The First Date

The First Date

AGE: 30

Gianna hadn’t been on a date in years. Not a real date. In fact, in the last decade, she’d perfected the art of not-dating.

Going on a date with someone meant more than hanging out with someone. On that much, Gianna was very firm. When Gianna was talking – like, talking-talking – to a person she found attractive or interesting, she’d spend time with them before they moved right into the sex portion of their relationship, generally.

Unless it was going to be a true straight-up one-night stand. Then, it was all for fun, no big deal.

But if Gianna was planning on “seeing someone”, for lack of a better term, multiple times, she had to vet them first. She’d made the mistake of not vetting them a few times in her early twenties, of taking people at their word that they could handle a no-strings fling with her without wanting to make it into anything it wasn’t. Because all it ever was and ever would be was sex and a potential friendship.

She’d finely honed her observational skills to look for any sign that a man or woman might turn a little messy if they had repeat hookups. Certain lingering looks, any sign of possessiveness, or even someone looking too intent or eager. She knew what questions to slip into casual getting-to-know-you conversations – about past relationships, had they done a friends-with-benefits relationship before – what to look for – any comments involving the future, or seeing where something goes .

And if she didn’t fully trust what she saw and heard, she’d honed the self-control to decidedly not cross any sexual line, even if she’d been looking forward to the hookup.

She’d been caught in the emotional crosshairs – love confessions, crying, anger, jealousy – far too many times over the years to neglect her process in any way.

Despite all of that, Gianna M?kinen was on a fucking date right now.

And was having the best time of her adult life, while she was at it.

Because that date was with Riley Jane Beckett.

She threw her head back, laughing uncontrollably, as Riley sang horribly off-tune to We are the Champions , only switching it to I am the champion , as they walked home after leaving Duck’s.

It was almost eleven, meaning they’d been at Duck’s for about four hours. Four hours, a handful of drinks, they’d split several apps and played just about every game there. Gianna’s non-dates never lasted this long because… why would they?

Generally, she didn’t want to hang out one-on-one with anyone for more than a couple of hours unless that person was Riley.

But she was out with Riley. And that made all the difference.

It was Riley’s fingers that were interlaced with her own. Riley’s breath misted in the night air along with hers, as the New England March night dropped to freezing.

It was Riley walking, pressed against her side, that made Gianna feel so fucking warm. Like she was glowing from the inside out.

“You beat me in skeeball tonight . Do you know what that makes our lifelong record?” Gianna asked, even though she couldn’t pretend she wasn’t enjoying Riley’s show of celebration.

Riley’s hazel eyes met her own as she flexed her fingers around Gianna’s. “Yes, I am well aware that our lifelong record is approximately Gianna 100 and Riley 4. But I think that really means I should celebrate my victories all the more.”

Gianna took a moment to think over exactly what Riley said before she nodded. “Your terms are acceptable.”

“I need to take the small victories because when it comes to anything involving any athletic ability at all – strength, speed, aim – we all know you’re the winner,” Riley continued, her eyebrows drawing together and doing that cute thing where a little line formed in the middle.

Riley was very much not wrong.

Gianna laughed, tossing the arm that wasn’t pressed against Riley’s out into the night air. “I said I find your terms agreeable! But, if you recall, you are the one who got way more upset at me when I lost on purpose than when I beat you.”

Because, really, in their relationship tenure, Gianna did beat Riley most of the time when it came to anything physical. On the other hand, Riley frequently beat Gianna whenever they played cards or other games. It was a trade.

But, in their senior year of college, when they’d competed in a field day-esque fundraiser on campus, raising money for breast cancer, Gianna had… maybe… let Riley beat her a little. Mostly because she’d wanted to see the excited, victorious glint in Riley’s eyes in the afternoon sun. So, it wasn’t like she was being entirely altruistic.

The second their race had ended, though, Riley had given Gianna a look . A look that said she knew exactly what Gianna had done, and she wasn’t happy about it. It was close to the look Riley shot her now as they walked home.

“Because I don’t mind when you’re better than me at things,” Riley shot back, the same thing she’d said to Gianna back in college. “And I never want you to pretend you aren’t just as amazing as you really are; that’s the last thing I want.”

Her words were the same, but they took on a softer hint tonight. Something that reflected the soft, sweet look in Riley’s eyes as she looked up at Gianna.

“Even when you beat me in a game, we’re on the same team in life. We always have been.”

Gianna’s heart flip-flopped in her chest, the same as it always did whenever Riley said something like that.

At this moment, she could do something she had never done back then.

