Pleased to see this is being read. Would love to know what you all think though.
To the guest reviewer (Not sure if same person as previously reviewed), am glad you are enjoying the story, there's lots more to come and I hope you'll stay with me
Alex wrapped her scarf tighter around herself as she walked back from the local grocery store with the items for dinner; she was hosting an evening with her friends Abbie and Serena. She'd known Abbie since they were both toddlers, having both been born in Texas, they'd been like cousins until age six Alex's Father had been relocated in his job to New York. They'd kept in touch and two years ago Abbie had moved to New York to pursue her dreams of being a lawyer. She'd met Serena shortly afterwards and they'd recently got engaged.
Alex had never told them about Olivia, they'd questioned her on whether she had been seeing anyone on numerous occasions but Alex always told them she didn't have time for relationships. She'd always been a private person, this having been instilled on her by her mother although she and Abbie had shared everything, something had prevented her from sharing this with her best friend. It wasn't that she was embarrassed, or thought that her friends would see her any differently, she was worried that they'd tell her to ditch the brunette, and Alex knew that she should. But love was one of those things you just couldn't ignore.
After unlocking the door to her apartment, Alex placed the grocery bag on the counter and set about unloading it. The girls weren't due until seven, but Alex wanted to make sure the apartment was clean and well presented, she was incredibly proud, again, something she inherited from her mother.
Caroline Cabot hadn't come from much, the youngest of six she had always fought for the attention of her parents, and not being the brightest or most confident of the bunch had learnt to be grateful and proud of the person she was. Her siblings had all gone on to marry, and have large families and it seemed for her she would again be the last, but when she met Alexander, it didn't matter that he wasn't rich and successful, he was kind and genuine and after getting married five years into their relationship, they'd had Alexandra.
Alex smiled as she looked at the photograph of her and her parents that sat on the large bookshelf, this particular image of a trip to Paris when Alex had been 13, she'd always wanted to go, her cousins all having spent many holidays abroad. It had only been a short trip, her Father having only a few days off from work, but it was a memory that always made Alex smile.
Alex set about tidying, quickly making sure that nothing of Olivia's had been left after the previous Wednesday. After having previously told Olivia that whatever they had was over, Alex had taken leave from work and gone to her parents for a few days. Catching up with her mother and spending some time thinking she had made herself a promise that she wasn't going to let Olivia hurt her anymore. However two weeks later they'd bumped into each other in central park and unable to ignore the brunette Alex had wavered. They'd quickly returned to the blonde's apartment and made love for hours, however when Alex woke up an hour later Olivia had left, again without a note.
Showering and dressing in a pair of light blue jeans and a simple white t-shirt Alex began preparing the ingredients she needed for dinner. She was keeping it simple with a cheese and onion mousse and breadsticks for starters, followed by a main of vegetable lasagne and ending the meal with a chocolate cheesecake slice, which she'd already made and was setting in the fridge.
The doorbell rang at twenty to seven, her friends as usual arriving early and bearing alcohol. Alex wasn't a big drinker but Abbie loved a drink, especially vodka and so she had come prepared knowing that the blonde would most likely only have a bottle or two of wine.
"Hey Cabot" the brunette exclaimed in her southern drawl, having spent most of her life living in New York Alex's accent wasn't as strong as the brunette's for which she was grateful
"Hey Abigail" she replied, chuckling at the brunette's scowl at the use of her full name, she hugged her briefly before doing the same to the blonde "How are you, Serena"
"I'm good Alex, you?"
"Yeah, good" Alex replied, only bending the truth slightly, she wasn't going to let Olivia ruin the catch up with friends
Abbie looked at the blonde quizzically, her brow arched at the response, she knew Alex extremely well and while the blonde was as put together as always, she could sense an underlying sadness in her voice but she wouldn't pry, she knew Alex would tell her if something was wrong
"So, I brought alcohol"
Alex laughed as she took the offerings of her friend "You always have alcohol Abbie"
"I like to drink" the brunette said as she slumped down on the couch, her athletic frame sinking into the fabric before inhaling the scent around her "That smells delicious Lex, I'm absolutely famished"
Alex smiled as she checked on the food cooking in the oven "It's nothing major girls but I hope you enjoy it"
"I always enjoy your cooking Alex" Serena said sincerely "You're a much better cook than this one"
Abbie feigned hurt at her fiancé's words but joined in the laughter that ensued from both blondes
Alex smiled as she served both ladies with the cheese and onion mousse and breadsticks, by the moan emitting from their lips it was a sure success.
Dinner was eaten quickly, plates were quickly washed, Alex insisting that she didn't need help and telling the girls to chill out.
