Page 78 of A Shot at Love
He deflated, collapsing against his seat as Jules returned to her seat next to him. “God, I’m such an idiot.”
"I would have to agree with that statement.”
“I’m sorry, Jules,” he said, “and I hope you know I genuinely mean it. I will never speak to you, to either of you, like that again. I was out of line and out of my mind.”
“Yeah, you were.” Jules crossed her arms but she could tell Cam was warring with himself over guilt he felt. They’d never found themselves in a situation likethis before and she didn’t like it. The anguish visible in his stressed expression told her that he didn’t either.
“So…you’re dating my coach then. Officially. And I guess…you have my blessing?”
Jules laughed before she could stop herself and she grabbed his hand, patting it gently. “Thanks, buddy. And I accept your apology, but I would’ve dated her without your blessing because it’s not the 1950’s and I don’t need your permission. Plus, she’s ridiculously hot. Have you seen her? There’s no way I could walk away from that.”
Another knock on her door, the second one that night, came as a sign that the conversation with her brother was over for now and Cam got back to his feet, pulling her up with him.
He hugged her like she was fourteen again, a reminder that it was them against the world, but that times were changing for both of them and that was okay too.
"I love you.” She mumbled it against his chest and then glanced towards the door when the person on the other side knocked a second time. “But you’re going to have to leave now because the woman I love had a tough day at the office and I promised I’d make her feel better.”
Cam laughed and gave her another loving squeeze. She tried to tug herself free but he didn’t let go until she squirmed against him.
“That’s gross,” he said through his teeth. “But I’m happy for you both.”
When Jules opened the door, Frankielooked between her and Cam. She raised an eyebrow in silent question but said nothing. Cam stepped around her and threw one last glance over his shoulder at Jules, shooting her a wink.
“Everything good?” Frankie asked as they both watched him walk down the hallway until he disappeared around the corner.
Jules smiled then grabbed Frankie’s hand and tugged her inside. She locked the door behind them then spun Frankie around and her whole body relaxed at the feeling of her being close.
It happened a lot when Frankie was close. It was like her nervous system knew that she was safe now, that she could catch her breath and slow down for a little while.
It’s funny, she thought as she looked at Frankie, how she and Cam had moved around so much but had never settled somewhere that really felt like home. That was beginning to change and a lot of it had to do with the redhead regarding Jules with an affectionate smile at the corner of her lips, her green eyes curious.
She stepped closer to Frankie and raised her hands to the zipper of the hoodie she was wearing. Running her thumb over the zipper a few times, Jules bit her lip then pulled it down, revealing a white camisole beneath the fleece material. Beneath the tank top, Frankie wasn’t wearing a bra and the sight of it, of her hard nipples and the pert fullness of her breasts, made Jules lick her lips in anticipation.
“Would you like to take a shower with me?” She slipped the fleece material off Frankie’s shoulders and skirted her fingers over bare skin, trailing them down Frankie’s arms as she pressed up onto her tip toes to whisper in Frankie’s ear. “I have a very good detachable shower head that works wonders on achy muscles…and other tender areas.”
Frankie turned into Jules’ touch, seeking out her lips. “How could I possibly refuse an offer like that?”
Jules awoke to the sound of Frankie’s soft breathing at around three am and couldn’t fall back to sleep. She squinted at the clock in her bedside table thenrolled onto her side and stared at Frankie’s silhouetted frame, watching the way her chest rose and fell with every inhale and exhale. It was surreal when she really gave it some thought, the fact that six months ago the woman sharing her bed was a stranger.
She didn’t know what to expect when she and Cam made the move to Halifax and never even planned on putting any effort into dating. Dating had always been a failure, had only left her heartbroken and insecure. She definitely didn’t expect anything to come from a chance meeting with a woman at the gym who was far too cool and way out of Jules’ league, but now here they were.
Now Frankie Stevens was asleep beside Jules, and Jules loved her. How amazing was that? How lucky was she?
“Babe,” Frankie mumbled sleepily, rolling over and pressing herself against Jules. She slid a hand over Jules’ hip and nuzzled her face against her shoulder. “You're awake.”
Jules smiled to herself and pressed her lips to Frankie’s forehead. “Shh, go back to sleep.”
“Hmm?” Frankie lifted her head then pushed herself up onto her forearm. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m okay.”
A moment later, Frankie turned on the lamp next to the bed and the darkness in the room was replaced by soft light. She sat up against the headboard and Jules suddenly wished she'd kept her eyes closed, had pretended to be asleep despite the thoughts circling in her head, had been able to quell the desire she felt to bemorewith Frankie until daylight because now was not the right time to have this conversation and yet…
“Jules, talk to me.”
“It’s fine.” Jules waved her off. “Really. Let's go back to sleep.”
Frankie stroked her cheek and tucked some hair behind her ear. “Iwasasleep, you weren’t.”
