Page 28 of Last Call (Open Tab #5)

“Fallon isn’t always as good at taking care of herself.

You know that as well as I do. Sometimes, she distracts herself from what she needs to deal with by taking care of everyone else.

Things came together—her idea, the property she found.

Dave expressing that he wants to work full-time sealed the deal for her.

It gave her the courage to make the leap.

I’ll lay odds Dave told her he needs to talk to you first.”

“He doesn’t need my permission.”

“No, but he wants your approval,” Andi said. “And as much as he loves Fallon, he wouldn’t look for hers. He might ask her opinion, maybe even look for her encouragement. Your opinion of him matters. To him.”

“Thanks. I probably shouldn’t need to hear that. It helps.”

Andi smiled. “Let’s go.”

“Go? Where are we going?”

“Upstairs.”

“Why?”

Andi lifted her brow.

“What? Oh! Oh! Andi, what about the kids?”

“Becky went to visit Marge,” Andi said.

“We don’t know when Dave will be back.”

“All the more reason to follow me now ,” Andi said, walking toward the stairs. “Are you coming?” she called back. Billie’s grin made her laugh. And here I thought I’d finished raising teenage boys. “Clock is ticking, Ms. Steele.”

Billie always loved how Andi’s pulse leaped beneath her thumb or tongue—the heartbeat of someone who didn’t expect to be loved this way, wholly and without expectations.

A cool breeze slipped through the open windows, making Andi shiver.

Billie’s fingers fumbled more than usual when she reached for the buttons on Andi’s blouse.

“Hang on, hang on,” Billie muttered. She dipped her head and squinted at the third buttonhole.

Andi laughed. “Having a problem?”

“I swear, whoever makes these things is part of a conspiracy. These damn things always…”

Andi covered Billie’s hands and took charge of the task. “Weren’t you a nurse?”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Didn’t you ever help someone get undressed?” Andi asked. She deftly slipped each button free.

“Only once. Mrs. Munson. I think she was 101.”

Andi chuckled. “Lucky, Mrs. Munson. Let’s not go to the retirement home just yet,” Andi said as the last button gave way. She guided Billie’s hands to her now-open blouse, encouraging Billie to explore the warmth of her skin.

Billie inhaled sharply. “You’re beautiful,” she said as she pushed the fabric from Andi’s shoulders.

“You’re biased,” Andi countered. Her eyes softened in a way that made Billie’s chest ache.

“Just honest.” Billie leaned in, letting her lips find the hollow of Andi’s throat. She trailed kisses along Andi’s collarbone and sighed when Andi pulled her closer.

The breeze raised goosebumps across Andi’s exposed skin, and Billie traced them with her fingertips.

“Cold?” Billie murmured against Andi’s skin.

“Not anymore,” Andi breathed. She arched into Billie as Billie’s hands moved lower across the curve of her ribs. “Though we could get under the covers.”

“So thoughtful,” Billie teased. “I don’t want you to be cold.”

Andi laughed. “Mm. I seem to recall you telling everyone how hot I was in bed.”

“Well, it’s true!” Billie defended herself.

“I’ll bet Mrs. Munson would understand my hot flashes.” Andi’s fingers worked at Billie’s shirt, tugging it free from her waistband.

“Oh God. Please. No talk about Mrs. Munson. Or missus anyone.” Billie buried her face against Andi’s neck.

Andi’s laughter vibrated against Billie’s lips. “I thought you liked me naked in bed.”

“I like you naked anywhere.”

“Really? Anywhere?” Andi asked, undoing Billie’s fly, her hand slipping inside Billie’s jeans.

Billie’s lips claimed Andi’s.

“You’re distracting me,” Andi scolded.

“I have a strategy,” Billie countered, helping Andi slide her shorts off.

Andi stepped free. She pulled Billie close, fumbling slightly with the clasp of her bra.

“I told you,” Billie said. “Conspiracies.”

“Good thing I’m a trained operative,” Andi teased, spinning them toward the bed. “Ouch!” she yelped as her heel caught on Billie’s discarded shoe. She grabbed Billie’s arm, but momentum had other ideas. They tumbled to the floor in a heap, landing on top of their scattered clothes.

“Are you okay?” Billie asked, trying unsuccessfully not to laugh.

Andi’s uninhibited laughter filled the room. “Good thing my mother’s small investment in ballet lessons paid off,” she quipped. “I’m fine. Just…” she dissolved into giggles again, “just not as graceful as I hoped.”

“I don’t know,” Billie said, shifting to hover over Andi. “You certainly stuck the landing.”

Andi’s laughter softened as Billie lowered herself, their bodies fitting together on the floor. “Ever the optimist,” Andi said.

“With you? Always.” Billie’s hand slid along Andi’s side, tracing the curve of her hip. “We can just practice your floor routine.”

