Page 33 of Phoenix Rising

A tear slid down Lucinda's cheek. She hurriedly wiped it away and buried her face into Becky's neck.

"Sweet girl." Becky stroked along Lucinda's spine.

After a while of peace, Becky broke the silence. "I fear Ember is onto us, though."

"How?" Lucinda said, slightly muffled by Becky's hair.

"She said we have too much sexual tension. That we're just waiting to rip each other's clothes off."

"Weird topic to discuss with your daughter," Lucinda said.

Becky laughed. "Don't worry, I made her run laps for it."

After Becky and Lucinda cleaned up, they ordered a pizza and watched a movie in bed. Becky fell asleep about thirty minutes in, but Lucinda didn't mind. She cuddled against Becky's chest and listened to the steady beat of her heart. She wondered if Becky had meant what she said. She said that she would follow Lucinda's lead on how fast to take things. Did Becky want something serious and didn't want to tell Lucinda that out of fear that she would run off? Or was Becky indeed not interested in her in that way?

That thought made a pang of hurt run through her. She wondered why as she fell asleep against Becky's warm skin.

Around 5 a.m., Becky's hand grazed against Lucinda's cheek, slightly waking her.

"I gotta go, baby," Becky whispered.

"Nooo," Lucinda groaned. "Stay."

Becky chuckled and kissed her forehead. "I have to go to the fire station to finish up some paperwork. Text me when you wake up."

"Mmokay," Lucinda slurred and fell right back asleep.

When Lucinda finally woke up at 8 a.m., she stretched her arms and legs, and Rosalind meowed in protest at the sudden movement. She reached for her phone on the bedside table and squinted against the light.

Becky: Check ur fridge when ur up.

Lucinda threw on her robe and padded into the kitchen. It looked like it might rain. Her building was surrounded by misty clouds that made it hard to see outside. This kind of weather made her want to crawl back into bed and never leave.

She made her way to the fridge and swung open the door. Inside, surrounded by her random protein shakes and yogurts, was a caramel iced coffee with something written on the side. Lucinda picked it up to see better. “Lucinda” was penned in black marker on the side of the cup.

And for some reason, Lucida's heart soared.

9

BECKY

The next few weeks of Becky's life were full of work, sex, and Lucinda's perfume. She found herself sleeping over more and more at Lucinda's place but always making sure to leave before dawn. She felt like if they woke up together she might panic. Was Becky dating this woman? Or was this some summer fling? She couldn't tell. But the more time she spent with Lucinda, her feelings grew. Becky found herself daydreaming about waking up with Lucinda wrapped in her arms. She wondered what it would be like to hold Lucinda's hand and walk with her to dinner. No, she had agreed to take things slow for Lucinda's sake.

Becky tapped her pen against the table, andher leg bounced anxiously. Lucinda was twenty minutes late for their meeting. She was never late.

Becky tried to keep calm and not grab her phone and call her immediately. That's what girlfriends did. They weren't dating. They were friends with benefits—coworkers with benefits! Fuckbuddies, whatever the kids said. Then the clock said 2:30 when they were supposed to meet at 1:30. Her phone seemed to dial Lucinda's number itself, but there was no answer. Becky grabbed her car keys and told Captain Carter she was going out.

When she made it to Lucinda's apartment, she knocked on the door. No answer. Was there an emergency at the hospital? Or was Lucinda in trouble? Becky tried the knob, and the door swung open easily. What the fuck? Did Lucinda always leave her door unlocked?

Becky strode in, her heart in her throat. "Lucinda? Lucinda!"

"Becky?" Lucinda's voice called from the bedroom.

Becky rushed in, her hand catching on the doorway.

Lucinda sat up in bed. Her nose was red and her hair disheveled. She was surrounded bypapers, used tissues, and sticky notes. Her laptop sat open at her side. Becky’s shoulders eased.

Lucinda rubbed her eyes. "What are you doing here?"

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