Page 32 of April

“I’m really mostly over it, but I will admit that because of that and the fact that I had no idea, I’m a little less trusting than I probably would have been otherwise. Probably not the right thing to say on a first date, huh?”

“No, I understand. My ex-wife didn’t cheat. It just didn’t work out with us anymore. I don’t think I’ve ever been cheated on, at least that I know of, but I can understand how that would impact your future trust in relationships.”

Asher smiled over at her, liking Emily so far. When their waitress arrived, she took Emily’s drink order, and Asher ordered them an appetizer. She had skipped lunch and was starving now, so even though Linden had suggested skipping straight to entrées and only ordering dessert if Asher really liked the woman, she needed something to eat with this wine. When the waitress left them alone, Emily leaned forward over the table and clasped her hands on top of it.

“So, I noticed you mentioned that your ex was a man, and you don’t have anything in your profile as far as labels go. I’m just curious, and I might be prying.”

“Oh,” Asher said.

“I’m not one of those lesbians that only dates lesbians or has a problem with bisexuality or pansexuality or anything else,” Emily added.

“That’s good because I’m really new to all of this,” she said. “I don’t have a label for myself just yet.”

“Really new to which part?”

Asher cleared her throat and replied, “Dating women.”

“Oh, okay,” Emily said.

“Is that okay?”

“Sure. I don’t have a problem with anyone’s journey. We’re all different, right? My ex, for example, knew she was gay when she was twelve years old. I was still playing with Barbie dolls at that age, and she knew she liked girls.” Emily laughed a little. “I didn’t figure it out until college, and that wasaftera woman kissed me at a party, and I was floored by how good it felt compared to the boys I had kissed before that.”

“I’ve only ever dated men,” Asher shared. “My most recent ex was also a man.”

“So, what had you thinking about dating women, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Asher couldn’t tell her date that it was watching her best friend kiss another woman.

“I’m a wedding planner. Well, you know that; it’s in my profile. Anyway, I worked a wedding recently where the bride got drunk before the ceremony and said a lot of things she probably shouldn’t have told her wedding planner. Her fiancé and now husband had cheated. She had cheated on him, too. They didn’t love each other and were only getting married because of their families. It was sad, to be honest, and I realized that I didn’t see a future with my boyfriend, so I ended things with him.”

“And decided to go out with a woman?” Emily asked.

“Not exactly. I had been thinking about that for some time. My best friend came out recently, and she’s been on a journey of her own. I think it inspired me to do some self-reflection, and when I did that, I finally let it in: I’m attracted to women, too. These past few days, I’ve gone back through my life with a fine-tooth comb, and it’s like I can see it now. I never noticed it before, but I can see it now. My friend in high school, who I thought was pretty. A few women in college whom I’d stared at in class or on campus. I just hadn’t put it together before.”

“Past few days?”

“Yeah,” Asher said.

“So, this isveryrecent, then?”

“Yes,” she replied honestly. “The wedding I mentioned was this past weekend.”

“Ah,” Emily let out and leaned back. “So, am I the first woman you’veeverbeen on a date with?”

“Yes,” Asher said.

“Wow,” Emily replied. “I guess I hadn’t thought about that.”

“Sorry. I didn’t know how to put that in my profile. And you messaged and asked if I wanted to meet, so–”

“No, it’s fine. I just…” Emily sighed. “There’s something I didn’t put in my profile, either.”

“Oh?” Asher took a drink of her wine.

“I have a daughter. She’s ten years old.”

“Oh,” Asher repeated.

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