Chapter Eleven

Taryn hadn't heard from Charlie in the three days since they'd turned her world upside down with that kiss. She'd given Charlie the space to sort things out on her own, but the suspense of what decision she would come to had been nearly unbearable, sabotaging her ability to focus, and making getting any sort of reading assignment done laughable.

She'd gone to a party and taken it much easier on the alcohol this time. Didn't mean she hadn't checked her phone every eight minutes just in case she'd missed a notification. Charlie sure must be struggling if she hadn't reached out once after they'd established a pattern of texting throughout their days. Or worse, she wasn't. The silence was loud as hell.

Across the room, Sasha danced with a girl from their dorm, who just might be the one from the vending machine. She'd mentioned running into her again and asking for her number. Well, that was very nice for Sasha. Taryn was feeling a little bit like joining the Love Bites club herself. She took a pull from her beer, opting to never drink trash can punch again.

"What's up?"

She turned at the sound of the male voice only to find herself looking up and into the eyes of Danny McHenry, otherwise known as Charlie's boyfriend. The beer went still on the way down from her lips. Other than a brief exchange at the library, they'd never had a true conversation. She'd forgotten he was one of the frat sponsors. He'd been there the night Charlie had walked a drunken Taryn home. "Not much. Hey."

"Taryn, right?"

She nodded.

"On your own tonight?" He seemed friendly enough. She wasn't sure if that was good or bad news.

"I'm with some friends." She gestured across the room to where Sasha and her girl were dancing like the world was ending, bless their happy little hearts. "What about you?" She offered him a smile. Charlie had said he wasn't a bad guy, so she'd follow her lead.

"Just checking in on the party." He surveyed the room a moment. "Perfect opportunity for you to kiss someone else's girlfriend. I hear you're good at that." Taryn blinked, nearly knocked over by the comment. "Hope you fucking enjoy yourself."

He didn't seem to want a response, and by the time she could have formulated one, he was gone. Okay, that had stung. "Fuck," she said, allowing her head to drop back. Charlie was MIA. The boyfriend hated her. And she was all alone with an aching heart. She stared across the room at the trash can punch, knowing a quick way to put an end to her overly active thoughts.

No way.

Instead, she decided to call it an early night and slide into bed and lose herself in a bingefest of procedurals from ten years ago while mainlining Sour Patch Kids until she passed out. She liked the plan and walked home with a dark cloud over her head, very aware of how alone she felt.

As she approached Alexander Hall, she blinked to clear her vision because sitting on the steps out front was a blonde who looked a little like Charlie, even though she'd yet to see her face. As Taryn approached, the blonde turned, and the blue eyes that sent her every time were staring back at her. They weren't sad like Taryn's either. They were soft, inviting, and—God—a breath of fresh air.

When Charlie saw Taryn, she offered a smile and a slight wave. Just the tiny gesture calmed the storm within Taryn.

"I know it's late, but I wanted to see you."

"You did?"

Charlie nodded. "Gray said you were out at a party, so I thought I'd wait awhile and see if you came home."

"You could have sent a text."

"Seemed impersonal at the time." Why was the world so much better, so much calmer when Charlie was near? At the same time, Taryn worried what Charlie would have to say in the next few moments. She dug her nails into her palms. The pain somehow propped her up. Maybe she'd say that Taryn would always be special to her, but she had no plans to walk away from Danny. Then what? They'd return to their friendship, wiping away any memory of that night in Charlie's apartment. She could ask where she stood, but prolonging the potential blow seemed safer. "Wanna walk?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah. I have time." She had time? A tamped-down response to how Taryn truly felt. She was apparently going with nonchalance. They shared a smile that Taryn still felt carried question marks. A smile could mean so many things. Her heart thudded, and they'd only been walking beneath the shadows of the campus trees for a minute at most. No one had said anything, and the tension only seemed to expand with each step before Taryn decided she couldn't take it anymore.

"How are you?" she asked.

"Well. It's been a strange week."

"You could say that again." Why were they not them right now? The anxiety of the past few days seemed to catch up with Taryn in an uncomfortable flurry she couldn't smother. "And I'm just going to let you off the hook. If you're here to smooth things over and pat me on the head, we can skip it." Charlie watched her, listening, but said nothing. "And you can ride off into the sunset with Danny, and I won't hold it against you. Deal? We'll be just fine."

