Part Five: Don't Rock the Boat

"Jenny, I've been trying to get a hold of you for over three weeks now. You've been impossible to pin down for anything longer than a coffee date on a Wednesday morning for the last six months. What's going on? This isn't like you," Jeff pushed. He was standing in my office so it wasn't like I could send him to voicemail like I have the last serval times.

I laughed and smiled, even though I felt slightly called out and definitely cornered. "I've been busy with work. I'm sorry if I've been flaky." That was at least half true.

"Well, I'm here now. Catch me up and take me out to lunch."

"I've been working on a few joint ventures with some local schools to start some really exciting LGTBT+ programing for kids in conjunction with my foundation, it's still in the planning stages but it'll be moving to the funding stages soon and once it to that stage I can get it off the ground officially," I said with a shrug as I fiddled with papers on my desk.

"That doesn't sound so pressing. Why the hermit act? Are you dating someone?" He asked watching me carefully. I didn't look up or answer as fast as I normally would have, I was too slow to answer or look up. He knew me very well; he knew when I was trying to avoid something and instantly called me out on it. Jeff's eyebrows climbed into his hairline, and his mouth fell open as he proclaimed. "Oh my god it's that cute blonde from the fundraiser, what's her name?"

"Jeff, come on. You know her name is Kelly and no. I'm not dating anyone. In fact, I've forgotten about all those dating apps I was on." That was mostly true. The whole truth would be I deactivated my accounts two months ago.

"Wait, you did what? Hold on now, who are you and what did you do with my best friend Jenny. Because the Jenny I know would never cut off her best line to regular booty." Jeff gave me a pointed look and I turned away unable to meet his gaze.

"I'm not looking for anything right now. Not even sex to be honest. I've been enjoying some down time with some friends." That was mostly true, Kelly was a friend. He should believe that. Right?

"What friends? You haven't called me and I'm usually the first person you call. So, what friends?" Jeff wasn't bothering to hide his hurt, now I was starting to crumble. I wanted to keep this all to myself to for a while. This was brand new, and it was mine. I didn't want to spoil it by introducing it to the rest of my life, at least not yet.

"Well…"

"Tell me over lunch I'm starving."

"Um…well I already have plans Jeff. I'm sorry. I didn't know you were coming."

"Of course, you didn't. You don't pick up the phone anymore or keep any of our other standing dates. You're even evasive over text message. Why do you think I'm here? It's not the décor."

I smiled and chuckled.

"So, who do you have lunch plans with? If it's business related, I can forgive you."

I smiled and looked away. The smiled remained as I admitted, "It's Kelly. We made lunch plans weeks ago. I can't break them now; I'm still rebuilding my friendship with her. You know how it is. How about lunch tomorrow?"

"How about I just join you and Kelly? She seems like a fantastic person and I wouldn't mind getting to know her better anyway. If you really just friends, there shouldn't be a problem with another friend joining you for lunch. Right?"

"Um…" I panicked and Jeff noticed.

Shit.

"Not dating huh. I haven't seen you this evasive or this nervous in years. I have to see you two together." Jeff said directly looking me in the eyes.

Suddenly a familiar bubbly laughter came through the crack in my office doors catching both of our attention, I recognized that laugh. Shit, she was really early today. Then before I could get a word out, my assistant announced her.

"Miss Stone, you have a Miss Collins on her way in to see you."

Jeff raised his eyebrow at me. Yes, I knew what it implied to have a standing order with my assistant for Kelly to come right in anytime with only an announcement as warning. That type of access to me was unusual and never given to anyone not even Jeff.

He raised a single eyebrow at me and silently mouthed the words, "Not dating? Bullshit!"

"Hi Jennifer! I know I'm early, but I couldn't wait. I was so excited to see you today," Kelly said as she walked into my dark drab office like a breeze of fresh fragrant air and bright sunshine that pushed back all the darkness.

Kelly's very presence brought a smile to my face and lightness to my whole being I forgot was possible and yet she reminded me every day it was. A small daily miracle.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Kelly said stopping in her tracks when she spotted Jeff standing at my desk. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"You're not, this is a social call. It's nice to see you again Kelly."

Kelly's face brightened at the recognition. "Jeff, right? It's great to see you again. Are you joining us for lunch today?"

"No," Jeff said his smile growing as my smile began to disappear as it was slowly being eating away by worry. What was Jeff up to? Didn't he just say he wanted to come to lunch with us? Jeff turned to Kelly his smile widening as he said, "I'm here to invite the two of you to dinner."

"Dinner? The three of us, or a party?" Kelly asked as she flashed him her megawatt smile. I realized then I was doomed. There would be no way to get out of it now.

"An intimate party of friends. We haven't seen Jenny in months, you've been keeping her all to yourself so I thought it would be fun if we all finally got to meet you. It's not fair that Jenny's been keeping you all to herself."

"Well, to be honest Jeff that more my fault than hers," Kelly said her smile shifting to a shy expression that surprised me.

"Really? How?" Jeff asked.

"I've missed Jennifer so much, reconnecting and getting close again has been almost everything I've ever wanted. I've been shellfish taking up so much of her time. A party to meet everyone would be great. Of course, a second one will be necessary so I can introduce Jennifer to all my friends as well. Hopefully, I'll be able to convince you to come as well?"

"Why don't I text you the address and we can turn it into a normal size party? Invite everyone." Jeff said as he pulled out his phone and passed it over to Kelly to add her number in.

"That would be even better!"

I watched them exchange contact info with growing dread. I'm not ready for this.

