Part Six: The Party

I was relieved.

The party was going better than I could have ever expected. Kelly's friends and my friends were mingling fantastically, Jeff was behaving for some reason though his long conversation with Gloria might have something to do with it. What I was most concerned with was Kelly, thankfully she was having a good time.

It wasn't often our friend Otto offered his place for a party; he was usually out of town for work. Yet, when the stars align exactly right and it did happen, the deck and the view made the last-minute scramble worth it every time. I wanted to show Kelly the view from that deck. I know why the others wanted the party, I just wanted to show Kelly the view.

For the first time in an exceptionally long time, I attended a social even solo. I had to. My usual instinct to stay in with Kelly was prohibited when the party in question was being thrown by my own friends and Kelly was really excited to go. Kelly arrived with Gloria deep in conversation, that instantly evaporated when they spotted me. I thought nothing of it, I was happy to see Kelly.

The night progressed and more people showed up to Otto's place. It wasn't unusual for the party to grow once the word got out Otto was throwing another one. As more people arrived, I was pulled into a lot of different directions until I was caught in a deep conversation with a quartet of people about hiking and what spots were somewhat nearby or within a decent driving distance. As the conversation progressed it whittled away people until I was left with a single woman as we debated which was better: An old school jeep Wrangler made of steel with a classic aesthetic interior versus the modern jeep Wranglers that were no longer made with steel but hard plastic and resembled inside and out the other models of Jeeps but not the classic wrangler.

"I don't mind the better horsepower and greater control on the trails, but the aesthetics kill me," I said shaking my head.

"I agree they're not as pretty, but they will outrun those old jeeps any day," the other woman said.

"Hey, I can always upgrade my engine. You can't make that monstrosity pretty no matter what sort of bells or whistles you put on it."

"That's why they're fast, so hopefully you don't remember how ugly they are."

We both laughed.

"Jenny, you mentioned earlier you knew of a good middle school that really went out of their way to help their students. Could I get that name again? Craig and I haven't been all that lucky getting Hailey into a school she likes so I'm always eager to hunt down a new option for her."

"I can do you one better. I have the card from the school in my jacket. Wait here and I'll get it for you."

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"Thank you for picking me up Gloria. I didn't trust myself to come alone and Jennifer wanted to arrive by herself. She had a long explanation of why it was important for us to arrive alone, but I didn't understand it then and I still don't. I need your support I don't want to go alone. Maybe she does but I definitely don't. Otto is her friend and I've never been to his house before. I know he owns the whole building but still, I'm nervous."

"It's okay to be nervous. We're all mingling friends for the first time, it's sort of a big deal." Gloria commented with an encouraging smile.

Gloria drove them to Otto's building using the directions Jeff had given them, they parked and walked up together. Kelly was a ball of nerves; all she could think about was the agreement she had with Gloria. "Do we really have to do this?" Kelly asked.

"Only if you want to know and maybe, I don't know be happy."

"Okay. You give me a signal and I'll talk to her tonight," Kelly said as the door opened revealing a party already in full swing with dozens of people inside. Gloria smiled at Kelly and gave her a quick nod of encouragement.

"Good luck Kelly."

Kelly instantly searched for Jennifer; it only took a few moments to find her. She was compelled to the brunette's side, to greet her, to bask in her presence for as long as possible. It wasn't until she stepped away to use the bathroom that she was pulled into a dozen different conversations about a dozen different things. With so many friends present it was easy to get distracted by wonderful people and wonderful conversations. Kelly lost track of time, when she finally grabbed hold of it again hours had passed, and she had not seen Jennifer in all that time. Kelly searched Otto's larges home eventually locating Jennifer talking to a beautiful blonde woman by the kitchen.

Kelly was stuck by how close the blonde woman was standing to Jennifer. She wondered what they were talking about as she watched them from across the room. Kelly stared for so long with such a troubled expression Jeff and Gloria appeared at her side together.

"Hey hon, are you alright? You've got an empty glass and a strange look on your face," Jeff pointed out while giving Gloria a worried glance. She smiled at him and nodded.

"Kelly, talk to us. What's going on?" Gloria asked.

Across the room Jennifer and the blonde woman burst out laughing, Kelly's face crumpled in pain. "I'm too late, she's moved on. I know it. I'm too late."

"Too late for what?" Jeff pushed not giving Kelly an inch. She pleaded at him silently with her eyes and he just shook his head. She huffed and took a deep breath with her eyes closed.

"I'm terrified I've lost my chance with Jennifer."

"How? That woman is so in love with you she's like a walking rom com," Jeff said with a wave of his hand.

Kelly looked up and frowned. "She hasn't said a word to me about the time we've spent together over these last few months. Not even a hint that she wants to go out on a date or that she likes me like that. What am I supposed to think?"

