Page 16 of Don’t Tell Me Who To Love

“I left them in bed together.” Lynn rolled her eyes.

Gabi laughed. “Nice, for them.”

“They decided to hit it off the night we arrived and haven’t gotten out of bed since. Going away with friends sucks.”

“Unless it’s you that’s getting laid,” Gabi said.

“True.” Lynn made her way through a crowd of women and into a bar.

The voices were a higher pitch and the aroma sweeter. There were more women inside. “Is this a gay bar?”

“I think it’s gay friendly to cater for us immoral tourists. You know there aren’t any Spanish lesbians, don’t you?”

“What?” Gabi frowned then realised Lynn was joking. Gabi shook her head. Why was it so difficult for some people to let others live? She didn’t shout about being a lesbian, but she didn’t hide the fact either. Yes, there were a few people who looked down their noses or had something derogatory to say about her short hair, but there would always be fuckwits in this world. “Sucks. You’d think it was 1905, not 1995.”

“It’s pathetic. What do you want to drink?” Lynn asked.

“Vodka Coke, please.” Gabi looked around. She picked out the languages she recognised, German, French, and Portuguese, and something that sounded Scandinavian or Dutch.

Lynn handed Gabi her a drink and lifted her glass. “Happy holiday.”

Gabi made her way outside and away from the crowd. “So, what do you do when you’re not here?” she asked.

Lynn sipped her drink. “I’m a social worker.”

“Tough job.”

“Sometimes. Mostly it’s rewarding, helping disadvantaged kids so they get a shot at life. The successes make it worth the hideous hours and shit pay.”

“It’s a proper job.”

“What about you?”

“Bar work. And I make jewellery.” She’d almost left off talking about the jewellery because she mostly felt embarrassed about it. She hadn’t made many things and although what she’d done had been well received, she’d surmised it was because she’d given the stuff away either to her friend or to Nana.

“Are you any good?” She tugged at Gabi’s jeans and held her gaze.

Gabi wondered if the topic of the question had changed. “I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, eh?”

“True.” Lynn smiled. “You have pretty eyes.”

Gabi blushed. She wasn’t into Lynn, but it was still nice talking to her, familiar, like being back home. She was drawn to the music a distance away. Lynn leaned into her. The warmth against Gabi’s ear sent a tingle down her spine. She put her hand on Lynn’s waist.

“You have a gentle energy,” Lynn whispered.

Gabi should say something positive in response but didn’t want to encourage her. She wanted to get back to the square and to the music. She opened her eyes and froze as she clocked the woman walking past the bar, right in front of them. She was sure it washer, the flamenco dancer she’d seen on that first night.

Lynn backed away. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

Gabi blinked several times and started to doubt herself. She craned her neck but couldn’t see the dancer anywhere. “Nothing,” she said. “I’m good.”

Lynn looked in the direction Gabi had stared. She glanced around. “Did I miss something?” she asked.

Gabi turned to her and smiled. “No, it’s nothing. Hey, look, can we take a rain check tonight? Maybe do this another night. My nana’s waiting for me at the hotel.” That sounded lame. She cringed.

Lynn sighed. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Gabi pursed her lips. Lynn was sweet, but she didn’t set Gabi’s heart racing or cause the electric feeling in her stomach to intensify. Lynn was nothing like the dancer. “Shame,” Gabi said and hoped she’d sounded more genuine than she felt.

---