"Hey, babe," Lena answered her cell after seeing Stef's name flash across screen.
"Hey. Listen, I'm at your place. I left my cell inside."
"Oh, okay. Well, the key is under the mat."
"Yeah, love. I know."
"Then… why are you calling me? Did you need something else?"
"I'm calling you from my cell." There was a heavy pause. "Lena, I'm in your kitchen."
"Okay, great. Look, Stef, I'm sorry but I've got a lot of work to do and I'm already behind. Do you need something? Can I call you back?"
"No, no, never mind. Are we still on for dinner?"
"Of course."
"Good, I'll see you tonight."
"Love you."
"Love you, too."
"What's this?" Lena asked when Stef set a small gift bag on the kitchen counter later that evening.
"Just a little something."
"I didn't forget an occasion did I?"
"No! No, I just saw this and thought of you." Stef smiled at the sweetness on Lena's face and the eagerness beneath it. "Go ahead. Open it."
Lena grinned. After tugging the tissue paper out of the bag, she reached in and pulled out… a rock?
There was silence as she looked at it then back up at Stef, her eyebrows raised in an effort to disguise the disappointment tugging at her mouth.
"Thanks, babe…"
Stef was turning red trying to hold in a laugh.
"It's fake." She took the rock and turned it over, slipping a plastic panel from the bottom. "It's a hide-a-key."
"Oh… okay." Lena's disappointment turned to confusion as she looked between Stef and the fake rock.
"Generally, we advise people against keeping spare keys outside their house but if you're going to, this is what we recommend," she explained. "The first place anyone's going to look for a key to break in is under your mat. That's how I got in before I called you this morning." Stef tilted her chin down, eyebrows raised, and Lena gave a slow nod, her mouth forming an oh. "Exactly. This way, instead of under your mat, you can put your key in this. Just tuck it underneath the bushes by the side of the house and chances are, no one will ever know." Pleased with herself, Stef grinned at her girlfriend.
"So," Lena's eyes narrowed and she cocked an eyebrow. "What you're telling me is you broke into my house this morning?"
Stef shrugged her shoulders. "I guess, technically. But who would believe you? I mean, I did have a key." She wore a smug, crooked grin while Lena pursed her lips against an annoyed smile. When she winked, Lena lost her fight — breaking into laughter as she took the plastic rock from Stef and set it on the counter.
"Maybe instead of that, it would be better if I gave my spare key to someone."
Stef nodded. "That's a good idea."
"It should probably be someone I really trust. Someone I can count on."
"Oh! What about your friend Tara? She lives pretty close and she's responsible and reliable."
"You're responsible and reliable," Lena told her.
"Yeah but I live all the way on the other side of town. Wouldn't it be better if-"
"Stef."
"Yeah?"
Lena stepped forward and took hold of Stef's hands, looking into her eyes. "I want you to have the key."
After a moment, Stef's eyes widened. "You mean… you want me to have a key to your place?"
Lena nodded. Her bottom lip was clamped between her teeth and she held her breath.
Stef squeezed Lena's hands and searched her deep brown eyes. "You're sure you're ready for that step?"
Lena nodded. "I am, if you are."
Tilting her chin up, Stef's smile grew until it glittered in her eyes. "I would be honored."
Exhaling, Lena wound her arms around Stef's neck while Stef encircled her waist and drew her closer.
"I guess I'd better make a copy of my key, too, hmm?" She pressed a soft kiss to Lena's lips.
"Mhmm." Lena rubbed her nose against Stef's before she pulled back to look at her, her eyes dancing. "And I guess I don't have to worry about you breaking into my house anymore."
