“Wow, you look terrible.”
Elena rolled her eyes as she settled Lucas into a high chair at the restaurant table before dropping into the chair opposite Vivian. “Sometimes, I have to remind myself that I love you.”
Chuckling, Vivian leaned over to kiss Lucas’s cheek and place a small coloring mat and crayons on the table in front of him. “Thank you!” He latched onto her finger and held it tightly in one hand as he used his other to grab the green crayon and begin scribbling all over the paper.
“You’re welcome, sweet pea.” Vivian pulled her index finger from his grasp as she cooed at him. She watched as Elena ran a hand through her hair and reached for her menu. “So, are you going to tell me why you look like you had a wild party last night and woke up hung over?”
Elena glared. “Well, obviously, I did not have a wild party.”
“Obviously. So, spill.”
“I was out,” Elena said. “Later than I expected to be.”
“Oh really?”
Elena ignored Vivian’s teasing tone, raising an eyebrow as she plowed right through and said, “And then of course my mother called me at six a.m. and put Lucas on the phone.” She turned to Lucas. “And what did you say very loudly in Momma’s ear, munchkin?”
“Momma!” Lucas quoted himself. “I’m awake! Where are you?”
“That’s right,” Elena said as Vivian laughed. “Very loudly.”
“Uh-huh,” Vivian said. “Let’s get back to the ‘out late’ part. Where exactly were you, Elena?”
Elena cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders as she kept her eyes fixed on her menu. “I was at NYU with Allison.”
“Alson!” Lucas never lifted his gaze from the paper where his little hand was still scribbling animatedly away.
“Allison, huh?” Vivian asked, smirking.
“Yes, Vivian,” Elena snapped. “Allison, the babysitter. What is the big deal? You were the one who told me to take her backpack to her.”
“Yes, but giving someone a backpack takes all of five seconds.”
“And?” Elena asked. “Am I not allowed to make friends?”
“Well, I don’t know why you would need any new friends considering the fact that you already have me and I am amazing.” Elena rolled her eyes but smiled. “But yes, I suppose you’re welcome to make new friends.”
Vivian would not necessarily refer to the budding relationship between Elena and the babysitter as strictly friendship. But the fact that Elena was completely oblivious to the developing chemistry did not surprise Vivian.
The conversation was put on hold as Vivian and Elena gave the waiter their orders.
Elena reached down into the large bag she carried with her on her outings with Lucas and pulled out a small squeeze carton of organic apple juice. She pulled the little straw from the side and popped it through the hole on the top of the carton before setting it in front of her son. “Here you go, munchkin.”
“Is it apple?” Lucas asked, reaching for the juice.
“Of course.” Elena pointed to the picture of the apple slices on the front of the carton. “See the picture?”
“Oh.” Lucas nodded as his little finger traced over the picture. “Thank you!” He brought the little straw up to his mouth to drink.
“You are very welcome, dear.”
“So,” Vivian said. “What did you and Allison do last night?”
“Oh nothing.” Elena flicked her hand in the air.
“Oh, I see.” Vivian laughed. “So, you were out late doing nothing. That makes complete sense. Nothing is one of my favorite pastimes as well. Boy, if I could count all the times that nothing has kept me out late.”
Elena sighed. “Must you always be so frustrating?”
“Must you always give vague responses?”
“We watched a movie! There, are you happy? We watched a movie and then I went home. I had no intentions of staying when I took Allison her backpack, but she was kind enough to invite me up to her dorm room. She had no plans for the evening, and obviously, neither did I; thus, she asked if I would watch a movie with her and I agreed. End of story.”
Vivian nearly bit through her tongue to keep from both squealing with excitement and laughing at her best friend’s obviously flustered state. When she was able to control both urges, she cleared her throat. “So, you two really are becoming friends then?”
“Yes, I suppose we are.” She smirked at Vivian. “I have to have someone I can complain about you to.”
“Oh please,” Vivian said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “So, what movie did you watch?”
“Ugh, some foul horror film featuring a cannibal and a psychotic man with a penchant for lotion and wearing other people’s skins.”
“The Silence of the Lambs.”
“You’ve seen it?”
“Of course. It’s a classic.” Vivian laughed at Elena’s disgusted expression. “How did Allison talk you into watching that movie?”
