Page 27 of April

“I’m on your favorite app, too, Linden. I’ve seen that main profile pic. Everyone can tell what you’re about.”

“That’s the point, too, though: I’m not lying about it. I’m upfront.”

“About wanting a hookup?”

“Not always. I didn’t get to do this whole coming-out-in-college thing, and I haven’t had years of experience with women, even though I knew I was gay. I’m all pent-up and just looking for fun, but if I met someone who really turned my head in the direction of a relationship, I wouldn’t turn her away.”

“I’minterested in a relationship,” Jill said. “I don’t want fun. I mean, yes, I want it to be fun, but I want that fun with one person.”

“I think that’s great.”

“But you’re interested in playing the field right now.”

“That didn’t seem to bother you when you kissed me the other night.”

“I was a little pent-up, too,” Jill said. “But it was just a kiss. We were dancing. It was hot.”

“Yes, it was,” Linden agreed, leaning over the table. “Do you want to maybe do it again?”

“Dance with you? Sure. Go out on a real date with you? I don’t think so, Linden.”

“Oh,” she replied.

She hadn’t been expecting that. They had been flirting, or so she thought, so she had expected Jill to say yes and for them to start planning their first real date.

“What you’re doing is cool. You’re exploring who you are and what you want. I think that’s great. I just want more than that.” Jill sighed. “I’ve watched Mel meet Kyle, and then Monica came to town, and Bridgette was all obsessed. Now, they’re engaged. I met Sophie, and she met Bryce, and now, they’re doing their long-distance thing, but we all know Bryce will move down here probably later this year or something. I want what they all have. I don’t mind kissing a few women until I get there, and I do miss having a night of hot sex every so often, but I don’t want that all the time, and I don’t want to be with someone who only wants that.”

“I just said that I didn’t–”

“We’re friends,” Jill interrupted. “We’re all friends, and we’ve formed this group that I love. Yes, it feels like I’m the third wheel, and then, the fifth wheel, and I didn’t even know that the seventh wheel existed, but I don’t want to mess it up. You and Asher are part of that group now, and I don’t know that I want to do anything to rock the boat.”

Linden nodded and said, “Fair enough.”

“If you want to make out on the dance floor from time to time until I find her, though, I wouldn’t be opposed,” Jill told her with a wink.

???

“Hey, I’m back,” Jill said, walking into the back office.

“Great. Can you take the counter so that Jeff can go on break?” Melinda asked.

“Sure,” Jill replied before she turned to Linden, who was waiting behind her, and added, “Have fun in your meeting, and thanks for lunch.”

“No problem. We should do it again sometime,” Linden said.

“You’re getting your own fries next time, then. You stole more than half of mine.”

“You said you didn’t like the grease,” Linden said with a smile.

Jill rolled her eyes and walked toward the front counter of the NOLA Guides office, where she was one of the top tour guides. Over lunch, they had talked about Jill’s job, and Linden had been surprised to discover what she could make in a week if tips were good. Jill liked her job enough, but the money wasn’t anything to laugh about.

“Hey,” Linden said as she walked farther into the back office, finding Melinda and Asher leaning over the desk that was against the wall.

“Hi. How was lunch?” Melinda asked, looking up at her.

“Good. We had fun,” she said as she pulled up a chair next to Asher.

“You’re doing it again?” Asher asked without looking up. “Is that what I heard?”

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