Chapter 12
*longer chapter, don't judge it until you read it all the way through
As I'm finally walking home from work I have so much on my mind. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and stop to read the text
"meet u at the bar –Lacey"
As made clear by the text Lacey is finally coming to meet for drinks. I told Ashley and Maggie to be here tonight just so I wouldn't be left alone with Lacey. The girl is family and I love her to death, but if she's anything like she was a few years ago I'm going to kill myself. And I think it's good, I'm sort of easing myself back into my friendship with Ashley. Things are different to say the least but if there's one thing I know for sure it's that I can't stand to not have her in my life. And I think I'm always going to need her.
"hey you" I hear a voice from behind me. I've been waiting outside the bar, just having arrived back from work. I wasn't too sure if I should be alone with Ashley and alcohol. Especially when I knew Maggie was coming soon.
"hey you" I smile and lean in to give Maggie a quick kiss on the lips.
"what are you doing out here?" she asks.
"just waiting for you" I lie with a smile.
"oh that's sweet" she smiles, actually believing me. I would never be able to get a lie like that by Ashley. "come on, let's go inside" she says as she holds the door open for me, letting me go first. For such a girly lesbian she is definitely wearing the pants.
"where's Ashley?" she asks, knowing she's around somewhere.
I walk over to the bar about to lean in to ask Fitz the very same question when I notice Ashley at the other end of the bar trying to pick up some girl.
"there she is" I nod subtly for Maggie to see. I can tell she wants to wrap an arm around my waist and lean in over the bar to see as well, but she hesitates behind me and instead chooses to just lean over the bar beside me, closely though.
"Ashley is definitely working it tonight. That girl is so hot" she whispers into my ear, but in a sexy way. "but not quite as hot as you are" and I smile to myself. This girl is too good to be true. I glance over again at Ashley and her new acquaintance and from what I can see she has long wavy brown hair, probably perfect enough to be in a shampoo commercial and a tight black t-shirt. She's exactly Ashley's type.
"are you going to help her out or what?" Maggie asks knowing this would probably be the exact time when I would put the drink system into action. We haven't done it since that night Ashley showed Maggie how it worked, and I'm surprised Maggie is actually okay with it.
"you sure?" I ask with a raised eyebrow as I turn around in her arms.
"sure" she shrugs. "isn't that what you guys do?" she asks innocently. And I can tell that she actually means it. I can't really tell if Maggie has noticed the dynamics in my relationship with Ashley change, or if she's just completely oblivious to it.
"alright" I say. Though I'm not entirely sure how Maggie feels about the whole situation. Then again, how sure am I?
I try to step out and get Ashley's attention to let her know I'm here but she can't seem to peel her eyes off of this girl. I wave my arm a bit higher but she still doesn't see me. Instead I watch as Ashley throws her head back in laughter. It's not even the fake kind of laughter that Ashley uses when she laughs at a girl's lame joke. It's real laughter. Ashley is actually enjoying herself and having fun.
"Fitz" I call him over knowing I'd be able to get his attention.
"hey Spencer" he smiles. "get you anything?"
"uh… see if Ashley needs anything, will ya?" he glances over at Ashley then back at me with a nod. I watch as he walks over to Ashley and leans in asking if they need any drinks. She looks back at him in confusion, to which then her eyes finally flicker over to me at the other end of the bar. She gives a small laugh as she quietly says something to Fitz while smiling over at her new lady friend. Fitz gives her a quick nod and goes about mixing up a drink. Within just a few seconds he walks back over to me placing the glass in front of me.
"a glass of water?" Maggie asks in confusion. "what does that one mean?"
"water…means the deal is already sealed" I tell her.
"oh" is all she says and I think she can feel something is wrong when I feel both arms wrap around my waist from behind. "Well that just means more Spencer time for me" she says softly. I can't help but smile at her. But I also feel a little weird with her arms all over me in front of Ashley. I subtly step out of them, but I don't want to give her the wrong impression. I am into her. I'm just not into anyone in public.
"wouldn't you like that" I flirt back wit her. "but don't forget tonight isn't about you, or me, or Ashley, it's about my cousin" I glance around the room, scanning it for my cousin.
