Lisa and Gigi spent more and more time together, despite Lisa’s renewed interest in Mark. When she wasn’t working at the deli, Lisa happily sat quietly reading in the sitting room when Gigi spent time there doing paperwork related to her dual careers as artist and landlady. Even as their bond grew stronger, Lisa continued to make it clear she wasn’t ready to make a commitment of any sort. Fortunately, Gigi seemed to have the patience of a saint and was willing to wait, although there were times she questioned Lisa’s plans, goals, and motivation. Lisa knew she was sending out mixed signals, so she could hardly get annoyed that Gigi wanted to know where she stood. Although she wanted to remain completely noncommittal, Lisa was more than willing to enjoy adding a bit of spice to their friendship, a new benefit of her freedom.
Gazing across the room at Gigi, her head buried in brownstone bookkeeping, Lisa licked her lips. She closed her eyes. Just an hour earlier the two had been sprawled across Gigi’s plush sofa. Nipping and sucking at Lisa’s tender nipples, Gigi kept her lover hovering on the edge for what seemed like hours. Every time Lisa tried to inch her fingers into her sweatpants, Gigi would smack her hand away. When she moaned, begging for release, Gigi would smile around Lisa’s tender nubs. “Not yet, my dear, when I’m ready I’ll let you know.”
“Ahhh, please.”
“Please what? You know what I want to hear.”
“Oh God!” Lisa arched her back as Gigi worked her nipple between her teeth, then licked across her entire breast.
“Tell me.”
“Please, Gigi. I want you to make me wet, let me come. Gigi, please.”
“That’s right, Lisa. Gigi knows just how to take care of you.”
Lisa loved the heat and urgency arising from Gigi’s touch. Gigi wanted to know it was all about them in those special moments of desire.
Continuing her assault on Lisa’s breast, Gigi shoved her hand past the elastic waistband. “You’re so wet, waiting for me, wanting me.”
“Yes, Gigi. Want you now!”
At first Gigi toyed with the folds around her moist opening, driving Lisa crazy. She bit her lip, but it couldn’t hold back the loud moan. “More. Need more.”
“Okay. All for you, Lisa.” Gigi gently pressed her fingers inside, curling them, pressing them against Lisa’s sensitive spot.
Writhing beneath Gigi’s ministrations, Lisa wanted more. She could feel the heat building as her body crept toward blissful release.
Then Gigi shoved another finger inside, increasing the pressure, rubbing continually, all the while her lips locked over one of Lisa’s nipples, sucking harder.
“Ahhh, Gigi!” Lisa flew over the precipice, her body shaking through its hot, wet climax.
Panting, Lisa clung to Gigi.
“You’re so beautiful when you come.” Gigi gently pressed her lips to Lisa’s. “You made me come from just moving along with you and watching you.”
“Gigi, you’re incredible.” Lisa buried her face in the crook of Gigi’s neck, still shocked by the way her body reacted to this woman’s touch.
After their moment passed, Lisa rose. “I’m going downstairs to take a quick shower and change. I’ll come back up soon.”
“You know if you actually left some clothing here it wouldn’t be a big deal.”
Lisa hated to disappoint Gigi, but the time wasn’t right. “You know I can’t.” Lisa stood up, straightening her T-shirt and pants. In these moments, Lisa wanted to be able to give more, but she knew there were still too many unanswered questions in her life, and jumping into a relationship she knew she couldn’t commit to would be the worst decision.
There was so much new and fresh in Lisa’s life. She had grown confident in her surroundings and felt protected and cared for. She had soon felt comfortable enough to reveal her true identity to Rick, Jeff, and a few others she had begun to develop friendships with.
Now that the divorce process was well underway, there was no further need to hide. Lisa wasn’t embarrassed about who she was, where she was living, or the company she was keeping. She wasn’t ready to have her children visit yet, but she knew the time was rapidly approaching.
The only person of consequence Lisa hadn’t shared her true identity with was Mark. While she continued to get together with him, she was aware of an invisible barrier holding her back. Although Mark had given her no reason to doubt him, Lisa also had no reason to trust him. She enjoyed the time she spent with Mark, but he never offered confidences and didn’t seem to invite them.