She tugged Riley to a stop, simultaneously bringing her free hand up to cup Riley’s jaw as she ducked down and pressed her lips to Riley’s. Her eyes fluttered closed of their own accord as she felt the softness of Riley’s lips on hers.

But she only lingered for a few moments, not giving in to the urge for more or longer. Not on a sidewalk after dark in freezing temperatures.

Because this was still her first date with Riley, she reminded herself forcefully.

It was easy to get lost in their easy relationship and forget that fact. That important fact.

She pulled back, already grinning softly down at Riley as Riley blinked open her eyes.

Tonight was all about giving Riley the best first-date experience in her fucking life. So far, Gianna thought it was going off without a hitch. Somehow, even though she’d confessed to Riley that she wanted to have her babies.

As they started walking again, Gianna ran through all of the topics that Riley had mentioned to her over the years as important notes to hit on the first date.

“Wait. How was work today?” She asked, feeling like a fucking idiot for not having asked earlier.

Gianna, honestly, felt stricken with how ridiculously stupid and guilty she felt, and she squeezed Riley’s hand in hers. “I can’t believe I didn’t ask until now. I – it’s the biggest thing going on in your life, and I… I’m so sorry. Please tell me. You were having a follow-up meeting with the execs, right?”

So much for giving Riley the best first date of her life; Gianna hadn’t even lived up to her reputation of being an amazing friend .

But Riley squeezed her hand back hard enough to get Gianna’s attention.

“First of all, for the first time in forever, work was the furthest thing from my mind tonight. You are, by far, the biggest thing in my life, especially at present,” Riley’s voice was so firm that it left no place for Gianna to even try to disagree, and it soothed over all the potential doubts she could have.

And the smile that played over Riley’s lips compounded that feeling as she nodded. “I did have the exec meeting today.”

That meeting had been on the books since they’d decided on a date for the launch. Review how it had gone, the number of views, the engagement numbers, and decide where to go from there.

“I’m not fired,” Riley declared, chuckling a self-deprecating, relieved laugh that echoed through Gianna.

“I knew it! You were amazing!”

Gianna used her hold on Riley’s hand to tug them to a pause again, this time to haul Riley against her. She wrapped her arms tightly around Riley’s waist, holding her snug against her own body as she rocked back and forth in sheer excitement.

“You did so, so incredibly well on that broadcast, babe. I know you were nervous, but it didn’t matter. You were so passionate, and it showed. You were captivating,” Gianna murmured against Riley’s ear, meaning every word with everything she had inside her.

And not just because she was in love with her, not simply because Riley was her best friend. It was true that Gianna couldn’t be entirely objective when it came to Riley, but it was also true that Gianna knew content. She knew what appealed to audiences enough for them to keep the video playing. Riley had nailed it.

As they drew back, there was an adorable flush on Riley’s cheeks that had nothing to do with the cold. “Thank you. And… yes, they were very pleased with the intro to BostonNow Digital.” Riley pursed her lips, that blush on her cheeks getting darker. “They also, actually, thought it was brilliant to broadcast a live-feelings confession.”

Gianna’s own mouth fell open with a delighted gasp, “No!”

Riley groaned, using the hand that wasn’t holding steadily to Gianna’s to drop her face into. “Yes.”

“I was pretty partial to that part, myself,” Gianna couldn’t help but add, giggling with it.

She knew she'd never forget it even as she made light to the moment. She was certain that she could be in a hospice bed, taking her last breath, and she’d be able to recall with crystal clarity Riley’s words on the mistaken broadcast the night before.

When Riley spoke to Joel, clearly unaware that she was live, she’d said that being with Gianna felt as natural as breathing. That blurring the lines between their friendship and something more had given Riley perfect clarity.

It had felt like living in a dream. A dream Gianna hadn’t dared to have in a very, very long time.

“Marika Hendrick thought it was brilliant. I think she really believes it might have been some sort of ratings-grab, but… she liked it. A modern age of news , she’d said,” Riley spoke with a tinge of wonderment in her voice, shaking her head.

Gianna couldn’t contain her glee. “Your boss – an executive of your fucking network – thinks that you are a next-level genius and actor who staged a love confession to me for a streaming launch.” Hearing the words aloud gave her pause as she tilted her head… “Huh. You know, it’s actually not a bad idea.” She held up her free hand before Riley could say anything, already having predicted the indignant expression on her best friend’s face. “Not that you would do that; you, my love, have far too much integrity.”

She only realized what she'd said after the words left her mouth. What she’d called Riley. My love .

Her heart leaped right into her throat as she darted her eyes at Riley, her nerves tangling together tightly.

