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“Really?” Bridget stiffened and looked directly at Karen. “Everyone thought it was stupid.”
“No, I don’t. I think you two needed to break up. It was time. But that’s a conversation for another day. Promises, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but I came in to get something.” Karen stood up and put her hands on her hips. “Right, coffee.”
Bridget watched her carefully as she walked into the kitchen, though she strongly suspected that had not been what Karen had come in for to begin with. She likely was listening in on the conversation to check Jerica out, like the overprotective parent she was. Karen brushed her fingers across Bridget’s shoulders as she walked out of the room with a mug full of coffee.
Jerica shook her head. “You’ve got family, Bridge.”
“I know. It’s nice.” She grinned. “But what about you? Since I’m answering all these questions, what about you?”
Jerica blew out a breath. “Well, I always wanted to get married, and always knew it wasn’t to who people thought it would be. It took me a bit longer than you to realize I am gay. I figured it out in college, when my roommate freshman year was gorgeous! And straight as fuck.”
Bridget laughed. “Straight crushes are the worst, aren’t they?”
“So bad.” Jerica grinned. “I almost didn’t move back here, though. I have my family here, and I never really wanted to live anywhere else, but I struggle with the idea of being out here and raising a family in such a closed-minded space. I’ve worked hard in the last few years to find my people, so I think that’s changed quite a bit, but I do still worry.”
“Those people are going to be anywhere.” Bridget finished another favor and set it to the side before grabbing what she needed for the next one. “There’s no escaping them.”
“I know, but…I’m ever hopeful, all right? I want the world to be such an accepting and loving place. Like when a patient comes in, I don’t care who they are or what they believe. I just want to help them.”
“Seems you found the right job for you.”
“I did.” Jerica’s lips turned upward as she stood up and took the finished favors over to the counter, lining them up. “Nursing I knew I wanted to do before I knew I was a lesbian. How messed up is that?”
“Considering the family I come from? Not too bad if you ask me.” Bridget laughed lightly. “What about kids?”
“I would love kids someday. I come from a big family. My parents only had two girls, but every other couple in my family has at least five or six.”
“Really?” Bridget’s brow drew together in surprise. “I can’t imagine that many kids in one family.”
“You should see how many people get together for reunions. It’s awful. We have to rent out space because there are so many of us.”
“Do you do them often?”
“Once a year. I haven’t been the last couple because I’ve been stuck working, but I’m hoping to go to the one next year.” Jerica stopped her work and put a hand on Bridget’s to still her movements. “I would love it if you came with me.”
“Where is it?”
“I think we’re doing it near my aunt’s. She lives out in Great Bend.”
“That’s not far.”
“It’s not from here. It’s another two hours for me, remember.”
“True.” Bridget finished the next favor. “I suppose if I were to be publicly in a relationship with someone, I would have to decide what that would mean for my career.”
Jerica gave her an odd look.
“I’m an elected official.”
“Oh, right. Politics, something I never really wanted to get into.”
Bridget hummed but didn’t say anything. She continued to make favors, setting them on the table until there were enough for Jerica to grab and bring to the counter. She hadn’t been wrong in her line of thinking. She was going to have to decide at some point what she was willing to risk for love, and her career would be a good portion of that. Going from Sheriff to underling wasn’t going to be an easy transition, though switching agencies completely would help with that. But where would she go?
“You look so lost in thought,” Jerica’s smooth voice reached her ears.
Bridget nodded. “You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“Good things, I hope.”