…
Ashley
"what's a gorgeous girl like you doing sitting at a bar all alone on a Friday night?" a voice asks me as the seat next to me is quickly filled. I glance over and to my surprise there is a very sexy brunette sitting beside me. I take my time to look her up and down, and I make sure to let her know I am most definitely checking her out. Black cork wedges, very dark blue skinny jeans wrapped around those perfect legs and a very tight band tee with a slit down the cleavage area to boot. She looks around my age and I have to ask myself why aren't I going after this girl? I don't even remember the last time a girl tried picking me up with such confidence.
But as hot as this girl is, I haven't been in the mood for someone new in a while.
"I'm waiting for a few friends." I tell her as I take a drink of my rum and coke. I try and give her a short answer and the turn away just to let her know I'm not interested. In what lifetime would any normal person give this girl the shut down? Had this girl approached me a week ago she would probably already be in my bed.
"likewise" she smiles, and boy does she have a sexy smile. Perfect teeth, gorgeous hair. Shittt this is going to be hard to resist. "but I see no harm in keeping each other company until they arrive"
I notice her take a sip out of what looks like and cranberry vodka, yet she seems very well put together and sober. Not something I often see in the girls who flirt with me first.
"persistent" I comment. I like it.
"what's your name?" this beautiful mystery girl asks me.
"Ashley" I say simply.
"Ashley, tell me by some one in a million chance that the stars have aligned in my favour tonight and this beautiful girl sitting alone at the bar is actually single" this girl has got her A-game going on tonight.
"it appears to be your lucky night" I confirm with her and I can't help that it came across as flirtatious.
"I think if you gave me your number you'd see we just might both get luck tonight" seriously this girl is on fire, and she knows it too.
"I don't give out my number" I tell her, finally taking a stand. I'm wondering how far I could push this girl until she gives up, if she gives up at all. I've got nothing to lose anyways.
"well then at least let me buy you a drink" she tries again, but I just glance down to my still full drink and then back at her. I stop myself from laughing and I'm about to tell her I don't need her free alcohol when she stops me, "I know the owner of the bar" she tells me quietly as if she's trying to be modest and keep it to herself. I laugh inwardly at this girl. Never in all my years of drinking have I ever heard a girl try to pick someone up by pretending to know the owner.
"I know the owner, and I've never seen you with her" I'm quick to tell her.
"oh you know her? Then maybe you know my cousin" Cousin? Oh shit. Oh no. Oh shit. "Spencer Carlin?"
Aaaaaaand there it is, ladies and gentlemen. The exact moment when I can honestly say I didn't see it coming.
"fuck me" I exasperate, closing my eyes. I did not just spend the last 10 minutes of my life being picked up by Spencer's little cousin. Though I can honestly say she is not the same girl from the pictures.
"oh, well if you insist. Your place or mine?" she asks cheekily. She did not just say that to me.
"Lacey Carlin you are not old enough to be drinking in this bar" I say taking the drink straight out of her hands.
"Whoa. How'd you know my name?" she asks, desperately trying to get her drink back. I look at her for a second and I just tilt my head waiting for her to get it.
"You're Spencer's best friend, aren't you" she asks, not really expecting an answer.
"Not only am I Spencer's best friend and roommate, but I am the owner of this bar, and do you have any idea how much trouble I could get for serving alcohol to a minor? I cold lose my license!" usually Fitz is more on top of this stuff, but I have to admit, this girl looks a lot older than she actually is.
"Fitz!" I call him over. "turn this cranberry vodka into a virgin" I say handing the drink back to him. "and don't serve her any alcohol" I tell him strictly as I point to Lacey. He gives a quick nod and exchanges the drink before going back to the other customers.
I look at her again and still can't believe it.
"I can't believe I just flirted with an 18 year old" I mutter to myself.
"so…" she starts off awkwardly. "how about that number?" she asks, and I can't help but laugh back at her.
"I've seen pictures of you as a young girl." I mention. "this" I say, motioning to her entire body and the sexiness that it encompasses "I did not expect" and that right there was enough for her to come up with a smirk.
