Jordan and Alex met for lunch on Saturday afternoon at a diner they’d frequented when they’d been in college. They were seated in a booth with red vinyl seats and a scratched, Formica-topped table. A big jukebox was playing doo-wop music. Jordan was quiet as thoughts of Kirsten wandered through her mind. She couldn’t get the haunted look in Kirsten’s eyes out of her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Alex look at her speculatively and tilt her head. She braced herself for the question she knew was coming and wondered how she was going to answer it.
“You look a little distracted, Jordan. What’s going on?”
Jordan placed her burger back onto her plate, picked up a French fry that she had dipped into ranch dressing, and popped it into her mouth. She finished chewing, wiped her mouth, and met Alex’s gaze. “I have a new patient that I started seeing last week, and she’s having some problems at home. I’m just thinking about her.”
“You’re so sweet to be so concerned about your patients. Why is this one troubling you?”
“I can’t tell you because of patient confidentiality. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I respect that. Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”
“No, but thanks. I appreciate it.”
They continued to eat their lunch, and Jordan’s thoughts drifted back to Kirsten. She began to smile. It hadn’t escaped her notice that she did that a lot when she thought of Kirsten.
“What are you grinning about?” Alex wanted to know.
“So, remember that woman that came into the coffeehouse a few weeks ago that made me stupid? I actually met her about a week and a half ago at Lucy’s. She went to her friend’s basketball game, and they ended up at the bar for drinks afterward. She and her friend came up to me at the bar while I was ordering a beer, and she introduced herself. Her name is Kirsten.”
“So, what’s her story? Is she gay?”
“No, she’s married.” Jordan refrained from mentioning Kirsten’s separation. She didn’t want to betray Kirsten’s trust by talking about her problems at home. Kirsten had trusted her enough to tell her about the separation, and Jordan didn’t want to disrespect that.
“Wow. That sucks. I’m sorry.”
Jordan tilted her head to the right. “Why are you sorry?”
“Because you are obviously attracted to her, and not only is she not gay, but you couldn’t do anything about it even if she was.”
Jordan took a sip of her chocolate milkshake and placed it back on the table. “I wouldn’t do anything about it anyway. You know I don’t do relationships.”
Alex rolled her eyes and took another bite of her burger.
“Al, don’t even go there. You promised you’d let it go.”
“What? I didn’t say anything.”
Jordan threw a fry at her. “Your eye rolling said it all.”
Alex picked up the fry and threw it back, which earned them a scowl from the waitress as she walked by.
“You’re such a child! I don’t even know why I put up with your sorry ass.”
“Because I am freaking amazing,” Alex joked and pointed a finger at Jordan. “Don’t even try to deny it. I am the coolest person you’ve ever met.”
“Damn it. You’re right.” Jordan burst out laughing. “I can’t even say that with a straight face.”
Alex became serious. “So, if she wasn’t married, you’d have no interest in her?”
Jordan shrugged and looked away. “It doesn’t matter because she’s straight.”
“Baby, they’re all straight until they’re not.”
Jordan laughed again and shook her head. “You’re not right.”
Alex winked at her. “I am right. I’ve slept with a few ‘straight women.’” Alex added the air quotation marks with her fingers. “It just took being with me to help them see the light.”
“Those poor women probably didn’t know what hit them once you set your sights on them.”
“They knew exactly what hit them, and they enjoyed every fucking minute of it.”
As it always did when they were together, the conversation quickly degenerated into good-natured teasing, and by the time they finished lunch, Jordan’s sides ached from laughing. She signaled the waitress for the check and removed her wallet as Alex reached for hers. Jordan held up her hand and shook her off. “I’ve got this. I appreciate you listening to me and being my friend.”
“Anytime. I’d do anything for you. You know that, right?”
“Of course I do. It’s mutual. Hey, do you have plans tonight?”
“Nothing set in stone, but I was thinking of going out. Why? What are you doing?”
“I have a game and was going to head over to Lucy’s afterward. I was wondering if you wanted to come to the game or meet me at the bar.”
“I can’t make it to the game because I promised my parents I’d have dinner with them, but I can definitely meet you later for drinks. What time will you be there?”
“My game’s at seven, then I’ll go home to shower, so…ten-ish?”
“Perfect. Play nice with the other girls.”
Jordan kissed Alex good-bye and asked, “Don’t I always?”