“I don’t actually knowhowto make chicken soup. You know that, right?”
Carrie laughed against her stomach and said, “Yeah, I figured. It’s not that hard. I can show you on my first visit to your place. We’ll go shopping for the ingredients and everything.”
“I’ve never had someone to shop with before.” Gage moved her hands to Carrie’s neck and lifted her face to look at her. “I want that.”
“And I want that with you,” Carrie said. “Now, will you make love to me?”
Gage nodded and said, “Lie back, baby.”
Carrie did, and Gage stripped her own clothes off first before climbing on top of her. She kissed Carrie just about everywhere she could before removing any of Carrie’s clothing,and she took her time. She knew they’d do this again later that night, but it felt important to her that they do thisnow, too. They hadn’t fought as Carrie had suspected they might, but they still had an important conversation to go through. Carrie had also told her no when she’d tried to pull away, and no one had ever done that for her before. No one had ever wanted her so much that they were willing to hold her accountable for her actions.
“I’m really going to miss you,” she said as she pushed inside Carrie with two fingers.
“I’m really going to miss you, too,” Carrie replied. “But I can’t imagine being able to go very long without seeing you, so it won’t be forever. Just remember that, okay?”
“I will. I promise,” she said and kissed Carrie deeply.
CHAPTER 57
Debra
“I feel bad for them,” Sharon said.
“Who?”
“Carrie and Gage.”
“Because of the distance?” Debra asked and kicked off her shoes before lying down on the bed.
“At least, you’re coming home with me tomorrow. They have to say goodbye at the airport or here. I don’t know when their flights are.”
“We’re all leaving around the same time. I talked to Nia about it earlier. We’ll head out in the same car. She ordered a van, I think.”
“That’s even worse,” Sharon noted as she removed her own shoes and went to lie down next to Debra. “They’ll have to share a long, awkward car ride with all of us and then say goodbye at a gate in front of everyone at the airport. I’m just really glad we don’t have to do that.”
“Me too,” Debra stated. “And I know we only have this week planned for now, but wecouldplan further out, if you want.”
“Now?” Sharon asked and rolled onto her side to face her.
“Or not.”
“I didn’t mean it like I didn’t want to plan that far out. I’m just asking if you want to do it right now.”
“Did you have something else in mind thatyouwanted to do?”
“I asked Nia what she does with the toys in the den after the week is over.”
“You did?” Debra smiled at her.
“Yes. She told me she mostly gives them to the catering staff or anyone else working these events who might like them. They all get cleaned and sanitized, so it’s no big deal. A lot of them haven’t even been used, I’m sure. Anyway, she said that if clients want to take any, they get dibs. I wasn’t paying attention at first, but when she told me that, I looked and saw that a few are missing now. I think Helena and Becky took a few. Maybe Jennifer and Kristina did, too; I don’t know. I didn’t see them do it. I know Gage came here with her own stuff, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she takes something with her. Carrie might, too.”
“And you’re telling me this because…”
“We can take a look before we start packing. I’m thinking cherry lube, at least, because I will now always associate the smell of cherry lube with this week.”
Debra laughed and replied, “I can just buy us some in a much bigger bottle, if you want.”
“But it’s here, and it’s free. Well, we paid for it in the ridiculous amount of money we paid for this thing.”
