Page 25

Chapter 25

McCoy

She used to live for the chase. Before she’d met Sawyer, having beautiful people fall for her charms had been half the thrill for Coy. But now, watching as multiple half-naked women traipsed around her apartment, trying to get her attention, was an eye-opener for Coy. She felt like bait trapped in a cesspool with horny queer predators. Everywhere she turned another person she’d slept with popped up, either to drunkenly tell her off or to try for a repeat. It was exhausting, and truly had Coy questioning her life choices of the last ten plus years.

“Hey, baby.” Mallory, who Coy had spent the night with several months ago, slipped her hand in Coy’s, tugging her to a stop. “Any chance you’re unattached tonight?”

Smiling politely, Coy carefully disengaged their fingers. She glanced around the apartment, half expecting Sloane to be lurking around the corner. Something was off tonight. “Erm, actually, no, I’m not. Unattached, that is.” Coy gave her a nervous chuckle, already backing away. “Sorry Mal, but damn, it was nice to see you. Thanks for coming to the party.”

It was the worst kind of torture for someone like Coy, withholding sex during their annual pride celebrations, but she was willing to do anything it took for a chance with Sawyer. They were going at her pace, after all.

“Quick, in here!”

Hands grabbed at Coy’s shirt, yanking her backwards toward the bathroom. When she was certain her time on earth was up, Abi’s face came into view, enclosing them into the small space. She locked the bathroom door. “What …” Coy’s voice trailed off when she noticed Tess camping out on the closed toilet seat. She gave Coy an awkward wave.

“Hey.”

The party was loud, way louder than it should have been in an apartment building, so Tess’s greeting was muffled to Coy’s ears. She lifted her hand for a hesitant wave, observing the beer in theirs. There was a better part of a six-pack sitting on the bathroom counter.

“Jasmine’s in your bed, naked,” Abi loudly explained, giving Coy a friendly push. She looked drunk already. “You’re welcome.”

Coy supposed she owed Abi one, considering that’s exactly where she was headed a moment ago. She groaned, realizing what was happening. “Sloane pulled out all the stops.”

“She’s the one who offered you up as some sort of queer sacrificial virgin?” Abi’s mouth fell open, and she glanced back at Tess.

“Yeah,” Coy answered slowly, watching Abi’s exaggerated shock in suspicion. Something wasn’t right. “We made a bet, so she’ll use every opportunity she can to win.” Not one of her better attributes, I assure you, she added silently. She hadn’t been overly impressed with her sister when Sloane gleefully explained what she’d done early that evening. Setting Coy up to fail was a lot different than being a silent spectator. It had to cross some kind of twin code or something. But getting their friends involved was going above and beyond. That was entering traitor territory. “Let me guess, you’re in on it?”

Abi at least had the gall to look guilty. She giggled, slapping Coy’s arm like the whole thing was a joke. “I bet you would succeed. That’s good, right?”

How was any of this good? Coy was an utter mess over Sawyer, and her friends—her own family—were placing bets on her future misery or happiness? How fucked up was that? She swallowed down the bile building in her throat, forcing out, “How much, Abi?”

“Two hundred bucks?”

Beer spewed from Tess’s mouth. “Say what?”

Abi shrugged, a drunken, uneasy chuckle emanating from her. “It’s not just me. There’s a pool going.”

“Un-fucking-believable,” Coy gritted out. Her cheeks flamed within the bathroom’s suffocating enclosure. There was a tickling sensation happening in her throat and nose. She didn’t know if she was about to scream or cry, but she was definitely feeling some kind of way.

“Coy …”

“I … My emotions aren’t fucking … lotto tickets to be scratched and won or thrown away,” Coy burst out. Oh no, no please not the waterworks . But sure enough, blasted tears blurred her vision as she glared at her best friend. “Sawyer makes me want things. Different things, to be different. I-I feel it, Abi. I told you that. I confided in you.” It could have been anyone else and Coy would have shrugged it off. But Abi? Why her and why this bet? Abi rarely bid on any of Sloane’s stupid bets.

“Coy, I bet in your favor,” Abi insisted. “Why is that bad? I know you’re crazy about Sawyer.”

Coy held her hand up. “Forget it. Have a good night.” Or not , the pissed off demon camping out on her shoulder snickered silently.

Coy left, slamming the bathroom door behind her. She needed to get out of the apartment before she and Sloane had a throwdown. Coy marched to her bedroom, so busy wiping away frustrated tears that she almost toppled right into Ash. “Hey, Coy, you okay?”

