Julia was driving to Utica. For a date. On one hand, it was absurd. On the other, the local prospect pool wasn’t shaping up the way she’d hoped. Well, aside from Taylor, who was sadly off limits. At this point, casting a wider net might be just the ticket.
Taylor had been suspicious. Well, less about the Utica part and more everything else. Julia had filled her in on the specifics of her plans, both for her wingman input and as the keeper of all the relevant details in case something went sideways.
“What do you mean she booked a hotel room?” Taylor had asked. “You’re meeting for lunch.”
“She said she wanted to be able to have a drink and not worry about driving. And that we could potentially hang out by the pool.”
Taylor hadn’t found either of those explanations compelling. Telling Taylor she didn’t mind the idea of a hookup hadn’t helped. In the end, Taylor conceded it wasn’t her call to make and wished her luck.
And now she was cruising down the Thruway and contemplating whether she might stay over if things went well. She had no reason not to. She and Amber had been texting for quite a while, so Julia felt like she knew her way better than a normal first date. The couple of times their texting had turned sexy, it had been kind of hot. Considering the only person she’d managed to sleep with was Bianca, maybe a hookup was exactly what she needed.
She shrugged, despite being alone in the car. “Why the hell not?”
She got to the Applebee’s where they’d agreed to meet ten minutes early, but Amber was already waiting. A good sign for sure, even if it was Applebee’s. They exchanged a slightly awkward hug before being shown to a table.
A waiter appeared with water and menus. Julia ordered a glass of chardonnay and Amber went with an amaretto sour. Julia couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
“What?”
“I think I forgot those existed.” She’d drunk her fair share, but as a teenager.
Amber shrugged. “I like them.”
“It’s cute. Endearing even.” It was.
Amber smiled. “You think I’m cute?”
See? This was fine. Nothing to worry about. “I think I do.”
They exchanged flirtatious smiles before perusing the menu. Julia didn’t necessarily want to be the girl who ordered a salad on a date, but chain restaurant fare often sat heavy. And she didn’t want to be bloated and full if there was a chance of action later.
“I’ve been doing Paleo for a month and I feel like having a cheat day.”
Julia respected that it worked for some people, but she couldn’t fathom forgoing bread or pasta or cake unless her life literally depended on it. Not to mention cheese and ice cream. “I think you should go for it.”
“Do you want to share some things? I like the look of the ribs, the five-cheese grilled cheese, and the fettuccine Alfredo.”
Given the right circumstances, she wouldn’t turn her nose up at any of those. “I love sharing. I’m down with any of those. I was thinking about the harvest salad.”
Amber nodded. “Yeah. That looks good, too.”
The waiter returned with their drinks and Julia indicated Amber should order. Amber took the hint, but proceeded to order everything they’d discussed. And a crock of French onion soup. The waiter scribbled furiously and Amber looked her way. “Did you want one, too?”
“I’m good, I think.”
They sipped their drinks and talked about jobs and pets and pastimes. Not the most stimulating conversation ever, but it was nice. Heads and tails above chatting with PJ or this other woman Sara she’d gone out with. Julia extended her foot under the table, rested her hand in a way she hoped invited some kind of physical touch. Amber either missed the hints or wasn’t interested. She hated not knowing which.
The food arrived and they ate. Sampling everything pushed the limits of what Julia could comfortably eat. Amber didn’t seem to have any limits. She tucked into everything with gusto. It made her think Amber liked her well enough, but wasn’t attracted to her physically. Which was kind of disappointing, but fine. Mostly.
Plates were cleared. Amber ordered the chocolate peanut butter cake after Julia promised to eat at least a couple of bites. In her mind, the gesture screamed the meal was more of a draw than the company.
“Did you want to come to the hotel?” The way she asked sounded almost shy.
The invitation came as a surprise, but not an unpleasant one. “I’d like that.”
“Good.”
They fought briefly over the check, then settled on splitting it. Julia got into her car and followed Amber’s Subaru to the hotel she’d booked. She brought in her bag, hovered awkwardly while Amber checked in. How did people do this?
