Page 27 of February

“Yeah,” Jill said as she stared and looked like she now existed in some far-off land where she and the brunette were currently getting naked together, but in a slow and sweet kind of way.

“Talk to her,” Melinda suggested.

“Maybe,” Jill replied. “If she goes to the bar or the bathroom by herself or something.”

“You could just walk over and ask her if she’s here with anyone or if she wants a drink,” Bridgette said.

“And if her girlfriend is the one sitting next to her?” Jill argued.

“Then, you’d know.”

“Areyoureally giving her that advice?” Melinda teased.

“Hey, if I had done what I’m suggesting Jill do now, I might have taken Kyle home that night at the pub instead of you ending up with her.”

Melinda scowled at her.

“I know. I know.” Bridgette laughed.

“You two have known each other for a long time. Has that ever happened?” Jill asked.

“What?” Bridgette turned her head to her, looking for clarification.

“You two being into the same woman. Kyle doesn’t really count because Bridge didn’t talk to her. She just saw her at the pub.”

“I guess we both had a thing for–” Bridgette started.

“Beth Hargrave,” Melinda finished.

They both laughed.

“Who’s that?”

“She used to work at Southern Hospitality with me,” Bridgette explained. “She was technically an intern. Beautiful and smart. Headed to business school at USC the following semester. We both liked her, but since she worked for me, I couldn’t do anything about it.”

“AndIdidn’t do anything out of fairness and solidarity.”

“Also, she was straight, so not like you gave up the love of your life there, Mel.”

“Well, clearly, I didn’t, because I met Kyle.”

“Love of your life?” Jill asked. “It’s been what, a month?”

“What happened to you taking things slow?” Bridgette added as the bartender finally approached.

They put in their order, and he walked off.

“I can’t help it. I know I said I wouldn’t jump into anything anymore, but she’sit.”

“Because some fortune teller told you about your future babies with M names?” Bridgette teased.

“Because I feel it. I feel it all the time with her.” Melinda leaned forward conspiratorially. “Before, whenever I was with whomever I was dating, it was great, but the moment we’d be apart, I’d have these second thoughts. Am I justfeelinglike I love them, but it’s not really love? Do I like the fact that they’re thinking they want to leave New Orleans one day? They’re a big drama queen. Could I deal with that forever? That kind of thing.” She sighed. “I don’t have any second thoughts with Ky. I’m not sitting here thinking about how her family is a bit of a mess, that it might take a while for it to calm down, and if I want to deal with that. I’m not worried about her regretting the move here or thinking that we’re going too fast. I’m just happy, and I miss her. She’s ten minutes away, and I miss her.”

“That’s sweet, Mel,” Jill said.

“Hey.”

Bridgette looked up at that greeting and was surprised to see Toya standing there.

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