"well legally I may not be able to drink, but there is one good thing about being 18" she smirks and takes a step closer. This girl is seriously hilarious. I know she's just playing with me at this point.
"don't even go there" I laugh and lightly push her back down into her seat. I take another look at her and just how fine she is and I just laugh to myself. Can you imagine what could have happened if I wasn't already so caught up with another Carlin?
"so where is Spencer anyways?" she asks me, finally getting comfortable and not so flirty. "Aunt Paula told me she has a new girlfriend?" I practically cringe at the mention of the word 'girlfriend'.
"of course Paula told you about her" I roll my eyes. "and she's not her girlfriend"
"Are you kidding? I practically got her life story over the phone a few days ago. I'm expecting my wedding invitation in the mail any day now" I like this girl. She knows what's good.
"hm, yes well, the doctor has made quite the impression on Paula. Yet somehow she must have conveniently managed to forget to mention my name to you. I'm only Spencer's best friend."
"to be honest with you, I heard more about her than I have about Spencer, I wouldn't take offense to it"
"Well you're in luck, I think she's bringing her tonight." I mention casually.
"does she live up to her doctor reputation? Is she really all that Aunt Paula makes her out to be?" Lacey asks. I don't really know what Paula had to say about the doctor but I'm sure it's not far from the truth.
"and then some" I tell her in all honesty. Can't help but hate the girl, but she is pretty perfect.
"you don't like her?"
"she's… nice" and I guess I really shouldn't be using that word to describe her anymore. It got me into so much trouble the first time.
"well I think you're a pretty cool person, I'll help you steal Spencer back" she says and I nearly start choking on my drink.
"excuse me? What?" I ask, finally managing to breathe again.
"you and Spencer" she shrugs. "you hate her girlfriend because you secretly want her? It's kind of obvious"
"you don't even know anything about my friendship with Spencer" I'm quick to point out and sure to use 'friendship' instead of 'relationship'. "and she's not her girlfriend" I remind her sternly again.
"two lesbians living together without romantic feelings? Yeah right" she scoffs, ignoring the girlfriend comment. "And the fact that you don't even like her new companion kind of makes it obvious"
"you know, it's possible for me to not like the girl my best friend is dating" I point out matter-of-factly.
"yeah but you already called her nice…and have yet to actually out right deny my accusations" this girl knows her way around logic. I don't like it.
"how old are you again?" I ask, I never expected her to be this smart…and wise. Especially in the way of lesbianism.
"old enough to be good in bed" she smirks and I can't help but actually throw my head back in laughter. She never gives up. I have to give it to her though. She is definitely not the lesbian I was expecting her to be. Gorgeous and confident was not something I would have described the younger version of her.
"I know what you're thinking" she says, noticing the look in my eyes as I just kind of watch in amazement. "a lot can change in 5 years. People seem to forget that braces eventually come off, hair grows and gets cut again, and when my boobs finally came in my confidence skyrocketed. If anything, I think that transition from young girl into early adulthood is the time when people change the most"
"And you are a living example of that" I nod with a smile.
"ladies, can I get you anything to drink?" Fitz leans over and asks and he particularly gives me the stare down, and I realize what he's doing. My eyes flicker to the blonde across the room and the doctor right behind her. My stomach drops at the sight of Spencer being cute with the doctor. I know she chose her over me, but it still hurts. But then it occurs to me that Spencer thinks I'm trying to pick up some girl. Lacey still has her back turned to the door so Spencer can't even get a look at her face.
"Don't look now, but Spencer's here" I mention to Lacey as Fitz and I are still leaned in close. "she thinks you're some girl I'm trying to pick up" I tell Lacey and she starts to laugh.
"what?" she says and she's about to turn around, but I stop her.
"let's have fun with this" I smirk. "Fitz, send her a water please and thank you"
"water it is" he smiles and off he goes to make her a drink.
"am I missing something?" Lacey asks, still confused but I shuffle closer to her to make it look like I'm really flirting, not that Lacey has a problem with it.
"it's a complicated story but Spencer saw us across the room and just assumed I'm trying to pick you up"
"little does she know it was me trying to pick you up" she flirts back with her sexy voice.
