Page 24 of January (New Orleans #1)

“W hy are you still here?” Jill asked.

“I’m taking the deposit to the bank tonight, so I have to wait until the cash drawer is closed,” Melinda replied.

“Don’t you have a hot date with a hickey-giving lady?” Jill said, picking up her jacket off the chair in the back office.

Melinda laughed and replied, “Yes, but she knows I’m closing. And she’s coming here, anyway. I just need to make it upstairs in time to clean up.”

“Clean up? Your place is, like, ten times cleaner than mine.”

“She spent all of five minutes there as I changed before we ran out. I want her to want to be there, you know? I want her to feel like it’s home and it’s comfortable.”

“Is she a neat freak or something?”

“No clue.” Melinda shook her head. “Honestly, I don’t know much about her living habits. Next to nothing. She was staying in a hotel at first, and now, she’s at her grandmother’s old place, but that’s not exactly her apartment.”

“She could be a slob, so if you look super neat, it might end up being un comfortable for her,” Jill reasoned.

“Kyle doesn’t strike me as a slob,” she replied, pulling up the spreadsheet they used to enter in the daily total of cash brought in.

“She could be; you don’t know. And you should probably ask. If you end up visiting her one day, and she’s got, like, to-go containers and pizza boxes on the floor under a mound of dirty laundry, you’d be in trouble, right?”

“I think we’ll be okay,” Melinda said.

“So, will there be more hickeys tonight?” Jill teased, slipping on her jacket.

“I hope so; just not in visible places. ”

“Oh, nice,” Jill replied with a lifted eyebrow. “I’m jealous.”

“Bridge said she was free tonight. You should call her and see if she wants to hang out.”

“No offense; I like Bridgette, but I don’t want hickeys in invisible places from her.”

Melinda laughed and said, “I meant to go see a movie or something.”

“I’m going to eat a tub of ice cream on my couch. Is she into that kind of thing?”

“I think it depends on the ice cream,” Melinda replied.

“I’ll give her a call, then. Have a good night,” Jill said, winking at her. “Enjoy that no sleep you’ll be getting.”

“I plan to.”

Jill left the office, and Melinda reviewed the credit card receipts, entering the total into the spreadsheet. When she heard the front door close and the lock make that amazing sound, blocking any more walk-ins from entering and booking tours, she sighed. The workday was over. She was just a few minutes away from having dinner with Kyle at her place and, hopefully, dessert involving their naked bodies.

“Mel?” Lacey, the part-timer who worked the register a few days a week, said.

“Yeah?”

“There’s someone at the front door for you. I said we were closed.”

“Someone? Oh, that’s probably Kyle.”

Melinda was excited to see her but also slightly annoyed because Kyle was early, as usual, and she hadn’t had a chance to clean up. She stood, peeked her head out of the office, and it was Kyle, all right, standing outside the now-locked glass door they’d finally had installed, looking like she’d been crying.

“Lace, can you give me a minute?” she asked, moving to the door.

“Sure. I’m off, anyway.”

“I’ll pay you for an extra two hours if you count down your drawer and take the deposit to the bank for me.”

“Really? Yeah, cool.”

Melinda went to unlock the door and asked, “Kyle, what’s wrong?”

“I have to cancel our date.”

“Huh?”

“I need to cancel our date.”

“Babe, come in,” Melinda told her, taking Kyle’s hand and moving her inside. “What’s going on?”

“I was going to call you, but I’ve been walking for a couple of hours now, and I realized I was close to your office, so I thought I’d tell you in person.”

“Tell me what, Kyle?” she asked, cupping Kyle’s cheek with one hand and locking the door again with the other.

“I’m not much in the mood for a fun date night.”

“Okay. That’s fine. But you’ve been crying. What happened?”

“Can I just tell you the whole story tomorrow?”

“You can, but I’m worried about you now,” she said.

“I’m okay.” Kyle sniffled.

“Hey, do I also need to fill out that spreadsheet thing?” Lacey asked.

“No, just write down the cash amount on a Post-it. I’ll take care of it tomorrow,” she replied.

“Okay. Cool.”

“You’re working still. I’m sorry. I’m early.”

“I’m done. Let’s go upstairs.”

“No, I don’t want to interrupt. You have a–”

“Kyle, please. Come with me. We can talk, or you can sit quietly while I cook dinner. Whatever you want.”

