Paris woke to the sound of a buzzing phone, not hers, soon followed by a sudden but not unpleasant realization that she was between unfamiliar sheets - jade heathered cashmere, feeling warm and incredibly soft against her skin, being usually the kind to stick to her standard order of Supima cotton herself.
She wasn't hung over, having just had a few glasses over the course of the evening. Her legs felt a little sore from the boots she'd worn last night, but otherwise her body ached in all the right places, but in a somewhat different way. What was interesting was that also her lips felt numb - sure partially it was from attempting to go down on Vikki for the first time, which she'd discovered to be rather challenging despite knowing the female anatomy with professional accuracy and had ended up mostly making good use of her fingers this time - imitating what she would've liked to be done on her, but mostly it was from all the kissing. Men kissed to get sex - it was foreplay - but here the emotional aspects behind their kisses had been, were, something else - each brush of the lips felt softer, more delicate, more responsive to any physical cues and sounds, explorative and enjoying the act of kissing on it own. Paris could swear they'd been at it for hours.
The phone buzzed again, but was soon answered by a hushed whisper - "Yeah?" and the weight was in part lifted from the bed.
Paris had been sleeping half-way on her stomach, facing the window, away from the conversation, her eyes now opened and observing her surroundings in daylight while hearing the low mumble on the other side of the phone. She noted the time 10.19 AM, realizing they'd already slept pretty late. But having not really done this before she didn't want to add to the awkwardness by interrupting Vikki while she was on the phone by letting her know she was awake. After all this wasn't a situation where she wished she could just slip out of and pretend it had never happened. Oh she definitely enjoyed last night - at that moment the thought of Vikki's touch on her skin flashed back to her again and momentarily she wished it wasn't morning but last night instead. She desperately hoped the call was nothing urgent.
"What, you couldn't call like when you started driving, give me a little warning maybe? It's real classy of you, you know," Vikking grumbled quietly into her phone, sounding obviously annoyed. "Fine," Vikki added.
That was a clear signal for Paris to slip out of the bed and get going. Sighing internally, accepting that this was not going to be a morning for lingering and pillow talk no matter how much she would've wanted it to be, she quickly pulled on her lace panties and bralette, and hurried to the bathroom to pee, catching Vikki's apologetic glance on her way there.
"I'm sorry - he'll be here in like 10 minutes, I really wasn't expecting to have to hurry you out the door like this," Vikki said, having risen from the bed and wrapped herself in a silk robe, as Paris emerged from the bathroom. "I thought I had like at least another hour or two. I'm so sorry…," Vikki repeated, sounding genuinely disappointed about how this had gone, her tone making Paris very forgiving.
They'd talked about a lot of things beyond their workplace conversations that had pretty much already covered their families, jobs and hobbies. The topics of ex-husbands had been off the table, neither wanting those shadows to spoil their evening, but Paris really didn't need a lot of clarification on the topic - she knew how these things worked and how parenting with two parents who weren't seeing eye to eye on everything sucked. Among other things they had discussed their experiences in dating women, which in Paris' case was nonexistent. Paris was still worried that'd be an issue, that Vikki wouldn't want to guide a rookie, and she didn't want her to think she was just in it for experimentation either.
"Hey, I get it - men can be inconsiderate assholes sometimes," Paris shrugged, it really being nothing new to her. "And you really don't have to explain to me why you don't want to do these introductions right now," Paris said, in her deep, slightly hoarse tone, as she lifted her dress up from the floor and slipped it on over her head. Paris was more than happy to postpone this particular introduction.
"Here, let me," Vikki offered, buttoning the two buttons by Paris's neck, which she technically could've reached easily also herself, and leaving two gentle kisses on just behind her ear, making Paris flashback to last night for a second again, remembering how delicious her skin had smelled and tasted.
Paris didn't bother with her tights, deciding she could probably survive the minute it would take to get to her car despite the 30 degree weather. Her kids were already in their swimming class with their nanny, so she knew she wouldn't have to answer to anyone back home if she showed up at home at the same time both under- and overdressed for a chilly Saturday morning.