"and failed at it" I add with a smirk.
"for now" she just smirks back.
"well for now, Spencer is under the impression that you and I are about to go back to my place and jump in bed."
"play your cards right and that could still happen" she shrugs.
"do you ever stop flirting?"
"not really" she answers quickly and confidently.
"maybe you're better off saving it for someone your own age" I suggest as I offer my hand for her to take just as we're about to go and meet Spencer and the doctor.
"maybe I'm better off saving it for someone who isn't in love with my cousin" she says and instead of replying with some smart ass answer, I just pick up my drink and pull her along to where Spencer is.
This is going to be fun.
…..
"Spencer, hey!" I catch her attention, as she and the doctor are about to take a seat at one of the tables at the back.
"hey" she says awkwardly, expecting me to have already gone home. Lacey is behind me but I can tell she's intentionally looking away to try and avoid revealing herself to Spencer. "I thought you were busy"
"oh, I am" I say with that tone where I'm just up to no good. "but I just met this girl and I think I'm in love" I whisper to them. Spencer practically chokes on her drink and her eyes grow crazy wide. It takes everything I have not to laugh and ruin it all.
"she's perfect" I whisper to Spencer and the doctor, keeping them at close range, Lacey pretending not to hear. "we've been talking for like half an hour and we just hit it off so well! I don't even know her name yet, but she's….perfect" I shrug, fuck I should have become an actress. This is just too good.
"uh…um…" Spencer is at a completely loss for words. And I'm dying on the inside.
"baby, come meet my friends" I say to Lacey as I bring her closer by our clasped hand, rubbing her arm up and down.
"Spencer?" she shouts excitedly.
And her face just drops.
"Lacey?" she asks and I swear she's about to have a fucking stroke. Lacey goes in to hug Spencer and manages to wrap her arms around the girl and Spencer is still frozen.
"you…and Ashley?" she asks. Still stunned.
"Spence, I think I'm in love" Lacey whispers clearly having overheard my conversation with Spencer just seconds before.
"oh hell no!" she says and pulls back. "no!" she shouts again and I've never seen her this shaken. This is too much. Maybe it's time to come clean. I give Lacey and look and she knows it's time.
"there is no way you and my cousin are getting together. What the fuck? An 18 year old, Ashley?" and of course Spencer starts yelling at me, lecturing me.
"Spencer!" I try to get her attention but she just keeps going.
"she's my little cousin, are you crazy? In love? No way, you've only known each other for 2 seconds and you're ready to be in a relationship, are you fucking kidding me?" and now this is getting out of hand.
"Spencer" Lacey says calmly and grabs a hold of Spencer's shoulder. "we're just fucking with ya!" she says jokingly. "Ashley and I just met at the bar 20 minutes ago and we've just been talking, that's it."
"you..what?" Spencer asks trying to catch her breath.
We both start laughing at her but only because it was moments away from Spencer having a complete breakdown.
"Lacey sat down beside me at the bar and was trying to pick me up-"
"-which almost worked" Lacey adds in.
"but I said no because I was meeting up with you guys tonight. Come on, you know you always come first" I smile at her pulling her into a side hug.
"and might I add it is a very rare thing that I get shut down" Lacey says confidently. And she has every reason to be confident. Spencer covers her face in embarrassment from her freak out and still tries to process everything.
"so…you're not together?" she asks turning to bury her face into the doctor's shoulder.
"no" I say.
"not yet" Lacey says at the exact same time, and I just roll my eyes at her.
"Spencer, you never told me how hot your cousin was though" I point out in all honesty.
"time has been good to you" Spencer nods finally pulling her little cousin in for a long awaited hug.
"it's amazing what puberty and a little make up will do for a girl" she says and all of a sudden she finally notices the doctor. "oh hey, I'm Lacey" she holds out her hand.
"oh sorry!" Spencer finally realizes. "Maggie, this is my cousin Lacey. Lacey this is Maggie, my…" and she's at a loss for words. Even though the rest of us have been calling the doctor her girlfriend for a while now.