Andi flipped Billie beneath her and grinned. “It has potential.”

“I’d say it has more than potential ,” Billie whispered. She narrowed her gaze when Andi pinned her wrists gently above her head.

Andi’s smile turned from playful to something more intense as her gaze traveled slowly down Billie’s body. “Perfect,” she whispered. She reached for Billie’s shirt, crumpling it slightly and sliding it beneath Billie’s head.

“Always taking care of me,” Billie said.

“Always,” Andi promised, trailing her fingers down Billie’s sides. “You are beautiful,” Andi observed as her mouth found the curve of Billie’s breast.

Billie instinctively threaded her hands in the soft waves of Andi’s hair.

She happily surrendered to the sensation of Andi’s lips and hands mapping her body.

Each touch felt both familiar and new—the security of knowing exactly how they fit together, combined with the thrill of discovery that never seemed to fade.

Andi took her time, savoring each gasp and subtle arch of Billie’s body and delighting in Billie’s urgent moan when her fingers finally slid between Billie’s thighs.

“I love how you feel,” Andi said. “I love the way you tremble when I touch you.”

Billie’s eyes fluttered open, finding Andi’s face above her. Andi’s eyes were dark with desire, but her touch spoke of something deeper—something Billie still found difficult to believe. Andi loved her. Completely.

“No one has ever made me feel like this,” Billie managed between shallow breaths. “You always…” Her words dissolved into a moan as Andi’s rhythm changed, and her touch became more insistent.

Andi lowered herself and pressed them together, her lips brushing Billie’s ear. “I’ve got you,” she whispered. “Let go.”

Billie clutched Andi’s shoulders as pleasure coursed through her. Andi held her through it.

“Shh,” Andi cooed.

“How do you do that?” Billie asked.

“What did I do?”

“Make me feel safe and out of control at the same time—every time.”

Andi smiled gently. “I love you, Billie.”

“Mom! Are you home?”

Billie groaned.

“Don’t worry, honey,” Andi said, pulling herself up from the floor. “I’ll let you tackle the balance beam later—unless, of course, you prefer the high bar?”

“Cute.”

Andi winked.

“Mom?”

“I’ll be right down!” Andi called out, slipping her shorts back on and grabbing a T-shirt.

“At least you didn’t tell him you were coming,” Billie said.

Andi picked up a pillow and threw it at Billie. “Get dressed,” she said as she fluffed her hair and opened the door.

“Hey. You know, there are point deductions for violence!” Billie called out.

Andi closed the bedroom door and headed down the stairs.

Fallon looked at her and smirked. “What happened to you ?”

“What do you mean?” Andi asked.

“Please tell me you were taking a nap,” Dave said.

Andi smiled. “Coffee?” she offered, making her way to the kitchen.

Fallon snickered. Napping, my ass.

“So?” Andi asked, pouring herself a fresh cup of coffee. “What do you think of Fallon’s idea?”

“I think it’s awesome. But I need to talk to Billie,” Dave replied.

Andi looked over Dave’s shoulder as Billie entered the doorway.

“Talk to me about what?” Billie asked.

“About Fallon’s new business,” Dave said.

“It sounds like a terrific idea to me,” Billie said.

Dave nodded. “Can I talk to Billie alone for a minute?”

Andi looked at Fallon. “Sure,” she said. “Fallon and I will take our coffees outside to the patio.” She poured coffee into a mug and handed it to Fallon. “You know where to find us.”

“Do you want coffee?” Dave asked Billie.

If Billie drank coffee, she might end up in the emergency room. Her heart rate had yet to slow from Andi’s attention. “No, thanks,” she said, reaching for the refrigerator. “I think I’ll just grab a water. Do you want one?”

“Sure.”

Billie tossed a water bottle to Dave and directed him to sit. “So? What’s up?”

“I think I want to work with Fallon.”

“That’s great.”

“Is it?” Dave asked. “I mean, I love your house, and I know you…”

“Dave. Stop. Fallon is offering you a fantastic opportunity. You’d be foolish not to grab it.”

“I have to talk to Becky first.”

“I’m sure she’ll agree,” Billie offered.

“Yeah.”

“I thought you’d be more excited.”

“I am. I just don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.”

Billie nodded. “You mean me.”

“You’re the person who's helped me the most.”

“No. I’m just the person who offered help first. ”

“You know, you could help.”

“Help with what?” Billie wondered.

“The business Fallon’s starting.”

Billie laughed earnestly. “Unless you’re looking for an expert at slipping and sliding, I don’t think I’m your woman, unless you want someone to help with first aid. That I’m qualified for.”

“I was thinking about your photography,” Dave said.

“What are you talking about?”

“Fallon’s idea is awesome. If people pay to go on excursions to do things they have never done, they’ll want evidence. We should offer pictures. I think most places do that. You have a month off in the winter. And you only teach two classes. Come on. It’s perfect.”