"Hold on a second."

"We won't be fine? Then I don't know what you want from me. I'm a little on edge about all of this and equally apologetic about that."

Charlie paused their walk alongside the foreign language building that was responsible for so many of Taryn's late-night study sessions. Tonight it offered a halo of light that allowed Taryn to see Charlie's face as she frowned at her. "I think I'm gonna need you to slow down," Charlie said.

"Yeah. Fine. I can do that." But that was easier said than done. Her emotions swirled, and so did her nerves.

"Taryn." Charlie inclined her head to the side, a questioning look on her face. She had a tiny scar above her eye, barely noticeable, but Taryn adored it. She adored so much about Charlie, from the way she tucked her jeans into her boots to her vanilla and tangerine scent that drove Taryn wild. But hoping for something that was never going to happen was taking a lot out of her, and she just needed to let her heart off the hook, let it grieve, and find a way to accept things as they were. Damn that scar and the way it made her want things she had no business wanting.

"What?" she fired back with an edge she couldn't mask.

"I came to find you because I wanted to talk to you about the other night."

"Okay. Let's talk about it." Taryn shoved her hands into her pockets, distantly aware of the slight taste of beer on her lips. The party now seemed so very long ago.

"I want you to know that it mattered a lot to me."

This was already a breakup speech, and they'd never even been a couple. Taryn couldn't take it. "But it was a mistake we shouldn't repeat, given your current situation."

"I don't know about you, but I'd like to revisit it many times over. That's why I'm here."

Well, that certainly shut her up. Taryn played the words back not one, or two, but three times in her head to verify she'd heard correctly and understood their meaning.

"Taryn?"

"Sorry, I was caught off guard. I had assumed…"

"That I was here to tell you the opposite. Yeah, I gathered."

Taryn felt the edges of her mouth pull. This was good news, but something held her back. Almost as if she got too close, the amazing bubble might burst.

"Look at me."

Taryn did. That helped. Their connection had always been a powerful one, and this moment was not different. A full smile bloomed. "I like looking at you."

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, well, looking at you has been my undoing these past few weeks."

She could hardly imagine that scenario playing out but liked the idea very much. Charlie had been struggling with an attraction to her for weeks. She'd have to unpack that little enjoyable gem later. There were bigger matters. "What about you and Danny?"

"I told him everything, and we're not together anymore. I explained that I couldn't let this thing between us go unexplored."

"Oh." She pulled in glorious air and felt a burden lift. Charlie was giving them a chance. They were going to explore. She didn't have full confidence, but she did have feelings that had just been fully let out of the box she'd held them in so closely. "Well, now I'm nervous."

"Same. But I have a feeling that's temporary, don't you?"

"Yeah, because it's just you and me."

"I don't think there's anything just about us."

The comment sent a shiver across her skin. Charlie had a way of eliciting those. "You're right. There's not." For an extended moment, they simply watched each other as electricity crackled on low. "Now what?"

"I'm going to walk you home and hope I get to see you tomorrow. Can I?"

"Charlie, you're going to find that there aren't many things I would deny you. You tend to have a way with me."

"My way with you?" Charlie looked skyward, opened her mouth, and closed it, thinking better, perhaps, of the quip that was on the tip of her tongue.

Taryn laughed. "Decided not to go there?"

The pink rushed to Charlie's cheeks immediately. Adorable. "Not just yet. No."

Yet. Taryn exhaled slowly because the whole insinuation nearly sent her up in flames. Her heart kicked rapidly in her ribcage as she imagined taking things farther with Charlie, alone in a room with time on their hands.

"Come on," Charlie said. "I'll walk you to your door." Without a word, she threaded her fingers through Taryn's and met her eyes with a soft smile. Their hands intertwined that night had not been on Taryn's bingo card, but she would memorize the sweetness of this moment and play it back whenever she was alone. As they walked, a barrage of emotions hit and expanded in her chest.

"I've missed you," she said quietly to Charlie. "Three days was too much to be apart."