The room had two full-size beds. Julia couldn’t decide if it was weird or oddly respectful. They set down their things and had a moment of looking alternately at each other and around. She’d never had a first kiss after already being in a hotel room.
“It’s warm in here. Are you warm?”
She wasn’t. “Maybe a little.”
Amber fiddled with the thermostat on the wall. A second later, a blower kicked on and a gust of cool air came from the unit under the window.
Julia perched on the edge of one of the beds, trying to signal an invitation for Amber to join her. Instead, Amber flopped, spread-eagle, on the second bed. Both Amber and the bed let out an oof. Julia blinked and grasped for something to say.
Amber rolled over. “Lunch was good, huh?”
“It was.” She wasn’t a runner, but it reminded her of the carb loading people did before marathons. She scooted back on the bed and grabbed a pillow, holding it on her lap.
“I’m glad we came back here, though. More relaxed.”
There, that was the mild suggestion she’d been waiting for. “Agreed.”
“Do you want to fuck? We could. I’m really good at getting women off.”
Julia hugged the pillow tighter to her chest. “Um.”
“I’m just putting it out there, I mean. No pressure.”
She didn’t feel pressured. She didn’t feel desired, either. She didn’t know what she felt. Well, besides uncomfortable. “Okay.”
“We should go for a swim.”
Amber had suggested swimming when they were planning the date. She’d agreed to bring a suit, but figured it was little more than a pretense for going back to the hotel after lunch. Which she’d appreciated at the time. Now, she appreciated it for a different reason entirely: giving them something to do.
They took turns changing in the bathroom. Julia emerged, feeling silly and also cold. The air conditioning in the room continued to blast. She slipped on the flip-flops she’d thought to toss in her bag, and down the elevator they went.
The pool, it turned out, was indoor. The space, cavernous but stuffy, was warm and humid and reeked of chlorine. Splashing sounds served as a bass note to the squeals of what appeared to be college-aged girls. At least a dozen people ran, swam, floated, or lounged in and around the pool. She couldn’t have come up with a less sexy setting if she tried.
“Busy,” Amber said.
Julia nodded. “Yeah.”
But instead of suggesting they return to the room or do something else, Amber strolled over to an empty chaise and dropped her towel. Julia followed reluctantly. They waded in and moved to the end that didn’t appear to be hosting a frat party. Amber put her back to the wall, spreading her arms along the concrete ledge. She did look good in a bathing suit, so there was that. Julia stood a few feet away trying to decide the appropriate amount of personal space for attempting conversation in a public pool.
“So, you’re just coming back to dating, right?” Amber asked.
“Yeah. I was in a ten-plus-year relationship until a couple of months ago.”
Amber tutted. “Well, let me tell you, it’s a jungle out there.”
“Oh?”
“Women are batshit crazy.”
Julia swallowed the pot and kettle crack that popped into her mind and asked why Amber had such an opinion. She figured it would get Amber talking and spare her having to come up with conversation. It worked, perhaps too well. Twenty minutes later and Amber had yet to let up. She’d launched from one failed relationship to the next, from the woman who tried to move in two weeks into their relationship to the one who made no apologies for wanting a sugar mama to cater to her every whim. Julia nodded and threw in a “wow” here and there, hating the conversation but not sure how to change the subject.
Perhaps it was the highway exit sign she could make out above the hotel parking lot, or the gas station selling two-for-one hot dogs. Maybe it was the sexualized game of Marco Polo going on behind her. She’d been bumped three times already by one of the frat guys clearly hoping to cop a feel. Likely, it was the mix of it all, so surreal she couldn’t have made it up if she’d tried.
She filed away the details and imagined the look on Taylor’s face when she heard the story. Taylor. Julia sighed. She could be spending the day with her instead of here, but no. She’d been adamant about not passing up the chance for a date with someone who didn’t know her family, her childhood, and her whole sad saga. And now here she was in a bathing suit, in a pool, with a woman who’d offered to fuck her but who seemed to have no genuine interest in doing so.
“I think I need to get out.”
“You okay?” To her credit, Amber seemed genuinely concerned.
“Yeah, it’s just the chlorine. It’s starting to make my skin crawl.”