Coy nodded, cutting her eyes to the floor on her way past. “All’s good, Ash. It’s great to see you,” she called to them.

Jasmine was indeed in Coy’s bed, but it didn’t look as if she was hard up for company. “Don’t mind me,” Coy grumbled, not bothering to glance long enough to find out who had their face between Jasmine’s thighs.

“Wanna join us?”

“Nope.”

Coy grabbed her wallet and keys, and then she was gone again. Their downstairs neighbor was in the entranceway of the apartment when Coy approached to leave. She enjoyed witnessing the pretty ginger telling her sister off as she slipped past the open doorway.

Coy found herself keeping Tegan company, still in the apartment’s parking lot. Her phone was hooked into the car charging port, and she was restlessly unlocking her screen to where she had Sawyer’s SMS pulled up. Things between them had been going at a snail’s pace since the night Sawyer had fallen asleep at Coy’s apartment. Twenty-four days ago, but who was counting? Definitely not Coy, no sir.

It didn’t help that Sawyer had returned to work two weeks ago, or the week before that J.D. took five days off to compete with Sloane in the bike rally so Coy had to clock in longer hours. Coy and Sawyer’s schedule often didn’t line up, so they’d resorted to text messages and late-night video calls. Sawyer’s messages still left a lot to be desired, but Coy appreciated the effort. Truthfully, she’d grown quite fond of Sawyer’s no-nonsense personality.

Coy: How are you? Miss you.

Coy almost dropped the phone when a reply came back almost instantly.

Sassy Sawyer: I’ve already met drunk, cheesy pickup line McCoy. Stop while you’re ahead.

Coy simpered, all too aware of the butterflies doing a happy dance in her stomach.

Coy: You’ll be happy to know I only had two beers tonight. Not in the mood, I guess.

Sawyer must have been busy at work, because five minutes passed before she replied.

Sassy Sawyer: If you’re not in the mood to drink, what are you in the mood for?

Coy’s heart skipped a beat. You, she wanted to reply. Always you, Sawyer.

Sawyer would forever be an enigma. Coy would just be feeling like perhaps she’d figured the older woman out and then Sawyer tossed a random question out like this one.

Coy: I feel like that’s a trick question. Is that a trick question, Sawyer?

Sassy Sawyer: Well, how else will I keep you on your toes, darling?

Coy swooned. There was no other word for it. Right there in the driver’s seat of Tegan, she swooned like the lovesick fool she was. Never in her life, or in the lives of all the fictional lesbians she’d read about, had a pet name achieved that.

Coy: I’m in the mood for calories. Currently sitting in Tegan, wondering if I want a burger or Chinese food.

Sassy Sawyer: The meat pie at Desmarais is quite nice late at night.

Coy’s stomach flip-flopped as she read the message. She grinned from ear to ear.

Coy: Was that a hint, or …?

But the reply never came. Coy was left in limbo, undecided if showing up this late at the restaurant would be welcome. She started the engine anyway and drove toward the west side and Sawyer. Because what was life without taking a risk now and again?

When she pulled into the parking lot of Desmarais only a handful of vehicles remained. The restaurant was closed, but the staff would still be cleaning and getting ready for the following day. She sidled Tegan between an older model hatchback and a newer looking sedan, turning off the ignition and climbing out.

An unopened box of shortening currently held the back door of the restaurant ajar and Coy read that as a good sign. The door wouldn’t be left open if no one was expecting her, right? Ugh. Coy peered down at her clammy palms, wiping them on her skinny jeans before pulling the door open wider. Compared to the stillness in the parking lot, crossing the threshold into the kitchen was like stepping into the twilight zone. Staff were everywhere, some with platters of dishes, others carrying produce or containers with what appeared to be leftovers. And it was loud, which was surprising. Coy had imagined Sawyer keeping her kitchen as quiet and tightly in line as possible, but no. Music blared from a tabletop speaker, and there was dancing. Well, at least some heavy hip swaying, Coy mused, watching as a familiar face bobbed her head as she made her way over.

“Coy, you came,” Bree greeted with a wide smile, leaning into Coy for a quick hug. She still had her chef coat on but had traded the hat for a bandana to secure her hair.

“Your mom told you?” Coy asked slowly. Inviting her here was a new move for Sawyer and Coy didn’t know what to expect. Her eyes widened as another thought came. Was Sawyer even out of the closet? She stood still as Bree gave her outfit a head-to-toe appraisal, settling on the black suspenders over her black dress shirt.

“Very handsome. Maman won’t know what to do with you.”