"I really did have a great time," Paris said, as she turned, feeling a sudden return of courage, as she found her hand reaching for her face, fingers intertwining into her dark bob, and kissed her. She felt her fingers against the fabric of her dress again, Vikki having told her last night how much she adored the touch velvet on a girl. The use of the word 'girl' pouring over her lips in a flirty tone was already enough to make Paris' knees a little weak - something she wasn't sure she'd ever truly felt before.
To Paris the role division in this beginning of a relationship was still somewhat foggy - it wasn't about one person wearing the pants in a relationship - asking the other out, buying dinner or opening doors - or deciding the turn in which they pleased each-other - not that there needed to be some patriarchial role division. With Doyle, she'd definitely been the one in charge and he'd given that control to her willingly. But in this, every now and again, she got the vibe from Vikki that she was pretty good at grabbing the reins, especially considering her inexperience and she had to admit there was something inherently sexy about that, about not having to be constantly in control herself. So far it seemed they were equal to an almost scary level when it came to other aspects - neither were the kind of really submit - not to anyone, they were both outspoken, well-read and confident, they were even of similar height, body shape, down to hair style - just differing in a way salt and pepper differed if looking at their contrasting hair color. They even had a fairly similar background - profession and education, though Vikki's was a little less complex compared to Paris. And while this was no news - they seemed to have matching sarcasm and ridiculously high standards for expectations from people around them, their kids being the few to get exceptions in that part.
"Hell yeah," Vikki exclaimed in a low tone. She had the most mesmerizing murmur, the way she'd hummed and whispered to her ear last night between kisses, causing goose-pumps again as it reminded Paris of their night. "I'll text you later," she promised.
Paris hastily shoved her tights to her purse and zipped up her knee-high boots.
Vikki led her towards the door and before opening it did the precautionary glance out the window checking whether the coast was clear and gave Paris one last hug and small peck on the lips. Paris hurried to her car and pulled out of the driveway, still in a little bit of a haze.
As she drove towards her house, and was just about to turn right to Fern street her heart skipped a beat as a silver Chrysler sedan took the turn to where she was coming from. It was definitely Tristian, thankfully occupied by checking something in the rearview mirror at the time and not paying attention to her.
Paris didn't want to think about it. But the situation forced her. While to her his person didn't really matter anymore - it wasn't more than a tiny ripple on the water. She was beginning to realize a lot depended on how Tristian portrayed her too. Paris knew that Tristian probably wouldn't like the fact Vikki was seeing her - a) her being a woman and b) her being her. She knew she was getting ahead of herself - it had just been a first date, but somehow she felt some unspoken confidence allowing herself to think more of it.
The rest of the drive passed quickly, there being only scarce traffic. She let herself into her house, currently empty, and took a shower, letting her own fingers trace her body in a similar way Vikki had - damn, this had felt different from a man's touch. As she got out of the shower she observed herself in the mirror, wondering whether she looked different now. She thought about what it would be like to tell her kids, Doyle or even her nanny that she was seeing a woman. It was so odd, how despite knowing that a woman could just as easily disappear from one's life like a man would, she felt so much clamer about the prospect of someday introducing Vikki to her kids as someone of significance - whenever that would happen.
She'd even read a theory somewhere that sexual fluidity in her age was actually a thing and found some comfort in the knowledge that she could actually classify herself into some category not just ponder whether she'd been wasting her life until now on men. The theory was that women, after having their kids, no longer felt they needed a man as their protector or caretaker through their pregnancies, through the baby stage of their children, which in her case had really never been the exact situation as Paris had always been more than capable, but what was true - was that she'd never felt as confident in doing things, making decisions and providing for them, when it came to her kids than now.
As Paris headed back downstairs to make herself some breakfast, her stomach growling already, she was surprised to get a text from Rory.
Continuing to get breakfast ready, the nanny having prepared her a smoothie bowl as well, she read Rory's text as she settled at the kitchen counter.
