Page 28 of Sugar High
“Do you like her, Kit?” Tish asked. “I mean, do you honestly believe you and Sid could make a relationship last? If you do, it’sworth the hard work you put into it. If she wants you to open up more, acknowledge your feelings without fear of repercussion, you know what’s involved there.”
“Yeah. It’s not like I haven’t tried. We danced at the Den the first night. What’s wrong with being a homebody?”
That got her a laugh. “Absolutely nothing. Baby steps, Kit. Nobody’s forcing you to wave a flag. Take it slow and be aware of her. Go to a movie, that’s easy because it’s dark and nobody’s looking at you. If you’re comfortable, then go out for dinner,” Tish said. “You’ll adjust to being out in public in time, and you’ll find people aren’t going to make faces and chase you out of town.”
Simple suggestions, and Kit couldn’t argue about any of them. She’d think nothing of licking Sid’s clit, but holding her hand in front of people?That ought to be a given. Why’s my stomach still queasy, though?
“Let’s say I come out on a grander scale, and Sid and I end up quits anyway?”
“You’d rather end it now while you’re somewhat closeted, and spend your days at the double boiler wondering what might have been?” Tish asked. “Why hook up with her in the first place?”
Kit’s head pounded. The interview for the job hadn’t been this strenuous. “She’s pretty and stylish, and nice and funny. I like her coordinated retro-Eighties outfits, and her pancakes, and her sense of humor.” She missed Sid now, and ached as her mind replayed their last exchange.
“Good answers. I hadn’t pegged you for a pessimist, Kit.” Tish rested her chin in her hands, her elbows propped on the desk. “Not the ideal person you want in a chocolate shop, selling candy as gifts for lovers.”
“Hey, I had a hand in strong Easter sales.” She wagged a finger and brought a smile to her boss’s lips. “Thanks forlistening to me, though. It upset me when my friend Annalise swept in and asked Sid to come to the Den for karaoke. I’ve always been jealous of her, how open she is to everybody. She doesn’t care what other people think about her, and I guess I figured if I tried to act the same way I’d get all the heat.”
Tish frowned. “Annalise… you’ve mentioned her before. She’s the one who has a new girlfriend every week?”
“Sometimes a minimum of,” Kit said, an unbidden image of women marching through a turnstile attached to her friend’s bedroom door flashing in her mind.
“You think that’s related? Maybe you associate Annalise’s openness to her inability to keep a partner for the long term? You worry that will be you.”
Kit pondered the possibility, and decided not with a shake of her head. Annalise never struck her as the type to settle down with one person forever. She enjoyed threesomes and group activity, and the freedom to move freely without commitment. So she said to Kit. She’d probably be the same person in or out of the closet.
“When Sid left with the intent of meeting her at the Den, I got upset,” she said. “Sid likes her fun, too, and I worry what Annalise has in mind.”
“Then why are you talking to me?” Tish stood and made a shooing motion with both hands. “You like Sid and want to be with her?”
“Yeah.” More than anything, she wanted to cozy up in bed tonight with Sid and surrender this horrible afternoon to sleep. Even if they didn’t make love tonight, she’d be content with spooning the shorter woman, her arm tight around Sid’s waist and their legs twined.
“Go to her, now. Listen to what she wants. You believe she’s worth it, so give it to her. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”
Kit remained in place, and Tish steered her by the shoulders out the door. “I don’t care if you’re gay or straight, but I care for your happiness, Kit. Be happy.”
“Okay,” Kit said, standing still.
“Go. Now!” Tish barked, and Kit skidded out of the office.
Chapter Seven
Sid checked her phone for the umpteenth time, her mood falling closer to the floor as she found no new texts from Kit. The idea of hanging around the Den all night with Annalise and her two friends appealed less to her with each passing second, especially since the other women shared none of her interests.
She’d tried to engage them in conversation, but every time the live karaoke band struck a chord to begin a new song, her voice faded into the background.
She sat in a corner circular booth with Annalise, who clamped a protective arm around each girl. They could have been twins with their matching piercings, hairstyles, and clothes, but Sid spotted the differences in their faces. The one on the right, Addison, directed much of her attention to her phone, while Paris chewed gum and stared at the band with vacant eyes.
“I’m surprised they started the music this early,” Sid said after the rather jarring rendition of Janelle Monae’s “Tightrope” ended. “Any other place, things don’t get rolling until late.”
“Thisislate for Dareville.” Annalise tipped her beer bottle to her lips. “Downtown rolls up the sidewalks at six, but you know that because you work at Tish’s.”
She didn’t need the reminder. She thought of Kit, more like had her on the brain all this time, and wondered what would happen at work tomorrow if tonight passed without an appearance from her. Roman’s voice nagged at her, but she’d called and texted a few times. It wouldn’t help to appear desperate. She’d lobbed enough balls into Kit’s side of the court.
“Yeah, I guess. Have you decided on a song yet?”
Annalise had a copy of the song list, and three heads bent to study the tiny print. “I changed my mind about Mary Lambert. I’ll probably play it safe, maybe ‘Raise Your Glass’ or ‘Wrecking Ball.’”
One of the pierced pseudo-twins snorted at that, and waved down the waitress. The slim brunette took their orders, then smiled at Sid and complimented her outfit. “Haven’t you seen you in a while, sweetie.”