"just Maggie" she smiles, not wanting to make Spencer feel uncomfortable any longer. "or you can call me 'the doctor', I hear it's a popular nickname amongst everyone else" she jokes. Fuck, she caught on. I completely avoid eye contact at this point.
Lacey and the doctor finally shake hands and when they pull back Lacey just gives me a look. And I know what the look means. She's totally on my side. I knew I would like her. We all take a seat at one of the tables and Kelly comes to take drink orders.
"so how did you know she was my cousin?" Spencer asks me as she takes a second to lean in closer to Maggie so that they could be all couple-y. Spencer looks so uncomfortable and it seems so unnatural for them to do it. I almost cringe, but I ignore it.
"I didn't. She's nothing like what I expected. I was imagining some awkward blonde girl, who looked a few years younger"
"she's a Carlin" Spencer points out. "blonde hair runs on my mom's side of the family, not so much my dad's"
"right, right" I agree. "I was not expecting Arthur's side of the family to be so…"
"beautiful? Gorgeous? Sexy? Take your pick" Lacey says confidently, but not arrogantly, causing the rest of us to laugh.
"please do not associate those words with my dad" Spencer comments, covering her ears for effect.
"I don't know…" I throw in for fun. "When Arthur wears his 'Kiss the Chef' apron I always go weak in the knees" I joke causing everyone to laugh, even Spencer.
"sorry, I have to ask, you're 18?" the doctor had to ask. Not that we weren't all thinking the same thing.
"in my prime" she shrugs. "I can't help that bars and clubs and girls all think I'm a few years older" she smirks. And Spencer and the doctor immediately look down to her cocktail at the table.
"it's cranberry juice" I'm quick to announce.
"well it appears I'm going to have to call my mom tomorrow to inform her that Lacey most definitely does not need our help adjusting to the L.A. lifestyle" Spencer says. She couldn't be more right. This girl has LA pegged.
"if anything, Los Angeles is going to need to adjust to you" I tell Lacey with a quick nudge.
"well as comfortable as I may seem at the gay bars I'm still lost in a new city" she reminds us.
"I can show you around" I shrug. "I know Spencer does the 9 to 5 thing, these days it's more like the 9 to 9 thing, but I'm free during the day" my eyes flicker to Spencer's and then back to Lacey. Spence and I both know she's been avoiding me a lot this week. Today was the first day that we finally got back into the groove. If you could even call it that. It's more like the first day that Spencer pretended like we're back in the groove.
"yeah?" Lacey asks, a little surprised. "that sounds cool, if that's alright with you Spencer"
"sure…yeah" she says meekly. "I've been pretty busy lately anyways. With the job and spending all my free time with Maggie I haven't really had much time to do anything else"
"that's cool, there's no rush to spend time together I guess. I'm settling into the new apartment and classes start up next week so I'll be busy too" Lacey says.
"what are you studying in school, Lacey?" the doctor asks. Is it weird that I get angry every time she says something? Like maybe it's her voice that I find annoying? Or her need to feel included in everything. I probably sound like a psychotic bitch….but I really don't care.
"business…at UCLA"
"business?" I ask out loud, a little stunned by her answer. And I immediately make eye contact with Spencer because I know she knows what I'm thinking.
"don't even think about it" Spencer stops me, but all in good humour. "you don't actually know anything about business!" she argues.
"I do too! I run my own business establishment" I point out, gesturing to the entire bar that we are in.
"no, you bought your own business establishment, you have no idea how it operates"
"I know more than you think" I tell her in all honesty. Spencer thinks all I do is drink at the bar every night, which is true, to a certain degree. But I take care of inventory and arrange shipments and I make personal relationships with regular customers, I take care of paychecks every other week, I see my lawyers once every 6 months to check in with budgeting and profit.
"actually" Lacey speaks up. "I wouldn't mind getting to know more about your bar and everything" she says in all honesty.
"I would love to help" I reply to Lacey, but my eyes are strictly focused on Spencer just to rub it in her face.
….
We decided to call it an early night. Lacey complained that she wasn't getting any action and the doctor had to be up early for some morning shift. Plus we'll be seeing lots of Lacey tomorrow anyways since she's coming with us to family lunch at the Carlin's. I dread the day that Paula will invite the doctor to join us, it's just a matter of time really. She's already all but adopted her into the family.