Billie shook her head. She loved painting and enjoyed taking her camera on trips and hikes. She enjoyed capturing moments with Owen and taking photos of Andi when she was reading a book or tending to the flowers. Despite years of encouragement to share her work, Billie kept it a hobby.

“I don’t think I’m qualified, Dave.”

“That’s crazy,” he said.

Billie’s brows arched into her hairline.

“Fallon told me that Deb Homan has been trying to get you to do art shows for a long time.”

“Deb is kind—kinder than she should be.”

“That’s crazy,” Dave said. “Mom says the same thing.”

“Mm-hm. Dave, haven’t you heard the phrase, ‘love is blind?’”

“Why do you do that?”

“What did I do?”

“Mom does that, too. Whenever one of us tells her that she should play the piano more often. She acts like it’s no big deal.”

“I like taking pictures and painting. It’s just a hobby.”

“Yeah. All the things Fallon and I are talking about were hobbies for us, too. Come on, Billie. It’ll be fun.”

“Whose idea was this?”

“Mine,” Dave said.

“And Fallon agreed?”

“Just think about it,” Dave said.

Billie nodded. “Do you want to grab a couple of beers and sit outside with your mom and Fallon? We can celebrate your new adventure.”

“Sure. Billie?”

“Yeah?” Billie asked, grabbing a couple of beers. “Just think about it, okay?”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Do you think Billie will agree?” Fallon asked Andi.

“To be your resident photographer?”

“Well?”

“It might require some prodding,” Andi replied.

Fallon shifted when her phone buzzed. “Sorry,” she said. “Mom?”

“Fallon.”

“What’s going on?” Fallon asked.

“Are you still with Dave?”

“I’m at Andi’s, why?”

“Is she there?”

“Andi? Yeah. Mom, what is going on?”

“Could I speak to her?”

“Mom?”

“Fallon, please. Let me speak to Andi.”

Andi looked at Fallon, puzzled and worried by the tone in Fallon’s voice.

“Mom wants to talk to you,” Fallon said, handing Andi her phone.

“Ida?”

“I hoped Fallon might be with you by now. I tried to call, but…”

“I must’ve left my phone upstairs. What’s going on?” Andi asked.

“Dick called me. Dora is at UVMC.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know. I told him I’d make my way there as soon as Pete picked up Owen. Pete just left.”

“Just wait for me. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Andi, you don’t need…”

“Ida, don’t argue with me about this. I’ll pick you up in ten minutes.”

“Fallon will want to know…”

“I’ll give her the basics.”

“And you think that will be enough?” Ida asked.

“It will be for now. Did you call Sylvia?”

“Not yet.”

“You do that. I’ll see you shortly,” Andi promised. She took a deep breath and handed Fallon her phone.

“Andi, what the hell was that about?” Fallon asked.

“Dora is at the hospital.”

“And?”

“Fallon, I don’t have time right now to explain everything to you. Honestly? It isn’t even my place. Ida needs to get to the hospital. Okay? Your mother is fine. She’s worried about Dora.”

“Andi? What…”

“Listen to me. I know what you think of Dora. She wasn’t always such a…”

“Biddy?”

“She wasn’t always so judgmental.”

“Mom and Dora don’t get along,” Fallon said.

“That’s not true. Ida doesn’t like the people Dora is surrounded by—she doesn’t like the way they’ve affected Dora.”

“I don’t get it. You don’t like Dora.”

“I don’t appreciate the way that group of women treated you .

And I don’t care for the way they spread nonsense.

That doesn’t mean I don’t like Dora. It’s not my story, Fallon.

My mother was as close to Dora as she was to Pete’s mom and Ida when I was little.

She was like a second mom to me and Pete. ”

“You’re serious.”

“I’m surprised Dean never commented about it to you.”

“Why didn’t my mother?”

“It’s…”

“Not your story. Got it,” Fallon said.

“Fallon, I’m asking you—please, don’t press Ida about this. If something were to happen to Dora, it would break your mother’s heart. No matter what has happened, Dora is someone she loves. No matter what has happened.”

“Okay.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you okay?” Fallon asked.

“No,” Andi said. “I will be. I need to get my keys.”

“I can take you and Mom.”

“I appreciate that. Let me handle this one, okay?”

Fallon nodded.

Billie and Dave stepped onto the porch.

“Going somewhere?” Billie asked Andi playfully.

“I am. Fallon will explain. I’ll call you,” Andi said, kissing Billie softly.

“What did I miss?” Billie asked.

“No more than me,” Fallon said. “Do you two want to go to Murphy’s? I think I could use a drink. Or three.”

Billie and Dave exchanged a glance of confusion.

“You’re buying,” Billie told Fallon.

“Well, at least that’s nothing new.”