"Come here," Charlie whispered, impulsively pulling her beneath a shadowy tree just off their path. Taryn followed her under the branches. An invitation, and not one she'd ever turn down. Charlie's back was pressed against the trunk, and that brought on all kinds of thoughts. It took Taryn a moment to adjust to the darkened space, but when she did, she was hit with the one-two punch of Charlie's earnest gaze and her slightly parted lips, full and perfect. Charlie cradled Taryn's face and pulled her mouth down into a very much longed for kiss. Tentative at first, a soft press, before Charlie's lips began to move possessively, expertly. Good God. That's when the wheels came off the car, and Taryn went hazy. Her bones melted. Her blood ran hot. Charlie was her only anchor in a spinning world that was too good to be real. Yet it was. Tonight was her reality.

"What do you feel?" Taryn murmured when they came up for air. "I'm a jumble."

Charlie smiled against her lips. "When I kiss you, my body hums and my toes disappear. I can't feel them."

"I don't know what kind of review that is."

"Oh, you can trust me implicitly when I tell you it's a good one." She tilted her head and leaned in. "Kiss me again."

Taryn grinned and did just that. She caught Charlie's mouth with hers, and their lips clung in delicious fashion. Dammit, their hands were too well behaved for their own good. Taryn wanted to touch Charlie, push the boundaries of decency, and act on the impulses she'd only dreamt about. Patience, she told herself, to little result. As they kissed, an unfamiliar zing moved through her, from her fingertips to her shoulders to the roots of her hair. Every erogenous zone she had, even ones she hadn't been aware of, shot to life. When they pulled apart, Taryn's entire world was different. Their first kiss had been wonderful, but laced with uncertainty and fear. This kiss came with purpose, intention, and a promise of more to come. There had honestly not been a more invigorating moment in Taryn's life. "I could do that all day," she confessed softly. Somehow her hands had made it to the small of Charlie's back, the bark of the tree pressing against her fingers.

Charlie ran her thumb along Taryn's bottom lip as if memorizing it. "I definitely see where people could lose time."

Taryn knew one thing for certain. She would never regard this tree the same way again. She'd think of Charlie and her amazing mouth every single time she passed it. Bring on the walk to Spanish class because Taryn wanted to relive these tantalizing moments over and over again. Charlie in her arms, her warm lips moving over Taryn's. Maybe they'd even revisit it someday. The fact that they now had the potential of a someday was logic-annihilating, but she wasn't about to argue.

"When I see you tomorrow, will it be a date?" Taryn asked.

Charlie smiled. "Um, yeah. Is that okay?"

She jokingly looked unaffected. "I guess so or whatever."

Charlie gasped and kissed her again. "That shut you up."

"You will steal my words every time with those kind of moves."

"Pocketing that information for when I need it. Now come on, youngster, I need to get you home."

"Five years is literally nothing."

"You and I both know it's close to six."

"If you say so…"

Charlie squeezed her hand and walked her dutifully to the doors of Alexander Hall. "Delivered, safe and sound."

Taryn took a deep breath. She didn't want to say good night but assured herself in the knowledge that she had more to look forward to. "I'll see you tomorrow. Newsflash: you may hear from me much sooner."

"I better." Charlie kissed the back of her hand. It felt conservative after what they'd just done, but they were new, and a display in front of the building might be premature. Taryn understood. Charlie was also likely still coming to terms with her sexuality, and Taryn certainly didn't want to apply anything close to pressure. "Good night, Taryn."

"It really was," she said before slipping inside the glass doors and offering a final wave.

The manner in which the evening began and ended was startling. She'd not shared with Charlie that she'd had an unfortunate run-in with Danny. She'd have to do that at some point. She'd also not asked for too many details about the last three days. What she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt was that she and Charlie were on the path they were destined to be on. She had no clue what lay ahead for them, but she was more than eager to finally, at long last, find the hell out.

* * *

What was this life, Charlie asked herself, as she checked her watch the day after she'd taken the terrifying leap. Her shift at the library had twenty-two minutes remaining before she planned to hurry home, change her clothes, grade a couple of essays to decrease her stack, and finally head to dinner with Taryn, who she couldn't wait to lay eyes on. Taryn, she'd found, made every day so much better. She calmed Charlie's storm with that soft, soulful gaze of hers. Just thinking about those eyes sent an enjoyable shiver.

