Page 20 of Marry Me

“Then I owe her.”

“Nah, she can be overbearing and pretentious. But we still like her.”

“We do,” Megan said, laughing. “This is me. Hey there, Chip. How’s the newborn?”

He shook his head. “Adorable, but there’s a big problem. She doesn’t sleep. Not sure how much longer we can stay up. It’s like we’re in a grudge match, and she’s the reigning champion.”

“That’s what I’ve heard about the new ones. They tend to win.”

He relaxed into a smile. “Good thing she’s cute.”

Allison nodded as they entered the building. “You two are friends.”

“Chip’s a great guy. They’ve been trying for kids for years, so this is a very big deal.”

“Do you want them? Brent does. I do.” Oh, that sounded nosy even through the wine haze.

“Kids?” Megan hesitated. “It would depend on who I’d be having them with, I think. Too hard to guess. An algebra problem without all the information.”

“Good analogy, Megan.” She liked her name. She liked saying it. She also liked her apartment. Very much. Light colors on dark floors. Nice accompanying touches, too. Blankets and draperies that matched. Tall ceilings. Towering shelves. “Okay. This is beautiful. Like a magazine. Are we in a magazine?” she whispered.

“Thank you, but no. I’d love to take the credit, but I splurged and hired a decorator.”

Allison placed her hands on the back of the couch to steady herself. “I have a feeling I’m going to appreciate it even more when I’m entirely sober.”

Megan passed her an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry the night ended with you not feeling so hot. I have clothes you can sleep in and a nice comfy bed you can crash on. Right this way.”

She followed Megan into the room to the left of the living room and paused. “Halt. This looks like your room.”

“It is, but I changed the sheets just this morning. All yours for the night.”

“No, no. I can’t steal your room.” She deflated. “I may be inebriated and swaying, but I was brought up with manners.”

“Me, too. And they say don’t put your drunk guests on the couch. Especially the nice ones.” She pointed to the other side of the apartment. “Plus, I’m going to steal a little work time in my study. Just some odds and ends that will make my morning go smoother.”

Allison was too sleepy and dizzy to argue as long as she normally would have. At a loss, she gave in meekly. “Okay, if you say so.”

“I more than say so. I insist.”

With the alcohol gradually drifting from her system, she was able to see the evening for what it was. Embarrassment hit. “I completely ruined your party, didn’t I?” She heard the crack in her voice.

So did Megan, who came to her immediately and wrapped her up in a nice hug. “Absolutely not. I thought tonight was fabulous, and I’m so glad you were there.”

Allison nodded against her shoulder, inhaling the vanilla-cinnamon combo. Megan Kinkaid smelled amazing at the end of the evening, too. Her apartment was amazing, her business was, too. “Did you also get first place on field day?” Allison asked.

“Um, what?” Megan laughed at the total non sequitur. “Tomorrow you’re going to have to explain all of this.” Megan set out a pair of striped pajamas. “For you.”

Allison’s eyes were feeling heavy. She spied the clock, and it read just after eleven. Luckily, there was no school the next day, or she’d be in real trouble. “Thank you.” Automatically, she pulled her sweater over her head and stepped out of her shoes. That’s when she noticed Megan staring at her strangely, almost in a panic. “Are you okay? Are these the wrong pajamas?”

“No.” Megan gestured behind her, averting her eyes. “You know what? I’m going to give you some privacy.”

“Okay, but it’s not a big…” And that’s when it occurred to her that changing in front of Megan in her own bedroom might make her uncomfortable. She didn’t know the rules when it came to lesbian friends because she honestly hadn’t had many. She always changed in front of her female friends in school, or her sister at home, or the few times she’d gone to the gym. The intimacy of the space and the time of night maybe contributed, and now all the overanalyzation had her very aware of being half clothed in front of Megan, and her stomach did the most noticeable dip and somersault. But Megan had slipped away, and Allison was left to try to understand the past few seconds and why her body was all of a sudden very alert and sensitive. Had to be the alcohol.

As she slid beneath the cool and criminally soft sheets, she couldn’t banish the moment from her brain. In fact, she replayed it several times. Megan’s gaze grazing her body before dropping to the floor out of respect. Why was this even a thing she was dwelling on? Allison wasn’t sure, but the room spun when she closed her eyes, so maybe she should keep them open a little while longer. She reflected on the night and the way Megan effortlessly moved through the room, speaking with her friends and making each one feel important, valued, and looked after. She was something special, and she’d come to Allison’s rescue tonight when an Uber would have been just fine, if not a little scary in her condition. She exhaled slowly. People like Megan didn’t come around too often.

“You okay in here?” Megan asked quietly from the doorway. The lights in the bedroom were off, but she was backlit from the hallway, wearing a T-shirt that hung past her thighs, which Allison could only glimpse. Another stomach flip-flop. Other parts of her squeezed, too, lower parts, and that was a downright shock.

“Um, all tucked in.” She swallowed, finding her full voice. “And, Megan? Thank you. You didn’t have to go out of your way because I screwed up my counting.”

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