Jeff frowned at Kelly then turned to Gloria, "Is she really this dense?"

"Yes," Gloria replied nodding her head.

"Kelly, how much have you had to drink?" Jeff asked.

"Three glasses of wine but I've had water in between. I promised Jennifer, I would pace myself."

Jeff and Gloria exchanged a knowing look and a muffled smile. "Gloria, will you take Kelly to the deck please, I'm going to go look for this one's other half so we can get this sorted already. This isn't even fun to watch anymore. It's like puppy's fighting, it's just sad and kinda pathetic."

Gloria giggled and nodded as she gently ushered Kelly out to the deck.

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It took me longer than I thought to find Kelly's card but if what Cathy told me was true about her daughter Kelly's school was the only place for her kid. Card in hand I made a beeline back to Cathy and passed it over.

"On Monday make sure you call their office after ten and ask to speak to Kelly Collins directly, tell them I recommended you and that should get you past their message system."

"Thank you, Jenny, I heard that place has a long waitlist."

"That's true but give Kelly a call anyway. Can't hurt."

"Thank you."

"Hey Jenny!" Jeff said walking over with a purpose.

"Oh hey, where have you been? I haven't seen you all night."

"I've been getting to know all of Kelly's friends, she's got some hot friends and I needed to collect some numbers. What have you been up to?"

"Talking."

"About what?"

"Nothing in particular. Oh, I did help a woman find a good school for her kid, but I believe Kelly could help anyone's kid." I said with a smile I didn't realize was on my face.

"Jenny, I have to ask you a real question no bullshit so come with me, we need a quiet space for a second." Jeff grabbed my arm and led me to another room that was quiet and dark.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Just answer me one question, okay?" He asked.

"Okay."

"Do you love Kelly? Are you in love with Kelly? Is that why you've stopped dating? Please, tell me the truth Jenny. This is important." Jeff was blunt and serious. He was often blunt, but he was never serious at the same time. This was different.

"Yes. I do. My feelings never went away and now, they've only grown. Why do you want to know Jeff? I can't do anything about it. I'm okay with just being her friend. I can be content to just be in her life."

"No, you can't, and neither can she. You've both been dancing around each other and now you're hurting her."

"Wait! What? I'm hurting her?"

"Yes. You're hurting her Jenny. That whole time you were innocently talking to that blonde about Kelly's school, Kelly thought you were talking about setting up a date. Kelly is in love with you and seeing you with other women not knowing where you to stand is hurting her. It's hurting you too. Stop being noble and take a chance on your own happiness. You deserve happiness too."

I was stunned. I didn't know what to say. Tears welled up in my eyes, he was right, and I was ashamed. I was hiding from Kelly behind a veneer of nobility, and it was only hurting us both. I was a coward.

"Where is she Jeff?"

"On the deck."

"Thanks."

I walked through the party numb to what was going on around me. I made it to the deck and found Gloria waving everyone inside. She smiled softly at me, "You two have the deck to yourselves."

"Thanks Gloria."

I stepped out and found Kelly standing along the rail her head down. The soft sounds of her crying being carried away by the gentle winds blowing off the building.

"I'm sorry Kelly."

Kelly turned around toward me, she dried her face with the backs of her hands. "I don't understand Jennifer. What are you talking about? Sorry for what?"

"I should have said something months ago, but I was afraid. You're important to me Kelly, I was terrified if I took a chance, I would lose you. I thought it was better to live in purgatory than to know the truth."

"I don't understand Jennifer, what are you trying to tell me?" Kelly asked her face scrunched up in confusion.

I looked into Kelly's eyes, there was love and warm reflected. I took a chance. I leaned in and pressed my lips to Kelly's. To my relief, delight and utter joy Kelly deepened the kiss and wrapped her arms around me. I couldn't suppress the soft moan Kelly's tongue dancing with mine released, but when my hands wandered down to her perfect tight ass and squeezed Kelly let out a moan that was honey for my ears and trigger of wetness between my legs.

Before we could get too hot or too heavy Kelly pulled away, with lust filled eyes she blinked rapidly and looked away still clutching me tight. When she turned her gaze back to me, she said, "I have a confession, Jennifer. I'm in love with you. This won't me a one night anything for me if we do this."

"Do you promise? Because I've been in love with you a long time. I'll never want a one night anything with you. I'll always want forever with you if you want that with me too. Do you want to see if this might work?"

"Yes. Yes. Yes."

Kelly pulled me back into a searing kiss that left my head spinning. The world disappeared for a long moment as everything became Kelly, her mouth, her hands, her scent, her taste. I needed more.

"Come home with me, spend the night."

"Okay. Let's go. Now."

I laughed and grabbed her hand. We walked back inside grabbed our coats and took a cab back to my place. We only waved to Jeff and Gloria on the way out, they waved back wearing matching smirks on their faces.