Page 31 of Liquid Courage
“You mean I don’t get to tend bar and sort fish for the rest of my life?”
Vivian chuckled. “Probably not.”
“Damnit. That was my grand plan!” Kat laughed until she ran out of breath. “I honestly have no idea. I’ve spent most of my life taking it one month at a time. Save when I can, try to be smart while letting myself have some fun… unfortunately, those savings always get blown on something. Like medical bills or a car exploding in your face on your way to work.”
“I know that feeling well.” Vivian finished her drink. “The thing about medical bills. It’s crazy to think that there are people out there who don’t have to worry about getting sick and wrecking their bank accounts.”
“In my case, it was a broken arm that did me in. Not only did my insurance suck, but I ended up losing my job because I needed two hands to do yard work. Adding insult to injury.”
“That suuucks.”
“Yeah. It does.” Kat chuckled again. “Found out how hard it is to take a selfie in that state as well. Only one hand? Not as easy as it looks.”
“Why were you taking selfies?”
“Thought I’d try my hand at online dating.”
“You? Online dating?” Vivian had never seen someone like Kat online before. “How did that work out?”
“Terribly! It’s a wasteland out there!”
“Tellme about it.”
“If women aren’t being the pickiest crabapples in the bunch…” Kat shook her head, “they’re straight-up lying to you. I don’t know how many women I started talking to asked if their husband could join in.”
Who knew what reaction Kat was going for? If it was shock and surprise, then she wasn’t getting it – because Vivian was too familiar with the bait and switch when it came to online dating. “Isn’t it amazing how many women out there don’t understand what ‘lesbian’ means?”
“I hear a lot of similar horror stories from bi women over at the bar.” Kat shuddered. “No matter what, the level of disrespect is unreal. What I really loved was the one woman who swore her husband wouldn’t be involved with our hookups, but I was also pretty sure he was responding to some of my messages on her behalf.”
“What?”
“She would reply in totally different ways. Sometimes she sounded ‘normal,’ you know, then she would start using these random abbreviations I couldn’t understand and oversexed emojis just like a guy would. I think her husband just wanted wank fodder for his fortieth birthday. Some couples are that shameless.”
“Well?” Vivian teased. “Did you ever do that glorious threesome with a lying couple?”
“Are you kidding me? I’d rather die.”
“So…” The room grew quiet while Vivian paused for effect. “Would this be a really awkward time to tell you that my boyfriend is interested in a threesome?”
“Don’t even.”
Vivian had barely been able to get that out without cracking herself up. It was almost worth making Kat look so uncomfortable on her bar stool.The thought of me having a boyfriend… ludicrous.She had tried before. High school had been ripe with experimentations that went nowhere but into the coldfire depths of hell. The thought of sharing a girlfriend with another man was beyond preposterous. Whoever she ended up with? She wanted to be their only one, and to know thattheywere her only one. No men allowed.
She took Kat’s hand on top of the bar.I wonder if she could be my only one.“Thanks for going out with me today.” Damn, where had something as embarrassing as that come from? Why was she thanking Kat for adate?She made it sound like they were just a couple of gals being pals frolicking about to keep each other company on a cold and drizzly Sunday! “I mean…”
“I should be the one thanking you.” Kat squeezed her date’s hand. “But maybe I want to believe that the third time is a charm.”
“The third time?”
“You know what I mean, Vivi.”
Third time trying to get into bed with me.Vivian couldn’t help but giggle. “Guess I have been pretty silly.”
“Nah. You know your boundaries and what you want. Nothing wrong with that.”
Vivian pursed her lips. “Could say the same thing about some other women. Like Shari. She definitely knew what she wanted, and it wasn’t me.”
“But if she hadn’t dumped you, we wouldn’t have met.”
