Dana reached out and turned the *****. The door was locked. Her shoulders sagged. Dork!
She reached into her purse and fumbled for her keys. Which werent
there. Because shed left them on the table beside the door. *****!
She took a deep shaky breath, and started to call out Laras name and
tell her shed locked herself out. But at that moment, the door jerked
open and Dana stumbled through the doorway. Laras face registered
surprise. Her red, swollen eyes broke Danas heart. She backed Lara
into the living room, kicked the door shut again.
Dont, she whispered.
Dont what? Laras face paled.
Dont leave, not yet. We need to talk.
Whats to say, Dana? Walking out on me said
Lara, Dana closed the distance between them, I was an *****, OK? I
fucked up! At least let me apologize to you for that. You didnt
deserve it. And and I want I want to tell you something .
Lara gave her an expectant look.
Im going to make some decaf. Want some?
Yeah, I would, Lara gave a small tentative smile.
Dana pulled out a chair at the kitchen table, steered Lara into it with
a hand at the small of her back. She bent over and kissed the top of
her head. Lara reached for her hand, pulled it to her shoulder. The
tears started again.
Hey? No, Lara, oh no, please dont. Dana wrapped her arms around her
soup chef and rocked her. God, we are a mess, arent we?
No, Lara whispered, but I think were operating on old scripts,
assumptions, expectations. Ive done that in every other relationship I
hadI dont want to do that with you, Dana.
Me neither, Dana kissed her cheek. Now, how do you take your
coffee?
By mouth, preferably, Lara giggled.
Could you be a little more helpful? Dana grinned.
Cream, sugar.
Dana brought the coffee to table, sat down across from Lara, raised her
cup and stared at Lara above the rim for a long time. Lara blushed,
lowered her eyes. So, what do you want to know?
How did it start, the addiction, I mean?
Lara took a deep breath. I got involved with someone who was very bad
for me. She found it was easier to control me, get what she wanted if I
was high. The booze and weed werent strong enough; I could still fight
her off when she got.
Danas eyes rounded. She used to hurt you?
Lara looked away.
Dana reached out her hand, turned Laras hand over, and stroked the
palm gently with her fingertips. God, Lara, I am so sorry!
It was my choice, Dana. I have to own it. I got involved with her. I
stayed. I learned to shoot up. I thought it would make her happy or at
least less abusive.
Dana leaned on the table, chin in her hand, while Lara told her the
story of Susan, and her addiction, and why she got clean, how much her
recovery meant to her. Tears glistened in Danas long lashes. At last,
she stood up, walked around behind Lara, leaned over and without
touching her, whispered, The only thing that matters to me is who you
are here and now youre so beautiful and I want you. Heat roiled
off her. Please. Lara turned around, her face uplifted. Dana crooked
an index finger under her chin, and circled her lips with her thumb,
lowered her lips slowly toward Laras mouth, slowly, moving closer, her
hand shook slightly as she tasted the softness of her lips, slipped her
tongue into Laras mouth, which opened to her, slipped a hand downward,
resting between her thighs.
One hand on Laras shoulder, she maneuvered the redhead to her feet.
Lets go to bed.
Laras face softened, her eyes shifted along the blue spectrum to an
intense shade that sent shivers down Danas back. Yes, she kissed
her, yes, kissed her again, yes.
Dana wrapped an arm around Laras waist, led her upstairs to the
bedroom, where she turned on a dim table lamp, shedding just enough
light to see where the furniture was. She kissed Lara again, and
clicked the door shut, leaving the past outside. – x –
Alice was staring after Shane, watching her friend as she talked very
animatedly into the cell phone. Before Shane had left the table, they
had all heard her trying to calm Dana down. Alice frowned. This did not
bode well for the situation. If Dana had received the photographs, she
would be an obliterated mess. Alice could picture her friend, Dana’s
big eyes round, and her voice cracking with fear, runaway tears
staining the collar of her shirt. As much as she wanted to see Dana
accept herself for who she was, Alice also understood her need to
remain firmly locked in the closet. Sometimes a familiar closet seemed
the safest place to be for someone like Dana. She was pure and honest;
traits the world would willingly rip out of her, leaving a hollow husk
of a woman. Alice cherished her friend far too much to see that happen
to her.
As she watched, it occurred to Alice that Shane had eased up on the
forceful body language and gave a quick glance over her shoulder at
them. Alices worry eased a little. Shane did seem to be performing
some form of damage control, but from her behavior it seemed less
drastic than the fallout these photos would create. She breathed a
hopeful sigh of relief and turned her attention back to the ladies
around the table.
So, what are we going to do? asked Tina.
Shane returned and folded her phone up, placing it back in her pocket.
She turned her chair around and straddled it, leaning her chest against
its back and resting her chin on folded hands. Heres what I think:
Alice, I want you to stake out this guys post office box. Im going to
cancel my appointments for the morning and meet with Dorian. Shes not
happy but she owes me huge–she trusts that I will be discreet.
Tina glanced at Bette. Where does that leave us?
Tina, once we find out where those photos were sent, were going to
need you and Bette to do your best with regards to damage control.
Someone is going to have to try to get those photos back before they
make the press. Shane nodded to her two friends–they understood the
importance of what she was asking. They knew the difficulty of the task
they faced.
Marina, who had been serving a table nearby, stopped beside Shane and
placed a hand on her shoulder. I think Bette was right earlier when
she said someone needs to tell Dana. Regardless of whether or not you
manage to keep this away from the public, she deserves to know what is
going on.
Alice frowned. You dont think it can wait until tomorrow? Shane was
shaking her head. Trust me, girls, we cannot tell her tonight. Our
little closet case has far more pressing matters to attend to.
– x –
Sunlight peeked through the curtains, baking Danas exposed arm as she
slept. She dozed on her stomach, sprawled in the middle of the bed. The
sheets were wrapped tightly around her lengthy body. Her skin was
flushed and carried a glorious sheen.
Dana awoke, feeling an intense heat on her arm. She pulled it to her,
rubbing it gently as she brought herself completely awake and rolled
onto her back. As her senses all came back online, she realized she was
in the bed alone. She sat up and looked around the room. Laras
sundress was still a little pool of fabric beside the bed, so that
meant she hadnt gone home. The luscious scent of cooking made its way
to her nostrils and Dana realized where Lara had disappeared to. A
large smile played her cheeks. Untangling herself from the sheets, Dana
stood up and stretched luxuriously, but caught herself short of
beginning an almost catlike purr of satisfaction. Goddamn!