2. Holly
2
HOLLY
H olly opened the doors to the Indigo Lounge the following day, where the post-wedding clean-up was in full swing. She wore the confidence of someone who had spent the past couple of years surfing the wild waves of Australia. And that’s because that’s precisely what she’d been doing. It was as if her wavy hair still bore traces of the salty ocean mist, and her bronze freckles danced across her nose as she scanned the room with a cheery grin. The lounge buzzed with the chatter of friends and family as they cleared tables and placed leftover food in garbage bags. Holly moved through the room, drawing curious glances from everyone around her .
“What? You don’t have staff for this? I had no clue we were all supposed to be getting stuck in. I have a hangover from Hell, and well…I was expecting brunch. Where’s Mom?”
Unbeknownst to Holly, her return to Los Angeles was about to ignite a firestorm of emotions that she had no way of anticipating.
As she made her way to the bar, the atmosphere seemed charged. “Yo, Holly! It’s been a while! You look so different! Were you here last night? We’ve missed you!” someone called out from the other side of the room.
“Hey, Ruby! It’s great to be back! The place has changed a ton. They still do the di Rossi double espresso, right? Coz I’m going to be needing about six. It’s good to be back,” she replied with a grin, her Australian accent adding an exotic edge to her words.
“No clue! Sasha’s been cooking up some incredible coffee selections… but we’re all busy. You’ll have to grab what you can.”
Deborah, who had been in the middle of an animated conversation with Mia about her upcoming recording sessions, froze mid-sentence as she heard Holly’s voice .
“What are you doing back here, Holly?” she blurted out.
Holly’s heart skipped a beat as she recalled last night’s passionate encounter with the older woman on the rooftop. She felt a rush of conflicting emotions and turned away without responding.
“Jesus,” Deborah muttered barely above a whisper, her eyes wide with shock. “This can’t be happening.”
She watched as Holly moved gracefully through the lounge, her presence drawing attention from the older crowd.
“Mom? Mom? You here?” called out Holly.
Esme, who had been engrossed in collecting plates and piling them up as high as she could, ready to take them back to the kitchen, noticed the young woman.
“Darling! I’m here! You just walked straight past me? How much did you have to drink last night, honey?”
“Enough. I’m never drinking again.”
“I don’t know how many times I’ve heard that. I think those Australians have had a bad influence on you. You’ve become a binge-drinking whacko. I want my good little girl back, Hols. ”
“Was I ever a good little girl? Seriously, Mom?”
Esme noticed Deborah’s confused expression and waved her over. “Deborah, come meet my daughter, Holly. I don’t think you ever met. She used to be a well-known face around here. And now she’s back from her surfing adventures Down Under. Finally!”
“I wasn’t going to miss my mom’s wedding, was I?”
Deborah squirmed internally and tried to maintain her composure. “H-hey, H- Holly? Okay, so… you’re all grown up. Holly! You were… like… what… I don’t even know how young… when I last s-s-saw you?” she somehow managed to say, the stutter in her voice no doubt betraying the turmoil she was feeling within.
Holly flashed a kind smile, stretching out her hand for Deborah to shake it. “Absolutely, Deborah. I don’t even remember. My mom’s mentioned you, I think. But then again, I don’t always listen when she’s rambling on. Have you ever been Down Under, Deborah?” she said casually, fully aware of the double-entendre and the effect it would have.
“Uh…Umm,” Deborah stammered, her mind still unable to comprehend the revelation.
Holly glanced around the bar nervously, hoping no one had spotted her and Deborah the night before.
Throughout the rest of the morning, Holly worked alongside her mother and the Indigo Lounge crowd, her carefree attitude captivating everyone she spoke to. She mingled with her mother’s friends with total ease, utterly oblivious to the storm brewing in Deborah’s mind and heart.
As they all sat down to enjoy some gourmet open sandwiches quickly rustled together by Sasha and Ruby, Holly found herself stealing glances at Deborah from across the kitchen table. The passionate encounter on the terrace played over in her mind as the guilt she felt gnawed at her for sleeping with one of her mom’s best friends. But she hadn’t been able to control herself. And the way Deborah had come so quickly, so freely… only made her desperate for more.
What the fuck am I going to do?
Holly finally managed to muster the courage to approach Deborah during a lull in the surrounding conversations. “Can we talk?” she asked softly, gesturing toward the main bar and a quiet corner of the lounge area.
Her mother’s friend raised an eyebrow curiously but nodded, slowly getting to her feet and following Holly.
“You could have told me, Holly. I feel ridiculous .”
Holly took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation that had to be had. “About last night, Deborah…”
Deborah’s expression changed slightly as she noticed the seriousness in the young girl’s eyes. “Yeah? What about it, Holly? You know… I had no clue who you were,” she admitted, her voice low. “I mean, you’re Esme’s kid. I knew she had a kid… but… Jesus. Why didn’t you say something? I feel, ethically disastrous.”
“Listen… I just thought you were a random guest. One of many Deborahs! Mom and Nora hob-knob around with half the city.”
