Chapter 5

5

Q uinn settled into the weathered Adirondack chair on the back deck of the lake house as the late afternoon sun dappled the water's surface, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow. A gentle breeze carried the crisp scent of pine and freshly bloomed wildflowers, mingling with the earthy aroma of the lake.

She watched as a pair of kayakers glided across the glassy surface, their paddles creating small ripples that spread outward in perfect symmetry. The distant laughter of children playing on a nearby shore floated across the water, accompanied by the rhythmic lapping of waves against the dock below.

Quinn closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the sun caress her face. The past week had been a whirlwind of emotions, but here, in this tranquil setting, she felt a sense of calm, and even though this was a rental, it was already starting to feel like home. Her nearest neighbors were out of sight on either side, and the trees surrounding the property gave her the privacy she needed from anyone driving by.

Finding out about Rebecca at her mother's birthday party had sparked something within her – a glimmer of hope, maybe, or a newfound courage to not hide away. If Rebecca could turn her life upside down, why couldn't she? Yes, it was different for Rebecca. She didn't have thousands of people commentating on her life every day. She didn't have fans all over the world waiting for her next movie, putting her on some kind of pedestal, but she did have a marriage to end and probably small town gossip to overcome.

Opening her eyes, Quinn gazed at the lush greenery surrounding the lake. The trees stood tall, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. She inhaled deeply, filling her lungs with the fresh, crisp air. It was so different from her life in Los Angeles. Her modern home was private, with a beautiful pool area and lush gardens, but sitting here now, Quinn couldn't deny how much she liked being back here.

She looked down at her phone in the lap, the screen reflecting the vibrant blues and greens of the landscape around her as she unlocked it. Piper answered her video call almost immediately.

"Hey," Piper said with a smile. "Wow, being back home definitely suits you. You look like you've been away at the spa or something."

Quinn smiled as she rolled her eyes. "I think I'm finally figuring out what it's like to be myself."

"Quinn, you're going to make me cry. I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you for listening to me the other day." Quinn ran a hand through her hair as she exhaled. "I was a bit of a mess."

"Hey, I'm always a phone call away."

"I know." Quinn gave Audrey a wave as she came around behind Piper who appeared to be sitting on the deck. Audrey draped her arms around Piper as she said hello. "Hey, Audrey."

"I hope it's okay, but Piper told me," Audrey said as a piece of her black hair came free from her messy bun, and she tucked it behind her ear.

"Yeah, of course," Quinn said.

"I'm shocked," Audrey said with a smile, "But I'm so happy for you. It'll all work out. Just give it some time."

"I hope so." Quinn wasn't sure if she was talking about her career or her love life, but either way, she wished that it was true.

Audrey gave Piper a kiss on the cheek and then she was gone.

"Work," Piper said, throwing a glance over her shoulder. "I've offered I don't know how many times to make her a kept woman, and she won't listen to me."

Quinn laughed softly. She loved seeing the dynamic between Piper and Audrey. It was so natural and full of warmth. It made her wonder if she could ever have something like that.

"You two are cute," Quinn said, a hint of wistfulness in her voice.

Piper smiled. "Just give it some time. I know you'll find your person. I might even know someone. She just got out of a relationship.

"No," Quinn said, her smile fading. "No. I'm not being set up. I have to figure out myself first before I even think about getting involved with someone." She took a deep breath, a nervous energy running through her at the thought of being on a date with a woman, of leaning in to kiss her. "I don't even know how long that's going to take, but I think I'm starting to get over this idea that I've wasted so much time. At my mother's birthday party the other day, I saw her friend there. Rebecca. She's around the same age as my mom, and she was married to a guy, her high school sweetheart I think, but I just found out that she got a divorce and came out."

"What? No way." Piper's eyes went wide. "You had no idea?"

"No. And she was in her mid-forties I guess, so yeah, I think I need to relax a little. And I think seeing her, there at my mother's house with her girlfriend… Well, Rebecca said that they weren't together, that it was new or something, but anyway, I think seeing her gave me this strange sense of calm? Like if she can do it, I can too? I know I won't be the first actress to come out. I mean, look at Evelyn. She took everybody by surprise, but there's something about seeing someone in my small, kind of conservative town completely change their life."

"Yeah. She could have stayed with her husband and wondered what might have been."

"I know. Plenty of people probably do." Quinn sighed. "So that's the update from here. I'm alive. I'm feeling better."

"You're going to be fine, Quinn. It'll take a while, but Audreys' right. It'll work out for you. Everything always does."

Quinn quirked an eyebrow. She did have that reputation, at least career-wise. The right part always seemed to land in her lap at just the right time. Her love life? Well, that had always been a disaster, but at least she knew why now.

"I'm starting filming on that rom-com next week, so I won't be as free, but call me. I'll get back to when I can. I want to know who the first woman to take your breath away is."

Quinn rolled her eyes. "Okay. I'm sure there are plenty of single queer women right here in my hometown who won't get starstruck when they meet me and stumble over their words."

"I'm serious. Someone's going to sweep you off your feet, and I want to be the first to know about it."

"I have no plans to come back to Los Angeles in the next few months, so you'll have to tone down those expectations."

They said goodbye, and Quinn ended the call, setting her phone aside as her gaze drifted back to the lake. She leaned back in the Adirondack chair, letting her fingers trace the weathered wood grain as her mind wandered.

What would it be like to kiss a woman, really kiss her, without the cameras rolling or a script to follow? Quinn's heart quickened at the thought. She closed her eyes, imagining soft lips against hers, gentle yet insistent. The scent of perfume, floral and light, mixed with the crisp lake air. Delicate fingers threading through her hair, pulling her closer.

In her mind's eye, she was standing just a few feet away, leaning against the deck rail as this gorgeous woman slid her hand through her hair, bringing their lips together in a heart-stopping kiss. Quinn's hands went to her waist, needing something to keep herself upright as the kiss deepened, and the thought of her tongue sliding against her own made her breath catch in her throat.

And when that hand fell away from her hair, lingering on her cheek, Quinn imagined her eyes fluttering open, and she met the most alluring brown eyes flecked with gold. Quinn reached up to brush her dark hair behind her ear, the copper highlights catching in the afternoon sun.

It was so vivid, so real, that it took her a moment to realize who she'd just imagined kissing.

Quinn's eyes snapped open, and she found herself gripping the arms of the chair, her palms damp with sweat. She exhaled slowly, trying to calm her racing pulse.

Why had she been thinking about kissing Rebecca??

Quinn leaned her head back against the wood, her hand on her forehead. This was almost as bad as feeling something during that onscreen kiss. She couldn't be thinking about kissing her mother's best friend.

"What the fuck?" Quinn muttered to herself as she stared up at the trees.

Desperation. That's all it was. She was so desperate to know what it would be like to kiss another woman that she'd just imagined herself with the only lesbian in town she knew.

That had to be it. She wasn't actually attracted to her mother's best friend.

Because that would be a complete disaster.