Chapter 7
Tina was woken up the next morning by a loud squeal and somebody jumping on her bed. Shooting upright, she whipped her head frantically, trying to beat back the hold sleep still had on her mind and look for the threat her mind perceived.
Sitting next to her, a huge grin on her face and her eyes sparkling with mischief, was Rachel, and Tina had to blink several times and take some deep breaths before she could articulate any words.
"Are you out of your frigging mind," she asked hoarsely as soon as she was able to talk. "You scared the living shit out of me! I thought I was being attacked!"
Rachel had the nerve to pout her bottom lip and Tina glared at her. "But Tina, when I heard that you'd decided to stay put for a change, I couldn't help my excitement!"
Her heart melting at the plea and the sparkle in her eyes, Tina grudgingly smiled at her sister. The little minx knew Tina couldn't stay upset with her.
"Well, you could at least have brought me coffee," she grumbled, palming the last vestiges of an uneasy sleep from her eyes.
"Would you like some coffee then," Rachel asked innocently, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
Rolling her eyes exasperatedly, Tina threw back the covers and got up. "Yes, I would actually. Though I don't guess I need the caffeine after that adrenaline rush you just gave me."
Rachel's sparkling laugh filled the room like a babbling brook, and Tina couldn't help but fondly look over at her. She was sitting cross-legged on Tina's bed and she still had the body of a teenager. Her limbs were lean and tight, currently a golden-brown hue after her honeymoon. She was wearing a gay yellow sundress and Tina noted with jealousy that she didn't need a bra as she would. Her face was flushed with pleasure and her right cheek dimpled as she smiled.
Rachel was very similar to Tina in the looks apartment, though Tina's face was more square shaped and Rachel's was round. But they both had blue eyes and full lips with pert upturned noses. Rachel had natural blond hair that was currently pulled in a ponytail, and she looked fresh and young.
Tina's heart gave a thump as she realized again that her younger sister was now married, and Tina struggled to understand how she could be so calm and happy about trusting someone so completely. Suddenly Sam's face floated into her mind's eye and her breath hitched.
What the fuck? Shaking her head, she forcefully pushed the thought of Sam and the memories trying to crowd her to the back of her mind. She didn't want to analyze her feelings right now. Her sister was back from her honeymoon and they had a lot of catching up to do.
"I better have some coffee waiting for me when I get back from the bathroom," she threw mock threateningly over her shoulder at her sister as she walked out the door and down the hall toward the bathroom.
She hadn't taken her make-up off last night before falling asleep, and when she looked in the mirror, her eyes widened in horror at the smudged circles around her eyes. I look like a raccoon; she thought and quickly jumped in the shower, scrubbing her face until it was glowing.
Washing the rest of her body, her skin tingled as she smoothed the body wash over her smooth legs, and she sighed. Whether it was in disappointment or something else, she didn't want to dwell on it. The fact was she needed some kind of release, and her options weren't looking too good at the moment.
She could give in and sleep with Sam and then try to deal with the confusing emotions and feelings he had wakened in her, or she could let go of her anger towards him and give in to Mike and be the other woman. She didn't particularly like either prospect, but as her mind wandered while she washed her hair, a thrill of excitement shot through her as she elaborated on both scenes.
She knew it would be mind-blowing with either one of them. Mike had definitely short-circuited a couple of fuses when they had been together before, and even though she had never been with another person who had done the same, there was something about Sam that she couldn't stay away from. Besides, if their kisses had been any indication, she'd probably go to pieces as soon as their clothes disappeared.
As an image of his bare chest that first night entered her mind unbidden, Tina groaned and turned off the jet of water. She was entirely too sensitive and the spray of the hot water on her skin was getting her in the wrong frame of mind. If she didn't do something about the need in her, she was going to have to start having cold showers.
Shivering at the thought, she wrapped the towel around her and furiously started drying herself. She didn't dare take her time over the task as she usually did, and when she reached for her bottle of cream automatically, she paused and bit her lip.
Anger suddenly welled up in her and she cursed her own weakness as well as the fire that had awakened in her the last week, and anger at Mike for reminding her of the passion she had buried and had lived quite comfortably without.
I wish I got delayed in England.
Stilling at the thought, Tina took a deep breath. Gritting her teeth, she picked up the lotion and clinically started applying it.
No, she wouldn't have missed her sister's wedding for the world, even if it was at the root of what she currently had to deal with. She was just going to have to deal with the feelings that night had woken in her. She wouldn't allow herself to lose her control on her life because she suddenly felt something she didn't know how to deal with.
She finished applying the lotion to her body and a satisfied smile spread her lips.
So there, she thought smugly, looking at herself in the mirror and putting her hands on her hips.
