Chapter Seven

THE COLORS ON my audit spreadsheet had gone from a few, as I filled in totals, to a rainbow explosion as I tried to keep it all organized across the software gaps. I would get lost in the numbers, spending hours cross-checking data and sorting and color-coding. It was surprisingly enjoyable, at least until I’d notice the time and wince. It was already three, and I hadn’t taken care of my current clients. My Outlook was overflowing with unread emails—today’s and some from yesterday I hadn’t managed to get to before needing to get home to Franny.

And I was about to continue to ignore them for now, until I noticed the top two:

Jinks Therapeutics—Post-call Summary

(High Importance) Jinks Therapeutics Call

Both from old Georgie. Oh god, what was happening? I read through the emails, my lip curling slowly into a snarl. It was one of those he-said-she-said situations, where the client was insinuating something I could prove wasn’t true…if I got ahold of the phone recordings. In other words, a giant mess I had no time to deal with.

Literally, no time. Poor Franny got so desperate when I’d get home even half an hour late. Today, it’d be good to work for at least an extra hour, if not two. Of course, I refused to do that to her.

But maybe there was another way. I pulled out my phone and flipped to Rachael’s chat.

Ann: I can’t believe it’s already three. I’m pretty sure you’re picking up Connor from school, but I’m wondering if I can ask you a really big favor? Totally okay if you can’t do it, but it could be fun for both you and Connor.

I took a deep breath, hoping this wasn’t too much to ask.

Ann: I need to do overtime at work, but I can’t leave Franny alone any longer today. Can you swing by my apartment to give her a walk?

My phone clanked back onto my desk. I wrung my hands together and tried to tell myself I hadn’t overstepped our friendship boundaries, but I didn’t believe it at all. It had been too much to ask. To my surprise, she answered quickly.

Rachael: Do you have a spare key? I think Connor would love to help you out.

Relief washed through me, and I sank into my seat with a smile. I hated having to work so long, but knowing Franny would be taken care of made a big difference.

And this was probably how Rachael felt when someone else was taking care of Connor, huh?

Ann: I’ll call up the apartment manager and let her know you need to get into my place.

Soon, Rachael sent me a picture of her and Connor on the street outside my apartment, Franny’s excited face sandwiched between theirs. A wave of appreciation and guilt washed through me, almost overwhelming in how unexpected and intense it was. That she was willing to help, no questions asked, no hesitation—it was almost too much.

I put my phone down and refocused on my work with the peace of mind that Franny would be fine for a little while.

 

AFTER ANOTHER FEW days, and a weekend with a lovely afternoon at the park with Rachael and Connor, I started a new workweek with the realization that things were going to get worse before they got better. Some of my current clients had started planning out new projects for the fall quarter, and this MagiCorp audit was still in the beginning phases of untangling. The light at the end of the tunnel was a long way off.

I preemptively gave Rachael my spare key and planned for her to walk Franny three days this week, knowing I’d need those extra hours, but damn were the long days rough. Being one of the only people in the office in the evening was weird, and lonesome, even with playing music out loud at my desk when no one was around to mind.

Halfway through the week, Rachael sent me a text in the late afternoon. This would usually be her “We’re all done and Franny’s back in the apartment” notification, so I didn’t check it immediately. Instead, I made sure a quote I’d been working on was ready to go for a conference call tomorrow.

When I finally did check the text, my eyebrows raised.

Rachael: Connor feels bad that Franny has to be by herself until you come home. I told him we could hang out with her a bit longer today, if it’s okay with you. I’ve turned on a cartoon for them.

She had attached a picture of Connor and Franny curled up together on the couch. It melted my heart with cuteness, but guilt nagged at me, with my request dipping so far into Rachael’s evening.

Ann: They look so happy together! I’m fine with it as long as you don’t mind. I know Franny won’t mind if you leave.

Needless to say, I wrapped up a little earlier than usual and headed home in the wonderfully lighter traffic of the evening. As I climbed the stairs to my apartment, Connor’s high-pitched laugh made it through the thin apartment walls, along with the clatter of glass. My mind spun through several disaster scenarios before opening the door to reveal Connor and Franny playing tug-of-war with one of her toys, and Rachael doing my dishes.