She looked disappointed, but didn’t argue. Before they had the chance to climb out, the sounds of retching came from the other end of the pool. One of the girls was puking into an ice bucket. Julia shuddered.
“Too many White Claws,” the girl’s friend said to one of the guys, who looked on with more disgust than concern.
They made their way back to the room, which had become even more frigid since leaving. Julia shivered and, despite her instinct to defer, asked, “Do you mind if I shower first?”
Amber bowed dramatically. “After you.”
Julia collected her clothes and retreated to the bathroom. She hesitated for a second, then locked the door. As much as she’d come into this hoping to get laid, the idea of Amber sneaking into the shower with her was too much. She cranked the water and climbed in, the warm spray bringing instant relief to both the chill and the itch from the chlorine.
After rinsing and drying off, she pulled on the change of clothes she’d brought. She combed her hair, but didn’t bother drying it, and opened the door. Amber lay sprawled on one of the beds, flipping channels. “All yours.”
“Cool.” She got up and started riffling in her bag. A leather flogger popped out. Julia averted her gaze. Amber picked it up and flicked it back and forth. “Just in case.”
She disappeared into the bathroom and Julia considered her options. She could leave, but that felt rude, even considering how badly it was all going. She could always take her clothes off and see how Amber responded. The fact that she even considered it should tell her something.
She settled on putting herself together and packing up her things, then perching on the edge of the second bed. She sat for a second, but popped up to adjust the thermostat up from sixty. She returned to the bed and sat. And sat. Minutes ticked by. She might have twiddled her thumbs. Finally, the water stopped. Amber emerged a few minutes later, wearing athletic shorts and a New York Jets shirt. “I’m not feeling too good.”
“Oh, no.” Things were weird, but not so terrible she’d wish her date ill.
“Yeah. My stomach is all off.”
Not that she was in the business of I told you so, but it was hardly a surprise. “I’m so sorry.”
Amber flopped on the opposite bed again. “Ugh.”
Julia remained on what she was starting to think of as her bed. Maybe this could be her cue to go. “I should probably head home, anyway.”
“Yeah?” She looked surprised and vaguely disappointed. Which was kind of strange given she’d not even hinted at making a move.
“I have work in the morning.” Not until eleven. She totally had it arranged so she could stay if she wanted to. Want being the operative word.
“This is kind of weird, isn’t it?”
“This?” Julia moved a finger back and forth to indicate the two of them.
“Yeah. Like, not what I expected.”
Understatement of the century. “A little.”
“Maybe we could have a do-over.”
Julia summoned a smile. “Maybe.”
She got up from the bed, but Amber didn’t move. She wasn’t hoping for a kiss at this point, but a hug seemed like a goodwill gesture, especially for someone asking for a do-over. She picked up her bag. Still nothing.
“I hope you feel better.”
“Thanks.” Amber smiled, the one that had been so full of potential a few hours prior. “Drive safe.”
Julia sighed and resisted the urge to shake her head. So weird. She booked it for the door, her car, and as far away from the Utica Ramada as possible.
* * *
When Taylor’s phone buzzed with a call from Julia, rather than a text, a lick of panic coursed up her spine. She swiped her finger across the screen. “Hey.”
“Oh, my God.”
“What is it? What happened? Are you okay?” She didn’t have a good feeling about this date, but had convinced herself it came from her own discomfort and not some kind of premonition.
“That was the weirdest experience of my life.”
Taylor closed her eyes. Okay. Weird wasn’t traumatic, usually. It wasn’t good, either, but now was not the time to take satisfaction in that. “Are you still there?”
“On my way home. I just went to Krispy Kreme and I’m on the Thruway.”
She shouldn’t take delight in Julia not staying the night, but she couldn’t help it. “How many donuts did you get?”
“A dozen. There may be a couple left to share by the time I get home, but don’t hold your breath.”
Taylor chuckled. “That bad, huh?”
“Not to be repetitive, but oh, my God.”
“I want to hear everything. I can wait if you’d rather not rehash it while driving.”
Julia barely let her finish. “No, no. I need to process. Am I interrupting you?”
She surveyed the half-assembled Adirondack chair in front of her. “Not at all.”
