Chapter 11
"Who wears a bright pink suit at a wedding?". Gail asked Traci and Adam pointing her finger at Duncan approaching them. He was wearing a bright pink suit with a white fedora hat and a gold chain necklace.
"What's up Gail? Adam? Traci? How do you like my suit?". Duncan turned around to give them a three hundred sixty degree angle of his tailor made suit.
"It's very bright Duncan, very bright". The blonde said dully.
"Traci why don't we grab some drinks by the bar and leave these two alone". Adam deviously smiling at Traci.
"I suppose we could do that". Traci agreed and walked towards the bar.
Duncan leaned in closer to Gail and whispered something in the blonde's ear.
"So what do you say we ditch this wedding and grab a drink somewhere and swing by my place?". Over confident Duncan tried to persuade the blonde.
"There are free drinks here Duncan, why would I go somewhere else and pay?" Gail huffed, Why don't you go grab me some food or something. Gail tried to get rid of him anyway she can.
While Duncan kept blabbering about how awesome he looks tonight, Gail saw a familiar dark haired woman. What is she doing here? She was thinking to herself. She noticed that the woman was scanning the room trying to locate someone. She wasn't listening to any words Duncan is saying, she wants to find out who her date was.
Marlo waved at someone and smiled when Gail looked at her way she saw Holly waiving back at Marlo. It was like someone poured a bucket of cold water all over her body. Holly's date was Marlo. When Marlo leaned and gave Holly a kiss to the cheek Gail felt her cheeks got warm, she couldn't stand seeing Holly with someone else. She tried ignoring them and listened to Duncan's praises about how sharp he looks with his bright pink suit and how much he paid for it.
"Duncan please stop talking. Let's go over to Traci and Adam". The blonde placed her right hand over Duncan's mouth.
When the wedding was about to start she sat with Adam and Traci at the back, Duncan closely following her. Gail's mood suddenly changed, she sat there looking intently at the floor with bitterness. Holly and Marlo sat in a few rows ahead of them which kinda suck because now she can't avoid looking at every little thing they do. It was as if Gail was paralyzes with jealousy. Traci noticed the blonde's distant glare at the floor.
"Gail are you okay?" Traci asked.
"Yeah, I was looking for Oliver and Celery". Gail quickly fabricated a lie.
"They're over there with Chris and Jen". Traci pointed at Oliver's location.
After the newly wed's first dance Duncan wanted to show off his moves so he went to the dance floor, he started shaking his body wildly and tossing his fedora hat in the air. Gail on the other hand went straight to the bar. She waived at the bartender, ordered tequila and downed her 4th shot for the night.
She could feel someone coming up behind her, the blonde swiveled in her stool and saw the brunette. Gail felt her stomach turning, she has to gather herself together while looking cool and effortless.
"Hi Gail, woah who's is that guy? Where's you date?". Holly looked amused at Duncan's dance moves.
" Pink Panther over there Holly is my date…. Unfortunately". She replied coldly.
"Oh sorry Gail, I didn't mean to". The brunette looked from Duncan to Gail.
In an effort to avoid Holly's stare the blonde glance at Duncan who is now doing the running man dance. "So you're with Marlo tonight?".
The brunette took the two glasses of champagne that she asked from the bartender."Yes, Since we are going at the same wedding I said yes. Is that your friend Adam with Traci?".
"Yup". The blonde replied apathetically.
Sensing Gail's lack of interest in talking to her Holly stepped away from the bar and started walking towards Traci and Adam's direction who was chatting with Marlo. Holly looked a little mystified at the sudden change in Gail's demeanor towards her. She kept thinking is there anything or something she did that offended the blonde. The loud cheer pulled the brunette out of her thoughts, the newlyweds looked happy as they hugged their family and friends who attended the wedding.
Dov and Chloe walked around the reception area and thanked people for coming at their wedding. Chloe looked amazing in her white strapless beaded gown and Dov looked dashing in his black tuxedo. They marched hand in hand towards the car waiting for them outside with a "Just Got Married" banner behind it. They kissed before they got in the car that made everybody cheer.
"Well, this was a fun filled night". Oliver said raising his glass and happily smiling at everyone at the entrance of the reception hall.