A thought struck her and letting the towel fall from her body, she cocked her head and critically examined her appearance, turning this way and that to try and see from every angle.
A frown creased her brow as she noticed that her thighs were touching and the roundness of her hips. Her breasts weren't as perky as they had been when she was seventeen and their weight rested on her chest comfortably. She had never been too bothered with these facts before, but suddenly it puzzled her why two stunningly handsome guys wanted her.
Huh, she mused, mystified.
Shrugging, she decided to file this piece of revelation away for further study at a later date. Quickly wrapping the towel around her again she padded back to her room, pushing all thoughts of men and sex to the back of her mind. Rummaging in the closet she had stored her clothes in, she selected a pair of khaki shorts and a tight black tank top. Slipping on black leather sandals that had a hint of gladiator to it, she brushed out her hair and quickly braided it to hang down her back.
Glancing out the window, she noticed that the sky was a clear and sapphire blue, making the colors outside seem crisp and fresh. It was going to be a stunning day and Tina felt her spirits lifting.
Her mood considerable improved, she bounded down the stairs and almost flew into the kitchen where her mother and Rachel were sitting around the coffee table. They both looked up at her with surprise and Tina's smile grew wider.
"You look in a better mood," Rachel observed with raised eyebrows.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she replied innocently.
Ignoring her mother's querying look, Tina flopped down on an open chair and pulled the coffee cup waiting for her close, inhaling the rich aroma deeply and taking a heavenly sip.
"Ah," she sighed, "there's nothing like a hot shower and a cup of coffee in the morning."
"At least you got rid of the raccoon look." Rachel's eyes were sparkling again and Tina forgot all about her earlier musings.
"Yeah, thanks for telling me about those. I almost had a heart attack when I looked in the mirror."
"Then that should teach you to take your make-up off before you pass out."
"I didn't pass out," Tina replied with a gasp.
She must have looked funny, because both her mother and Rachel burst out in laughter and she couldn't help but join them. Their good mood was infectious and she felt better than she had in days.
"So, Rachel," her mother said after their laughter died down, "are you going to tell us where he took you for your honeymoon?"
Finn had been very secretive about the location of where he was taking her on their honeymoon and Tina knew Rachel had been out of her mind with curiosity. Being quite curious herself, Tina turned from where she was busy fixing breakfast and listened in awe as Rachel's whole demeanor changed as she talked about the last week.
"You guys won't believe it, but he took me to Kenya," she gushed, a faraway look in her eyes.
Tina and her mother both listened, enthralled, as Rachel continued to tell them about the lodge they stayed in and the safari they took where they saw a lion take down a buck. When she finished both Tina and her mother had dreamy expressions on their faces.
"Wow honey," Marge said, looking tearily at her youngest daughter. "I'm so glad you've found someone who loves you so much."
Her words were like a punch in Tina's gut, but she ignored it and smiled brightly at her sister. "I'm glad you had such a good time, Mrs. Hudson."
Rachel flushed prettily at the mention of her new name and beamed at Tina. "And I'm so glad that you're finally coming home sis. I miss you when you're gone."
"Me too," Marge added.
Wrapping her arms around both of them Tina knew without a doubt that she was making the right decision by staying. "I miss you guys too."
They were all three chocked up when they let go and Tina busily finished preparing her breakfast of muesli and yogurt.
"So, what are we doing today?"
The question from Rachel threw Tina for a second and she couldn't understand what she meant. Finally catching on, she swallowed hastily and almost choked. "I don't have any plans yet, what do you want to do?"
"Well, why don't we go visit my friend in town?"
Considering the option, Tina couldn't come up with any protests and shrugged her ascent. Finishing her breakfast, she rinsed her cup and bowl before grabbing her handbag and sunglasses and following her sister through the front door into a scorching hot day.
They took Tina's car because Rachel had never driven in it before and they let the top down, enjoying the breeze the moving car created. Tina didn't even bother putting any music on as she knew in a town like Lima nobody lived very far from anybody, and sure enough, within five minutes they stopped in front of a modest single story house.
Rachel introduced the fair haired woman who opened the door as her friend Santana, and the three of them quickly retreated into the air conditioned lounge.
"I want to know all the juicy details," Santana said as they were all seated with long glasses of ice cold coke.
Eyes twinkling, Rachel launched into the retelling of her honeymoon again, except this time there was a lot more details and soon they were all giggling like schoolgirls.
Tina liked the forward Santana instantly. She loved the fact that the other woman didn't seem to have a filter from her brain to her mouth and kept them all in stitches with her candid observations.
"And then," Rachel giggled about an hour later, "we both had to watch with a poker face as the maid cleared it up."
We snorted in laughter again. I had never thought to use hot wax in the bedroom, and after Rachel's story, I was sure I never would.
