“Let me put a blanket down, and we can sit.”
Gage went about setting up their space and set her bag down next to the first blanket before she pulled out the second one and placed it on top so that they could wrap themselves up in it. Then, she pulled out the bags of snacks and bottles of water and motioned for Carrie to sit. When Carrie did, Gage moved to sit behind her.
“Is this okay?” she asked when she pulled Carrie back against herself.
“Yes.” Carrie chuckled. “For someone who says she’s bad at dating, you sure do know how to plan a date.”
“If I’d planned it, it would’ve been better. I’d have my phone for music and maybe candles or something. We only have the streetlight and the moon, I guess.” Gage looked up. “It’s almost full.”
Carrie followed her gaze and replied, “This is a perfect first date, Gage.”
Gage smiled shyly and moved the sweater a bit so that she could kiss Carrie on her neck where it met her shoulder.
“I’m just… I’m really happy right now. I thought I’d come here and have sex, and if I got really lucky, a woman might want to go on a date with me after we left, but I wasn’t sure about that part.”
“And now?” Carrie asked.
“I’m here with you.”
“And?” Carrie laughed.
“I want to date you. I had a lot of fun today, Carrie. I haven’t had that much fun in, well, maybe ever.”
“You have a lot of sex. Isn’tthatfun?”
“Hey, not a lot,” she returned and nipped at Carrie’s neck teasingly, which made Carrie laugh. “And sex is great, but I meant in life.”
“Why?”
“I work all the time,” Gage told her. “Like,all the time. I’m the boss. I own it, so if something goes wrong or I don’t make enough for payroll, that’s on me. I don’t have a backup plan, you know? This is it; this is my only plan. I lost most of my family young, and while my sister is still around, she’s not someone I can rely on. It’s just been me.”
“Don’t forget about Sasha,” Carrie returned.
“Oh. Is someonejealous?” she teased and tickled Carrie on her abdomen over her dress.
“You’ve slept with her. She’s seen you naked. You are best friends. She gets to touch you and knows you, so, yeah, I’m jealous.”
“She won’t anymore if you don’t want her to.”
“What?” Carrie turned her head a little toward her.
“I told you: I’m a one-person person when I’m in a relationship. Sasha isn’t, but she’ll find others to date or sleep with. Shehasothers already. That’s how she and her girlfriend prefer it.”
“I don’t judge anyone, but I don’t get that.”
Gage laughed and said, “Me neither. Sex is one thing, but if I’m with someone, I’m with them and only them.”
“Me too. But you’re really going to stop sleeping with her because of me? We just met.”
“I know. But I want to date youandsleep with you. If you don’t want me doing that with anyone else, I won’t, and thatincludes Sasha. She knows how this works for me. We respect each other, and we follow all the rules we both set.”
“Doyouwant to sleep with her, though? I don’t want to ask that of you. We might be on a date right now, but it’s a first date, and we have a lot more talking andother thingsto do before we probably get to the part where I can tell you that I only want you and talk about exclusivity.”
Gage nodded and asked, “Do you want to date other people?”
“I came here to meet someone, notmultiplesomeones. I don’t even know how I’d date more than one woman at a time when I’ve never even dated one woman before.”
“You’re dating me now.”