"How did it go?" Rory asked.
The fact that Paris was doing something new, had actually been quite refreshing for Rory and as she seemed to at least in part living through others in this point. Sure, Rory had Jess's book to do, but considering it's brief length, like most of Jess' books, it really wasn't a whole lot of work and she expected to be done with it within a couple of months. The rest of her life - just seemed to be on hold for now - the kids' development demanding the most from her.
Paris decided to call her back, as there really was no one in the house she to hide this from.
"Hey," Paris said as she saw Rory pick up on video, and positioned her phone on the table against a bowl to stand. "I'm just eating here, I hope you don't mind," she added.
"Hey, you look happy," Rory said, noting her glow. She didn't want details, but she did care for her happiness knowing how stuck Paris had felt a few months ago. She felt she hadn't been supportive enough for her, to be honest, having had too many other things going on - but right now she felt that this was what she could offer her.
Paris couldn't hold back her smile. "It went well," she specified and continued to explain roughly where they'd gone and what they'd spoken about.
"So who is she?" Rory inquired curiously.
Now was certainly the moment of truth when Paris was for once expecting to get a scolding from Rory.
"It's Vikki, the woman I hired…," Paris replied, taking a sip of coffee.
"You're not…?" Rory asked in disbelief. "No..," she still couldn't believe it.
"Don't worry - legally it's clear, she signed a contract and everything," Paris replied optimistically.
"But you realize she's going to find out eventually…," Rory mentioned.
"I think…," she began, thinking. "I think Tristian wouldn't like any woman nor man that she'd date to be honest, from what I've heard he's not exactly the cooperative kind so I don't think his opinion matters to her all that much. And honestly - I don't even know why I was overreacting when I found out," she felt she needed to defend her choices to Rory.
"Still - it's cause for conflict. She'll have to work with him for the rest of their kid's childhood at least - what - 10 years?. How would you feel if Doyle started dating Jamie?" Rory asked, correcting herself, "no, rather Doyle and Tristian," realizing that this analogy was probably more accurate.
"That's quite hard to imagine, honestly," Paris laughed for a moment trying to imagine it. She couldn't deny that besides the oddness of the match itself, it would be a little weird. "Fine - it's a little weird," she admitted.
"So how are you going to tell her?" Rory asked.
"I can't just outright and tell her - then she'll know I've been hiding that I know this from her," Paris said, beginning to realize just how screwed she could be.
"You really want to start this off with a lie?" Rory tried to steer her thinking.
"I honestly meant to tell her weeks ago, like just pop Chilton in somewhere, but I realized she might not even make the connection. I don't even know in detail which schools Doyle went to," Paris added, knowing Doyled had moved a bunch of times too. With Tristian it was a little similar, him having been to a couple of military schools since Chilton.
"Just admit to her that you googled her or something, that you noted a familiar name - that you weren't sure but you wanted to make sure it wouldn't be an issue - this way it's kind of cute, considerate even," Rory suggested her to fib a little instead of outright lying.
"Right..," Paris exhaled. She didn't want to ruin it. She was scared. But she knew Rory was right - now she just needed to gather her courage to do it.
But just as she was about to start to think of a plan in her head she got a text from Vikki. "Love the way my sheet smell of you," she texted, causing her to smile broadly again.
Rory really had called to perhaps also talk to Paris about her and Logan, realizing Celeste had other issues on her mind right now. Besides, she was going to see Celeste next week anyway in person. But as she'd heard her excitement and somehow more urgent concerns, she just didn't feel like shedding light on the topic right then. Rory had done too much thinking, she'd overthought things - but what talking to Paris did remind her of was that she really didn't want to deal with the issues of exes and co-parenting. Preferably ever. This mess that she had created and Logan had enforced, needed to be solved, one way or another, but it certainly wasn't going to be Paris' blunt demand and discard attitude that really would have helped the matter for the better.
AN: a little bit of a shorter chapter today as the next one might be a little longer. Thanks for the reviews!