"and to think you were all stressed and panicked about your annoying little cousin coming to L.A." I tell Spencer as we unlock the apartment door and enter inside, turning on all the lights on our way in.
"how was I supposed to know she was going to grow up to be…"
"…a hot lesbian?" I finish for her, tossing my keys onto the side table by the door.
"yeah, well…don't let my parents hear you talking about her like that" she says and walks over to the fridge for drinks. "you want?" she asks.
"beer me" I tell her and watch as she pulls out a couple of beers for us. She hands on of them to me as I walk over to the living room area, opening the bottle with the help of my shirt and turning on the TV. Spencer walks back to the kitchen to find a bottle opener for herself.
"do your parents know that Lacey got hot?" I ask, eyes hypnotized by the TV, taking a sip of my drink.
"I kinda doubt it" she tells me. "I think if they had more recent pictures of her they would have shown us"
"I wish I had a recent picture of Lacey" I mumble quietly to myself. Girl is fine.
"I heard that" Spencer says, still standing in the kitchen, now checking out the mail for the day. I can't help but smirk, but I don't let her know it.
"I'm just saying, you don't see too many naturally beautiful girls like her around here…"
"that's because this is Los Angeles. There are so many plastic surgeons no one even knows the definition of natural beauty anymore" she tells me from across the room.
"are you trying to tell me you don't think I'm naturally beautiful, Spence? That's just mean…" I pretend to feign innocence. She pauses and looks at me in disbelief. Not because she thinks she offended me, but more because I would assume she doesn't think I'm hot. Let's be honest here, I'm totally hot.
"your long list of one night stands could easily reaffirm your attraction and natural beauty" she tells me honestly, both complimenting me and taking a jab at my whore-ness at the same time.
"Speaking of one night stands," I tell her catching her attention. "if Lacey's last name wasn't Carlin she and I would probably be in my bedroom at this very moment"
"okay, I get it, you think my cousin is hot! Do you ever talk about anything else?" she asks with a smile and a shake of her head. I can't help my attraction to the ladies.
"jealous?" is all I ask. And now it's her turn to smirk. She drops the mail and puts her beer down on the table, turning in my general direction.
"jealous? You think I'm jealous?" she asks and now we're both smirking. It's a smirk-fest. Can't help but love when a girl can make you smile.
"I think you're very jealous" I challenge her. I drop the remote to the couch and place my beer on the coffee table beside me, turning around to face the blonde.
"jealous of what?" she asks, letting her fingers play with the beer bottle, trying to kill time, waiting for my answer.
"my oh-so-dedicated interest in your extremely attractive cousin" I inform her.
"oh, is that what you think?" she asks and her fingers pause where they are.
"would you like to attempt to prove me wrong?" I ask, waiting for her to make the first move.
And it's like she's been waiting for me to say those words all along. She starts walking across the room in my direction, picking up the pace a little bit as she goes and eventually hurdling her body in mid air toward mine. She jumps up on me, legs wrapping around my hips and my hands quickly go to her thighs to hold her in place. Her arms quickly wrap around my neck for support and she brings us very close together.
"now, why would I be jealous of my cousin?" she asks, very closely to my face. "While she is sitting at home alone in her one bedroom apartment, I am here with you and I get to do this…" she says and she leans down to press her lips into mine. And I don't think I'll ever get over that amazing feeling of her lips against mine. I deepen the kiss and turn us around so I can sit down on the couch. Never once separating our kiss I take a seat and now instead of holding Spencer up I have her straddling me. She brings her arms out from around my neck and lets her fingers trace down my jaw line and to the pressure points down my neck. I kiss her again and again, never wanting the moment to end. We agreed that kissing is as far as we would go right now and I'm completely okay with that, because I see absolutely nothing wrong with having Spencer Carlin sitting on top of me, giving everything she's got into this make out session. I'd rather have her half way than not at all. And I'm glad she feels the same way, but I'm going to do everything I can to make her mine.
Okay, so Spencer didn't choose me.
But she also didn't choose Maggie.
And I guess that's better than nothing.
