Page 98 of January

“Need help getting her back to your place?” Jill asked.

“No, I’ve got her. You two have fun, though.”

They left them in the middle of the street, and Melinda took Kyle by the hand to help her make her way through the crowd. Kyle still had half the drink left by the time they rounded the corner into the alley, and when they arrived, Melinda stood behind Kyle on the stairs to make sure she didn’t fall as she let them into the apartment.

“This thing is delicious. Have you had one?”

“About a thousand,” Melinda replied and locked the door behind them.

“Want a sip?” Kyle held it out for her.

“No, babe. How about you finish that while I get you a bottle of water and start a hot shower?”

“I like showers.”

“I’m glad.” Melinda laughed.

“No, I mean, I like showers with you.”

“I like them with you, too.”

“It’s different,” Kyle insisted as she sat down on the chair at the kitchen island and placed her drink on the counter.

“Why?”

“Because I’ve never showered with a girlfriend before. And you and I did that last night. I liked it.”

Melinda’s eyebrow lifted at the use of the word ‘girlfriend,’ and she said, “I liked it, too, babe.”

She found a bottle of water in the fridge, opened it, and set it down in front of Kyle.

“I never got to take long showers. We had one shower for all three of us, so I had to be quick,” Kyle shared. “And I didn’t have to be quick with you. I could hold you. I could touch you. You didn’t rush me out or tell me we didn’t have enough hot water. You didn’t tell me I was selfish.”

Melinda’s face fell. She walked over to Kyle, wrapped her arms around her neck from behind, and kissed her by the ear.

“You are anything but selfish. Do you want to take a shower with me now?”

Kyle nodded.

“Drink that bottle of water for me, okay? Then, we can take the longest shower you want.”

CHAPTER 27

“Kyle?”

“Huh?” she mumbled.

“Ky? Babe?”

Who was calling her ‘babe?’ Kyle’s eyes were still closed, and she was certain it was far too early for her to wake up, but someone was rubbing Kyle’s back through a blanket and calling her ‘babe.’ Kyle opened her eyes slowly and saw Melinda lying next to her, smiling at Kyle with her eyes. Kyle wanted to smile back, but it was as if her muscles weren’t working. None of them. She felt like every part of her body was tense, and her head was starting to hurt.

“Hi,” Kyle whispered.

“How are you this morning?”

“I’m okay, I think,” she replied, rolling onto her back and rubbing her face with both hands.

“So, I called into work and asked if someone could take my morning tour. We have a few hours before I need to be in now,” Melinda told her.

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