Page 6 of Home for the Holidays

As she walked out the bakery’s front door, she pulled her coat closed and quickly buttoned it up. The weather had finally turned cold, and they were expecting a huge snowstorm in the next two days. She peered down the main drag, the four consecutive stoplights all blinking red since it was after eleven in the evening. As she made her way along the sidewalk, she let herself enjoy the holiday lights and decorations. For such a small town, they really knew how to go all out for the holidays. All the trees that lined the street were lit with white twinkle lights, and the increasing moisture in the air from the impending storm made them all sparkle. She shoved her hands in her pockets as she approached Lincoln’s. She looked in the window, wondering if she should stop in for a quick nightcap. When her eyes landed on the bartender, she decided to live in the moment.

“Well, well, well. My favorite weary traveler.”

Heidi chose one of the many open stools at the bar and smiled at her best friend. “Hi, Sandy,” she murmured. “How are you?” She knew how Sandy was. She could tell by the look on her face. Her deep dimples and the sparkle in her blue eyes were enough to tell Heidi that Sandy was thrilled to see her. Being friends with her for the past twenty years meant she practically knew Sandy like the back of her hand.

“I’m better now,” Sandy said. “What can I make for you?”

“Can I talk to you quickly? In private?”

“You think I have an office here or something?” Sandy removed a white towel from her shoulder and smacked it onto the counter. “Come on.” She motioned for Heidi to follow her.

Heidi stood and followed Sandy down a hallway. Sandy glanced back as her hand landed on the doorknob. She was shorter than Heidi, but only by a couple inches. Her dark hair was short, buzzed on the sides, and she was an absolutely sublime human being. Everything about her. But what was about to happen? Nothing about it was sublime. It was stupid. It was a fluke. A fluke that kept happening. And it was becoming a problem.

As she opened the door, Heidi pushed her inside the small broom closet and shoved the door closed behind them as Sandy’s lips crashed into hers. Her fingers made quick work of Heidi’s coat, throwing its soft, cream wool open before untucking Heidi’s shirt from her jeans. Her hands were cold as she pressed them against Heidi’s stomach, her sides, up to her bra, where she pinched Heidi’s nipples through the silky material.

“Jesus Christ,” Heidi whispered against Sandy’s lips. Sandy’s response was to push her against the closed door with a gentle thud.

“Is this what you wanted to talk about?” Sandy asked. She unbuttoned and unzipped Heidi’s jeans, then slid her hand under Heidi’s panties.

“How’d you know?”

“Because I know you. Being closeted is stressful, and you, my dear best friend, need the release.” When Sandy’s fingers found what they were looking for, Heidi leaned her head back and moaned, a sound that was cut short when Sandy placed her free hand over Heidi’s mouth. “Shh,” she whispered. “I’m still at work, you dumbass.”

Heidi bit down on the soft flesh of Sandy’s palm near her thumb as her other hand pushed two fingers inside of her. “Fuck,” she mumbled.

“This what you need?” Sandy pulled out and started to rub pressured, precise circles against Heidi’s clit, knowing full well that there was no time for foreplay.

Heidi nodded as her orgasm started to build. Sandy moved her hand from Heidi’s mouth as she continued to minister to her needs, leaving Heidi to focus on the feeling. Not on the fact that Sandy was right. Heidi was still firmly closeted—not just in the one she was fucking her best friend in—and she really did need the release. That was too much truth for the moment. She clamped her jaws together as her orgasm arrived with little fanfare. It was exactly what she needed, though. Nothing too intense. Just enough. Like she was the Goldilocks of orgasms or something. She chuckled at herself as Sandy pulled her hand away.

“What are you laughing at?” Sandy’s voice was layered with irritation. “Not good enough for you?”

“Oh my god, Sandy,” Heidi said as she zipped and buttoned her jeans. “Stop. I was just chuckling at us, in here.”

“Okay.” Sandy turned to the broom closet’s tiny sink and washed her hands quickly. “You weren’t as wet as normal. Everything okay?” She was staring at Heidi in the old, rusty mirror on the wall.

Heidi slumped against the door, trying to ignore how intimate and, well,partner-ythat question was. “Just stressed. Thank you for helping me out.”

Sandy dried her hands, crumpled the paper towels, and tossed them in the trash can. She shrugged. “It’s what best friends are for, right?”

A wave of guilt slammed into Heidi, and she shoved her hands into her coat pockets, trying to hide the way she clenched them into fists. “Right.” Her whispered confirmation was all she could give Sandy.

“Will I see you tomorrow?”

“No.”

“No?” Sandy frowned momentarily before remembering. “Oh, right. Family time.”

“Right.”

“Right,” Sandy echoed softly. “You know, I can handle this. I can be what you need.”

“Sandy,” Heidi whispered. “Please. I’ve already told you that this is all I can give you. You said you were okay with it.”

“I know. You’re right.” She held her hands up in mock defeat. “I’m sorry.”

Heidi sighed. So many times she had wished she could, as Sandy put it,handle this, but she couldn’t. And as much as she loved Sandy as a best friend, she just couldn’t get to the place Sandy was in. “We have fun. We promised each other it’d only ever be that.”

“Yep.” Sandy smiled, but it was forced and didn’t nearly reach her eyes.

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