"Where are you right now?" Emerson asked, leaning back against the counter. Caught again. This time, Charlie didn't mind as much. They were manning the main desk that afternoon. "Because it looks pretty good. Danny again?"

Charlie smiled politely, not quite ready to show her cards to the world. Yet it was probably important for her to share her relationship status with those that were close to both her and Danny. "I do need to tell you something."

"Juicy? Because you know I have to live through you. The single lane is trash these days."

"Well, depends on your definition, but Danny and I aren't together any longer."

Emerson blinked. "I'm sorry. I just hallucinated. I thought you said you and Danny broke up, which I know is not cosmically possible."

This would be difficult for someone like Emerson to digest. She turned off news broadcasts because she couldn't face hearing anything negative. Her writing was squeaky clean to a fault. Charlie was not surprised that hearing of her friends' breakup would be startling.

"Unfortunately, it's true. We're going our separate ways but most definitely going to remain friends. It was my choice."

The smile dissolved on Emerson's face. "Did he cheat on you?"

"No. He didn't. Danny's a good guy, just not right for me."

"What's he going to do with the ring?" Emerson immediately covered her mouth, realizing her error.

"What ring? What are you talking about?"

"I shouldn't have said anything. He swore me to secrecy. But he was planning to propose in a couple of weeks. On Christmas Day."

Charlie swallowed, and her stomach churned. "You know that for certain?"

Emerson nodded and paused to accept a stack of returned books.

"That's a lot to process," Charlie said when she returned.

"Everything is going to be okay," Emerson said, just as much to herself as to Charlie. "Transitions aren't easy, but you'll get through this section."

"Thanks, Em."

"How does his mom feel about all of this? I know they're your second family."

Charlie swallowed. "He asked that we not tell her quite yet." She felt the emotion bubble and press down on her. "I'm hopeful she'll understand." Underneath it all, she prayed her own mother would, too. "I don't want to hurt anyone, but it's my life and my happiness at stake."

Emerson turned from the tablet in front of her and stalked over to Charlie. "Don't take candy from your bowl and put it in someone else's. Then they have all the candy, and you have an empty bowl. Who wants that?"

It was a highly specific analogy, but Emerson always seemed to have one at the ready. Her writing was riddled with them. But this one did resonate. "I'm gonna remember that."

Emerson stared at her hard. "Hold on to the candy." Her intensity was daunting, prompting Charlie to nod obediently.

The whole thing made sense, she thought thirty minutes later while struggling to see the road. Her windshield wipers worked overtime to combat the rain. They'd talked about when to get engaged multiple times, and with such pressure from Monica, Danny likely wanted to make a big splash in front of his family. God, he had a ring and a firm plan to get down on one knee just before she blindsided him. She hated that part of all this, yet felt helpless to fix it.

The only saving grace on this dreary evening was that she got to see Taryn tonight for what would be their first official date. With Taryn still being fairly new to town, Charlie'd picked out a local restaurant she'd heard about, the North Star. It was far enough away from campus that they could unplug and enjoy a nice meal in an intimate atmosphere. She hoped Taryn would enjoy her choice and got a bump of happy energy just imagining her smile because it was honestly her everything lately. That smile kept her going.

She knocked on Taryn's door on the fourth floor at precisely the time they'd agreed upon, hating to be late but also never too early. She opened the door wearing black pants and a red sweater that hit at the waist and offered a purposeful glimpse of her left shoulder.

"Hi. You're here." They shared a grin, and Taryn hooked a thumb over her shoulder. "Let me just grab my bag real quick."

"Hey," Charlie said, catching the door so it didn't close between them. "I haven't been here since the drunk walk circa beginning of the semester."

Taryn closed one eye. "Can we never speak about that again?"

"We will always speak about it. It's a favorite memory of mine. Where's Caz?"

"Am I allowed to come out?" she heard a female voice say in a stage whisper.

"Yeah, weirdo. You are," Taryn said. "You live here."

"I didn't want to harsh the vibe you two had going with any kind of interloping." A wide-eyed brunette with a long ponytail emerged from the door to her right, smiling openly, her hands pressed together. She remembered her from the party.

"Interloping. Good word. I'm Charlie."

"Hi. Welcome to our pad. I've heard a great deal. Big fan. Caz."