“What? Why do you say it like that? Like she doesn’t know I’m coming?” Coy’s stomach sank as she realized what had happened. Her gaze darted behind Bree, widening slightly as she spotted Sawyer coming toward them all business like. Sweat broke out on her forehead.

What’s with the constant interference into my love life?

“McCoy. What are you doing here?” Sawyer asked, barely concealed surprise coloring the question. Tension radiated from her rigid shoulders as she stood entirely too far apart for Coy’s liking.

“And that’s my cue to leave,” Bree announced, turning to pat her mother on the shoulder. “Later, Coy.”

“Yeah, see you,” Coy murmured, not taking her eyes off Sawyer. Even bone-weary tired she was a sight Coy could never tire from. Nerves took hold of her, and suddenly she didn’t know what to do with her hands or facial expressions and began glitching like some character in a video game. Her lips went up and down between a smile and a frown and her arms did something similar until finally a jittery cackle flew out of her mouth.

“McCoy?” Sawyer prodded, folding her arms and sighing. She glanced over her shoulder, noticing they had an audience, and said in a raised, clipped voice, “Back to work!”

“Sooo,” Coy said, dragging the word out. She took a deep breath, waiting for Sawyer to face her again before exhaling. “Funny thing about that. I thought I was texting you? But I wasn’t?”

“I don’t understand. You texted me once, and I replied.” Sawyer studied her, puzzlement clear in those lovely storm-cloud gray eyes. Her gaze traveled over Coy’s outfit, the same as Bree’s had, but this time Coy’s body lit on fire with the attention.

“Y-yeah.” Another oddly inappropriate chuckle escaped. Coy swallowed, lifting a hand to swipe the perspiration building across her forehead.

God, it’s like an inferno in here.

“I think Bree got a hold of your phone, pretending to be you. Um … something about meat pie?” Coy scratched her head, feeling sheepish. “You know I’m always hungry. So I came.”

“Bree!” Sawyer looked completely nonplussed over the situation.

Her daughter returned carrying a plate of food, winking at Coy as she handed it to her. “O ui, Maman? ”

“Explain.”

Bree shrugged. “Coy’s message was up on your phone, and I saw it. She wasn’t up for partying and missed you, and since you miss her too but will never say, I figured why not speed this along?”

“I don’t …” Sawyer started before slamming her mouth shut. Her cheeks pinkened, and then it was her turn to breathe deeply. “ Arrête de jouer à Cupidon, mon amour. Please.”

“I’ll stop playing cupid if you start letting people in,” Bree said, reaching up to kiss Sawyer’s cheek. “ Je t'aime aussi, Maman. ”

“Oh, no, don’t worry about that,” Coy said around a mouthful of savory meat pie. Sawyer and Bree both looked expectantly at her, so she swallowed before continuing. “I’ve been getting in there, trust me. Small increments, but I’ve been told I’m irresistible, so.” She beamed. “One day, I’ll have your mom falling at my feet.”

Bree laughed, and Sawyer’s eyebrow shot up. “Somehow I highly doubt that,” came her crisp reply. Taking Coy by the arm, she added, “Come with me. Bree, I’ll speak to you later.”

Coy followed Sawyer’s fast clip across the kitchen, noting several heads turning their way. So many curious gazes, all likely wondering what Sawyer was doing with her.

“So it appears you aren’t drunk,” Sawyer stated, leading them into her office. She closed and locked the door. Coy’s eyebrows raised, but she said nothing, only tracked Sawyer’s fingers to where she pointed to the vacant chair across the desk from her own. “Sit down. If you’re eating, I’d rather not see it all over the floor.”

Coy did as instructed, but quickly said, “I don’t need to eat. I’d rather talk with you.”

“You can’t do both?” Sawyer went to her phone sitting on the desk, picking it up and unlocking it. Staring at it for a few seconds, she then muttered, “Unbelievable. You were fooled by this?” Sawyer held the device out for Coy to see, their previous text thread open.

Coy blushed. “Wishful thinking, I guess.”

“I guess so.” Sawyer set the phone down and came around to lean against her desk, her long legs inches from where Coy sat. “So tell me what pulled you away from the party. Besides your wish to see me, of course.”

Coy ducked her head, not having any desire to reveal the bet her and Sloane made. She focused on her food, which was quickly cooling, and took another three bites before Sawyer gently gripped her plate and set it on the desk. And then she did the most surprising thing of all. She took Coy’s hands in hers, tugged Coy out of the chair, and gave her a hug.