"More of an alcohol filled day for me". Gail answered as she walks with Oliver back inside. She saw Holly and Marlo getting ready to leave.
The blonde felt an impulse of asking about Marlo's presence at the wedding. "Why is Marlo here Ollie, Is she friends with Chloe and Dov?.
"She and Chloe used to be partners before Chloe got transferred at 15. Why?". Oliver explained to the blonde. He looked at the blonde with a confused look.
Gail shrugged her shoulders "I don't see her hanging out with you guys, that's all". The blonde doesn't want Oliver to question her sudden curiosity about Marlo so she smiled at him and marched towards Duncan now sitting on their table.
Once inside, Duncan gave Gail a beer. "I know you like me baby, I mean why would you asked me for a second date if you don't like me". He wiggles his eyebrows at the blonde.
"You're not my type Pal, I'm using you as a prop". Gail replied in a monotone voice.
Before Duncan could process what he just heard their conversation was cut short, thankfully by Adam and Traci who was holding their coats. "What do you say about heading home?". Adam surveying the blonde's weird behavior.
"I was ready to go home 2 hours ago". Gail sighed.
Adam walked Traci to her car and gave her a peck on the cheek. Duncan tried to push his luck and tried doing the same thing with Gail but the blonde rejected his actions and threatened to punch him in the nuts if he comes close to her.
"You drive." Gail threw the keys at Adam.
"What's with you tonight? You're a little off". Adam turned the engine on and started driving away.
Gail took her time in choosing how to answer her friend's question without giving him a hint that she was trying to hide what was really bothering her. "Have you seen what Duncan was wearing…..That destroyed my mood and I'm thinking about ways on how to eliminate him".
"He's not that bad Gail, he's fun although he doesn't seem to care what he wears but he's a decent guy". Adam smiled and glanced at Gail.
The blonde kept thinking about Holly, she left with Marlo. Is Marlo still with her? Are they making out? This is what I do, I push people away. Gail was talking to herself silently. Adam observed Gail's lack of enthusiasm in having a conversation with him but he knows Gail well and he knew something is bothering her.
"What's really bothering you? I'm not stupid Gail". Adam occasionally glancing at the blonde while keeping his eyes on the road.
Gail sighed. She knows her friend won't let this go without explaining to him what is going on with her. But the thing is she doesn't know where to start. She kept her silence and hope they will get to her apartment sooner.
"Is it Holly?" Adam asked without looking at his friend.
Gail froze, her lips couldn't move, she looked away and rested her right cheek to her right palm. She knew the jig was up. Adam caught her, he did knew her well after all.
"I saw the way you kept looking at her. You like her?. Adam spoke softly. He knew there's a slim chance the blonde would admit to anything especially when it comes to feelings and emotions.
"I don't want to talk about my feelings"…. And then Gail fell silent. "in the car, so drive fast and let's talk about this at home". She continued.
Gail unlocked her apartment door Adam came rushing in straight to the kitchen, she could hear him opening the fridge and grabbing some beer before he sat on the couch and motioned to Gail to sit next to him.
"I'll go change into something comfortable for a minute". She removed her heels. Went inside her room and was gone for about 20 minutes.
When she finally decided to get out of her room wearing a sweat pants and a hoodie she sat next to her friend and opened a can of cold beer. "I was thinking about Holly the entire night". Confessed Gail.
"Does Holly know you like her?"
"I think so, I think she likes me too Adam". Gail smiled thinking about the time they spent together the past couple of days.
Adam looked unsettled "So? What's the problem? If you like her and she likes you, you should go for it".
"You're not gonna ask me since when did I started liking women? The blonde was thrown off guard by Adams reply.
"Love is love Gail". He stated simply.
Encouraged by her friends positive reaction Gail went on telling Adam the whole story of how they met. Adam Was listening intently to Gail forgetting that he was holding a beer. Gail leaned against the couch and asked Adam what he would do if he was in her shoes.
He looked like he was thinking really hard, the creases on his forehead appeared and then he flicked his fingers like a bulb went on "Do you know her address?" He asked excitedly.
"Yeah, wait.. are you suggesting I should go to her place right now?" Gail flinched at him.