Kyle’s eyes were a little red and puffy, and God help her, Melinda actually thought she looked cute, which was awful. She leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips.

“I feel like I don’t know what to do,” Kyle told her.

“Then, let me make some suggestions, okay? Upstairs, dinner, and whatever else you want; talking or no talking.”

When Kyle nodded, Melinda took her hand again and walked her back to the staircase. Then, she took a quick glance at Lacey, who had the bank bag in hand and was putting the deposit in there. Lacey had worked at NOLA Guides for two years now and had taken the deposit to the bank a handful of times, so Melinda wasn’t worried about that. She was more worried about Kyle and what had her crying. As they made their way up the stairs, Melinda had a selfish thought that Kyle was crying because she’d gotten news that she had to go back home sooner than planned. She hoped that wasn’t the case but worried more that if that wasn’t it, it was something worse.

“Want some coffee or tea?” she asked once they were inside the apartment.

“Water?” Kyle said.

“Yeah. Have a seat, okay?” Melinda replied.

For a second, Kyle stood and looked around the second floor of the apartment, which had the main bedroom, a bathroom, a small living room, and a kitchen. Then, she moved slowly to the sofa and sat down.

Melinda grabbed the jug of filtered water and a clean glass, filling it up before she started a pot of coffee, just in case, since they likely wouldn’t be having any red wine tonight. After that, she carried the glass over and handed it to Kyle, sitting down next to her with an arm over the back of the sofa.

“Will you tell me?” she asked, lifting her hand and running it through Kyle’s down hair.

Kyle took a long drink and nodded, placing the glass down on the coffee table.

“My mom is here.”

“Your mom? Here? In New Orleans?”

“Jolie told her about the houses and the money.”

“Shit,” Melinda muttered mainly to herself.

“Yeah, shit ,” Kyle agreed, sniffling again. “She flew down here today and showed up at the house.”

“Oh, babe,” Melinda said, scooting closer.

“She wants us to give her the money and the houses. ”

“What? Why?”

“She says she deserves them.”

“Your grandmother left them to you,” Melinda said, placing her hand on Kyle’s thigh.

“My mother told me she never wanted me,” Kyle replied, staring straight ahead.

“What?”

“She said she didn’t want me at all,” Kyle explained. “I told her I knew what really happened back then.”

“Why she got kicked out?”

“She didn’t. She ran away,” Kyle said. “She tried to… She tried to get rid of me, and my grandparents saved me.”

“What?”

Melinda wanted to know where this woman was staying because she planned on kicking her ass all the way back home. Kyle filled her in on the journals and what she’d read just prior to her mother showing up, and Melinda decided that, yes, kicking this woman’s ass was worth going to jail for. How could she say those things to her own daughter? To Kyle ? To sweet, beautiful, responsible, and kind Kyle?

“Where is she staying?” she asked through gritted teeth.

“I don’t know. She just said that this wasn’t over,” Kyle replied, resting her head finally on Melinda’s shoulder.

Melinda wrapped her arm around her and pulled her in closer.

“If you find out, you tell me. I’d like to introduce myself.”

Kyle chuckled and said, “I always knew there was more to it than what she told me, but I never thought it was this; that she did all of this. She caused her parents so much pain, and then did the same with me, my dad, and even Jolie. She wasn’t supposed to be a parent.”

“Well, as much as I know she’s hurt you, I’m glad she became a parent.” Melinda kissed her forehead. “I have you because of it.”

Kyle lifted her head and stared into Melinda’s eyes.

“Will you tell me I’m worth it? ”

“What?” Melinda asked softly.

“That I’m worth something because I’ve never really felt–”

“Kyle, you are worth everything,” Melinda interrupted her. “You’re worth everything. I’m totally crazy about you, and we just met.” She smiled softly. “Babe, you put yourself through college. You have your own business. You’ve practically raised your sister. You’re a good person, Kyle Schafer. She’s a horrible one and a bitch for making you feel otherwise.”

Kyle gave her a short nod in response and said, “I’m sorry I brought all of this drama with me when I came to town. I didn’t exactly expect to meet someone.”

“I didn’t plan on meeting you, either, but here you are,” Melinda replied with a smile. “And I’m so sorry you’re going through this, but you don’t have to apologize to me for something your mother is doing, Kyle,” she added, hoping Kyle actually heard her.

“I’ve felt unwanted my entire life,” Kyle admitted then. “Turns out, I was unwanted from the moment the stick turned blue, which I should’ve just assumed, too.”

