Fallon smiled and clapped her hands together. “Yes. Something…” She spelled out the words personal and I showed her the sign, forming the letter “P” and rotating it across my chest.
“Oh, thank you! Yes, personal. Maybe something with her name on it?” she added.
“Thank you,” I answered. I waved goodbye and they carried on. If anyone around us knew sign language, it would’ve seemed like a short and rude conversation, but the smiles and warm hugs they gave provedit wasn’t. I didn’t want them to have to figure out what I was saying, so I used short sentences and spelled slowly when I needed to.
I watched them walk away, Mackenzie’s arm wrapped around Fallon’s waist, and Fallon’s head on Mackenzie’s shoulder. Those two were the cutest things, and they made me think of Kaia.
We had just gotten together, or just started seeing where things could go, but I wasn’t in it for only the sex. While that was a very,verynice bonus, I enjoyed just being with her, holding her, touching her, caring for her. I didn’t know what would happen between us, but I wanted to find out.
After watching the Bennetts turn the corner, I smiled and continued my day of shopping. So far, I checked out a pottery store, a clothing store, and even a bakery, but everything was a bust. I told myself one more store and I’d call it a day.
My last stop was a jewelry store. I was starting to lose hope that I’d find something, and would most likely need to enlist her friends for help. I didn’t want to, though. I wanted to do this on my own. She was my best friend, dammit. It should be so simple to pick out a gift for her.
I bypassed the rings because we definitely were not there. It had only been, what, a week or so? Way too soon for that, even by lesbian standards.
I stopped at the case housing bracelets. There were gorgeous gold ones and silver ones, and even ones with little charms on them. I could get a charm bracelet, but she didn’t really wear jewelry except the gold necklace with aKon it.
I turned the corner and stopped when I saw a necklace that jumped out at me. It was gold, just like the one she had, and there was a sign that said it could be engraved. Perhaps I could upgrade her current necklace. My smile was so wide, my mouth hurt. She was going to love it.
Chapter Twenty-Six
KAIA
“Thank you, everyone, for coming.We’ll see you next month.” I spoke and signed at the same time before waving everyone out of the store. After I locked the door behind the last person, I took a deep breath. It had been a long day, and I was ready to go home. Drea didn’t stay for class this time like she usually did. Her and Blair had a standing date at some fantasy-themed cafe, which I thought was really cute.
“Another great class. Your girl is a great teacher, Kai.”
I rolled my eyes at the sound of Mackenzie’s voice. Despite myself, I loved her, though. “Mackenzie, please don’t start.”
She shrugged. “What? She is a good teacher. And you can’t tell me she’s not your girl now. Not after the party.”
My face flushed, but I didn’t say anything. I wasn’t sure what we were. I just knew I really enjoyed what we were doing.
“Baby.” Fallon’s tone was commanding. “Let her be. Friends kiss like that all the time. You remember when we were ‘just friends’? We did a lot more than kiss.”
Mackenzie grabbed Fallon and kissed the top of her head, which always made my heart melt. “Yes, baby. I remember plenty. I also remember I didn’t exactly have friendly feelings toward you back then. And I know you didn’t toward me, either. But I’ll drop it.”
She turned back to me and placed a hand on my arm, any trace of sarcasm gone. “Whatever you two are or aren’t doing, we’re happy for you, Kaia. Enjoy the moment and see where it takes you. Life has a funny way of knowing what you need.” She looked at Fallon, and my irritation softened. For all the sarcasm she had, the love she had for Fallon would always be greater.
I believed her, though, on some level. The universe had a way of knowing just what you needed and when you needed it.
“Thanks, Mackenzie. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I’m enjoying the present.”
We said our goodbyes, and I walked them out the door. I locked it behind them since they were the last ones to leave. They stopped outside the door for a moment, holding each other. I wasn’t sure what words were said between them, but they shared a kiss and you could really see the love in it.
It was quick but tender and filled with so much promise. Mackenzie rubbed Fallon’s cheek, then took her hand and led her down the sidewalk.
I hoped I would find a love like theirs someday. Someone to love with everything I had and who would love me just as intensely.
I turned back around to see Daisy stacking the chairs, and smiled. My life had become brighter since she came into it. Even with losing my dad, she was always there to hold me when things got tough, and she never gave up on me. I didn’t know what the hell we were doing. I was just going along for the ride and hoped we didn’t run out of gas, or that the car didn’t catch on fire.
I was still in shock every time I got to touch or kiss her. I always let her initiate anything between us. I was afraid she’d get tired of me, and I didn’t want the rejection. I knew it was coming eventually, but I wasn’t in any hurry to get there.
I walked over to her and helped with the chairs. We’d been doing these classes for over two years and had it down to a science. After we rolled the chairs to the back, we worked on my favorite part of cleaning up: the snacks.
We usually had an array of cheese and crackers, fruits, and desserts, and we always had some to take home. We could always buy less, but Daisy insisted we had extras in case people were extra hungry that night. They never were.
I walked around the store, picking up little things here and there and straightening the pillows on the couches. I was fixing one of the couches near the back of the store, when warm arms wrapped around me, and I shivered when I felt a breath on my neck.
