Jules smiled at her tenderly, and surreptitiously passed her fingertips over Diane’s hand, then leaned back.  It had begun to drizzle softly, but Jules had remained seated, neck outstretched, eyes shut.  She whispered, “Now, if I can feel the sun in my eyes, and the rain on my face, why shouldn’t I feel love?”

She opened her eyes and stood up slowly, accepting the hand Diane had offered her as she stood.  She quietly gripped Diane’s hand, “I can love, really, really love.  Just love. Love, ” she repeated. 

Gripped by sudden panic, Diane let go of her hand, starting to walk away.  She’d managed to walk only a few feet, and almost immediately regretted letting Jules go.  With tears in her eyes, she turned to face Jules, a mass of confusion, jumble of emotion, admitting,“I’ve got all the friends that I want.  Yes, I may need more, but for now, I’ll just stick to the ones I already have.”

But with you, Jules, Diane had thought.  She said aloud, “With friends I still feel so insecure.  And I believe you could help me a lot.”

She begged Jules, “Just take my hand and lead me where you will.  No more conversation, no wave goodnight, like last night, and the other night.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

“Jules has an amazing voice, Bette,” Diane said, as she recounted the sweet love song Jules had dedicated to her at the karaoke bar they’d dropped by next, after leaving the gay bar.

Her hands began to shake on remembering what had happened when Jules had taken her to Diane’s apartment, after Diane had begged Jules to take her some place.  They were standing outside the door, kissing.

“My heart was trembling, my mind numb, my soul despairing, “Is this as transient as a mere dream?”.  I wanted her to just make love to me with affection, to sing me another love song.”

“You know that’s what I like,” she moaned, as Jules slipped her hand down Diane’s waistband, cupping Diane’s sex, and rubbing her fingers over the blonde’s wet lips.  Diane was hot, scorching hot, down there and could barely stand.

Diane paused, and drank from her wine glass.

“Then my phone rang.  It was Tom’s ring tone.  A jarring, annoying tone that poured cold water over us in an instant,” Diane muttered.