Page 72 of Sanctuary

“That’s complicated.” Lori didn’t want to betray Gabe’s confidence, since it was clear she was reluctant to share her story. “She was a little distant from them, and she doesn’t seem to be embracing Hannah and Janie’s desire to involve her in their family.”

“Sounds like she might need help with some deep-seated childhood issues. But I’ll bet she’s even less interested in therapy than you.”

Lori nodded. “Strong, silent types, huh? But I still had a great night. I’m so comfortable around her. I don’t have to pretend to be anything. She has zero expectations, and I really like that.”

“That’s how all good friendships start, isn’t it?”

Lori chewed on her bottom lip and didn’t respond fast enough not to raise Rosie’s suspicions.

She narrowed her eyes and sighed deeply. “That’s where you’re at, isn’t it?” Rosie asked. “It was less than a week ago when you told me that you wanted to find yourself before you rushed into anything new. I believe you said you wanted to build a friendship first, and if Gabe was still around when you were ready, great. But if she wasn’t, never mind.”

“I’ve had another therapy session since then,” Lori said and winked. “Seriously though, I’m wondering if there’s any real reason to wait longer. Everything feels so good, and I don’t think I want to risk losing Gabe to someone else. I know she’s out tonight with the rest of her team; it’s only a matter of time before someone realizes she’s golden and snaps her up.”

Rosie wagged her finger. “You think jumping into something you said you weren’t ready for six days ago because you’re worried Gabe won’t be around is a good basis for a relationship?”

Lori downed the final shot. She bit down on a fresh piece of lime, and its tang zinged down her throat. “I don’t need you as a therapist right now; I need you to talk to me as a friend.”

“Okay… Are you sure you want to go down this road with her even though you’ve only known her a month?”

“I am, and I’m not. But I don’t need to be a hundred percent sure. There are no certainties in life, and isn’t that the beauty of it? I’d lost sight of that. So what will I know until I see where it goes? We enjoy spending time together. She makes me laugh, and we have great conversations. She’s been there when I needed help. She dropped everything to rescue me from the freeway and to fix the Oakley. And she’s delayed the opening of her garage to spend more time on the rust bucket—a project she’s getting no money for.” Lori flicked through her phone to the photo she’d secretly snapped of Gabe with Max. “She’s better with dogs than kids, and she’s been vulnerable and open enough to share why that is.”

The bartender came over and asked if they wanted another rack of shots.

“No,” they said together.

“We know our limits,” Rosie said and smiled. “We’ll take two mojitos, please.”

Lori waited until she’d gone before she resumed her explanation, which she needed to hear out loud to make sure it made as much sense as she thought it did. “Gabe does things for me because she wants to, not because there’s any obligation. And that feels amazing.”

Rosie’s acceptance was clear in her smile. “So when are you going to tell her all that?”

“My birthday dinner. Mom will have already met her and told me what she thinks. I guess her opinion is the last part of the puzzle for me. And then, this is where you come in, I need you to make sure Mom gets home so I can take Gabe to a fancy hotel. We’ll have mind-blowing sex, the likes of which I’ve never experienced.”

Rosie stroked her chin like a pessimistic detective. “You’ve never really been that into sex though, have you?”

“Right! But it’s all I can do to stop myself from pushing Gabe against a wall and running my mouth all over those slabs of muscle I keep getting peeks of. I mean, did you see her six-pack at the garage? And she was all hot and sweaty… Mm.”

Rosie nodded. “I did. It almost made me entertain the thought of going butch for once.”

“Exactly. The thought of sex with her is driving me insane. And she’s been so understanding.” She thought back to Monday night, and the almost drowsy look of desire in Gabe’s eyes. “We were on the brink of kissing the night she towed the horse trailer, but she pulled back. She’s respecting my rules and being a wonderful friend. But I’m sure she still wants me. I don’t think that’s changed from the first day we met. She’s just doing a fantastic job of controlling herself.”

The bartender returned with their drinks, and Lori took a long gulp like it might douse the fire of her craving.

“But I don’t want her to hold back. Not anymore. I want to be more than just friends. I know that’s not enough for me. I want all of her, and I’m going to tell her. And I’ll be giving myself the best birthday gift ever: permission to please myself.”

Rosie clinked her glass to Lori’s. “We should toast then. Because it sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought.”

“Yes and no,” she said and took a sip to celebrate. “I don’t want to overthink it. That’s why I asked if you thought I was inflexible and not spontaneous. I used to be flexible, and I’d act on the spur of the moment all the time. I used to believe in myself and be free, just like my parents encouraged me to be. But I lost that while I was with the lawyer, and I’m not letting her continue to influence my life or who I am. That’s what I was doing though, holding back and not trusting myself and my feelings. And I’m done with that.”

Rosie smiled widely. “Welcome back, Lori Turner. I’ve missed you,” she said and drew Lori into a bone-crushing hug.

“Are you two celebrating something special?”

Rosie came up for breath to see Ellery and her on/off girlfriend at the bar beside them. Ellery smiled, but Lennie’s lips were a fixed line as if someone had superglued them together. God, she was the most sullen person Lori had ever had the displeasure of meeting. Why Ellery kept taking her back was baffling.

“We weren’t,” Rosie said, “but I hear you’ve got something to celebrate. Congratulations on your new clinic.”

Ellery’s expression fell, and it became clear from Lennie’s comedy-like eyebrow raise that Ellery hadn’t yet shared that news with her.

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