I saw Santana checking her watch and instantly wondered what time it was.
"Okay girls," Santana declared, "I've got our schedule for the day planned out."
Rachel and Tina both looked at her expectantly, wondering where this was going. Tina was having more fun than she had had in a while and she felt at that moment that she could happily spend the rest of the day with these two women.
"Do tell," Rachel prompted and Santana smiled.
"Well, first of all, it's one in the afternoon and I'm starved, so we're going out to lunch first. After that, I think me and Tina needs to remind you what you're missing out on now that you're a Mrs."
"Oh come on Jules," Rachel groaned as Tina agreed excitedly. "I can't have a hen party after I'm already married!"
"It's not a hen party," Santana replied and rolled her eyes, "it's just a night out with the girls. Finn had you for a whole week, so I'm sure he can do without for a couple of hours tonight."
Tina laughed at the pained expression on Rachel's face and joined in the cajoling.
"Come on sis, just because you're married doesn't mean you can't have fun anymore."
"But I have fun with Finn," she whined, and Tina could see her resolve cracking.
Deciding to play her trump card, Tina sighed theatrically. "I wasn't there for your hen party." Rounding her eyes and pouting her lower lip, she stared at Rachel until the younger woman sighed her resignation.
"I should never have introduced the two of you," she grumbled as Tina and Santana squealed.
"Okay, let's go to Breadstix's for lunch," Santana decided and got up to grab her purse.
Tina and Rachel followed at a slower pace, deciding to follow Santana instead of riding with her.
Tina was quiet as she followed Santana's VW Golf. Sam kept popping into her thoughts and she found herself wishing she could visit him. Or maybe somehow accidentally run into him again. The previous night had been fun and seriously hot, and Tina kept remembering their goodbye kiss. She was still extremely embarrassed about losing control like that, but she didn't lie to herself and say that she didn't enjoy it. And that was why she needed to put some distance between them. She had enjoyed it too much and she wanted it again, and thinking like that was dangerous.
Shaking her head, she looked over at Rachel, who was quietly talking into her cellphone, explaining to Finn what their plans were.
"I know baby, and I want to as well... of course not, you know that... I just want to spend some time with my girls... okay baby, I love you."
Tina smiled at her and marveled at the love she saw burning behind her sister's sparkling eyes. It really baffled her that two people could be so happy together, even after years. She couldn't imagine the type of trust it would take to make something like marriage work. Especially not for someone like her...
Before that depressing thought could ruin her day, Tina pulled up behind Santana outside a modern restaurant front with Breadstix's in cursive above the entrance.
When they entered the small restaurant, Tina looked around in approval. The decor was eclectic, all glass and steel and forest green padded chairs. There were big silver vases with fronds in them dotted here and there and the artwork was bright and abstract with mirrors between them.
A young server in black pants, dark green shirt and matching apron showed them to a table and gave them their menus, and Santana immediately ordered a bottle of champagne.
"Are we seriously going to start drinking this early in the day," Rachel asked with a shocked look on her face and Tina couldn't help but laugh at the naughty look in Santana's eyes. She decided she really liked the younger girl and enthusiastically clinked their glasses.
"To Rachel, may she never run out of new and exciting ideas," Santana toasted, and Rachel blushed bright red.
They were chatting idly about the weather, Tina's mind drifting and her imagination once again providing her with vivid images of opportunities that could be taken in this type of weather, when Santana cleared her throat loudly and pointedly looked at Tina. Rachel had a hand in front of her mouth and was giggling silently.
"I'm sorry," Tina apologized, "did you say something?"
Santana's eyes narrowed while Rachel's went wide and she stopped giggling, staring at Tina with an expectant expression. Not knowing what she had missed, Tina frowned between the two of them and she could feel slight irritation building. Josh, did they really have to make her feel so bad for dazing out a bit.
"Who is he and what is his name?"
"What do you mean," Tina replied after a pause. She could feel herself trying to blush, but she was an exceptional poker player and kept her face straight.
"Who are you daydreaming about?"
"I'm not daydreaming about anyone."
Santana eyed her suspiciously, but eventually a frown creased her brow and she shrugged and Tina felt herself sag in relief. She really didn't want to discuss her issues with her newly married sister and her forward friend; even if she could really use some advice right now.
I probably won't follow any advice anyway, she thought. She knew this was something she needed to work out for herself. The only problem was that she hardly had any time to herself to just sit and think what she was going to do.
"I'm sorry I was spacing out," she said, trying to apologize, "I've been in England for ages and haven't seen a nice day like today for ages. I was just thinking about going for a swim."
The suspicion left Santana's eyes completely and Rachel also looked away from her.
"Well you can forget about the pool today, I told you we are going out and neither one of you are getting out of it."
