Page 39 of Rookie Days

“How is your head?”

“Uh… Gone. My head is gone.”

“Excellent,” Janet chuckled. “I think.”

If she were to kiss her again right now, then lead her into the bedroom and start to undress her, would Ellie go there with her? Janet recognized with a jolt of surprise that the answer to this did not matter anyway, because she did not want to put it to the test. Not so soon at least. She was craving a different kind of connection with Ellie. It made her feel a little sad, strangely. As if a part of her, deep down, recognized yet another ending on her journey. But the melancholy was only there for a split second before joy and a sense of excitement returned at the thought of new beginnings ahead.

“Are you okay?” Ellie murmured, watching her closely.

“I feel great.” Janet smiled. “You?”

“Yes.” Ellie nodded once, slowly.

Thoughtfully. Janet figured she might need a little bit more prompting.

“And?” she encouraged. “Whatever it is, it’s okay to share.”

“I feel a bit confused. I wanted to kiss you…”

“Well. Yes.” Janet shrugged. “Many women do.”

She was pleased when her remark triggered a fresh grin. It had been her intention to make her laugh, and Ellie’s eyes lit up again when she did.

“It’s just not the usual thing for me,” she admitted.

“Wanting to?”

“Wanting to… Acting on it.”

“This sounds like a complicated roundabout way to pay me a compliment.” Janet pulled her in her arms with a gentle tug. “Is it? Or do I need a reality check?”

“No check required.”

“Well, then. If it makes you feel any better, the fact that we are both still fully clothed and talking after this last kiss is not the usual thing for me either.”

“I will hazard a guess that this is a good thing for you too?”

“Yes. It’s great. Now… Since we’re both out of our comfort zone, how about some dinner?”

???

Janet had brought Italian. Spaghetti bolognese, some carbonara, garlic bread, and a biscuit thing calledBrutti Ma Buoni, which Ellie was amused to discover meant‘Ugly but Good’.They ate on the couch, in the middle of her utilitarian apartment.

“I do like it,” Janet decided after taking a good look at her space. “It’s very you.”

“Empty and echoey?” Ellie prompted.

“Get out of here.” Janet chuckled. “Focused and efficient.”

“Ah. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Don’t suck on your spaghetti like that.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too suggestive.”

“Is it?” Grinning, Ellie sucked harder.

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