“It started out normal enough. The restaurant was fine, if generic. She was cute. Kind of shy, but in that endearing sort of way.”
Taylor made noises of agreement and asked a question here and there, but mostly she listened. She left her shop and walked over to the house, flopping into one of the rocking chairs on the front porch. Waylon followed, content to be anywhere she was. Julia regaled her with every excruciating detail, from the amount of food ordered to the awkward proposition to the swimming and the flogger that fell out of her date’s bag.
“Not that I’m opposed to that,” Julia said as an aside.
Taylor’s brain stumbled, trying to keep up with the story and trying not to imagine Julia bent over a bed, tossing a playfully defiant look over her shoulder. Something resembling a squeak escaped her lips.
“Too much?”
“Oh, no. Go on.” She refused to contemplate Julia giving that look to anyone else.
“So, it falls out and she makes some kind of awkward joke about it and stuffs it back in the bag. I mean, if you’re going to bring that on a date, you need to own it.”
Taylor took a deep breath and tried to keep her focus on the conversation at hand. “But maybe don’t bring it on a first date.”
“True. But we’d been flirting for weeks and sexted like half a dozen times. It kind of didn’t feel like the first date.”
“This is the problem with getting to know someone online. You get this false sense of intimacy before you know if there’s any chemistry.” She’d said as much before, but Julia brushed her off.
“You can say I told you so. You’ve earned it.”
Taylor winced. That Julia remembered the comment now made her feel like a tool. “I don’t want to say I told you so. I’m sorry it was awkward.”
“I just don’t get it. In all our chatting, she came off as so confident. Assertive, even. And I was clear I liked that.”
For the first time in all this, Taylor experienced a pang of pity for the woman. “She was probably intimidated.”
“Well, that’s dumb.”
She could so easily imagine this woman, in a hotel room with someone as stunning and effervescent as Julia, terrified to make a move. “But not an implausible explanation. You’re hot.”
“Pft.”
“I’m serious.”
“Again, pft. But seriously, I haven’t even gotten to the good part yet.” Julia practically screamed the declaration.
It wasn’t lost on her that Julia deflected the compliment, but she opted not to press it, at least for now. “Sorry, sorry. Keep going.”
By the time Julia finished, Taylor had tears streaming down her face. Part of it was how laughably awful the whole thing had been, but part of it was Julia’s delivery. The details, the timing—comic perfection. “At this rate, I’m starting to think you should take this on the road. At least consider writing a book.”
“You’re not helping.”
“You could be sitting on a gold mine.”
“I’d rather be sitting on some hot butch’s face.”
Taylor’s mouth went dry while other parts of her did the opposite. She opened her mouth to respond, but was unable to formulate words.
“I’m sorry, that was crass. I think I’ve eaten too many donuts.”
That broke the tension and Taylor laughed. “No apology needed. How many have you had?”
Julia hesitated. “Four?”
“Oh, that’s not bad. I thought you were going to say ten.”
“Well, I’m not home yet. Speaking of, what are you doing?”
Waiting around to make sure you’re okay? She cleared her throat. “Contemplating a 30 Rock marathon.”
“Shut up. Can I come over? I’ll share my donuts.”
She shouldn’t say yes. Spending casually intimate time with Julia was exactly why she couldn’t stop thinking about her in decidedly uncasual ways. “Sure. What’s your ETA?”
“An hour?”
“Have you had anything other than donuts for dinner?”
“No, but if you recall, I ate half the restaurant menu for lunch.”
Taylor laughed. “I’ll make snacks. Something light.”
Julia didn’t answer and Taylor worried she’d come across as too eager. But then she said, “On one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“There’s wine, too. Big glass. Maybe two. Or beer. I’m not picky.”
Taylor smiled. That, she could do. “I think that could be arranged.”
“Can’t wait. Seriously.”
She tried not to be too excited, to read too much into it. “The door will be open. Come on in when you get here.”
“Perfect. Hey, Taylor?”
God, she loved the way Julia said her name. “Yeah?”
“Thanks. You’re the best.”
“I’ll see you soon.” She ended the call and looked over at Waylon. He regarded her with mild curiosity and she shrugged. So much for not being excited.