“She simply asked me,” Elena said with a light shrug of her shoulders. She took a sip of her water and ran a hand through her short, dark locks. “I can be adventurous, Viv.”
“Uh-huh. Sure you can, babe.”
The glare she received only made Vivian laugh harder. She reached across the table and patted Elena’s hand. “Oh relax. I’m only teasing.”
“I know.” Elena squeezed her hand. “It seems that is something you and Allison have in common.”
“What? Teasing you?”
“Teasing in general. She has quite the sense of humor. In fact, she is incredibly entertaining if you spend a bit of time with her.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I can see why Lucas loves spending time with her. There is rarely a dull moment.”
“So, you like her?” Vivian slipped the question in, hoping it didn’t sound too suggestive.
Elena frowned. “Yes, I suppose I do quite like her. It’s strange, really. Don’t you think?”
“Why would it be strange?”
“She is so different from me, so free and relaxed.”
“Mm,” Vivian said, watching her friend closely.
“She is unrefined and sometimes has the mouth of a sailor, and she wears tatty jean jackets and fuzzy socks, for goodness’ sake.”
Vivian smiled as she saw how her friend’s gaze darted all over the surface of the table, how her breath quickened as she spoke; it made Vivian’s heart swell. This is ridiculous, she thought. But Elena’s obliviousness to her growing feelings was overwhelming and if Vivian was being honest, somewhat adorable.
It made Vivian feel like a teenager again, just observing it made her want to shake Elena and scream, kiss her already! She couldn’t bring herself to disrupt the organic development that seemed to be occurring between the two women, though. Sure, she would do everything she could to help nudge them in the right direction, but she wouldn’t intervene on a grand scale. She knew this had to be natural, and Vivian honestly had no doubt that it would come to fruition on its own. She just hoped it would happen sooner rather than later.
If anyone deserved happiness and love, it was Elena. Vivian believed that.
“We could not be more opposite, but yes. I can’t explain it, but I do very much like her. She makes me laugh. She makes me laugh all the time.”
“That’s nice,” Vivian whispered. It was an important moment, a moment in which Elena Vega began to open her heart to someone who was beautifully both completely wrong and completely right for her. It was a moment that Vivian knew would change everything.
“Yes,” Elena muttered. “It is.”
She looked up at Vivian then and smiled warmly. “I think I’d quite like to be friends with her.”
Vivian returned her smile. “Good,” she said. But then she couldn’t resist sticking her tongue out at her. “Despite how utterly jealous I am of your budding new friendship, it’s true that you can never have too many good friends. And I, for one, think it’s wonderful that you’re both so different. It’s good for you to branch out a bit. Your entire life revolves around being proper. Maybe Allison will loosen you up a bit.”
“Alson!” Lucas’s mouth remained still halfway wrapped around his straw while he scribbled with his crayons.
Vivian’s shoulders bounced with her laughter, and Elena just shook her head and ran a hand through her son’s hair. “That’s right,” she said. “Allison.”
“Alson likes dinosaurs.”
“What else does Allison like, buddy?” Vivian asked.
“Um…” His eyes widened and a smile stretched his lips. “Me!”
* * *
Allison barreled through the door of her dorm, tripping over her feet and tumbling to the ground. Grunting with the force of the fall, she crawled back to her feet. She was instantly greeted by her roommate and best friend’s confused expression as the other girl lay in bed, drinking a beer and watching TV.
“Um, did someone die?” Macy asked in her thick Australian accent.
“No, why?” Allison tossed her backpack to the floor and began stripping.
“Because you just flew through the door like someone set your fuckin’ pants on fire? Or am I the only one of us who noticed that?”
Allison laughed as she yanked her shirt over her head, left standing in only her green bra and bright blue boy shorts. “Just in a bit of a hurry. I’ve got to babysit tonight.”
“Oooooh, that explains it then.” Macy smirked. “Hot, rich, and fabulous calls, and you can’t wait to get outta here. Does she know about your weird food obsessions yet? I’d wait a bit until she falls for you properly.”
“You’re one to talk.” Allison rolled her eyes. “I’m surprised your dates don’t run screaming when they find out about your obsession with Vincent Price. Besides, it isn’t like that. Elena and I are just—”
“Just what? Just friends?”