But Riley just bumped their shoulders together as they turned onto the street Riley’s apartment was on.

“Thank you; I like to think that I wouldn’t try to use any pretense to have made the launch successful. And I would never want to cheapen anything between you and me.”

“I know,” she assured, whole-heartedly.

Somehow, it seemed to have gone right over Riley’s head. She was sure Riley heard her term of endearment, because Riley didn’t ever miss a word Gianna – or anyone, really – said. But that she did not comprehend exactly what Gianna had meant by it because – and Gianna could fully cop to this – she’d called Riley so many terms of endearment over the years.

Babe, carina, baby, honey, bella, gorgeous… the list went on and on.

That was the crazy thing about embarking on this journey with Riley in the last few months. Gianna was so used to living her adult life, completely at ease with Riley, and never nervous when engaging with someone she was sleeping with. Because while her love for Riley ran far deeper than platonic, it didn’t change how she treated Riley or how they interacted in their friendship. And she never had anything to hide from her hookups because she was bluntly honest with them.

However, Sleeping with Riley had changed both of those uncomplicated facets of her life.

After starting to have sex with Riley, she suddenly did worry at times about what Riley could see or interpret in Gianna’s adoring looks, her turns of affectionate phrase, her constantly tactile touches. She’d been sure, at times, that Riley would start to see the truth. That she’d start to see right through her.

But she hadn’t.

She hadn’t, to the point that Gianna had realized… maybe the way she’d interacted with Riley was very much un-platonic before. Maybe Riley was the one who’d never noticed, as Gianna had treated her as a life partner sans sex.

“I also know,” she said, moving the conversation along before they really got into territory that was decidedly not first-date, “That you would never make that plan because your worst nightmare was being in front of that camera.”

She still wanted to wring Owen’s fucking neck, but they could discuss that later.

Riley barked out a laugh. “Yeah, and if I never have to do that again, it will be too soon. Oh! We actually have more than a few applicants for the anchor position. People who watched and liked what I’m trying to do and, obviously, heard that Owen no longer had the job. A couple of them even seem decently qualified.”

God, Gianna loved that excited lilt in Riley’s voice when she talked about her job. Riley was always passionate about her work, always had been. Ever since she practiced those news stories in their dorm room mirror.

But since she’d started developing this project, nearly two years ago at this point, she shined . Gianna could watch and listen to her talk about it for hours and never get bored.

“And,” Riley’s excitement only seemed to grow, “If the audience and engagement for BostonNow Digital continue on this trajectory – since its launch was literally over double the numbers of what we’d projected – I’ll be able to get a second anchor for even more content within three months.”

“Holy shit!”

Riley nodded quickly, the waves in her hair bouncing with it. “Yes – and …” She rolled her lips to keep herself from blurting out the next statement. Gianna always found that incredibly endearing. “Marika Hendrick herself informed me that she sees me following her path at the network.”

Even though they were only a few feet from the entrance to Riley’s apartment building, Gianna immediately halted, her own joy seeming to burst from the seams. “You’re fucking kidding!”

“I’m absolutely fucking not,” Riley disagreed, giggling as she did so.

The moon in the clear evening sky washed over Riley’s face as Riley smiled so brightly up at her. Gianna knew she’d never seen anything or anyone more radiant than Riley Beckett, smiling up at her like this, even though it was nearly midnight.

“You’re amazing ,” she dropped Riley’s hand for the first time since they’d left Duck’s because she needed to use both hands to cup Riley’s jaw.

She needed to shower Riley’s face in kisses. She’d done it since college when something overwhelmingly thrilling happened. Like when her Mummo had written to her. Something so big and so sensational, Gianna quite literally could not keep her happiness inside.

Coincidentally, stuff like this only happened with Riley around her. Or maybe it was because Riley was around her.

Either way. She planted her lips on each of Riley’s beaming cheeks, on her forehead, her chin, the bridge of her nose, her eyelids, and then she paused, ready to pull back. Like she always did.

Before – they were on a date – rang through her mind, and she pressed her grinning mouth to Riley’s.

Their teeth crashed, making them laugh against each other’s mouths, which was so not sexy. So unlike any other kiss, Gianna shared with anyone else; if she had shared something like this with anyone else, she’d have been mortified.

But she wasn’t because it was Riley, and Riley was still humming excitedly into Gianna’s mouth as they slid their lips together again properly.

She felt Riley’s arms wind around her neck, then, as she slid her own down, tracing her fingertips along Riley’s torso through her jacket. They landed on Riley’s hips, reveling in the feel of her curves even through her layers.