“Oh my god, you didn’t have to clean!”

Rachael dried off her hands and gave me a sheepish grin. “Connor dropped a glass of juice on your floor, and one thing led to another.”

I gaped. My whole kitchen floor had been cleaned, and my dishes were done and drying on the counter, and I was so embarrassed I wanted to bury my face in my hands and run to my room like a humiliated teenager.

“Wow, I can’t believe you’d—”

“He broke the glass when he dropped it; I’m sorry.”

“Oh—oh. That’s okay.”

“Thought this would make it up to you, at least a bit,” she said gently before turning to Connor. “Okay, little man, Ann is back, so we better mosey on home and have dinner.”

Damn it, I’d ruined her evening. “You haven’t eaten yet? It’s already seven, you could stay—”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll get out of your hair.”

“Ah, all right.” Were my cheeks on fire, they were so hot? There was a lump in my throat when I tried to keep talking, and I was pretty sure it was gratitude. “Thank you for watching her,” I squeaked.

Rachael stared at the floor and shrugged. “I’m sorry I can’t keep Connor from—”

“Shh,” I said, my voice returning with a surge of confidence as I wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “It’s no problem. Is this okay?”

She nodded, her eyes lighting up, my gaze flicking from her eyes to her lips. Even in her flustered state, she was beautiful and alluring.

Which made it hilarious when she suddenly called, “Connor, I said it’s time to go, get your shoes on,” before locking her gaze back with mine.

I giggled. “Rachael, I don’t know how I can thank you.” And we met each other halfway in a kiss.

She breathed deeply through her nose, and my fingers were tangled in her wavy hair instantly, and after a few blissful moments of her warm lips against mine, we separated with simultaneous sighs.

“No need to thank me. Coming over here gives Connor something different to do, and he really likes Franny. I’m pretty sure I’ll have no choice but to get a dog.”

She laughed, and I was breathless, my heart hammering and my lips tingling.

“We gotta schedule a second date soon, huh?” she asked, running a fingertip down my shoulder.

“Y-yeah,” I stammered, shivering under her touch.

Rachael sighed, separating from me and stepping over to her shoes. “If I could manage to stay the whole date next time. That would be nice.”

“It would,” I admitted.

Her smile faded as her gaze moved from Connor’s shoes, still by the door, to him, still on the couch and laying on Franny. “Connor, come on, little man.”

He huffed, and I cleared my throat and sat at my table to undo the clasps on my shoes.

“Connor? Shoes. Now.”

She was getting upset, and I’d gone from the butterflies of our intimacy to the awkward uncertainty of a spectator to god-knew-what-was-about-to-happen.

“Excuse me. Do I need to move your bedtime up?”

“No!” he yelled.

“Then get your shoes on.”

There’s no way I’d have kept my voice as level as hers. Must have been her experience in kid negotiation. With an exaggerated sigh, Connor flopped onto the floor and scrambled over to his shoes. Rachael met my eyes briefly and mouthed the word “exhausting” before picking up her purse. I hoped my expression read as sympathetic.

Not more than a minute later, she swept the door shut behind her. I sighed, the warmth of her body against mine still reverberating through me, even after witnessing her parenting struggle. Being close to her made my heart sing.

Only when Franny nuzzled my knees did I break out of the spell of those few moments of memory.

“Oh, Franny.”

She looked up at me, her tail wagging.

“Yeah, I like them too.”

 

RACHAEL: THINKING OF you.

The text came late one night several days after they had stayed late, while I was on the couch watching whatever looked good. I smiled and texted back. Only good things I hope.

Rachael: That’s not hard. You’re so wonderful and patient with me.

Maybe I was patient because I had to be. She couldn’t help her situation any more than I could help my choice to be patient. It just was, right now.

Ann: Oh Rachael. Thank you. You know you’re pretty wonderful too.

Rachael: Ugh, I’m a mess.

I frowned, not sure exactly what would have prompted such a negative response. Why do you say that? I typed.

Rachael: My son said I wasn’t his friend anymore and I haven’t done dishes in a few days and we had sandwiches for dinner.

