getting Os by the pound.”

I gasp.

“Who said that.”

“You.” Sierra points at me like a dramatic GIF, and I feign ignorance. “You did. On many, many occasions.”

She stares at me until I admit defeat and then steals my glass one last time before she has to go.

“Do you miss him?” she asks when she’s by the door and after hugging her daughter goodbye.

I watch her and bite my lip, taking deep breaths as if she’s asked me to solve all the world’s problems.

“If I say yes, that means I’ve got it bad and have crossed the boundary between professional and personal.”

Sierra raises an eyebrow and puts a hand on her hip.

Yes, I’ve had a fantastic week on my own, but…

It’s been boring. The times I’m not with my queen or my friends, I’m immediately bored. And I keep having these conversations with Keaton in my head. Conversations that aren’t entirely professional. Conversations about feelings and emotions and futures and such.

Things he didn’t sign up for.

And I didn’t either.

But…

“And if you say no?” Sierra asks.

I miss his body and his lips. I miss the way he looks at me when I do anything, from kissing him to blowing him to making coffee.

“Then I’d be lying.”

Sierra squeezes my face and gives me a kiss on the lips, then strokes my cheek.

“Poor baby has fallen in love with his client. How Pretty Woman of you.”

“Shut up.”

“You can shut me up all you want. It doesn’t make it any less true.”

“True or not, he doesn’t feel the same way.”

Sierra scoffs and lets go of me.

“And how do you know that? Have you asked him?”

“Don’t be so stupid.”

“Whatever. Sit and deny your feelings all day long if you want. I’ve got to go. Have fun, you two. And don’t mope too much. I’d like my daughter to not be miserable when I pick her up.”

She opens the door and I push her out.

“Get the fuck out.”

“Love you too,” she shouts and calls the elevator.

I close the door and sit next to Nia with a new glass of wine that’s all mine.

“So, miss. What do you want to do this weekend?”

Nia, in true Sierra fashion, puts her gaming console down and begins listing all the things she’s not normally allowed.

“…and then have ice cream again, and then watch more horror movies, and stay up until one, and then have coffee in the morning…”

I’m barely able to hold back my laughter when my phone lights up.

Keaton: Surprise. I’m back early. U up?

I try to ignore the way my heart flutters at reading the message and focus on reality.

Milo: Sorry. Can’t. I’m on babysitting duty this weekend. Maybe Sunday?

Nia is still listing things she wants to do when Keaton replies.

Keaton: If you give me an hour, I can plan a family-friendly weekend.

I purse my lips and reply to his message.

Milo: What do you have in mind?

Keaton: I guess you’ll have to wait and see.