Only seconds ago, their decidedly unsexy beginning of the kiss had made her laugh. It felt so incongruent with the way heat sparked through her veins now as Riley nipped her teeth into Gianna’s bottom lip before soothing it with her tongue.

The tongue she used to trace over the bow of Gianna’s top lip, pulling a shudder up from her fucking core before it echoed through her entire body.

Riley wrapped her arms tighter, pulling Gianna even more securely against her so their bodies were flush against one another. She did this, even as she slid one of her hands into Gianna’s hair and took a loose fistful, pulling Gianna’s head back just enough to break their contact.

Just enough, really, because her lips brushed against Gianna’s as she spoke, “It really goes to show you what an amazing night this was because I wasn’t even thinking about everything that unfolded at work today. Not when I knew I had this – you – coming for me tonight.”

Riley’s voice was so low, pitched to the timber Gianna had learned and memorized the very first time they had sex. That throaty, commanding tone sank somewhere right to her core and gripped her.

The insane thing – really, something that had driven Gianna wild whenever her mind dared to think it in the last decade – was that Gianna had always known, in theory, how compatible she and Riley were when it came to sex. For years, it had been torturous information to have.

Now, she got to reap the benefits.

The double entendre of her words was entirely deliberate; Gianna knew it, and she still felt her body react. She still felt herself clench, heat pooling low in her stomach. “Riley,” she breathed, squeezing Riley’s hips under her hands.

“Come on. Let’s go inside,” Riley murmured, her lips still whispering over Gianna’s in a touch that sent shivers rocketing all over her fucking body.

Even as her body was yearning, ready to go , Gianna used every single mental faculty she possessed to reign herself in. “I… can’t.”

The regret she felt twisting through her was apparent in her voice.

“Wait. What?” Riley pulled back a few inches, then, enough so they could actually look one another in the eye. “Do you have an early shoot or something?” Her confusion was palpable, especially because Riley knew Gianna did not, in fact, have anything on her agenda tomorrow morning.

It was good that Riley pulled back, though, even as Gianna also hated it. But it allowed her to breathe in the fresh, freezing night air. The opportunity to recall her mission.

With that in mind, she smoothed her hands up and down Riley’s sides one last time before forcing herself to put her hands back down against her thighs. “I don’t,” she answered honestly, taking in another deep breath. “ But – this is our first date,” she reminded Riley.

Reminded both of them, really.

“And, if you recall, on Riley Jane Beckett’s Ideal First Date, your date does not enter your apartment. And you don’t have sex. Even if you both want it,” Gianna murmured, dipping her gaze back to Riley’s pink, wet lips.

Fuck. Yes. She really wanted it.

“Gianna,” exasperation colored Riley’s voice as she dropped her head back. “You know that’s different.”

Blinking, she blew out a shaky breath and looked back into Riley’s eyes. “Nope. Don’t forget I know everything you’ve ever cataloged from your dates. In your ideal first date, your date would bring you back to your apartment.” Gianna gestured at the door to their left. “In this ideal world, you are both attracted to each other. And the night went well, so… you both want one another. And you’d share a simple kiss, letting the want of the night simmer,” she murmured, her voice dipping…

She couldn’t resist going in for another kiss, then. This time, she very carefully kept it light and simple.

When she pulled back, though, Riley groaned low in her throat. “We both know what’s simmering between us already.”

Still, Gianna shook her head. “You only have one shot to really romance the woman of your dreams. And I’m not fucking it up.”

She very nearly had let the opportunity slip through her fingers. Because of uncertainty and fear and her parents and… everything.

But they were really doing this. So she was going to do it right; she was going to prove to Riley that she was the person who could give her everything she wanted. Who wanted to give it to her.

“Gianna,” Riley murmured again, but this time she simply stared up at her with big, soft eyes.

She couldn’t help but dip down again, kissing Riley once more. This time, lingering for another few seconds, just wanting to be able to breathe Riley in.

Intoxicated as she was with the feeling, she pulled back and met Riley’s sweet smile with her own.

“Okay. You go inside,” Gianna encouraged, nodding at the door. “And I will text you at a very uncool speed for another date.”

“Just like a perfect first date would,” Riley followed up, shaking her head slightly as she sighed and entered the key code to enter the building. She paused before she went in, though, throwing Gianna a stern look. “You have a car?”

Gianna nodded down to the corner, where her Uber had been idling since they’d turned onto the street. “Called for it just as we left Duck’s. Let them know to start the ride even though I’d be a few minutes late.”

“Just when I worry you hadn’t thought of everything ,” Riley teased. “Text me when you get home.”

