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Lea came around the corner, curiosity and confusion written all over her face. Jewel stared at her dumbfounded as her stomach twisted sharply and her heart ratcheted up a few notches. Yup, there was that stupid crush.
“Steam,” she said by way of explanation.
“I got it.” Lea dragged a chair over from the kitchen table and stood on it to press the button on the smoke detector.
“Thanks. I’m going to get dressed.”
“You do that.” Lea looked her up and down, and thank God the heat from the shower had already tinged her skin pink so Lea didn’t see the flush rising to her cheeks. “Dinner will be ready when you are.”
“Thanks,” Jewel mumbled and made a fast escape into her bedroom. Jesus, she was definitely going to have to get this crush thing under control—and soon.
Shutting the door to her room, Jewel tried to release all her tension. It wasn’t until then that she realized it wasn’t because of her date the night before, it was because of Lea. Everything was because of Lea. She sat on the edge of her bed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I like Azalea Fuller. Oh God, I have a crush on the science teacher.” She made sure to keep her voice low as she stared at the door to her bedroom. The realization hit her so hard, she was stunned. She had admired Lea for years, looked up to her even. Lea had mentored her, helped her learn the ropes of her teaching gig, and helped her get used to living out there, but when had that turned into more? When had it turned into her wanting more?
Three weeks ago she was still dating Brady, and now, he wasn’t even a thought in her mind. Only a blip of a memory. Jewel heaved a breath and rolled her shoulders. The only way Lea would ever think about the two of them together would be if Jewel pushed it. Lea was too closed off otherwise, and Jewel was pretty sure Lea was unaware of the fact she knew Lea was a lesbian. The question remained, did she want to try to go down that path or not? Did she want to risk it?
Toweling off, Jewel pulled on a simple outfit of jeans and a ragged old T-shirt. She didn’t bother to put her contacts in like she normally would and kept her glasses on. She was too tired to bother with it today. Running the towel through her short hair, she dried it as best as she could, leaving it sticking up in places. She had nowhere to go that day, and Lea had definitely seen her worse off than that.
After hanging up the towel in her bathroom, she stepped into the living room and found Lea sitting at the kitchen table on her phone. It was as if her eyes had been opened. Everything about this woman was beautiful. The way she sat so regally, the way her hair looked so soft as it fell down her back in gentle curls, the line of her cheekbones, the plumpness of her lips.
“Jesus,” Jewel muttered.
“What?” Lea spun in the chair and faced her.
Jewel’s cheeks heated. “Nothing. What’s for lunch?”
“Sandwiches, like you asked for.”
“Oh. Good.” Jewel’s stomach was a mess of nerves. She stepped into the kitchen, her bare feet cold on the vinyl floor. Sure enough, Lea had made up two plates of food that sat on the counter waiting for them. She grabbed them and brought them to the table before getting them each a glass of iced tea.
Sitting down, Jewel tried to find a comfortable position, but her mind spun out of control. Lea had all the damn control in the world. She was strong, sure of herself, and then there was Jewel. Impulsive. Short-tempered. Busybody. What would Lea ever see in her? Nothing, that was what.
“Tell me about your date,” Lea stated before taking a bite of her lunch.
“Oh um…dinner was good.”
“The sushi place?”
“Yeah, we should go there sometime.”
Lea scrunched her nose. “I don’t really like sushi.”
Jewel gritted her teeth. She knew that, but she also knew Lea would go if Jewel dragged her. The sandwich was good, hitting just the right spot for her late morning mix of breakfast and lunch.
“I wasn’t really asking about the food, though. How was the date? Did you like him?”
Freezing with the sandwich inches from her mouth, Jewel shifted her gaze to Lea, those piercing blue eyes resting right on her. Her heart thumped so hard she struggled to draw in a breath. Setting her food down without taking a bite, Jewel straightened her back and looked Lea right in the eye. It was now or never. This would be the first test. “I didn’t go on a date with man.”
Lea gave her a confused look, her brow knitting together, her eyes narrowing. Jewel realized that may have not been the best way to introduce the idea she was also attracted to women, so she backtracked.
“I went on a date with a woman. Her name is Brianna.”
Realization clicked in Lea’s eyes, but her lips remained pressed together tightly and her eyes wide as if she was waiting for something else.
Jewel’s breathing increased. “I’m pansexual.”
Lea barely moved. She swallowed. Her shoulders stayed rigid, and her gaze didn’t waver from Jewel’s face. “You never said anything before.”
