Page 37 of The Missus
‘Umm, thirty-first.’
‘OK then.’ Keira went back to the fridge, pulling out a beer.
‘Thanks,’ Alanna said, the word insufficient.
‘No bother.’ Keira popped the lid and took a pull of beer.
‘I’ve got to say, I’m surprised you’re being so cool about this?’
‘I told you we're gonna help each other out. This is the first time you’ve actually asked for anything in the whole time you’ve been here. What, I’m gonna be a dick and say no?’ Keira asked, almost irritably.
‘Oh, I guess I wasn’t sure how much you would expect to be… utilised.’
‘It’s all good, Alanna. Thirty-first. I’m not wearing a dress, though. I’m hard femme all the way.’
Alanna laughed. ‘Wear a clown costume if you like, I don’t mind.’
Keira took a swig of beer. She turned to Alanna. ‘I’m stressed, and this beer isn’t gonna cut it. I’m going to need sex.’
Alanna felt her heart slide out of position for a second. ‘What?’
‘I’m gonna get on an app. Care to help me swipe?’ Keira asked casually.
Alanna’s heart found its way back into its natural position. ‘Umm, I think I’m gonna have a long bath if you wouldn’t mind.’
‘Cool, go ahead. I’m already showered and ready to rock.’
‘Well, have a good night. I’ll be on standby in the morning.’ Alanna headed for the bathroom, trying to understand her sense of disquiet. She had thought for a split second that she was getting propositioned by Keira and it had scared her—a lot.
Why would she have even thought that?
She heard the front door close, and she knew Keira was out on the hunt. She wasn’t sure why, but she sort of hoped she’d stay in tonight. It was nice to have someone to watch TV with. Someone to turn to and say, ‘I knew he was gonna say that,’ about a predictable sitcom punchline. That was all it added up to. Keira was agreeable company.
Alanna wondered who she’d bring home tonight. Hopefully not another Amazon Kelly, but who knew? How much could you know from a few hours? Even as a professional, Alanna hadn’t spotted Benjamin’s red flags for some time.
But Keira? Keira didn’t look. Because it didn’t matter to her in the long term. Therewasno long term for Keira. Which was odd. Because she wasn’t a true recluse. She didn’t hate humans. She seemed comfortable being around Alanna, for example.
Only she wasn’t here. She was out. Chasing strangers.
And Alanna, the idiot, the fool, the absolute and total dickhead, realised something she’d done a bang-up job of not realising for a little while now. She didn’t want Keira to want that stranger. Alanna wanted Keira to be here. To want… Alanna.
Those olive-green eyes and sexy dimples had finally gotten her. Alanna wanted to sleep with her aloof, probably sex-addicted, fake girlfriend.
Alanna stuck her head under the water and stayed there, hoping to drown herself. But unfortunately, self-preservation kicked in and she popped back up and took a breath. The truth came up with her. Alanna was furious. She was into Keira. This was not what Alanna wanted.
And yet, it was.
Sixteen
Keira woke up the next day, alone. That wasn’t completely without precedent. Plenty of one-night stands didn’t sleep over when the fun was done.
What was unusual was there hadn’tbeenany fun. Keira had spent a few hours in the company of a young lady called Tilly who worked in customer sales, enjoyed extreme sports and Studio Ghibli movies. Keira had no interest in any of those topics, but incompatibility didn’t present an obstacle to seduction ordinarily. As long as their personality wasn’t an outright turnoff, all was well.
Only, at the end of the night, Keira found herself suppressing a giant yawn and saying, ‘Well, Tilly, it’s been lovely to meet you.’
‘Oh, well, OK. Yes. Lovely to meet you too,’ Tilly said, seeming slightly put out. As well she might. Both of their profiles indicated they were looking for no-strings amusements.
They went their separate ways, and Keira walked home wondering what had just happened. She decided she was tired. She wasn’t a machine, after all. She was prey to the usual constraints of a human body. Everyone got tired.
