Page 24 of The Last to Know

“Yeah, scorcher,” Caz said absently, not looking at her. She swigged her beer and started flicking through the channels.

“What’s up?” Grace asked, perching herself on the arm of the sofa.

Caz shrugged. “Had a row with Dani today and it just got me thinking…”

Grace waited a moment to see if the thinking developed into words, but it didn’t and the silence continued. She slid down onto the cushions.

“So, what did you row about?” she probed gently.

Now Caz turned to face her. “Us.” She shrugged again. “Apparently she didn’t believe we were a real couple, or thatyou were suddenly gay, or that…” She looked away, her cheeks flushing.

“That?” Grace asked.

Caz huffed. “She had the nerve to ask me what you were like in bed.”

Grace snorted. “Oh, and you said?”

“I said for her to mind her own business, that’s what I said, then I got mad and we had a bit of a row.” She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. “Well, I said a lot of stuff and she backed down, but you get it, right?”

“You defended my honour like any good girlfriend would. Yes, I get it.” Grace smiled at her. “So, did she accept that?”

Caz nodded. “Yeah.”

“Okay, then.”

“But…if Dani doesn’t believe us, then what about everyone else?”

Repositioning herself so she was now sitting beside Caz, Grace said, “Does it matter? We’re getting married next year, and we will have a baby. We already own a house together. Who cares if one person is questioning if it’s real or not?”

“I guess. I just don’t like it that… What if they’re talking about us?”

“Again, does it matter?” She reached for Caz’s hand. “You love me, right?”

Caz nodded. “I do, yeah.”

“Right, and I love you. And just because how we choose to show and share that love isn’t the way society or our friends and family might expect, doesn’t change it.”

Caz smiled and offered her the bottle, which she took.

“You’re right.” Caz nodded. “I just got caught off guard. I didn’t think people would be expecting proof that we—”

“We can give them proof, if you want.” Grace swigged from the bottle.

“And how would we do that?” Caz laughed, accepting the bottle back.

Grace shrugged. “I don’t know. You could kiss me in full view of a few of them? Or… Oh, I know, we could stage some photos?”

“Stage photos?”

“Yeah, like…you’ve taken pics of girlfriends, right? When you’re all snuggled up in bed and they look all cute sleeping on you?”

Caz thought about it. “Yeah, maybe when I was younger. Would be a bit creepy now.”

Grace laughed. “Why?”

“Consent, init.”

Grace smiled. The idea of kissing hadn’t been turned down, but a staged photo pretending to be asleep was. “Alright, well, we can stage pics where I am awake. But under a duvet, naked shoulders, cuddling, looking at each other…candid stuff.” She shrugged. “And then you can show people how adorable we are together.”

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