Kelly looked up at me, her smile growing for that moment as our eyes connected. Suddenly, my fears didn't seem so big as my desire to keep that smile on Kelly's face became top priority.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

"I'm shocked you called wanting to get coffee. You're usually too busy lately," Gloria commented with a non-judgmental shrug. Kelly nodded staring down at her tea.

"I know and I wanted to apologize about that. I didn't realize how wrapped up I'd become lately. I'm sorry if I'd been neglecting our friendship," Kelly said with a small frown.

"It's okay, I know how it is to be in that honeymoon phase of dating. It's easy to get wrapped up in each other. Although part of me is still shocked your with "Captain Stone" but you know when I think back on it now, I really shouldn't be, you two had some intense chemistry."

"Wait, what? Gloria, I'm not dating Jennifer. We've just been hanging out getting to know each other again as friends." Kelly was stunned her friend would assume that; she was confused.

"No way! You two aren't dating!" Now it was Gloria's turn to be stunned.

"No, why would you think that?"

"Kelly, you spend all your time with her. Like ALL YOUR TIME, even your mom says that. You never even spent that much time with the women you dated seriously. I bet you have some stuff at her place already and she's got some stuff at yours?" Glora asked with a pointed look and Kelly frowned looking away. Gloria laughed continuing, "The other day, I talked to Carla who is stationed all the way over in Germany and even she asked me what the story was with the two of you because even she got the impression you two were dating from the way you talked about Jenny." Kelly opened her mouth to say something, but Gloria held up her hand to continue. "When I do get to see you or talk to you all you want to talk about is Jenny, how amazing and wonderful she is. How much fun you two are having and how great it is that you've reconnected. It's no wonder Carla got that impression of the two of you. It's what we've all been thinking, frankly. Kelly, I've never seen you more in love."

"Love!" Kelly dropped her tea onto the floor. The lid snapped off and the hot liquid splashed everywhere. Kelly screamed shooting to her feet as Gloria bit her lips and shook her head.

"Miss are you okay? Did you get burned?" A barista asked rushing over with a rag.

"No, I didn't burn myself. I'm okay, I'm just embarrassed." Kelly said.

"Would you like another tea?"

"No thank you, not right now."

The barista nodded and used the rag to sop up the spilled liquid.

Kelly remained silent until the man was finished, Gloria watched her friend with gentle concern.

"I'm sorry if I said something I shouldn't have. I just thought with how happy you've been. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have assumed."

"It's okay Gloria, I'm sure if I was in your shoes, I would have done the same," Kelly replied. She was pale and felt a little ill, her mind was stuck on the word love. All she could think of was, "Am I so transparent?"

"Can I ask I personal question Kelly?"

"Of course; Gloria, I'm an open book."

"I know you had a thing for Jenny back when she was Captain Stone, a bunch of girls did. But you were the only one she ever liked back. Did you two ever hook up?"

Kelly's whole body slumped, and she frowned as she shook her head. Gloria's brows knitted together with concern. "Kelly, we've known each other a long time. There's nothing you can't talk to me about. I'm your friend, you can talk to me about anything. You don't have to carry whatever it is bothering you alone. And if you don't talk to me about it, promise me you'll talk to someone. Anyone."

Kelly looked up with tears pooling in her eyes. "Can we go to a bar Glora? I think I need a real drink for this conversation."

"Yeah, of course."

They moved locations to a bar they both knew a block down the street. They waited until they were seated in the booth with a cocktail before continuing the conversation.

"Okay Kelly, spill it."

Kelly took a deep breath with her eyes closed then when she opened them said, "No, I have not hooked up with Jennifer at all thought I would very, very, very much like to. You were spot on about my having a thing for Jennifer when we at Washington Military only it grew into more than that, a lot more. I didn't realize at the time, how deep my feeling went. I only knew that when Jennifer ghosted me, I was shattered."

"I remember, we lost touch for a long time because of that."

"Jennifer told me what happened, why everything happened. I understand. What I didn't know was that she felt the same way about me that I did her. In fact, she told me she was in love me back then."

"Wow, that's huge. That's really huge."

"I know. I know!" Kelly was on the verge of tears again and shook her head to dispel the emotion of the moment. She gathered herself closing her eyes again momentarily.

"So, what's going on between the two of you now?" Gloria asked. Kelly let out a huge breath and took a long sip of her drink.

"I have no idea. After we talked it out, we agreed to hang out to get to know each other again and we have been. And it's been the best six months of my life. It's everything I've ever wanted from being with a woman except I'm not actually dating her and there's no sex."

"Oh shit, Kelly you still have feeling for her don't you."

"Oh, it's worse than that Gloria. I think I may still be in love with her. Like my love for her went dormant all those years then seeing her again and getting to hang out with her just reignited it and made it burn so much brighter and hotter. I love her more now than I ever have."

"Wait, what's the problem? Is she with someone? Married secretly or something?"

"Just because she loved me once doesn't mean she loves me now. If I tell her how I feel or ask for a change in our relationship I could lose her or push her away and I just got her back. That would kill me. I can't lose her."

"What if you don't? You don't know. You don't know the future."

"You got my message right, about the party?"

"Yeah."

"Then you tell me. If you tell me that Jennifer is interested in me like that then I will take that leap of faith and accept whatever happens good or bad."

"Really? I could be lying to you."

"I trust you, Gloria. You've never steered me wrong."

Gloria smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Kelly. I'll be at the party. Plus, it'll be nice to see Jenny again."

"Thanks."