"Likewise." She accepted Caz's firm and impressive handshake. She seemed like a fun person, and she remembered Taryn describing her as witty and warm, a favorite combination of hers.

Taryn rocked on her heels. "Everyone is acquainted and off to a great start. Shall we go?"

"Yes, we have reservations."

"And thoughtful, too," Caz said, walking back to her room. "This is going really well, Tare."

"Don't embarrass me, Caz."

"I got you," Caz called back to her.

They really were a cute duo with a fun give-and-take. In many ways, Charlie was envious. She had friends, but no one she had a true shorthand with, or inside jokes, or who knew her better than she knew herself. She'd always kept people one step away without even fully realizing she was doing it. Trusting people enough to let them close was still a tall order. She looked over at Taryn as they made their way to her car, feeling the tug to make this time different. She wanted to go into this thing open and vulnerable, which terrified her no end.

"You're quiet tonight," Taryn said as they drove. The sun had long left them as they moved through the quiet streets of town. Holiday lights twinkled brightly from the houses and businesses they passed, sprinkling the whole occasion with extra added magic. She had something to celebrate this year. She tried to concentrate on that.

"I am? I'm sorry." She sent Taryn a smile. "Just enjoying the drive with you. Truly." But there was more to the story that she'd left out. She'd been in her head since Emerson's newsflash at the library. Why hadn't she just said so?

"I'm enjoying it too, but are you sure that's all?"

Instead of hanging on to the information any longer, she decided to take her own advice and try to be open with Taryn. "I found out that Danny was planning to propose later this month. On Christmas."

"Ah. And you likely have a million different feelings after hearing that."

"A few." She placed a hand on Taryn's knee. "But regret isn't one of them, okay?"

"Okay," Taryn said, but it was clear that she felt off balance now. How could she not?

She tried to concentrate on Emerson's advice as well. Transitions were tricky. That's all this was. Once everyone settled in, everything would right itself.

"But do you know what I need more than anything right now?"

"What's that?" Taryn asked.

"To escape with you. I'm really looking forward to having a dinner away from campus and stress and all the expectations that hover. Just you and me."

Taryn exhaled slowly. "And I think that's all I needed to hear." She pointed at the road ahead of them. "Take me to this restaurant because now I can't wait." She cranked the music and Charlie laughed, feeling her spirits lift easily along with Taryn's.

When they arrived at North Star, Charlie was immediately taking in the details. As a writer, the little things mattered a great deal, and the specifics of a setting had always intrigued her. The room had approximately fifteen tables, of which about two-thirds were occupied. The soft sounds of clinking glassware and hushed laugher welcomed them along with quiet music.

"This is gorgeous," Taryn said as they were shown to a table in the corner, adorned with a white linen tablecloth and a small flickering candle.

And romantic, Charlie's brain supplied. As they sat, she allowed herself to bask in the shadows and light the flame cast on Taryn's face. She glowed in the soft chair across from Charlie as she surveyed the tall menu, like Belle in the castle.

"What are you laughing about over there?"

"I'm not laughing. I'm taking in my date."

"Your date," Taryn said. "Still getting used to that."

Charlie sipped her water. "Me, too. Some wine or a cocktail?"

"My question exactly," their server said, arriving just on time. Tall and blond with kind eyes. "I'm Justine, here to make sure your evening is everything you'd hoped."

Charlie already liked Justine and her warmth. "I'll have a glass of the house pinot, but then cut me off. I'm the driver."

"I'm not. I'll have the rum breeze."

"Now you're just showing off," Charlie said once they were alone. Taryn nodded solemnly, and Charlie laughed. This woman was thoughtful and funny. In her opinion, it was the absolute best combination. "This right here is what I've been looking forward to."

"I mean, it's okay," Taryn said and passed Charlie a sly grin she wanted to kiss off her face. That was the thing about kissing Taryn. Once she'd done it, she just wanted to keep doing it more. Even in the most inopportune moments. Class discussions. Traffic lights. In the middle of teaching her class. The desire really didn't discriminate. It was a new and somewhat perplexing experience. Had she ever once fantasized like that about anyone else? She didn't even have to search for the answer.

Charlie began to butter her warm bread. "I'll see what I can do to make it better."