“Yeah, we’re friends.” Allison changed into a fresh pair of skin-tight jeans and a three-quarter sleeve blue and green button-up. “And it’s a job. You know I need the money.”
“Uh-huh.” Snorting with laughter, she took another sip of her beer. “Sure it is.”
“It is.” Allison stuffed some snacks into her backpack and removed a few of her textbooks.
“Whatever you say, mate. A tip though: when you finally bed her, don’t be wearing the fuzzy socks. It’s a moodkiller.”
“Anyway,” Allison hissed. “I’m late, so that’s why I was running. I had Professor Rockford, and you know she rambles.”
“That’s the understatement of the year.” Macy snorted. “The damn subject is twenty-first century American fiction, but the woman goes on about her fifteen cats half the time like she’s a few roos loose in the top paddock, if you know what I mean.”
“Nope, actually.” Allison laughed. “I don’t have a clue what you just said, but yeah, she rambles.” She slung her backpack, which was much lighter now, over her shoulder and headed for the door.
“I’m headed out, but I shouldn’t be home too late.”
“Right, yeah. Best get a wriggle on then. You don’t want to keep fancy pants waiting.”
Allison rolled her eyes and waved before heading for the elevator.
* * *
“Uh, Elena?”
Allison had knocked on Elena’s door several times but received no answer, so she had finally checked the knob and saw that it gave easily. She pushed the front door open just a crack and poked her head in.
She slipped inside and closed the door behind her. “Elena?” she called again as she took hesitant steps through the house. “Your door was unlocked, so I’m like, inside the house and stuff.”
She walked cautiously toward the hallway, mumbling. “Please don’t think I’m a robber and like jump out and shoot me or something.”
Slinking down the hallway toward Elena’s bedroom, Allison tapped on the door. “Elena?” she called through the wood but still heard nothing in reply. She slowly opened the door and poked her head in.
With a wave of relief, she heard the rushing sound of a shower. She was about to shut the door and head back toward the living room to wait for her employer when something caught her eye. She giggled as she realized what it was.
Lucas was fast asleep and sprawled out on his stomach on Elena’s bed, halfway beneath the covers and halfway beneath one of Elena’s pillows. Allison smiled as she darted over toward the bed and sat down. She reached over to rub small circles in the boy’s back.
After a few minutes, Allison slowly stood up again and bent down and pressed a kiss to the bit of Lucas’s head that was sticking out from under the pillow.
In that exact moment, Elena padded out of her bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a fluffy red towel. Her eyes went wide, and a screeching yelp escaped her as she saw someone bending over her bed. She grabbed the nearest thing to her, a bottle of perfume from the bathroom counter, and chucked it at the intruder. “Shit!” Elena exclaimed, clapping a hand over her mouth. The small, yet heavy perfume bottle smacked Allison square between the eyes with a sickening thud.
“Unnh,” Allison groaned, her hand shooting up to her forehead as her eyes rolled back and she crashed to the bedroom floor, unconscious.
* * *
Dark blonde lashes fluttered slowly open, and Allison let out a deep groan, her head throbbing with a fury. She barely got her eyes open before she felt tiny hands press at her cheeks and then saw wide honey eyes hovering over her face, close enough to make her cross-eyed.
“HI!” Lucas shouted in her face.
Allison tried to laugh but it only caused her head to throb harder. “Hi,” she croaked. Her side felt damp. Had Lucas peed on her?
She gently reached up and moved Lucas out of the way a bit. She was lying across Elena’s lap, her right side pressed against the woman’s body, which was still wrapped in a bath towel. That explained the dampness.
“Hi.” She looked up into Elena’s shimmering eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” Fingertips rubbed gently at the space between Allison’s eyes. “You are already beginning to bruise.”
Allison’s brow furrowed, which of course hurt like hell. “What, uh, what happened?”
“Momma tacked you with a fume bottle!”
“Lucas, don’t sound so pleased about it.” But a smile pulled at the corners of Elena’s lips.
“Say what?” Allison smiled back up at her. “You attacked me?”
“Unfortunately, yes. I didn’t know you were here. I came out of the shower, and there was a person leaning over my son. I suppose I just acted on instinct.”
