The phone rang, a landline. Without checking caller ID, Lin answered.
"Hello?"
"Heyyy, Lin. Been thinking about you," Kya's voice said from the other line.
Lin all but melted into the receiver. She wanted to say she missed Kya; she couldn't stop thinking about her, about them and what they've been doing to each other.
"That's nice," was all she could say.
Kya chuckled. "Don't sound too excited."
"That's what I was going for, but I guess the 'cool thing' gets old when you get… old."
"You are cool, you know."
"I thought you said I was a square?" Lin twirled the phone cord around her long fingers.
"That's before I knew better."
"So what shape would you say I am now?"
Kya paused a moment. "I don't know. Haven't got you pegged yet. And I like that."
"Pegged, eh?" Lin blushed at her own remark. This wasn't the type of banter she was used to, but Kya brought out another side of herself she liked.
"If that's what you want. Or the other way around. Hint hint. Wink wink."
Lin almost dropped the receiver. "Um, what are you doing tonight?"
"Packing."
"Packing?" Lin was dumbfounded. "As in your belongings? To go somewhere?"
Kya sighed. "That's why I'm calling. These last two weeks have been so incredibly amazing. I was actually calling to see if you could meet me at our coffee shop. Better to talk in person."
The blood drained from Lin's already pale face and her stomach dropped. She didn't respond right away, forgot to.
"Hello?" Kya said on the other line.
"Yes, that's fine," Lin said, trying her best to collect herself. "What time?"
"Early this evening, say six? Unless you're busy of course."
"For twenty-five years I was busy at six almost every night, but now I'm all yours."
Another long pause on the other line sent Lin silently spiraling.
"Good," Kya replied finally.
They hung up and Lin let out a heavy sigh. What the hell was that? It was only 10 am, which meant she had another eight hours to agonize over their cryptic conversation.
Lin had spent a blissful two weeks being a complete lesbian shacked up in Kya's cottage. Kya had yet to see Lin's house, which she planned to invite her to that weekend, but now she wasn't sure.
Clair de Lune was quietly bustling as usual. Patrons sat about comfy couches reading or writing or playing board games, all drinking coffee or beer.
From afar Lin saw Kya sitting at a small table. She was reading something but Lin couldn't make out what book. All she knew is her heart leapt at the sight of Kya engrossed in reading, gently stirring the spoon in the coffee mug to keep her hand busy.
Lin approached. "May I sit?"
Kya grinned at the familiar voice. She got up and hugged Lin, kissed her on the cheek.
Lin melted into Kya's arms and lips but tensed up at the realization of why she came there.
Sensing Lin's apprehension, Kya pulled away. "Do you want something to drink? On me."
Uh oh, Lin thought. She's offering to pay like she feels guilty about something. "Just a water. I'll go get it. Want one?"
"Sure."
She came back a minute later with two glasses of water and they took long sips, both seemingly hoping the other would say something.
"I missed you," Lin said, leaning her hand over the small round table. It was a moment of vulnerability, but she didn't care. She had to be honest because she felt something coming.
Kya took Lin's hand and padded the palm with her thumb. A single touch or look from Kya could flip Lin's mood just like that. But that's not why they were there.
"I missed you too. It's been maybe twenty-four hours since I last saw you. But I missed you."
"And?"
Kya nodded. "And it sucks because I'm packing up. Leaving town."
Lin pulled her hand away. "I knew it. Well, it was fun while it lasted."
"This was always my plan – stay here a month, maybe two and move on. I've been here six months now, but I didn't expect these last two weeks to be…"
"What? You're killing me with the suspense, you know."
"Ah, I didn't mean to do that. I'm just searching for the right words, which are: Fucking delightful."
"I agree, so can't you just stay a little longer?"
Kya shook her head. The next sub-letter is coming on the first.
"So that's it then," Lin said, lowering her head. She almost blurted out that Kya could stay with her, but what would that mean? They'd really be cliché lesbians then. Plus, it didn't seem like something Kya would be down for.
"Doesn't have to be."
Lin perked back up. "It doesn't?"
"You could come with me. At least for a little while, keep this party train going." Kya took Lin's hand again.
"You know my partying days are long over, right?"
Kya smirked. "So what have we been doing for the past two weeks then?"
"You tell me."
"Making love – not just fucking, but that too. And talking. And listening to music. And smiling."
"Acting like youngins'."
"Acting like two people who enjoy each other's company very much. When was the last time you took a vacation? Had an adventure?" Kya bellowed an excited tone.
"I never took vacations, and now that I took an early retirement from the force, it seems I'm on one long one."
"Exactly! So come with me, if only for a little while. If you get bored or want to come back home, I'll take you to nearest airport and send you flying."
Lin wasn't prone to spontaneous road trips. In fact, she used to roll her eyes at hipster beatnik vagabond layabouts lying about and not serving a function in the world. But she was different now. It took a hard self-reckoning, at any rate, and one that she continued to reckon with.
Watching Kya, a woman she would have judged not long ago, was a confirmation that there could be meaning and purpose to that lifestyle, at least the relentless search for it. Without her old purpose as a police officer, she craved new meaning. And she didn't want to lose another chance at happiness, not at this age.
"I'm going to say something I likely won't regret, but there's natural resistance, so bear with me."
Kya nodded. "You're going to say yes, you want to come but it'll be hard to break out of your old ways and comfort zone, and you might waver back and forth until the moment finally comes?"
"Yes. Wow, you can sure read me, woman."
"It's natural. No worries, and no pressure. Just the present."
"I'm used to having solid ground to stand on, you know."
"Hey now, we're not flying off to Mars. Just taking a little road trip to drink in the natural splendor of these purple mountains majesty."
"Well when you put it like that – to be honest, the answer was and is yes. I just need to talk it out with you so I can convince myself I'm not crazy."
"So what does that make me?"
"Beautiful." Lin gazed into Kya's eyes. She realized her hand had gotten sweaty but Kya didn't make any attempt to let go.
"I want you," Kya half whispered, and Lin leaned forward.
"I want you too."
"Help me pack?"
"Abso-fucking-lutely."