Page 22 of When You Smile

“Yep. And wait, there’s more. I’m still crushing.”

Caz leaned in. “I love this saucy library-slash-coffee tale. Did you two kiss? Open-mouthed or closed? Say open and offer the specifics slowly so I can record them in my mind.”

“No, no. Nothing even close to that. We’re very platonic, and she’s super straight. A boyfriend, even. No hope there.”

Caz moved to their mini fridge and found a stick of string cheese she began to peel. “First of all, that’s a defeatist attitude. Second, it’s impossible to blatantly label someone because of past partners. Unless she’s handed you her sexuality, you can’t claim it for her. Thereby, Your Honor, hope lives on. I rest my case.”

“When did the attorney motif enter the chat?”

“Just now. I improvise, baby.”

“Well, Counselor, I hear you, and you’re right. But I’m going to rely on the evidence I have until proven otherwise. All signs point to straight. If they didn’t, my head would explode and I wouldn’t be here anyway, so…” Taryn blinked unable to imagine that scenario under any terms. “Conclusion—I won’t make that leap for Charlie, but I also just can’t go there. Too many goose bumps. Too much stomach tightening.”

“This is going to be a soap opera of a year, isn’t it?” Caz took a long drink from her can. “I’m going to relish it.”

“I promise I’m more boring than that. Don’t get your hopes up.”

“The quiet ones always say that.” Caz shook her finger at Taryn. “I have a feeling your world is about to open the hell up. Stick with Charlie. If nothing else, you have a cool new older friend who might set aside books for you at the library. Think of the literary scandal.”

“I love your appreciation for reading, Caz.”

“I love a good story both on and off the page,” she deadpanned and winked. “Don’t let me down. Now”—Caz set her drink on the small table—“I have a date that might pull in a few sexy details of its own. But more likely a decent beer with a side of peanuts.” She stuck her arms out to slow her roll. “Not gonna get ahead of myself. This is so chill. Look how chill I am. Even around ties. Give me the awards.” It was Caz’s own brand of pep talk, and Taryn smiled at the rare display of vulnerability from her roommate.

“You’re gonna have the best time. Don’t get in your head.”

“A sage, you are. Okay, bye now.”

Taryn sat back and watched her friend bound out of the room into the worldwide festival of dating that she wasn’t yet a part of. Yes, her time would come, but her little gay heart wished it would hurry the hell up. In the meantime, she had a boring date with her nemesis, the Spanish language.

Chapter Five

Charlie’s world was plummeting into chaos. She loathed having too many balls in the air because at any moment, one was going to fall like lead, straight onto her face. Today, she had the gnawing sensation that she’d forgotten something pressing, but as she drove quickly from her afternoon teaching gig back to her apartment, her brain was too scattered to land on just what. All she knew was that she had a very important departmental cocktail hour the next evening and absolutely nothing suitable to wear. She’d need a dress, and not one of the same two she’d already worn to these things countless times in the past. She killed her engine when her phone vibrated.

Are we still doing today? After five and no you.

Oh fuck. Taryn. No, no, no. That was the thing she’d missed. They’d decided to put off dinner until next time but were supposed to check out the walking trails at Jameson Park, and her overcrowded brain had blanked.

Sooooo sorry. Any chance you’d want to shop instead?

It was the best Charlie could offer without canceling on her entirely, which she didn’t want to do. She’d actually been really looking forward to seeing Taryn again, a bright spot on her week’s agenda. They’d had such a fun time at the coffee shop the week prior.

Grocery?

Dress. The cocktail variety.

The dots danced while Charlie waited. Um. Really bad at that. Never really been a dress wearing kind of girl.

Dress would be for me.

She touched her forehead and exhaled, attempting to slow down. Tame the chaos. Moving through her day so quickly was what caused her to blank on Taryn in the first place. Get it together. The good news was that the hard part of her day was done, the lecture that had her on edge was now over, and she could just coast with Taryn, her new/old friend. Decided, she thought with an exhale. She would chill the hell out and coast.

When Taryn didn’t immediately answer, Charlie hit the call button and decided to give her an out. “You don’t have to come,” she said immediately. “But I have an event tomorrow and nothing to wear. A true emergency.”

“I think I get it now,” Taryn said. She had such a smooth voice with the tiniest rasp. It sent a tingle to Charlie’s ear, leaving her a little drunk. “This is an elbow-rubbing English department dress.” A pause. “I mean, I could try to help.”

“Really? You’d be down? I could definitely use a second opinion.”

“Well. Don’t get too excited. Let’s take me to a store and see what happens.”

---