Taryn's eyes went wide, and she sat slowly back in her chair. Jackpot. Dating was actually more fun than Charlie'd ever realized. After a quick scan of the menu, Justine returned, and Charlie ordered the scallop risotto and Taryn chose the roasted chicken.

"Is the restaurant family owned?" Charlie asked Justine.

"It is. Rosemary and Eva are the owners, and everyone adores them. Been together for forty-two years and were married just as soon as they were allowed." She craned her neck to the left, searching. "Rosemary is around here somewhere, probably in the kitchen making sure the food is just how she likes it. She just might swing by and check on you." Justine touched the table. "Back shortly with your food."

Charlie went still. Rosemary and Eva were a lesbian couple. It was an incredibly common occurrence in this day and age, but it hadn't been back in theirs. Yet they'd held on to each other anyway. Something about sitting in their restaurant with Taryn felt like a giant arrow sign, telling her that she was finally living the life she was meant to live. And it felt so damn good that tears sprang into her eyes.

"Hey," Taryn said quietly, leaning in. "Everything okay?"

"It really is," Charlie said, dabbing the corners of her eyes with her napkin. "I'm a sap every once in a while."

Taryn seemed to register that these were happy tears and reached across the table and took her hand. "I happen to like occasional saps. And I like you. This feels like a win-win."

The food arrived and the cocktails were at half full, which loosened them up nicely. "When do you head home?" Charlie asked. The fall semester would end in just over a week, and with them being so new, they'd yet to discuss what the month apart would entail.

"End of next week, I take my last final. I'll probably get on the road the next morning."

"Back to Dyer."

"Mm-hmm. Want to come visit? What about Christmas?"

Charlie's forkful of amazing risotto was placed on pause. "Really?"

The reality was that Charlie didn't have a family anymore beyond the one she'd made with Danny's. She'd planned to linger at Hillspoint until closer to Christmas, writing and preparing for the move to New York in May. She was originally supposed to join Danny in Indianapolis for Christmas and New Year's. Now, she had nowhere to be.

"Are you kidding? I'd love it." She proceeded to eat, dropping her brows in thought. "But I can't imagine your parents would want you bringing someone home."

"They would love every second of it. Same house. Same friendly people. They'd make you cocoa with a peppermint stick and ply you with Hallmark movies."

"That's not real."

"It is." Taryn cut a bite of chicken. "It's a two-person operation in Dyer, and you should come witness the wonders. They also dress up and go caroling, likely taking you with them if that's your jam. Do you sing? I realize I don't even know. Personally, I prefer to take photos and cheer them on."

"You've offered some really impressive selling points. I do like to sing." She hesitated because it sounded so wonderful that she nearly turned to tears a second time, which seemed gratuitous. "Why don't I think about it?"

"Because you're not sure you want to come or because you don't want to intrude?"

"Definitely the latter. You all are a family and probably don't want an outsider at such a special time of year."

Taryn grinned and chewed her food. "Then it's settled because you're forgetting my parents and their overly social agenda. You're coming to Dyer. The great homecoming. We can take a photo of you next to your old lifeguard stand. Swimsuits are encouraged, but I have selfish reasons to vote yes."

"Taryn." Charlie laughed and shook her head, so not used to blushing at comments like that one. Yet this was the new normal.

"Yes?" she asked innocently, blinking her eyes slowly.

"Why are you so adorable?" Charlie asked with a tilt of her head.

Taryn furrowed her brow. "It's my life sentence."

"I can't with you."

"Yes, you can."

Charlie let the wineglass linger and peered at Taryn over the top of it. "Yes, I can." A healthy drink from her glass followed. She placed it in front of her just as an older woman approached their table in a white coat with glasses on her head and brown hair with soft curls.

"How was your dinner tonight?" she asked with kind eyes and a quiet voice as if to purposefully not disturb the ambiance at their table nor the other diners.

"It was the best meal I've had in years," Taryn said. Her plate had been mostly cleaned, and it had been fun to watch her taste and enjoy the food. As with everything, she'd seemed to give a lot of thought to each bite.

"Are you Rosemary?" Charlie asked. It was forward, but she simply had to know.

The woman pulled her face back in exaggerated surprise before breaking out into a smile. "I am. And who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

"I'm Charlotte Adler and this is Taryn Ross. We're so happy to meet you."