“I want you,” Melinda replied. “I want you, Kyle.”

“Even though I’m a mess?”

Melinda smiled and said, “You can be my mess.”

“I’d rather be your well-adjusted date,” Kyle replied.

“You will be,” Melinda said. “The well-adjusted part. You’re already my date.”

“I’m sorry about tonight. I left the wine at–”

Melinda leaned in and kissed her quickly to shut her up.

“I don’t care. I just want you here. I don’t care about wine or a fancy dinner or a helicopter ride. I just want you. I mean that, Kyle. You. I want you .” She cupped Kyle’s cheek. “And only you, Ky.”

Kyle sniffled and asked, “Really?”

Melinda leaned in to kiss her again, slower this time, and said, “Lie back, babe.”

Kyle didn’t ask questions. She moved until she was lying on Melinda’s sofa, looking up at her. Melinda moved, too, until she was hovering over Kyle.

“Can I show you?”

When Kyle nodded, Melinda sat back to pull off her shirt and undo her work khakis before she slid them down her legs and stood up to remove them. After that, she kicked off her shoes and took off the remainder of her clothing. Kyle just watched her, probably wondering what she’d do next. Melinda leaned over the sofa and untied Kyle’s shoes, dropping them to the floor before she undid and tugged off her jeans. Kyle removed her own shirt and bra, leaving her black underwear to Melinda. Once there was nothing left between them, Melinda settled against her, resting her face in the crook of Kyle’s neck.

“You are so beautiful,” she whispered. “So unbelievably worth it,” she added, kissing Kyle’s neck. “And anyone who doesn’t see that is crazy.”

“Okay,” Kyle whispered, but Melinda wasn’t sure she believed her.

She lowered her hand and slid it between them.

“Is this okay?” she asked.

“Please,” Kyle replied.

Melinda cupped her sex for only a moment before she slipped between Kyle’s folds. Kyle gasped at first, and then Melinda felt her relax a bit as she began to stroke. She took her time, wanting to give Kyle as much pleasure as possible to help at least temporarily erase the bullshit her mother had spewed at her earlier that day. When she entered her, Kyle tensed for a second but allowed Melinda to go deeper and gently thrust inside her as she whispered words of affirmation into Kyle’s ear. Several minutes later, Kyle came softly, and Melinda felt her whole body relax fully into the sofa. Melinda stayed inside her until her wrist couldn’t stand it anymore. Then, she moved to settle more into Kyle, kissing her jawline.

“Thank you,” Kyle said, sniffling.

“You don’t have to thank me for that. I loved every second of it,” she replied. “You’re staying here tonight. I’m holding you all night long, okay?”

“Okay,” Kyle agreed. “Do I smell coffee?”

Melinda chuckled against her chest and replied, “Yes. Chicory, just for you.”

“Sounds good, but it can wait,” Kyle told her before she wrapped her arms tightly around Melinda and kissed her temple.

“Kyle?”

“Yeah?”

“She’s wrong about everything.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”

“No,” Kyle said. “And yes.”

“I kind of hate her.”

“I kind of hate her, too,” Kyle said, running her hands up and down Melinda’s naked back. “But I’ve already let her ruin most of my day. I really don’t want her to ruin our night, too.”

“Not possible,” she replied. “I’m naked and pressed up against you. No ruining that.”

“Will you tell me about your day? I don’t want to talk about her anymore.”

“Which tour should I start with?” she asked, running her fingers over Kyle’s breast.

“Go from your least favorite of the day to your most.”

“Should I order us some dinner first?”

“Do they deliver beignets?” Kyle asked.

Melinda laughed and said, “I know a guy.”

“Oh, of course. You know everyone here,” Kyle teased, her hand stilling on Melinda’s ass, not gripping but resting.

“You will, too,” Melinda replied. “Stick with me, and you’ll know this place like the back of your hand.”

“I think I’ll stick with you regardless,” Kyle replied in a whisper against Melinda’s ear.

Melinda smiled and thought about how she hoped that were actually true. She couldn’t imagine having nights in this apartment with Kyle so far away, missing her, thinking about this very moment when they were snuggled up on this sofa, and wishing Kyle was here. If long-distance was in their future, she’d do it, but she’d hate the moment they’d have to say goodbye, and she was hoping this altercation with Kyle’s mom wasn’t the thing that took her away from her too soon.