Ann: We all have our rough days. It’s okay.

Rachael didn’t say anything else, and it was long enough that I wasn’t sure she would. Maybe I could say more, but I didn’t know how to help her not be so hard on herself. Finally, my phone buzzed.

Rachael: Rough day is an understatement. At least it’s over, and Connor’s asleep.

Ann: See? That’s good.

Rachael: I wish you were in this bed with me.

Well, that got my heart hammering. A cascade of tingling made its way down my body as I considered replies, everything sounding silly in my head. Was she being cute or sexual? Oh my god, she was probably being sexual. But I couldn’t respond in kind, not unless I was sure. So I went the cute route.

Ann: I’d really like that. I’d wrap my arms around you and bury my face in your beautiful hair.

Oh my god, I was ridiculous.

Rachael: Could I then kiss your neck?

“Oh, wow,” I whispered, my thumbs hovering over the digital keyboard.

Ann: Yeah, you could.

As her little speech bubble flashed with her typing, I shifted in my seat, the show abandoned, my fingers trembling with anticipation. Were we about to start sexting? Could I be any more turned on right now? It seemed that not only had Rachael gone there, but she had gone all the way there with our relationship. Which was really damn exciting.

Rachael: What else could I do, Ann?

I groaned, wants and needs flashing through me as I attempted to type. I had to go back and fix typos because I was so nervous, but within the nervousness was a thrill.

Ann: You could take off my panties, if you wanted to. What could I do to you?

I held my breath as she typed back.

Rachael: Oh god, Ann, I would want to. You could touch me all over. And kiss me wherever you wanted. What are you into? What could I do to you with your panties off?

“Fuck. Oh god.” This was intense. In only a few short sentences between us, I had become all hot and bothered.

Ann: I’d be happy with your fingers or your tongue. Very happy. Do you like that sort of thing?

Rachael: I do. I’d love to kiss you down your stomach until I was between your legs. But would you show me what to do next? I haven’t been with a woman yet. Maybe you could tell me what you’d do to me to give me an idea.

My breathing was heavy as I typed, the thrill of writing these things keeping my excitement on a teetering edge.

Ann: I’d slip a finger inside you, slowly, while I licked my way down from your belly button. Maybe you’d like two fingers? Or three? You’ll have to tell me as I go. But once you’re comfortable with them, I’d keep rubbing deep inside you while I lick your clit. If you’ve never had anyone do that, let me tell you, it’s amazing when you come.

Rachael: Ann. I think I’m going to come just from reading that.

I giggled, my heart still pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.

Ann: I wouldn’t stop until you came, Rachael. Nothing to keep me from stopping, you know?

Rachael: Oh my god. I need this. I need you to do this to me.

Ann: I want to do it to you. And if you’re up for practicing, you can try doing it to me too.

Rachael: I’d love to. Does it turn you on to know I’ve been touching myself?

My breath caught, and I tapped a response: Yes it does. Are you going to come?

Rachael: Yes…yes I am.

Ann: Come picturing me licking you, filling you up, wanting nothing but for you to feel pleasure.

I could hardly think straight anymore. My hand slipped under my pants while I reread our conversation and then her response.

Rachael: Oh god, that didn’t take long. Oh my god.

I tapped my reply with one thumb. Was it good?

Rachael: The best I’ve had in a while.

I put the phone down and leaned my head back, the excitement rushing through me turning into pleasure as I rubbed myself, my heavy breathing growing into moans. I imagined her head between my legs, bumbling through going down on me, her wet tongue all over me, twirling around, and up and down and—

“God, yes, damn it…”

I rode the climax through every pulse squeezing me tight, my breath held close and my free hand clenched in a fist.

After a few moments, I was able to pick up my phone again. She had sent another text.

Rachael: Did you come too?

I shuddered and typed back: Imagining you practicing on me, yes.

Rachael: Oh god, no!

Ann: Don’t worry, baby, you were really good.

Rachael: I doubt it!

I snorted. I’ll be the judge of that, okay?

Rachael: Okay. Soon?

Ann: I sincerely hope so.