“Always.”

Gianna hardly even remembered the ride home, if she were entirely honest.

Because she was fucking floating .

As she hung her jacket in its proper spot in the coat closet before placing her shoes in their proper spot – by year, then by designer – she dug her phone out of her pocket.

Even though she was chronically on her phone – it was quite literally her job – she’d had no inclination to check any notifications or anything tonight. All she’d done had been to call her car.

She poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher in her fridge before she looked at her texts.

Ellie Beckett – 9:34 PM

I’m sure I will be hearing from Riley soon, but I’d like to know everything from your perspective, too. I hope it’s everything you have ever wished it could be.

Sweet, sweet Ellie.

There was also a text from her Mummo, asking Gianna to call her in the morning with the details. Obviously.

Pulling up Riley’s text thread, a knock on her door gave her pause.

Gianna frowned, tilting her head to the side – could she have… imagined it? She wasn’t really in the habit of surprise house guests in the middle of the night.

Nope, not imagining it. There was another knock.

Frowning, Gianna left her water but took her phone with her as she meandered back toward the front door, confused and mildly alarmed.

Quietly, she peered through the peephole. And that confusion and alarm dissipated immediately, replaced by a different kind of confusion laced with anticipation. Excitement.

Undoing both of her locks, she pulled the door open, already speaking, “Riley? What are you doing here? Are you okay?”

Riley was still dressed exactly as she’d been twenty-five minutes ago. Her hair was a little windswept, and her nose was kissed with a slight pink from the windchill.

She felt struck and enamored all over again.

Especially as Riley shook her head, smiling up at her. “No. There’s nothing wrong. I just – I need to talk about the date I went on tonight with my best friend.”

Oh, there it was.

Everything inside Gianna melted, her grin pulling widely at her mouth as she fully pulled the door open and urged Riley inside. “By all means.”

She watched, keeping wanting hands to herself, as Riley shrugged out of her jacket and hung it up in the closet where she always hung her jackets before she took off her shoes and put them in her spot.

“I was just standing in the lobby of my building, you know? Still flying so high from this date, and… it was the best date I’ve ever had. Seriously.”

“Seriously?” Gianna echoed, feeling both thrilled and victorious. Logically, it was one thing to know that she’d pulled off Riley’s best date ever.

But to have it confirmed was even better.

Riley turned to face her, and she took a deep breath as she held Gianna’s gaze. Not that it was going anywhere. “And I realized – I needed to come and see you. Because after every date I have, you’re the person I want to talk to about it. You’re the person I want to see. You’re the person I want whose opinions I want. Good, bad, ugly, and everything in between. You’re the person I trust.”

None of these statements were new information, but Riley had never stated them like this before. It made Gianna’s heart beat faster.

“You want me to get the wine?” She managed to ask, knowing that she couldn’t possibly dim the blinding smile on her face. “You can tell me all about this best date ever.”

Before she could take another step, though, Riley reached out and grabbed her wrist. Her hand slid slowly down, and Gianna opened her fingers automatically as Riley’s laced between hers.

“Maybe in a minute. But I need to tell you…” Riley licked her lips, stepping even closer to Gianna. “I know it was only the first date, technically, and – Gianna, you know I’m not this kind of person. But. I’m in love.”

Gianna swore her world stopped . Right here, right now. Her world absolutely paused on its axis.

“Really?” Gianna couldn’t keep up the fa?ade anymore. She clutched at Riley’s hands, her heart pounding in her chest now.

“Really,” Riley confirmed, sounding breathless herself. “I heard what you said when we were walking home. And it just hit me when you got in your car. Gianna, I’m in love with you. Whether we’re having the best first date ever or spending the night cuddled on the couch watching reality television. It doesn’t matter.”

She used their interlocked hands to haul Riley up against her, wrapping her arms around her waist and holding tight. “I love you, Riley. I love you, and I am in love with you, and min? rakastan sinua and ti amo. If there was any other language I could use to say it, I would. Because I always have.”

Gianna could feel Riley’s heart beating as they pressed against one another, Riley’s arms around her neck.

Riley turned her head, then, enough so that she could plant kisses on Gianna’s face, and Gianna wanted to laugh and cry, but only in all of the good ways.

“I know you didn’t want to spend the night together as my perfect first date. But, as my best friend, I need to tell you all about my night with my favorite person. Let’s call her… Genuine Gianna.”

As her chuckle escaped her, Gianna decided she’d allow Riley to take over the mantle in giving her dates nicknames this one time.

Especially because she fully intended for there to be no others.