Page 124 of September

“Great,” Juliet said and took a sip of Gwen’s beer. “Are you ready to go home?”

“Yes,” she replied. “I’m a little drunk.”

“I know, babe. That’s why I’m here. I took the bus so that I could drive your car. Your place or mine?”

“Yours,” Gwen replied. “It’s your last night at home, and that’s where Carly is.”

“You’ll take her tomorrow morning, though, right?”

“Sure,” Gwen said and finished her beer. “Let me just pay for this, and we can go.”

“Okay.”

Gwen walked up to the bar, where she spotted Candace and her fiancé, Keith.

“Hey, just need to pay up,” she said to her.

“Seven beers?” Candace checked after looking at the computer.

“I’m paying for Logan and Myra, too,” she replied and handed Candace her credit card.

“Oh. I was about to ask if you could touch your finger to your nose and insist on getting you a cab.”

“No need,” Juliet said as she approached from behind her and wrapped her arms around Gwen’s waist. “She’s got me, her own personal chauffeur.”

“And I don’t have to tipherin cash,” Gwen joked.

Juliet laughed and said, “She’s a little tipsy.”

“Seems so,” Candace replied and handed Gwen back her credit card. “I gave you Logan’s discount.”

“Shit. Really? Thanks,” Gwen said.

“No problem.” Candace looked beyond her to Juliet. “Get her home safely.”

“I will. I have a vested interest in her safety,” Juliet said and kissed Gwen’s neck. “You ready, tipsy?”

“I have a vested interest inyoursafety,” Gwen replied.

“I know, baby,” Juliet said and moved to take Gwen’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

The drive home was a mostly quiet one. Gwen was beginning to sober up, and she suspected that neither of them wanted to say anything because they knew what tomorrow would bring. Juliet would be gone from Monday to late Friday night. Then, she’d leave again the following Monday and wouldn’t be home until the following Saturday morning. The third week of travel would take her on a shorter trek, but she would still be gone Monday through Friday. Then, the final trip of the month would be Juliet leaving on a Sunday night flight and not back until Friday morning. It would be hard onher, but Gwen knew it would be even harder for Juliet because she wouldn’t be at home in her own bed with her dog and hergirlfriend. Gwen only hoped that her little surprise would help Juliet get through it.

When they got to Juliet’s apartment, they first had to take Carly out, which Juliet did because while Gwen was sobering up, she wasn’t completely sober yet. Soon, though, the dog was lying in her bed, softly snoring, and they were sitting on the sofa together, watching nothing on TV.

“Hey, I know it’s our last night, and we should probably have sex because I’ll be too tired on Friday, when I get back, and we’d only have Saturday and Sunday night together before–”

“Babe?” Gwen said, interrupting her.

“Yeah?” Juliet asked, already sounding too exhausted, and the travel hadn’t even begun.

“We don’t have to have sex just because you’re leaving tomorrow,” Gwen replied as Juliet took her hand and moved it into her lap.

“I want to,” Juliet said. “You know that, right? Ialwayswant to.”

“I always want to, too,” she replied, resting her head on Juliet’s shoulder. “But you’re tired, and I’m tired. I also talked to my mom again today, which makes it three times in the past couple of weeks, which is a record for me. I’m ready for bed, too.”

“She still wants to meet me?”