AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It warmed her heart, but at the same time, it saddened her. It seemed they were always apologizing for something lately. She’d never thought a relationship would bethishard, not one where they loved each other so deeply. She knew she came with baggage, with trauma that couldn’t be avoided, but certainly she deserved something easy, right? Shouldn’t love be easy?
CHAPTER3
Lila flippedher hair up into a ponytail as she stepped out of her apartment early on Saturday morning. She rolled her shoulders as soon as the chilly air hit her. She should go for a run later that day when it warmed up—it would help ease the tension filling all the space in her shoulders and head.
Work had been a terror that week. Her boss was out of town, leaving everything in her hands, and of course, everything went wrong. She’d only resorted to calling her manager once, to help deal with a problem when the vendor wouldn’t even speak with her. That had been frustrating.
But today was Saturday. It was her weekend, and she planned on utilizing as much of the spare time as she possibly could. She had a date later that night with a lovely woman she had been seeing almost a year, a woman who could make her smile with one simmering look.
Giggling to no one but herself, Lila got into her car and backed out of her parking spot. She wanted to make something nice for dinner, something that would show off her skills in the kitchen, which were limited, but decent enough. She could make a mean steak and potatoes, something her stepfather had taught her when she was a teenager. He was convinced she needed to know how to fend for herself so when she moved out on her own she wouldn’t starve.
What he didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him. She knew how to order from the nearest restaurant as good as her mom did. She really should give them a call later that day, make sure everything was going as planned with the renovations to the house they’d just bought. It had been entirely too long since she’d seen them, but they’d wanted to winter down south for the easier climate. She’d just laughed and called them wimps.
The grocery store was fuller than she’d expected, but it was early enough in the morning that it shouldn’t be too insane inside. That was why she preferred to shop on Saturday mornings. Easier to get in and out in a reasonable amount of time and avoid crowds. She saw enough people during the week, and Lila preferred her weekends to be quieter. Which was why her date that night was going to be perfect. A quiet relaxing dinner and some sexual fun on the side to round it all out.
She got out of her car and paused as she watched a middle-aged woman step up to the double sliding doors. She looked very familiar. Her hair was at her shoulders, black and wavy. She wore a thick wool jacket that was buttoned all the way up the front with her hands shoved in her pockets as she hunched her shoulders and walked inside. At the last minute, she glanced up and caught Lila’s eye, those stunning dark brown eyes that were so full of … something. Lila couldn’t put her finger on it.
Heidi.
They’d met earlier that week in the cafeteria. Lila had been stunned by her beauty and more than a little curious, opting to commandeer a seat at the table in favor of returning to her office to eat. Lila grinned. Saturday morning grocery shopping just got a little more interesting. Picking up her speed, Lila followed Heidi inside and caught her as she grabbed a cart. Lila gave her a huge grin and made direct eye contact.
“Hello again.”
Heidi seemed startled. She tensed, her fingers curling tightly around the handle of the cart before she relaxed. Her lips thinned into a line as she narrowed her gaze at Lila, presumably trying to figure out who Lila was.
“We met at the hospital, remember? In the cafeteria.”
“Oh. Oh!” Recognition flitted across Heidi’s hooded gaze. “Yes, Lila, right?”
“You remember.” Lila’s cheeks heated, and it took her a little by surprise. She definitely had a type when it came to the women she dated, and Heidi fit it perfectly so far, but she wasn’t used to such a physical reaction to someone when they hadn’t even talked about that kind of relationship yet.
“I do.” Heidi gripped the cart again. “Are you here to shop?”
Lila paused.
Heidi rolled her eyes. “Sorry, that was a stupid question. Of course you’re here to shop.”
“I am.” Lila grabbed a cart and twisted it around so she faced the second set of doors that would lead inside. “Want to shop with me? I’d love the company.”
“Um…” Heidi looked around. “I suppose.”
“You’re not shopping with anyone, are you?” Lila asked, trying to see if Heidi was in a monogamous relationship, something that would hinder the flirting she wanted to ramp up. She liked seeing that little flare in Heidi’s eyes, and she wanted to know more about it and where it came from.
“I’m not,” Heidi answered, her voice wavering on the last part.
Still unclear, Lila decided to push forward and get to know Heidi better. Nothing had to go anywhere that day. Today they could just get to know each other. “Come on, then.”
Lila moved inside the grocery store proper and glanced over her shoulder. Heidi was tiny, so thin she almost looked frail. Usually Lila liked a little more to grasp onto in a woman, but something about Heidi intrigued her. She wanted to know more.
“Coming?”
“Uh…yes.”
Curious as to why Heidi always seemed to be cautious, Lila made that her first goal to figure out. Something about this woman had her on edge all the time, and Lila wanted to unravel that mystery.
“I usually start with produce,” Heidi said.
“Sure.”
