Page 56 of Aftershock

“Yep,” I replied, taking a sip of my new drink.

“And now you guys are dating?”

I spat out my drink at her question and started coughing profusely. Well, so much for actually getting to enjoy any coffee today. “Uh, well,” I stammered, trying to wipe my mouth with the remaining napkins scattered on the table.

“I never knew my daughter liked girls.”

I laughed at that. “I don’t think she knew either.”

“So,” she dragged out the word while tapping her fingers against her cup. “You like girls?”

“Uh, yeah,” I replied sheepishly. This was like coming out for a second time. I took another sip of coffee.

“Oh, wow. I mean, I just never knew that Lexi Harlow was a lesbian,” Claire shrugged.

That once again prompted me to choke on the liquid and let out a few coughs in response. I sat the cup back on top of the table, seeing as how I was in no mood to aspirate because of all the choking I was doing that day. I cleared my throat so that I could speak again.

“Yeah, uh,” I flattened by the invisible wrinkles on my jeans. “I came out in 2016. The same year that same-sex marriage was legalized. Is me being a lesbian okay?”

“Of course, it is.” Claire grabbed my hand with hers. “You and Autumn are good together.”

“Really?” I felt my anxiety start to subside.

“Really. I just know Autumn lost hope in happiness for a long time, so I’m just glad she found it.”

Happiness.

“That's actually why I wanted to have coffee with you today,” I told her. “I was wondering if I had your permission to ask Autumn to be my girlfriend?” Claire started to laugh under her breath. Trying to explain my reasoning, I blurted out, “I just know you and Autumn are really close, and I would hate to cause a rift between you guys, seeing as how she would be dating a girl, and she already lost her dad so I just—”

She cut me off. “Lexi, you have my blessing. Besides, who am I to stand in the way of Autumn’s ‘Happily Ever After’ anyway?”

“I don’t know if I’d consider this much of a fairytale ending,” I snorted.

Claire grinned at my wit. “I just think that your story is a tad more interesting than the average Disney movie.”

“Ugh,” I groaned. “Yeah, this is more like The Grimm Brothers version.” Thinking about all the cliché stories of epic fairytales made me question why exactly we held them with such high regard in the first place. Especially when the real stories of everyday romance were so much more interesting. Disney gave children false hope that life would be easy. The Grimm Brothers fairytales gave children the idea that life was only ever full of pain. Maybe the real villains weren’t the ones on the screens or in the books, but the ones who created these unrealistic fantasies in the first place. “Although maybe those twisted stories and Disney movies are similar in some ways.” I explained further by saying, “They are both fake. I guess that’s why I turned down so many opportunities to become an actress. I never wanted to pretend to be someone that I wasn’t.”

It wasn’t until I heard about all the trauma childhood stars go through that it made me realize I had picked the right career path. Besides, even though for a short time I thought acting would be amazing, it could never hold a candle to my true passion—singing. Being in the industry so young was never easy. Being a singer had its fair share of difficulties, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

“You know, Autumn used to adore you back then,” she divulged. “If it’s possible, I think she adores you even more now.” I couldn't help but let a smile graze my lips. “Lexi, I've only known you for a week, and I am already convinced you are an amazing person,” she guessed. “You are wise beyond your years because of the life that you’ve already experienced within the short time that you’ve been on this earth, and the same goes for my daughter.” Claire then reflected, “Neither of you deserved to feel the level of pain that you have felt, but you have both done the best with the hand you were dealt, and I am thankful Autumn met someone like you. You care about her. Anyone can see that. I’m just glad she was able to find someone to help her when she needed it the most.”

“I was just doing what I wanted someone to do when I lost my father. I learned so much over the years while dealing with the aftermath of my father's death, and I just wanted to help her in any way possible,” I stated truthfully.

Claire nodded and said, “I would’ve never guessed that someone so young could’ve possibly gone through so much, yet here you are.”

Does she know I’m four years older than Autumn?

“You know I’m twenty-five, right?”

“Oh wow, you're so old!” She joked while glaring at me. The anxiety I had been feeling this whole time finally lifted. I let out a hearty laugh. “You look great, though! I thought you were way older!” She said as she played into the notion that I was twice my current age.

“Thanks…I think,” I replied, a slight smile still lingering on my face. Suddenly, a ding was heard, signaling that someone had just walked into the shop. My eyes widened. “It’s Autumn!” I yelled in a whisper-like fashion.

Claire turned to see if I was joking.

“Did you tell her we were going to meet here?” She quietly exclaimed back.

Just then, Autumn's eyes connected with mine. A smirk slowly appeared on her face as she sulked over to us.

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