Page 17 of She’s a Big Deal

It took a few attempts. Olivia seemed convinced that 30mph was fast, for God’s sake! Eventually, she got the approach right. Then, struggled with the on/off timing of the handbrake.

“Okay, let me show you.”

Grace scooted up close to wrap her hand on top of hers. The second she did, the power of the connection hit her like a ball of fire. Slamming across her chest. Spreading like a heated wave. Man... It was surprisingly intense, instantly throwing her into the zone. Her focus was crystal clear; she could feel the woman’s… What was it? Presence? Being? Allure, she decided. Only then did it occur to her how much attraction was still present, simmering under the coals, only waiting for a little poke to sizzle again. Grace did not pull back. It would be too awkward at this stage. She was also beyond wanting to.

“Relax,” she murmured. “You are too tense.”

“Don’t want to be pitiful,” Olivia grumbled and made her laugh.

“You won’t be.” Grace had her free arm on the back of her seat. Now she passed it around her shoulders. “We’ll do this one together. Ready?”

Olivia bit on her lip attractively. “Yes. ”

“Then go for it.”

Good speed. Good initial turn. Good weight transfer.

“Now,” Grace instructed, and at the same time, she guided the pull and release of the handbrake.

Olivia followed through with her beautifully, surrendering just enough to make it work and into a perfect slide. She gave a little shriek and laughed at the same time.

“Keep it going. Release. Accelerate. Yeah! Beautiful!”

“Okay, I got it now.”

“Yeah? You sure?”

“Yes. Let me do it again. On my own this time. Don’t say anything.”

Amused, Grace slid back to her seat, crossed both arms and remained silent. Olivia nailed it. And then a couple more times without her help.

“Aha! What do you think of that, uh?” She beamed with a triumphant smile.

Without really meaning to, Grace took a mental picture of the moment. Olivia, grinning at her with sparkling eyes. Happy. Just the two of them performing silly stunts in the middle of a storm. This, she would not forget in a hurry.

“Pretty perfect,” she nodded.

“It helped when you did it with me that one time. I learn best when I can feel.”

“Uh-huh.” The words, innocent as they were, sparked a few ideas in Grace’s mind. What else could she teach? Show Olivia to feel with her.

“Thanks, Grace. It was awesome.”

Olivia clasped her hand in warm fingers, no longer with any hint of shyness or hesitation. Grace noticed the way she held her gaze, also with quiet confidence—like an equal. Where she might have rushed to take the lead again, filling the silence with a quick reply, she just relaxed.

“I enjoyed teaching you.”

“Now, can I buy you dinner?”

“I would like that very much.”

Fortunately, the vegan restaurant was just across the street, and they hurried to it in the middle of a blizzard. It was a total white-out by then, and you had to give points to any restaurant that offered a real fireplace in this weather. Double points when they also gave you the best table in front of it.

“Not a bad start,” Grace decided.

And figured even better when she spotted Chateauneuf-du-Pape on the menu. Over a glass of the smooth, full-bodied red, she grilled her dinner companion about her vegan diet.

“It’s not a diet,” Olivia corrected gently. She then explained that although it could be viewed as such, for her, it meant a lot more. Like a moral and ethical lifestyle choice. “If you ask most people if they are against cruelty to animals, the answer’s always Yes. But when you ask the same people if they are vegan, more often than not, they tell you No. And outline some way to justify it that doesn’t even stand up to their own argument. It's crazy how disconnected good-hearted people can be from the violence that they create with their choices.”

“Hmm.” Grace found no argument with that.

“So, rather than supporting the cruelties and slaughter that animals are subjected to for food, clothing, entertainment, and testing, I choose to align my actions with my morals and leave needless suffering out of my lifestyle.”

Once again, Grace could not fault her reasoning.

“I like people who prioritize being in conscious alignment with their values over making easier, lazier choices,” she said .

“Cool. So do I.”

“Does it bother you that I’m wearing this?” Grace pointed to her own jacket. “And the leather seats in the Mustang?”

“I don’t let it bother me,” Olivia answered with a smile. “I live in the world, you know? So I share my views when invited and educate when I can. I think until all human beings find peace on the inside, we won’t see it reflected on the outside. I do my part to support the change, and I don’t stress about the rest.”

“Very wise.”

“Yes… I’m pretty sure we’re going in the right direction as a collective. It might just take a bit longer for some to catch up, that’s all.”

“So, it’s a spiritual thing for you as well.”

“Yes.”

“What about the protein issue? Potential B12 deficiency and all that?” As Olivia gave her a brief summary that addressed all this, Grace nodded in approval. “You know your stuff inside and out.”

“Yep. I do when it comes to this topic.”

“I like it. You’ve made me reflect on a few good things, so thank you for that too.”

“No problem.”

“And you are definitely not a hypocrite.”

“True.” This prompted a chuckle. “I do my best. So, what would you like?”

“What?”

“Pizza.” Olivia reminded her by pointing at the menu.

“Oh.” It was surprisingly easy to forget things when talking to the woman, Grace realized. The more she got to know Olivia, the more she appreciated everything about her. Even enough to let her take the lead. “Why don’t you choose for me?”

◆◆ ◆

The restaurant offered a taster menu, so they went for it. And finished the bottle of wine between them. Grace’s verdict about vegan pizza, ‘Actually not bad at all’, sounded like high praise considering her standards. Olivia felt a little giddy, and not just from the wine. Listening to Grace relate stories from her time as a professional dancer was a real treat. When she shared about her life in Miami and her current work and talked of what inspired her to create her designs and special places, Olivia recognized a kindred spirit. Grace was an artist. A creative, just like her, who also happened to have an excellent head for business. Olivia laughed in amazement when she described the holographic tool that she had created for herself.