“And did what exactly?”
“Threw a perfume bottle at you.” A vast amount of red flooded Elena’s face. “I apparently have terrible aim, because I was aiming for your back as you were bent when I threw it, but then you turned around and it somehow hit you in the face. You blacked out.”
“If you thought I stunk, Elena, you could have just offered me some perfume, you know? You didn’t have to throw the whole bottle at me.”
Elena laughed and pinched Allison’s side. “Always making jokes.”
Reaching up, Allison cupped a hand around Elena’s cheek. “Keeps things fun, don’t you think?”
Elena’s breath hitched in her throat at the look in Allison’s eyes, and she nodded against the blonde’s hand. “Indeed.”
Allison, realizing what she was doing, cleared her throat and quickly dropped her hand. She tried to sit up. Elena moved to help her, though she had to keep one hand tightly pressed to her towel to keep it from falling open. Allison wobbled a little even in only a sitting position.
“Whoa.” She groaned. “Dizzy.”
Elena frowned as she watched her. “Perhaps we should make a trip to the emergency room?”
“No, no way.” She hated hospitals. “I’m fine. Just got a bit of a headache.” That was a massive understatement, but Allison didn’t want to make Elena feel any worse about what happened, given that it was really her fault for sneaking into the woman’s bedroom without her knowledge. Plus, she didn’t want Elena worrying too much over her.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure, yeah.” Allison waved her off. “Could I just have some aspirin or something?”
“Of course, yes.” Elena jumped to her feet. Allison couldn’t help but stare at the woman. Water droplets slipped over her bare shoulders and down until they became lost in the fluffy material of the red towel. Anyone with functioning eyes would be unable to look away from that.
“Let’s get you up on the bed, and then I will get some aspirin for you,” Elena said, helping her to her feet. Allison wobbled again and quickly dropped down onto Elena’s bed. The blankets were all pulled back from where Lucas had been sleeping, so Allison couldn’t help but breathe in the scent from the exposed sheets.
Elena returned from the bathroom with a small bottle of pills tucked between her teeth and a small glass with water. Allison swallowed two pills and drained the glass. “Thank you.”
Lucas crawled up on the bed and practically lay down on top of Allison. “Let her breathe, munchkin.”
Lucas looked down at Allison. “Can you breathe, Alson?”
“Yeah, little man. I can breathe.”
Sticking his tongue out at his mother, he collapsed on top of Allison once more.
Allison’s hand moved to Lucas’s back as he laid his head on her chest. Her eyes then locked onto Elena, who was watching them both. Silence and stillness filled the room as they stared at one another for a long moment before Allison’s gaze slipped down to the fluffy red towel and back up again.
Flushing crimson, Elena cleared her throat roughly. “Well, I suppose I should dress myself.”
Allison smirked. “Yeah, I suppose you should. You won’t want to keep your date waiting.”
“Oh Allison, no. I can’t possibly continue with the night as planned. I should cancel and stay here to monitor you. You could have a concussion, for all we know.”
Tingles buzzed lightly on Allison’s skin at the concern in Elena’s tone, but she just shook her head in response. “No way. I’m fine. You can’t possibly miss this date.”
“Oh?” Elena asked. “And why is that?”
“Because what if this guy turns out to be your Prince Charming or something?”
Elena snorted at that.
“He could sweep you off your feet and like, I don’t know, wake you up from a sleeping curse or something.”
“Allison, really. I think I should stay. I’m worried you might need to see a doctor.”
“Elena, I’m fine. And you’re going. End of discussion. Besides, the post-date ranting is my favorite part.”
In truth, Allison was a little conflicted. She wanted Elena to go on the date, but she also wanted her to cancel. Elena really deserved to find happiness and love and all of that mess, even though it wasn’t something Allison had ever imagined for herself. But for some reason, the thought of Elena out on dates didn’t always sit right with her.
However, she was also a little worried that if Elena canceled the date, she would end up going home a lot earlier than usual. She really missed Lucas, even though it had only been a few days. She wanted to spend as much time with him as possible, even if she did have a raging headache.
“Go on,” she said. “Go get fancy.”
Elena rolled her eyes and disappeared into her closet.
