Page 49 of Love Legacy

“Depends on what Mel and Ken have planned. Since I just saw them a couple weeks ago, I was actually planning to just stay here for the first half of the week and then maybe just go home the morning of and stay overnight.”

“Then I would love to go home with you for Thanksgiving, Sage—on one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“Can I stay with you the whole week? Maeve is going home for Thanksgiving and Alex is spending half the break with her boyfriend, half the break at home, so my apartment is going to be empty, and I don’t want to be there by myself.”

Gabby interjects. “Uh-uh, you guys can stay at her place. You know I stay here during Thanksgiving break.”

I laugh. “Gabby’s right. She’s from New York City, so she usually just sticks around for breaks and just goes home for a couple days at most to celebrate the holidays. But I will gladly come stay at your apartment with you, Naomi.”

She grins. “Then it’s settled. We’re going to spend Thanksgiving break together.”

I smirk. “Mmm, having the place all to ourselves for a whole week? Can’t wait,” I say, giving Naomi a wink.

Gabby looks between the two of us. “Can’t you guys tone down the flirting? At least a little bit?”

Naomi laughs. I look at her before shaking my head. “Not in the slightest, Gabby.”

Later, we were all seated in the dining room of the Kappa Theta Alpha house, passing platters of food around the table as we served ourselves. Thankfully, the way this house was designed, the rooms are very large, and the main floor is an open concept. So we lined up a bunch of tables next to each other, from the dining room, into the kitchen, and in the hall a bit in order to fit everyone.

The Kappa Friendsgiving is a big annual celebration that we do every year, usually the weekend before the start of our fall Thanksgiving break. All the sisters sit down together for a potluck-style dinner and everyone’s granted a plus one that they could invite. So we could have upwards of fifty or so people in the house, though usually only half the girls bring plus ones.

This year, not many sisters brought anyone. I invited Cora, and Gabby, forever the matchmaker, invited her boy toy, Anthony. Alex invited her boyfriend, I think his name is Matt, but something came up last minute. Raven brought Chase, and a couple of the pledges brought their significant others or their roommates. My sister Theia has a standing invitation, even as an alumni, but this year decided not to come. She said she had plans, but I can’t imagine what she could have that would have taken priority over this?

I was seated between Naomi and Gabby at the table, across from Cora and Anthony, digging into my plate that had a little bit of everything. Or at least as much as I could fit. Not everyone brought food, but we still had about twenty dishes we were passing around. In hindsight, it probably would’ve been easier if we had just set up a buffet table with all the food and then justhad people go up in groups to grab plates. But this always felt more intimate, like we were actually sitting down with family.

“So, Sage, how long have y’all been together?” Anthony asks, looking between me and Naomi. I raise an eyebrow, looking to Cora for the assist. She leans into him. “They’re not—”

Naomi grabs my hand, interlacing her fingers with mine. “It’s in the early stages,” she says, interrupting Cora, “we’re still figuring things out right now.”

I stare at her in total confusion. Nothing she was saying was false, but at the same time, we haven’t exactly been out and open with our feelings and pending relationship status with people outside of just our roommates. So for Naomi to be so outwardly affectionate with me at a dinner with all of our sorority sisters, especially when we still haven’t talked about what we are? I was shocked.

As time goes on, I’m growing more and more impatient with Naomi, and it’s completely selfish of me. I’m trying to be considerate of her feelings and emotions. I really am, but I’m getting antsy. She’s gotten so comfortable being with me romantically but still hasn’t defined it. And the less careful we are, the more questions we get, but I continue not to have any answers for them.

Sure, I probably could initiate the conversation myself. But I’ve already made my feelings clear to Naomi. I’ve loudly and proudly told her I’m falling for her. I’ve told our friends and my family how I feel. I just want her to claim me in the same way. To make me feel wanted and loved by her. And I haven’t gotten that yet.

If I’m going to be honest, I think there’s a part of me that’s terrified that this is just a phase for Naomi. That this is just part of her big, secular exploration. One day, she’s going to wake up and decide that she’s done experimenting, done with me, and just move on. And in the end, the only person that’s going to gethurt in that situation would be me. I’ve already bared so much of myself to her in a way I haven’t with anyone else. At this point, I’m constantly on edge, waiting for her to shatter my heart into a million pieces.

The sensation of Naomi’s fingertips stroking my palm brings my attention back to the present. “Hey, where’d you go?” she asks, cupping my cheek, eyes searching mine. I shut my eyes, leaning into her palm a bit. I pause, soaking in her concern and trying to push my insecurities to the back of my mind.

Opening my eyes, I see Naomi still watching me intently. “I’m fine, I just spaced out. I was trying to figure out what my sister was up to tonight.” The lie rolls off my tongue a little too easily, but I give Naomi a fake smile, hoping it’s all convincing enough.

She doesn’t press me any further, but I can tell she doesn’t completely believe me. I redirect my attention, striking up a conversation with Cora as I resume eating my food. The rest of the night goes smoothly, sharing laughs, food, and drinks with my sorority sisters and our friends. It’s nearly midnight by the time we all vacate the house, armed with take-home plates of leftovers because we made way too much food.

Gabby decides to hang out with Stephanie after Friendsgiving, so it’s just Naomi and I alone on the ride home. We sit in an awkward silence, neither of us daring to bring up the moment we had earlier. When we get back to my apartment, I stick our take-home plates in the fridge before heading to my room. Naomi follows, watching me as I strip out of my clothes, changing into some pajamas. She rests a hand on my shoulder, coming to stand in between my legs. “Are you okay, Sage? You’ve been quiet since dinner.”

I nod, giving her a small smile and pressing my lips to the back of the hand on my shoulder. “Yes, of course.”

She tilts my chin up to look at her, her gaze disarming. I feel like she can see straight into my soul as she looks into my eyes. “Are we okay?”

I nod, reaching up a bit to press my lips to hers in a brief, gentle kiss. “Of course.”

Naomi seems to accept that answer because she pulls away, reaching into the drawer of my dresser and pulling out one of my jumbo T-shirts to sleep in. She changes into the shirt before crawling into the bed with me, curling into me from behind. “Goodnight, Sage,” she says softly, her lips pressed to the back of my neck.

“Goodnight, Naomi.”

18

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