Page 17 of September

Juliet nodded and said, “I know. I just always will. This job came out of nowhere.”

“But it’s a good thing, right? A promotion?”

“Yes, but my old boss got fired, so she’s not there for me to talk to and get my questions answered. It was totally unexpected, which is making me more stressed out than I think I’d be otherwise.”

“I’m sure you’ll kill it,” Gwen replied.

Her phone buzzed again, and she pulled it out.

Elisa Benedetti: Want to grab a drink with us at Candace’s?

Gwen Benedetti: When?

“Sorry. Sister-in-law again,” she said to Juliet.

“Everything okay with your niece?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Adele is eighteen and is totally in love for the first time. It’s sweet, and she’s scared.”

“Weren’t we all?” Juliet asked and motioned for them to keep walking.

“Oh, definitely. My first girlfriend and I fumbled through our first time, and I blurted out that I loved her loudly as she was walking to class, when I had meant to say it a whole lot softer. People were looking at us, and she walked away, probably more embarrassed than I was. Adele somehow managed to have a successful first time with her girlfriend, and it wassosuccessful that Adele doubted that it hadbeensuccessful. Her girlfriend also told her that she loved her, and it was all perfect and sappy, and I’m happy for her and jealous at the same time. Is it normal to be jealous of your niece like that?”

She looked over at Juliet to see if she had caught that Gwen had mentioned a girlfriend. Since Juliet had been in a gay bar, she suspected that it wouldn’t be a problem but that Juliet also might know exactly what Gwen was talking about. She hoped for that anyway.

“I think it’s probably okay as long as you’re not trying to live vicariously through her,” Juliet suggested. “My first girlfriend and I were anything butsuccessful, and when I said I loved her, she replied with a thank-you and ended our relationship about two days later.”

“Shit. Really?” Gwen asked.

“Yes. I was nineteen, and we’d been together for two months. I thought we’d spend our whole lives together, but we were waiting until we were both ready. I guess she hated it andthought I had no hope at getting better at it.” Juliet chuckled. “She was with someone else a few days later.”

“Oh, she’s a bitch,” Gwen replied. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine now. I mean, I did cry into my pillow nightly for a week, and my roommate had suggested I go to student health to talk to someone, but I got over her.”

“How long ago was that?” Gwen asked.

“Well, I’m twenty-seven, so eight years. What about you? That first girlfriend you mentioned?”

“I’m thirty-two,” she said without answering the question Juliet had just asked.

“Oh, okay,” Juliet replied.

Carly stopped walking and turned around to face them.

“This is usually when we head back.”

“She’s a smart dog. Aren’t you?” Gwen said to Carly and looked back at Juliet. “I have to get going anyway, but you can just let me know if you want me to–”

“Yes,” Juliet interrupted. “Please. Can you start Monday?”

???

“Hi. And also, I met a pretty girl today,” Gwen said the moment she sat down across from Elisa and Myra.

“You did?” Elisa asked. “Where?”

“She’s a new client,” she replied. “And I saw her at the bar before. She’s into women in some capacity, at least.”