Deborah looked toward her feet, her cheeks flushing as a look of understanding dawned on Holly’s face, followed by a playful smirk. “But…” she continued with a hint of amusement in her voice, “You’re hot as hell. And I knew I just had to sweep you off your feet. I wouldn’t have… come anywhere near you if I’d known. But you’re kind of irresistible. And… it was so worth it, right?”
Deborah turned an even brighter shade of pink, but Holly’s teasing tone had undoubtedly eased the tension somewhat. “It’s not funny, Holly. I guess we both should have known better.”
Holly frowned slightly as she continued to gaze at Deborah. “Look, Deborah. It was just a moment. It was a crazy, unexpected moment at an amazing wedding. These things happen. We’re both adults, and we can deal,” she explained, feeling crushed by the realization that Deborah was clearly out-and-out rejecting her.
Deborah nodded and smiled. “But we have to make sure Esme doesn’t find out. I don’t think she’d be too happy about it. I don’t want to hurt her.”
“That’s an understatement. I promise I won’t say anything,” Holly nodded, seeing the look of relief on Deborah’s face.
They stood for a moment, neither of them saying a word. It was as if the weight of their shared secret hung between them. Holly felt a fleeting admiration for Deborah and her apparent desire to protect her mother.
“Thanks,” Deborah finally said, her voice sincere. “For being understanding.”
Holly flashed her a wide grin. “Hey, life’s too short for regrets, don’t you think? ”
As they returned to getting the Indigo Lounge back to its pre-wedding glory, Holly found herself observing Deborah. Did her mom’s friend understand what she’d meant? That life was too short to dwell on what-ifs and maybes? As the afternoon continued to unfold, Holly couldn’t shake the feeling that meeting this woman in her mom’s bar had given her a new energy… something that promised both excitement and uncertainty. And something she’d failed to find in Australia.
Holly’s return to Los Angeles had so far been a whirlwind of catching up with old friends. After spending five adventurous years surfing the waves of Australia’s coastlines and living off the regular amounts of money her mom wired over to her bank account, she had felt the need to return home, if only temporarily. She needed to reconnect with her roots and those who mattered most. Mainly her mother and new stepmom. Beach life was fantastic up to a point, with stunning landscapes, a laid-back atmosphere, and a string of one-night stands. When she’d first arrived, she’d felt that surfing wasn’t just a sport but a way of life that embraced adventure, freedom, and the thrill of riding the waves. However, as time passed, she found it to be a shallow existence and desperately craved a deeper meaning.
Holly felt both familiar and foreign at her mother’s bar, with its sophisticated ambiance and vibrant crowd. As the clean-up came to an end, she exchanged a few pleasantries with some of the regulars she remembered from before her departure and introduced herself to the new faces who had become fixtures in her absence.
“Right! I think that’s everything! We’ll be opening in around fifteen minutes! It’s business as usual at the Indigo!” shouted Esme.
“Seriously, babe? You don’t want to take a night off?” said Nora in mock surprise.
“We redecorated! Inside and out! I want people in here telling me how great everything looks!”
“You did a great job, Mom,” exclaimed Holly.
“Thanks, Hols. I couldn’t have done it without the wife.”
“I’ve got the cash; you’ve got the amazing taste, sweetie,” laughed Nora. “You know what looks good and what the clients want. Investing in you… in this place… was a no-brainer.”
Esme and her friends sat down to enjoy some well-earned cocktails. Holly had a meet-up with some friends downtown but couldn’t help but notice Deborah’s lingering glances in her direction. There was a flicker of something in Deborah’s eyes—a mix of curiosity and apprehension that made Holly want to stay exactly where she was. She couldn’t stop picturing their encounter on the rooftop and the rush of passion and desire that had consumed them both, albeit briefly.
“Hey, Holly! Come join us! You’ve got to see your mom’s new cocktail menu!” Mia shouted, waving her over to her mother’s table near the bar.
Holly grinned and made her way through the already crowded room, her mind trying to process this need to get back into Deborah’s orbit. Mia stood up and squeezed her in a warm hug, and the conversation around the table quickly turned to the young girl and her return to L.A.
“So, Hollybolly! Tell us about Australia,” cried Mia’s girlfriend, Harper. “How did the surfer’s life treat you? I bet they don’t mix drinks like this Delevingne Daquiri down there, huh?”
“Funnily enough, I didn’t find that many bars where they name every drink and every dish after some famous or powerful lesbo. That’s definitely still the Indigo’s USP.”
Holly threw her head back and laughed, her eyes sparkling. “But despite the lack of… wait… what do we got here on this menu? Right! Okay, so I didn’t drink any Foster Fizzes… or… Nixon Negronis… Jodie and Cynthia, right? That’s so funny! But yeah… it was just incredible. The freedom of being out on the water daily, riding the waves... I don’t know if I’ve got the words to describe it.”
“I can only imagine,” Mia said, her admiration evident. “I hope I get to tour out there someday. You always had that adventurous spirit, didn’t you? I’ve always loved that about you, kid.”
Holly giggled, grateful for the chance to share her experiences with her Indigo Lounge family. But beneath the surface, her thoughts kept circling back to Deborah. She couldn’t help but wonder if her mom’s friend had maybe told some of the others about their encounter and that lurking behind all this politeness and questions about her life in Australia, everyone knew the truth.
