Page 28 of Welcome to Ero-TEA-Ca: We’re Open!
Cass shrugged. “Not entirely, but after today my perspective has shifted. I felt comfortable. There were conversations that made me blush, but instead of wanting to run, I listened. And…I realised I’m not the only one.
Everyone has questions and is still learning.
I might be a little older than most, but then again, maybe not.
What about women who come out later in life and have to navigate sapphic sex for the first time at fifty?
Or people who are in new relationships trying to learn how to be intimate with a new partner? ”
“Wow, Cass. That’s…just wow.”
Cass smiled shyly. “It’s going to be a process, but I want to learn. That’s why I rushed out of Ero-Tea-Ca this evening. I had a list of things I wanted to research.”
“Can…can I ask what you were looking up?”
Cass nibbled on her lip. “Open the laptop.”
Instead of diving in, Harriet watched Cass for a moment before slowly opening the laptop lid. The tab, still open, was about dildos—glass ones, to be specific. It was both informative and quite exciting.
“I figured I should learn about them in case I get asked a question. I thought I’d be less embarrassed if I had some facts to offer.”
Harriet didn’t answer at first. Instead, she kept her eyes on the screen. Cass took a sip of her tea, unease creeping in with every silent minute. Finally, Harriet looked at Cass. “I’m blown away.”
“It’s not that big of a deal.”
“I think it is,” Harriet replied, shutting the computer lid. “You’ve come such a long way over a really short amount of time. I mean, you’ve only been in the shop a day.” She grinned. “I thought for sure you’d be mad as hell when I turned up tonight.”
“Normally I would be.” Cass just had to say it. “But you, Harriet, make me feel like I can do this. It’s utterly your fault.”
“My fault?”
“I can’t say no to you. I wanted to hate you when you barrelled into my life.
Instead, you’ve cracked me wide open, and for the life of me, I don’t know how.
Everyone knows I’m hard to get along with.
Hell, it took Kendal years to get me to open up.
And then you showed up, with your shiny hair and infectious positivity, and I found myself unable to say no. ”
“But you did say no,” Harriet stated. “You said you didn’t want to date me. Or anyone.”
Cass breathed in. “Because I can’t offer you what you deserve, Harriet. My quirks go beyond what most people want to put up with.”
“So then why do all this?” she replied, nodding to the laptop.
“Because no matter how much I try, I can’t help but want to do better…for you.”
Running a hand through her hair, Harriet huffed. “You’re being quite infuriating right now, Cassandra. On the one hand you’re telling me we can be nothing but friends. And then you say things like that.”
“I know. See? I’m a pain in the arse. A miserable pain ninety percent of the time.”
“But you like me?”
Cass rolled her eyes. “Have you seen yourself?”
“I don’t mean my looks, Cass.”
How the hell had the conversation veered off so spectacularly? Oh, right. Cass opened her mouth. That’s how. “Yes, I like you for more than your looks. I…you…”
Harriet was on her feet before Cass had a chance to formulate the rest of her sentence. She towered over Cass, causing her to rock back in her chair. “I’m going to kiss you, Cass. Is that okay?”
Where were all the words? Cass’s mind was totally blank.
All she could process was the tantalisingly tiny distance between her and Harriet’s lips.
She felt her head nod, and that was all it took.
Harriet descended on her. Their lips crashed together, causing a surge of adrenaline to pump through Cass’s system.
They were kissing, and it was sublime. Minutes passed as Harriet consumed Cass. She’d never been so thoroughly kissed in all her life. By the time Harriet pulled back, they were both panting. Cass still couldn’t construct an eligible sentence.
Clearing her throat, Harriet stood straight and adjusted her shirt. “I’m going to leave now so you can process this. Just know, I’ve wanted to do that since the day we met, and I’d like to do it more. The ball’s in your court, though, Cass.”
Cass watched, dumbstruck, as Harriet popped on her coat, gave her a sweet kiss on the cheek, and left. Today had definitely not turned out the way Cass thought it would.
Blindly reaching for her phone, she hit speed dial.
“Cass, it’s rude to ignore messages, you arse. I’ve been trying to get hold of you for hours.”
“Kendal, I need you to come over.”
“Cass, what’s wrong?”
“I’m fucked. That’s what’s wrong.”
There was some shuffling on Kendal’s end. “Are you hurt?”
“No, but I’m pretty sure I’m going to be.”
“Alright, enough of the riddles.”
“I looked up glass dildos, bought three spicy sapphic books, and kissed Harriet.”
Kendal whistled down the phone. “Christ. I’m on my way. I’ll bring emergency provisions. Just stay put and don’t do anything stupid.”
She’d just done something stupid. Or magnificent.
She couldn’t tell yet. Either way, things had changed.
Cass was on a path she swore she’d never travel.
Harriet wasn’t just a woman you dated. She was forever material, and Cass was terrified she wouldn’t be enough to be the one to keep Harriet in the long run.