"Likewise. Are you celebrating anything special tonight?"

Charlie hesitated, trepidation firing. She looked over at Taryn who nodded her encouragement, and suddenly she felt strong and at home. The truth was she was proud of Taryn, and there was no reason not to share, other than this was all new for her. "We're on a first date."

Rosemary took a moment, struck and seemingly touched. "It's an exciting night, then," she said quietly. "I'm going to send over a special dessert not found on our menu. I save it for the special people."

"That's so kind of you," Taryn said. "Thank you."

"My pleasure. Promise me you'll come back sometime. I'd love to check in, see how things are going." Rosemary placed a hand on her round hip, maternal and kind.

"We promise," Charlie said.

"And hopefully I can introduce you to Eva, my very own sweetheart of many years. She's responsible for half the menu." She touched her chest. "The other half is mine," she whispered, gesturing to Charlie's risotto. She gave her a pat on the shoulder. "That dessert should be out soon."

"This is the best date I've ever been on," Taryn said automatically as soon as they were alone.

"There's still dessert," Charlie told her. "It could go straight to hell."

"Good point. I will reserve my judgment but know that things are looking up." She squinted. "You're not planning to rob the place or anything, right?"

"I mean, not at this very second, but plans change."

Taryn considered this. "Still don't think it would change my ranking, and I went out with Bianca Mack, who was known around school to be a really good kisser."

"You kissed Bianca Mack?"

"I did. And this date, robbery and all, still wins."

"I'm jealous. I remember her well." She offered a playful smile. "She's missing out."

"Oh, that right there was really nice."

"But I do have an unfortunate confession."

"Tell me."

Charlie squinted. "I once kissed her older brother."

Taryn covered her mouth, nearly spitting her cocktail across the table.

Charlie quickly handed her a napkin, laughing. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to drop such a bombshell on this lovely, potentially criminal, dinner we're having."

Taryn successfully swallowed and let the laughter out. She sat back in her chair and just let it hit, which was unusual because Taryn's reactions to most anything were conservative in nature. "I had no idea I was so funny." Taryn fanned herself attempting to regain her voice. This might be the first time Charlie had seen her full-on laugh without control, which only prompted her to join in.

"You kissed her brother," Taryn hissed. "For real?"

Charlie nodded, her eyes tearing. "Two stars. Cannot recommend."

That only seemed to make Taryn laugh harder. They likely would have kept going if Justine hadn't appeared with deconstructed strawberry shortcake with two spoons. "You're gonna die for this one. We all do. And dinner was all taken care of."

Charlie's smile faded. "Rosemary doesn't have to do that."

"She insisted, and when Rosemary insists, it's best we all just get out of her way." Justine's eyes went wide to make her point.

"So noted," Taryn said, dabbing her eyes. "In that case, we will eat every last bite."

"Such a harsh sentence," Charlie said lifting her own spoon. The truth was that it was the best dessert she'd ever eaten in her life, and Rosemary likely knew that would be the case. She regarded Taryn. "How are we ever going to eat at another restaurant again?"

"Lesbians preparing fantastic food can't be beat. It just can't."

"No. We're ruined."

They stared at the last bite left on the plate. "What are we going to do about that?" Charlie asked and sat back.

"It's a tough one. But I have a win-win idea."

"I'm intrigued."

Taryn expertly scooped the cake, a strawberry sliver, and the last bit of vanilla ice cream onto the fork and glided it toward Charlie, who understood the mission. She accepted the bite and made happy eye contact with Taryn as the decadent flavors melted over her. "That one was my favorite," she said, dabbing her mouth.

"Oh, mine, too," Taryn said and grinned. "By far." They shared a smile and Taryn softened. "Seriously, though." She lifted a shoulder. Charlie was learning that when lighthearted exchanges moved into sincerity, Taryn was less comfortable. "This was really nice." Her gaze that generally carried self-assuredness brushed the table before she pulled it back to Charlie. It was a glimpse behind the curtain. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I have a confession. This was exactly what I needed." She glanced toward the kitchen. "And I would happily pay the check, but it appears there won't be one."

"We made a splash."

Charlie laughed. "We did. Let's get outta here and make more."