No Strings Attached(37)

To her instant relief, because in the brief instant between opening her eyes and turning her body to look she’d feared the worst, Robin was still there. She lay curled into a ball with her back to Micky, hogging most of the sheet.

Micky fell back onto the mattress, letting all the memories of the day before flood her brain. How could she possibly resume her life after a day like that? How could she face her children? She was lucky they were both in a phase of their teenage years that had them mainly focused on themselves. Perhaps they wouldn’t notice how, overnight, Micky had changed.

And there was that word again: lesbian. Micky figured she had moved quite a bit on the spectrum in the space of one day. Even if she hadn’t reached full-blown lesbianism on the scale just yet, she’d at least engaged in some very lesbian activity. And she had enjoyed every single second of it. But this morning, in the clear light of day, she would have to face the consequences. She would need Amber. But, perhaps, before all of that… She turned on her side and ran a finger over Robin’s magnificent back. Even from this point of view, she was beautiful. Irresistible.

Micky remembered those nights in college when she would drink so much that, the next day when she woke up after a few hours of sleep, she’d still feel intoxicated. That was how she felt now. She wasn’t silly enough to think that this was love, but Micky was surely—unequivocally—in lust.

Robin stirred and rolled onto her back, displaying her ample chest to Micky’s gaze. There was no more doubt in Micky’s mind that they were real. After two pregnancies, Micky’s own breasts, compared to Robin’s, looked a little sad, but instead of comparing herself to Robin’s younger, worked-out body, Micky had told herself to enjoy it. After all, Robin had repeatedly said that she would be leaving Sydney at the end of the year. Micky had to take full advantage of the time she was there, and she would worry about the shape of her own body later, once Robin had left.

What an excruciating thought. Robin leaving.

“Morning.” Robin opened her eyes and stretched her arms over her head.

“Hey.” When she looked into Robin’s sleep-crusted eyes like that, Micky did, for a split second, wonder if she’d only fallen in lust. If this wasn’t more already. But how could it be? If it was, then she was just projecting or it was some other psychological trick her brain was playing on her. People in puberty fell in love in a flash. That was what was happening to her. Lesbian puberty.

“What time is it?” Robin grabbed Micky’s hand.

“A bit after ten.”

“No CrossFit again for me today. You’re ruining my fitness.” Robin smiled while lifting both their hands in the space between them.

“You’re improving mine.” Micky’s heart flooded with a strange sensation. What could possibly be more heavenly than to wake up next to another woman on a Sunday morning?

“What are you doing today?” Robin kept playing with Micky’s hand.

“Not much. Possibly meet up with Amber.”

“What would you do if I weren’t here?”

“Exactly the same, plus feel sorry for myself because you weren’t here.” Micky didn’t stop the impulse to press a kiss to Robin’s cheek. Granted, she didn’t know much about the whole friends-with-benefits thing, but she knew this was not it. This scene, in her bedroom on a glorious Sunday morning, was not one of a couple of friends having just spent the night together and happily, freely, and with a few friendly orgasms in their pockets, going on their way, continuing their lives as though this had no impact on their souls.

“Well, I’m here so no need to feel sorry for yourself.” When Robin smiled, the first pinch of dread settled in Micky’s stomach. Already, she was feeling anxious about the moment Robin would leave, when they would say good-bye—awkwardly, most likely, because Micky wouldn’t know what to say.

“Do you want to make another friend?” she asked. “You met Amber briefly at The Pink Bean last week. I’m pretty sure she would love to get to know you better.”

“Because I’m fucking her best friend?” Robin trapped Micky’s hand between hers and the spot just below her naked breast.

“Well, yes, if you put it like that.” Speaking of fucking.

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea. Yesterday and last night were great fun.” Robin gave Micky’s hand a little squeeze. “But maybe we should talk instead of being formally introduced to friends.”

Micky remembered Robin asking her if she wanted to talk last night, but talk had been the very last thing on her mind. It still was now, but for a different reason. Any conversation they would have now would ruin the spell she was under, these blissful moments of complete ignorance, of being another, brand new version of Michaela Ferro. Moreover, Micky knew she needed to have the conversation, lest she lose control over her feelings even more. Her lusty brain had to be put in its place—but the renewed throbbing between her legs wasn’t helping.