* * * *
One morning when Lisa had an appointment with her lawyer, Gigi enjoyed the quiet calm of the sitting room. Jeff found her relaxing with her coffee and newspaper.
“Good morning my dear landlady.” He always had a sparkle in his eyes, no matter how tired or busy he may be. “You’re looking particularly lovely this morning.”
“Thank you.” Gigi sipped her coffee.
“In fact, from the sound of it last night, you and your other tenant certainly had a rather energetic evening.”
Gigi grinned at Jeff, taking another sip of coffee.
“Look, hon, you know I think of you as my marginally older sister, so I think it’s time for me to share some brotherly advice.”
Gigi sat up straighter and put her cup down. “And what would that be?”
“This thing with you and Lisa—”
“Wait right there.” Gigi raised her hand, interrupting Jeff mid-sentence. “There are some boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed, even by the best of marginally younger brothers.”
“Gigi, I care about you. I love you. You helped me find my life when I didn’t have one to live. Please let me help you.”
Gigi set her jaw, waiting for Jeff to continue.
“Our lovely little Lisa is finding herself,” Jeff said. “Maybe for the first time in her life. That’s fine. The problem is, she still isn’t there. If she was, she wouldn’t still be working at Rick’s, she’d be back taking charge in the big office waiting for her in midtown Manhattan.”
Gigi gripped her coffee cup much tighter than was necessary.
“You know one of my finest qualities as a bartender is watching people. Well, I’ve watched Lisa. She spends a lot of time at Rick’s Rendezvous. She drinks, but not to excess. She dances and she flirts, and she sometimes lets the flirting turn into something just a bit more.”
“I know all that and I understand it.” Gigi sighed. “She spent the first forty-two years of her life pretending to be something she’s not. I can wait until she’s finished testing her wings.”
“But maybe she is finished.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Gigi blinked, confused.
“Maybe she’d rather return to her life as a straight woman when she’s finished slumming with the friendly little queers. How many times have we seen that happen? I’d say dozens—and you’ve been here years longer than I have.”
“Do you really think Lisa is that shallow? Because I sure as hell don’t.” Now Gigi stood up and moved to the window staring out at nothing in particular.
“No, I don’t think Lisa is shallow. It isn’t shallow if a bisexual woman decides she likes men better. But I do think she’s selfish. She never got to think about herself; now, except for her kids, that’s all she thinks about.” Jeff moved to stand right behind Gigi and looked out the window with her as he placed his hands comfortingly on her shoulders. “I don’t want you to get hurt. I don’t want you to be the collateral damage when Lisa’s fog lifts and she discovers the direction she wants to take is back to some straight businessman like her traveling salesman.”
Gigi turned around and gave her young friend a hug. “I think it might be too late.”
“Too late for what?”
“Too late to keep my distance, to avoid falling in love.”
“Oh honey.” Jeff tightly embraced her.
“Come upstairs. I want to show you something I haven’t shown anyone else.”
“Not even Lisa?”
“Especially not Lisa.”
Gigi led him up to her apartment, to the alcove where she stored completed paintings. She carefully pulled out three pieces. They were fairly large, each canvas about three feet tall and four feet wide.
All three were covered and she lined them up on consecutive easels. “I’ve been working on these for the past couple of months. I finished the last one a few days ago. I have no idea what I’ll do with them, but maybe you’ll understand how I feel when I show them to you.”
Jeff gasped and fell silent for a long moment. “They are three of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen,” he said finally.
After staring at the three paintings for a few minutes, without saying a word Gigi covered them again and returned them to their alcove.
When Gigi had finished her task Jeff broke the prolonged silence. “She has no idea how deep your feelings are, does she?”
“No.”
“Are you going to show these to her?”
Gigi looked away.
“Oh my God, Gigi, are you ever going to show these to her at all? They’re brilliant.”
“Someday. But I know she’s not ready to see them now, not yet.”
“So you wait.”
Gigi loved Jeff. She wasn’t about to argue with him. “So I wait,” she said.