"Where exactly are we going," Tina asked, apprehension suddenly tightening her stomach. She only knew one bar in town and she was pretty sure there weren't any dance clubs. She didn't think she would be able to go to The Hustle so soon after her last visit.
"There's a community dance at the fairgrounds tonight," Santana replied, her excitement evident in her dark brown eyes.
The relief Tina felt literally left her light-headed and she grabbed her champagne and took a large gulp. When she looked up, Santana was watching her suspiciously again and she quickly masked her relief.
"Then I can bring Finn," Rachel said with a Cheshire grin and Santana rolled her eyes.
"Yes, okay, fine. Bring Finn if you must," she said with a long pained expression, but Tina could see fondness hiding in her eyes.
"Yay," Rachel squealed and immediately pulled out her phone.
"So what type of dance is it," Tina asked Santana as Rachel cajoled Finn to join them.
"It's very informal, just something a couple of people came up with that we do once every three months or so. It's such a drag having to go to Cape Town if you want to dance."
"So what do I wear," Tina asked, mentally tallying her available clothes.
"Whatever you want really, just don't come in jeans and a t-shirt," Santana said with a teasing grin.
Tina was quiet for a moment as she tried to figure out what she could wear. She was actually looking forward to spending the night with her sister and her new friend without the drama of out of control emotions and hormones.
"I need to get the rest of my stuff from my flat in Cape Town," she finally sighed.
"You have a flat in cape town," Santana asked, confused.
"Yeah, I moved in with a friend during college and she kept the place even after I started traveling. I stay there when I'm in the country."
"I assumed you stay at your parents" place," Santana said and Tina giggled.
"Definitely not, although I visit them often when I am here, which is about four months in a year. I like my independence," she added, eying Santana knowingly, "I'm sure you do to."
"Guilty as charged," Santana grinned.
"So what do you actually do," Tina asked, realizing that she didn't know. She hadn't met anyone new in a while, except for Sam. But that had been easy, like she had known him for ages.
No, she scolded herself as a longing to see him came over her, you will NOT think of Sam right now.
"I'm a personal assistant at the real estate office."
Tina's mouth fell open in surprise just as Rachel got off the phone.
"Finn said he would be honored to accompany the three of us to the dance," she announced triumphantly before seeing the expression on Tina's face. "Tina what's wrong?"
Tina couldn't help it. She started giggling.
"What," both Santana and Rachel almost shouted at her.
"I spoke to you yesterday," Tina managed to choke out between breathless laughs.
She had spoken to her over the phone of course, when she had made the appointment to view the apartment. Tina had pictured the voice on the phone exactly like the woman sitting in front of her. Brunette and sarcastic. It was good to know that her instincts were still good, though she should have recognized her voice earlier. Listening to her now she could clearly make the connection.
"I don't think you should have any more champagne," Rachel said nervously, and that sent Tina off on another bout of giggling.
She had always had a strange sense of humor and her moods had sometimes been a bit unstable, making her laughs at inappropriate times and cry when it really wasn't needed. She had come to live with it and enjoyed her own humor, but she knew sometimes people didn't understand what exactly was going on in her head.
When her laughter finally subsided, she looked soberly at the two women watching her cautiously and she had to stifle another round.
"I spoke to you on the phone yesterday," she said at Santana, and she saw the other womans confusion in her eyes.
"Okay," she said with a small smile, and Tina could see her trying hard to figure out when she had spoken to her.
"You arranged an appointment for me for Tuesday to view the new block of flats," Tina prompted and saw the light of recognition go on in Santana's eyes.
"Oh my gosh, really? That was you?" Santana asked incredulously and a gale of giggles pealed from her.
Rachel was still looking like a lost sheep. "I don't understand," she said, looking at Tina. "Why are the two of you laughing?"
"Because I spoke to her at the letting agency yesterday and today we actually met," Tina tried to explain and was gratified when Rachel finally understood and chuckled.
"I don't think it's that funny," she said looking between Santana and Tina. They had both stopped giggling and thinking about it, Tina suddenly couldn't understand why she had thought it so funny either.
Oh well. Shrugging, she lifted her glass. "To destiny and new friends," she proposed, and they clinked their glasses.
As they ate their lunch and joked and teased each other, Tina felt happiness spread through her. She had made a new friend and it had been easier than she ever expected, and they were going to a dance that night, something she had always enjoyed but had not done over the last couple of years.
Like the song, she had a feeling it was going to be a good night.
A/N: READ & REVIEW
Disclaimer: Not Mine
ORIGINAL STORY: Choosing Love by Vernice Brown.
Leave a review if you like. This update is my Christmas gift to you, Merry Christmas! I'm doing a new fanfic. You can see it on my profile. Check it out darlings, please :*