Page 26 of Life After

Jen smiled in Suzanne’s direction when she winked back at her. “Sounds very working class to me.”

“My lifewasvery working class. I never forget where I came from. But John also didn’t put me where I am now. I did that all by myself.” Suzanne straightened her shoulders as she said that. Jen could see the pride bursting from her eyes, but she understood. She had also been proud to make something of herself once upon a time.

“Can I ask you something?” Jen turned to Suzanne, holding her hands in her lap.

“You can ask me anything.”

“Why me?” Jen didn’t know why she was asking that question. Suzanne saw something in her, and that was what counted. “I know what I’m capable of when it comes to relationships, but still…why me?”

“Why not you?” Suzanne frowned, clearly confused by Jen’s question. “I don’t understand why you would even ask that question.”

“I guess we’re just from completely different worlds—even knowing where you came from—and I’m naturally curious as to why you gravitated towards me.” That was the truth. Even if Jen didn’t have the past she did, she would still wonder why Suzanne was sitting on this park bench with her. They were entirely opposite. In most things, anyway. “You’re clearly very successful, and I’m a courier.”

“A very special courier to me.” Suzanne gave Jen a knowing look. “And to answer you, I don’t particularly care about someone’s background. So long as they’re a good person, someone who will treat me right, then I’m not sure what social class has to do with it. I know some very wealthy people that I wouldn’t even give the time of day to. I also know some people who had a very unfortunate upbringing who are some of the most wonderful people I know.” Suzanne turned her attention back to the rose garden. “My best friend was raised in foster care. She was passed around from a very young age, didn’t know if she was coming or going, but she’s one of the greatest friends I have. She barely lives comfortably, she falls behind on paying bills, but she would give you the shirt off her back.”

“That’s my kind of person. The people who’ve had it hard are often the most generous.”

“You’re right.” Suzanne crossed her legs and sighed. “She knows about you, by the way. We had a long conversation this morning.”

“O-oh.” Jen was taken aback by that. She hadn’t anticipated people knowing about her and Suzanne dating. Not from Suzanne’s side of this, anyway. “Well, I hope I’ll get the chance to meet her one day.”

“She said the very same thing. I’d love to introduce you to one another when the time is right.”

Jen lay her head on Suzanne’s shoulder, feeling far more than content this evening. “I kinda like us how we are right now. No pressure to be perfect. Still learning about one another. Just…having fun.”

“That’s what I told her,” Suzanne said, wrapping her arm around Jen’s shoulder. “Neither of us need to pressure any of this. Some days it goes fast, others a little slower. But I like that pace. I like not knowing what’s going to happen from one day to the next. So long as we can spend time together when your schedule allows for it, then I’m perfectly happy with that.”

“Me too.”

“Like this evening. I didn’t expect you to contact me to go for a walk and a chat. I thought Thursday and the weekend was what I was allowed. So, this has been a lovely surprise.”

Could Jen admit to Suzanne that she wanted to see her every evening if it was possible? After all, she only went home from work and retreated to her bedroom most of the time. Surely spending time with Suzanne was the logical thing to do here. “I’m available pretty much every evening.”Now that I no longer have to check in with my probation officer, Jen wanted to add but wouldn’t dream of it. “I’d like to see more of you if that’s something you’re also thinking about?”

“I’d like that.” Suzanne turned her head and kissed Jen’s hair. “How about some coffee before we go our separate ways for the night?”

Jen tilted her head back and looked up at Suzanne. “Sounds perfect. Let’s do it.”

Chapter 11

Eagerly bouncingon the balls of her feet, Jen held Suzanne’s package under her arm and waited for the door to open. Their usual Thursday brief encounter felt entirely different this week, but Jen knew why. Because they’d seen one another naked by now. No matter what Jen had imagined prior to that, nothing could ever compare to the real thing.

But right now, in this moment, Jen just wanted to see Suzanne. They hadn’t had a chance to spend any time together since Sunday, but Jen could spare her lunch hour if it meant she could be with Suzanne for a little while.

The door swung open, and as always, Jen was met with Suzanne’s sexy smile.

“Package for…” Jen squinted at the label. “Suzanne ‘hot as fuck’ Dixon.” She looked back up at Suzanne, knowing exactly what Suzanne was thinking. She didn’t have a very good poker face at all.

“That…must be me?” Suzanne splayed a hand across her chest and grinned. “Could you bring it inside?”

Jen shrugged. “Sure. Anything I can do to help.”

The moment the front door slammed shut, Jen turned to Suzanne and pushed her against it. She reached out towards the side table and placed the package down before making light work of the button on Suzanne’s pants.

“You don’t know how much I’ve wanted to see you this week,” Jen whispered against Suzanne’s lips. “I’ve lay in bed every fucking night thinking about you.”

Suzanne moaned when Jen took her earlobe between her teeth.

“I should have been here before now. All of me aches for you, babe.”

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