No, she said she didn’t want to hurt Mom.
Later in the evening, as the music shifted to a mellower tempo, Holly felt the urge to head outside to see the glittering lights of Los Angeles. The view was breathtaking and such a stark contrast to the bare ruggedness of Australia’s coastlines that she’d become so used to.
Deep in thought about what the future might hold for her and how she was going to “grow up and get an actual fucking job” as her mother had so bluntly put it, Holly didn’t notice Deborah approaching until she was only inches away, standing to her left. As she turned, she was taken aback by the soft glow of the city lights illuminating the sharp features of Deborah’s beautiful face.
“Hey there,” Deborah muttered quietly, her voice wavering uncertainly.
“What’s up?” she replied softly, searching Deborah’s eyes for any hint of what she might say. “Incredible view,” she continued with a low, intimate tone. “And I’m not talking about the Hollywood hills,” she smirked and raised her eyebrows.
“What? You don’t like your own pick-up lines?” asked Deborah sarcastically.
“Um, listen. I don’t know why I said that,” Holly managed to mumble, her mind racing to try to find a way to shift the conversation onto another subject.
Deborah smiled, her gaze steady as she studied Holly’s panicked features. “I know, darling. I’m just messing with you,” she said, her voice laced with playfulness.
Several moments passed in silence, the tension between them palpable in the cool night air. Holly sensed Deborah’s unease despite her attempt at a joke and decided to break the ice, hoping their awkwardness might dissipate.
“I didn’t mean to be rude,” Holly began. “I’ve been told I can come across that way sometimes. I always go for the cheesy pick-up lines. It’s kinda sad.”
Deborah shook her head gently, “Don’t worry about it,” she replied honestly, her eyes meeting Holly’s with a mixture of sympathy and something more profound.
“You know,” Deborah began a little nervously. “I never expected to see you again after last night.”
Holly’s expression softened. “Neither did I,” she admitted quietly, her gaze holding Deborah’s in a wordless communion of shared understanding and longing.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how you made me… come like you did,” Deborah said, her voice breaking through Holly’s thoughts.
Holly nodded, her heart racing. “Me neither. It felt so natural… like… I knew exactly what to do with you… exactly how you worked. I know it’s kinda wrong, with you being my mom’s best friend, but it just felt so right. ”
Deborah’s gaze softened, her eyes reflecting the same mixture of emotions that Holly felt. “I haven’t said a word about it,” she confessed. “I usually tell your mom— and my friends—everything. But I can’t. For obvious reasons. I mean, I wasn’t sure how to explain what happened between us.”
“Neither have I,” Holly admitted. “But I’ve thought about it all day. I even woke up wet from dreaming about it.”
Deborah bit her lip at the thought. Oozing in desire, hungry to lean in and kiss Holly again.
Their conversation was interrupted by Mia, who was rushing over to them, her arms raised in a crazy wave. “There you two are! Everyone’s been looking all over for you. Come on! The party’s swinging in there!”
Holly winked at Deborah, a silent understanding passing between them. “We’re on our way,” Holly said, giving Mia a wide grin.
As Mia skipped away, Holly turned back to Deborah. “We’ll talk later, okay?”
“I think I’d like that,” Deborah said, a small smile playing on the edge of her lips.
They headed back inside, Holly feeling that their connection had deepened and that the unresolved tension between herself and the older and very charming Deborah was now a promise of something yet to come. Holly couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sensation of excitement. She had returned to Los Angeles to reconnect with her roots, find a job, and straighten herself out… and now it seemed she was also reconnecting with feelings she had long thought she’d never experience. She was no stranger to hot, wild sex, but this feeling of vulnerability was new to her. This yearning to know more, to know everything about someone almost twice her age. She’d never felt anything quite like it.
As Holly was helping her mother restock the bar for the next day and doing her best to avoid answering a whole host of questions about where she was planning to live, whether or not she would be doing a post-grad, what was she planning on putting on her resume to hide the fact that she’d just been on a half-decade-long vacation, and whether she could help tend bar when the newlyweds went on honeymoon, she found herself once again drawn to thoughts of what had happened on the terrace. Needing a moment of quiet, she slipped into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of chilled water.
“Hey,” a familiar voice called from behind her. Holly turned to see Deborah approaching, her expression open and earnest.
“Hey, I’ve been thinking about what we said earlier…” Holly admitted, stepping closer. “I feel like there’s so much we need to talk about.”
Deborah nodded, her eyes never leaving Holly’s. “I couldn’t agree more. But maybe we can start with something… a little simple?”
Holly raised an eyebrow. “Oh, yeah? Like what did you have in mind?”
“Let’s just get to know each other,” Deborah said with a smile. “There’s no rush.”
Deborah’s expression filled with warmth as Holly replied, “That sounds like a great idea. I’ve missed L.A., you know? I’d have come home a hell of a lot sooner if I’d known you…”
“There’s no rush, Holly.”
As they stood there, Holly felt a sense of hope she hadn’t felt in a long time. Her secret crush and desire for Deborah was making her time at home a whole lot more exciting.