"Yes, you should tell her how you feel about her, how jealous you got when you saw her with.. what was her name again? Adam looked at Gail and waited for her to drop the name. Marlo yeah, go. I'll drive you". Adam stood up and pulled Gail off the couch.
"What if Marlo is with her and they're making out? What would I say? What would I tell her?" She sunk her body even further on the couch resisting Adam pulling her.
Adam pulled her even harder this time "you have to take a chance Gail, you can't plan everything in life".
Gail sighed "You're right… I'll go over there and tell her… yup that's what I'm gonna do". She stood up looking for the car keys.
"If you need back up just give me a call and I'll come right away". He was pacing back and forth and rubbing his palms together.
"Okay.. wait… why would I need back up and why are you pacing back and forth?" Gail asked.
Adam stopped instantly and gave his friend a reassuring smile "You can do this".
"I know". She hugged Adam and walked towards the car.
Gail kept rehearsing her lines, kept repeating it over and over but she just couldn't find the right words to describe how she truly feels about the brunette. She parked a few feet away from Holly's house, she could see that the lights were still on so she knows she's still up she just doesn't know who's with her. She can't turn back now and go back to her apartment without saying anything to Holly because she knows she would never hear the end of it from Adam. Her phone vibrated and received a text from Adam.
"Knock on her door already :D"
She smiled at her friends moral support. She unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the car and walked towards Holly's front door. She knocked several times, she felt light headed and out of breath. She looked down and realized she was wearing a sweat pants and a hoodie. She was so preoccupied about what to say to Holly she didn't even notice what she was wearing. When the door opened she saw Holly.
"Hi Holly is Marlo here?". She spoke right away before the rush of her adrenaline runs out
"No,she's not. Before Holly could finish her sentence Gail started spilling her guts on how she feels about her.
"Holly I'm sorry, okay, I'm not very good at expressing my emotions and feelings, I like you… very much, I like talking to you, I like listening to your nerdy jokes and the stories you tell me about an autopsy or something, I like the way you smile, I like everything about you which is strange because I never planned to fall in love with a woman, you know..
"Gail wait".. Holly tried stopping Gail from talking.
"Just let me finish Holl. I plan about everything, what I wear, what time I'm gonna do my laundry, where I'm gonna eat but after meeting you it changed and I wasn't used to it so I pushed you away because I you were never part of my plan..
"Gail hold on one sec. why don't you sit down for a minute". Holly interrupted her again.
Gail ignored the brunette's invitation and continued professing her feelings for Holly.
"Falling in love with a woman was never part of my plan but here I am, confessing to you. When I saw you with Marlo tonight I got jealous Holl. I kept thinking about you kissing her it was eating me up inside Holly. I've never felt this vulnerable before. When we kissed it was the most amazing kiss I ever had and I kissed a lot of people before you know… what I'm saying is…. I'm sorry. Let's start over again, please I know I pushed you away, hurt your feelings, ignored you but please can we start over? I would love to take you out on a date.. like a real date, you and me". Gail sighed after her admission of her feeling and looked Holly in the eye.
"Oh My God. That was so romantic. It's like watching a live movie". Traci was sitting in the couch and heard everything she said obviously stunned.
The blonde was mortified when she noticed Traci. She stared at Holly who was still standing in the doorway.
"I was going to tell you Traci was here but you won't stop talking". Holly said.
The blonde smiled a little bit at Holly and pulled her in for a hug "I missed you. I just had to get this feeling, emotion, love whatever you call it out of my chest"
"I like you too and yes I would love to go on a date with you in one condition." Holly looked into the blonde's eyes.
"Anything". Gail replied, her hands resting on Holly's waist.
"You should wear your high heels". Holly whispered into Gail's ear.
Gail stood there, Holly's statement caught her off guard.
Before she could even say something Holly's arms were around her, holding her as close as possible while kissing the blonde gently. The soft gentle kiss gradually turned into a deep passionate kiss.
"I am closing my eyes and turning away because I know I have to give you privacy and all but I can't ignore the moaning and the increased breathing sounds so..". Traci
mockingly stated.
"and by the way Sgt. Gail Peck you have a lot of explaining to do". Traci continued.