"So Alex, anyone special in your life yet?" Abbie asked, noting the sad look upon the blonde's face as she showed her affection to Serena with a quick peck on the lips
"Nope" Alex replied rather to quickly but then smiled "You know I'm too busy at work for all that"
"Yeah right" Serena said with a hint of sarcasm "You work yourself hard Alex but even I know you went to your parents for a few days last month"
"I am allowed to take some time off you know Serena" Alex replied "But relationships, no time for the constant back and forth and hot and cold of women"
Serena and Abbie both laughed but shared concerned glances at each other, none of the three women spoke for the next few minutes but it was the brunette who broke the silence
"You're not fooling us Lex, who is she?"
"No-one, I told you"
"Alex, we know you" Serena said with a gentle smile "Something, or someone is getting into your head, you've been especially quiet throughout dinner and I see the sad look whenever me and Abs show our affection"
"Her name is Olivia" Alex sighed "And we've been sort of seeing each other for three years"
Abbie opened her mouth in shock, the brunette slightly hurt that she was only hearing about this woman now
"Three years?"
Alex nodded "I'm sorry I haven't said anything before now, it's complicated"
Abbie nodded, knowing that what Alex needed was her friends to listen and not judge "I know all about complicated"
"She was my English teacher in high school"
"Ok, she didn't come on to you, did she?" Serena questioned with concern, knowing all too well how having feelings for someone much older than her could cause problems
"No" Alex hastily answered, "Well, sort of"
"The cheek…" Abbie began but was stopped as Serena shot her a look
"Something happened years ago" Alex started "We'd sort of danced around things for a while, and then she kissed me, I wasn't innocent in all this though"
"She was your teacher"
"Yes, and she knew what she'd done was wrong. She legged it from that park so quick Abbie, and we didn't discuss it again until three years ago"
"Once you left school" Serena said
"Yes. After that incident she transferred to another class, she'd avoid any eye contact with me and I had to keep my distance, despite the fact that I'd kissed her back and found her incredibly attractive"
"So how come you didn't tell me about this before now?" Abbie questioned
"Because we're not in a relationship and I knew what you'd say"
Abbie was confused, her brow furrowing "What do you mean Alex?"
Alex sighed, rubbing her forehead, she hadn't told the women opposite about Olivia because she knew that they'd tell her to get rid, to not let her heart get broken but it already had been, the night they'd first made love
"She's in denial" Alex began "She says she's not gay and I am the first girl she's been with, but, I don't care about whether she's gay or not. I just want her to stay the night and not wake up alone the next morning"
"She's a fuck em and chuck em kind of woman then?" Abbie said, her anger obvious, she hated it when people used others for sex
"Abbie" Serena chastised, "Alex is trying to explain, let her finish"
Abbie nodded and apologised, and Alex continued, "It's not sex Abbie, it's more than that, we connect"
"Does she love you?"
Alex shrugged "I don't know how she feels"
"You love her" it wasn't a question, Serena could see it in the blonde's eyes
"I love her with all I am" Alex said sadly "but we never talk, not properly, we've never met up without ending up in bed, and I have no idea where she lives"
"You've not been to her place before?" Abbie asked
Alex shook her head "No, she turns up here and then leaves the next morning or sometime during the night, her excuse is always work and whenever we try to talk, like I say it doesn't happen"
"Alex, you need to have a conversation with her, give her an ultimatum, or something. It's obvious that she's hurting you, we can see it" Abbie said, standing up and squatting beside the armchair that Alex was currently occupying "You don't deserve to be mucked about"
Alex nodded "I did tell her about a month ago, before I went to my parents that it was over but on Wednesday I gave in and we ended up in bed again"
"And she left, again" Serena finished, understanding that love made you do things you regret sometimes
Alex nodded, a tear unwillingly escaping "I love her, and I know I should be stronger and not give in but I can't help it, she just knows how to work me and I know she means it when she says she's sorry"
"If she was sorry she wouldn't keep hurting you Alex" Abbie said and Alex knew deep down that her friend was right, but she had to defend the brunette
"She's just scared, whatever this is, whatever we're becoming, she's scared, that's all and it takes time to overcome that fear"
"Not three years Alex"
Alex sighed and nodded, the silence filling the air.
Serena and Abbie shared a look before the blonde spoke
"Right you, you're going to slap on some make-up and a hot dress and get yourself out there"
"Oh no guys, it's late, I can't"
Abbie pulled the blonde from the chair and pushed her in the direction of the bedroom knowing that Alex was using the time as an excuse "Yes, you are, it's not even half nine, the night is young, we are going to find you a hot woman to take your mind off of the one who's currently screwing with it"