Page 23 of The Last to Know

“She’s like the straightest person I’ve ever met,” Dani laughed, “and she fancies you? Even after knowing you all these years?”

Caz rolled out until her head and shoulders were clear and she could properly frown at Dani. “Sometimes people justlove each other; nothing to do with labels or sexuality. And anyway, maybe Grace is pansexual and my being a woman doesn’t make any difference.”

“But she’s never dated a woman before, has she?”

“Does it matter? Is there a time limit on when anyone can do something by?” Caz grabbed a screwdriver and pushed herself back under. “Anyway, she’s been dating me, as you well know.”

Dani shrugged. “I’m just curious…what’s she like?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’s she like’? You’ve met her.”

Leaning as close to the engine as she could, Dani whispered, “In bed.”

“None of your fucking business, Dani. What the fuck kind of question is that?” Caz rolled out from the car completely and jumped to her feet, dropping the wrench with a clang to the floor.

Frank turned. So did Rob and Kev, but nobody moved except for Dani, who flinched backward a step.

“Look, I’m sorry, alright…I was just curious.” She held her hands up, aware she’d pushed too far. “Caz, I’m sorry, you’re right.”

“Totally out of fucking order, am I clear?” Caz’s face went red. She’d rarely gotten this angry, unless it came to Grace. “I love her. I’m marrying her, and I don’t care if nobody here understands, or thinks she’s not gay enough.” She glanced around at all the eyes on her and watched as, one by one, they all looked away.

“I got it.” Dani took another step back. “I swear, not another word. I believe you.”

“Fuck’s sake, we’ve been together for months andnowyou say you believe me?”

Dani held her finger up. “That didn’t sound how it sounded in my head and wasn’t what I meant. I just…we’re all surprised, that’s all.”

“What the bleeding hell is going on out here? I’m trying to speak to a customer and all I can hear is a racket.” Ron looked back and forth between the pair of them.

“Nothing, boss, I just dropped a tool,” Caz said, bending to pick it up.

“Yeah, and we got a bit rowdy, you know, woohoo,” Dani offered.

He wasn’t buying it but nodded anyway. “Well, keep it down.”

They watched him walk away.

“Stop being surprised and just accept it,” Caz said quietly, “because it’s not going to change. We are getting married and she’s my person, alright?”

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

“Right, then we’ll say no more.” Caz wiped her hands on her vest and stuck out a palm. “Shake on it.”

Dani eyed the greasy palm and pulled a face. “Really?”

“Want me to spit on it too?”

“Nope,” Dani said quickly, and thrust her hand out, shaking Caz’s hand. “Friends again?”

Caz grinned. “Always.”

When Grace got home and poked her head around the living room door, she found Caz with her feet up on the couch, bottle of beer in hand and the TV on a game show, looking like the world had caved in. She took a step back into the lounge and prepared for whatever might come.

“Hey, I’m home,” she called out, and then went with a low-end, small-talk comment to test the waters. “God, it’s so hot out still.”

Caz didn’t answer.

“Hey,” Grace repeated, coming into the room, “I said it's still so hot out.”

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