Page 75 of August
“I told her I’d have a beer, but I do think I should get some work done first.”
“Can I watch you work?” she asked. “And maybe eat popcorn?”
“That means Gwen would probably be watching me work, too, which seems weird.”
Elisa laughed a little and said, “Fine. You work for an hour while Gwen and I fawn over Buster, and then, we’ll get you a beer.”
“Okay,” Myra replied and kissed her once more. “Heiscute.”
“I know. I saw him, and I just knew. I can’t describe it. It was like he knew me and what I needed, and I knew what he needed.”
“To run, play with a stick, and probably get a lot of attention?”
“Yes, exactly.”
When Myra pulled back, Elisa turned and watched her walk over to the section of the kitchen and get to work. She didn’t get to stare long because Gwen was back inside with Buster, who finally appeared to be at least somewhat tired. His tongue was hanging out of his mouth as he panted, and he rushed over to his water bowl and lapped up most of the water she’d just poured him.
“I think I ran it all out of him,” Gwen said, watching him.
“I think so.”
“He’ll probably just go nap on that bed you got him.”
“Well, good. That’s why I got it.” Elisa looked back at Myra, who glanced at her and smiled. “She’s going to work for an hour and then join us. She’s a professional.”
“I thought she was the girlfriend tonight,” Gwen said.
Elisa’s eyes widened, and Myra looked over her.
“Gwen!”
“What?” Gwen asked. “I didn’t mean official girlfriend. ‘The woman you’re dating’ is a mouthful.”
Elisa pointed at her and said, “Make the drinks.”
“Fine,” Gwen replied.
Elisa walked over to the refrigerator to get the limes and checked on Myra, who appeared to be focused on the task at hand and didn’t seem to mind Gwen’s use of the term. Elisa hadn’t ever had a girlfriend, though, and that term had never been used before to refer to someone she was dating because she hadn’t dated since Archie. She wondered about the word as she cut the limes up for Gwen. Myra might be her girlfriend one day. She hoped it would be one daysoonbecause she really liked her. It wasn’t like she wanted to date anyone else, and Myra didn’t seem to want that, either. Maybe they could just fall into exclusivity, and she would be introduced as the girlfriend when she met Myra’s friends. Elisa smiled as she handed Gwen the limes and looked back at Myra again, wishing Myra hadn’t come here to work. She just wanted this house done already so that Myra didn’t have to keep working on it and they could spend some normal time together.
“She’s hot,” Gwen whispered to her once they were in the living room. “I know I’ve said that before, but now, I’ve watched her work, and she’s hot, Elisa.”
“Hey, that’s my not-yetgirlfriend,” Elisa said softly as she sat on the sofa next to Gwen.
Their margaritas in hand, they both laughed and turned toward one another.
“She’s got some muscles under that shirt, doesn’t she?” Gwen asked.
“Yes. I felt them earlier, and they’re perfect. They just wrapped around me while you were outside with Buster and, God, Gwen, it’s so good.” Elisa took a sip of her margarita and watched as the aforementioned dog moved to flop down on the plush bed with a huff that sounded like he had been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. “Do you think he’s happy?”
“What? Of course, he is. It’s obvious.”
“Yeah?”
“I spend a lot of time with dogs. This guy is very happy you found him at the shelter today. Just look at him.” Gwen pointed at Buster, who was already asleep. “He looks totally at home here. It’s as if he was meant for you or something.”
Elisa smiled and said, “Maybe he was.”
An hour later, she found Myra still working, and when the woman paused long enough for Elisa to kiss her, Elisa managed to convince her to stop for the night and join them in the living room for a drink.