“You can code? Wow, that’s impressive.”

“It’s not hard to learn,” Grace said with a complicit wink at her. “Like handbrake turns.”

It was lovely to feel her so at ease. Even though the hyper-dynamic woman could never be said to appear totally relaxed, at least she seemed to be enjoying herself. Olivia discovered that she had a knack for telling stories and that she was funny in a subtle, very attractive, self-deprecating way. Witnessing this other side of Grace was great. Less guarded. Yes, that was it. Not just more at ease but less reticent. And it was wonderful to feel her start to open up. The storm had eased by the time they left the restaurant. Main Street was covered in about eight inches of fresh snow. It made everything look quite beautiful, with a giant Christmas tree at the far end of the street and more decorations glittering along the sidewalk.

“I think I like Dodger,” Olivia decided. “It’s very—”

She was not paying attention to the zone of shadows on the side, and the two men seemed to appear out of nowhere. Grace must have been a lot more attentive, as there was no delay in her reaction. Before Olivia even realized there might be a problem, she had already grabbed her hand and stepped in front of her. The sheltering move was reminiscent of the night when her brother had come to have a go.

“Heyyyy ladies!” Drunk. Or high on something, judging from his uncertain sway. His buddy did not seem in much better shape. “Whatcha doing out here?”

They stood in the middle of the sidewalk, blocking the way. Grace barely slowed down her pace.

“Move aside,” she ordered.

“Huh!” The first guy chuckled, exchanged a look with his friend, then opened his arms wide. “Go on. Make me.”

His eyes were cold and hard despite the chuckle, and Olivia wondered how intoxicated he actually was. Was this more of a ruse to induce the idea that they were harmless? It was getting on eleven P.M. A quick glance around revealed that they were alone on the street. Though the lights of the motel were visible on the other side, it was still half a block away. Earlier, this had felt close, even despite the blizzard. But now, aware of how quickly this type of situation could get worse, not so much. With a firm squeeze of her hand, Grace walked off the sidewalk and kept going forward. Or she tried to. Because now the other guy also got in on the game. Both of them keeping slightly in front with their arms out to the sides. Definitely trying to slow them down. When Grace veered off to the left, they blocked that way too.

“Don’t be so fucking rude, woman. Hey, Mikey. I think we got us a couple of lesbians here.”

“Yeah? Need a taste of the real thing, girls?”

Okay. Enough. Olivia pulled out her phone. “I’m calling the cops.”

“Yes,” Grace simply said.

“Whoa, whoa. Put that down, darling.”

“Get away from me.” Olivia jerked back, but he tried again.

“Come on, babe, don’t—Argh! FUCK!”

When Asshole #1 tried to snatch the phone out of her hand, Grace was quicker. She grabbed his wrist and pushed it down and toward him. At the same time, she seized his middle finger and bent it the other way until there was an audible crack. The move was fast, brutal, and efficient. The man screamed and dropped to his knees.

“I’ll make you regret that, cunt.” Asshole #2 snarled at her as he started forward.

Grace did not budge.

“Touch her again, or me, and it won’t be a finger I’ll break,” she warned, icy calm. “I’ll pull your dick out and shove it so far down your throat you’ll choke on it. Your choice. What will it be, dumbass?”

In the silence that followed her challenge, only the other guy’s pathetic whimpers could be heard. Glancing at her, noting the look of quiet fury in her eyes, it occurred to Olivia that Grace was quite prepared to deliver on her threat. Almost eager, in fact, as she stood there having a stand-off with a guy who was a head taller than she was and at least twice as wide. Not only fearless but vibrating with rage. Jesus.

“Come.” Olivia took her hand. “Grace?” The woman was as rigid as a piece of steel. “Come on, let’s go.”

No man dared stand in their way this time as they circled around them and crossed the street. Grace did not utter a word, and Olivia did not complain that her grip over her fingers was almost painful. She could feel a slight tremor through her arm. She knew instinctively that something was off. She waited until the door was safely shut behind them to turn to her and ask, but Grace beat her to it.

“Olivia.” She gripped her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. How are—”

“Sure?” Her hands moved to frame her face, and she stared intently into her eyes. “Did he hurt you? Goddammit. If that son of a bitch hurt you, I’ll—”

“Grace. Relax.” Olivia laced her fingers around her wrists. “You were too quick; he didn’t even get a chance to touch me. How are you feeling?”

“Fine too.”

“You’re shaking.”

“No. I’m okay.”

When she dropped her hands and started to retreat, Olivia held on to her. Grace could deny it all she liked, but it would not make it any less true. “You’re not okay. What’s the matter? Talk to me.”

“It’s nothing.”

All stubborn again. And so hard with it too... Olivia could almost see the barricades. The great protective walls that Grace had temporarily let down over the last hours were falling back into place with alarming speed and finality. Her blue eyes were darker now, stormy with emotion. Reluctance, wariness, hurt… Sadness. All there for Olivia to see.

“Wait.” She refused to let her go. “Tell me—”

“I said it’s nothing!” Obviously flustered, and struggling for control, Grace shook her loose. Then apologized. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. ”

She looked wounded, and Olivia ached to hold her.

“It’s okay,” she murmured.

“I just need a minute. Give me a minute.”

On that, Grace stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind her. Hard enough to give the walls a good rattle. Olivia winced. She released a careful breath. So, that went well…