Chapter 24
"I wish I didn't have to go on this business trip, it's so unfair," Lorraine sighed, "are you sure you'll be alright on your own till Wednesday?" She asked as the two women stood outside the airport. "Don't worry Lo. It's two days." Nikki nodded placing her hands on Lorraine's shoulders. "Do you know how beautiful you are?" Lorraine asked Nikki which caused Nikki to blush slightly and look at the ground. "Not as stunning as you by a long shot though." Nikki whispered into her lover's ear as they hugged one final time. "Well my flight is gonna be boarding soon, I've got to go." She sighed as she reluctantly pulled away from Nikki's embrace. "Call me when you get there." Nikki shouted, waving at Lorraine as she walked through the main entrance of the airport with her small Louis Vuitton suitcase being pulled behind her. Nikki quickly got in her car having realised that she only had a couple of minutes left on her quarter of an hour parking ticket. Their plan was to say goodbye outside the airport so they wouldn't need to spend a fortune on a longer parking ticket.
Arriving home, she had nothing to do but to mow the lawn. Half way through doing the front lawn, Nikki noticed Christine pull up outside her house. Pleasantly surprised, Nikki turned the lawnmower off, she could always finish it later, and went to greet Christine. "Hiya Christine!" Nikki smiled happily.
"Awrite Nikki, I was free this afternoon and just thought I'd pop by to say hi, see how you're getting on and all." Christine smiled.
"Oh that's Nice, Christine, I'm fine thanks." Nikki smiled leading the older woman inside the house. "A drink? None-alcoholic I'm afraid. Lorraine's chucked it all out!" Nikki laughed.
"Erm. Is it alright if I have a cup of tea?" Christine asked smiling.
"Course. Think I'll have one too" Nikki replied smiling. Both women were sat on the sofa sharing a bowl of crisps and sipping on their tea when Christine decided to ask her how she was, "So are you and Lorraine together now?" Christine asked smiling. "Yeah, I think so. Well, she's here most of the time, she's off on a business trip at the moment though. We haven't really discussed what exactly we are yet though but I think it's safe to say we're together." Nikki grinned thinking about how much happier she'd become in the last few weeks with Lorraine. "That's great, Nikki. I'm happy for you. But I'm guessing from what I've heard from Hector, that you haven't told him?" Christine asked. Nikki grabbed a mouthful of crisps thinking about how she was going to phrase her answer, "No. No, not yet." Nikki sighed, looking down sheepishly. "I'll tell him before the scan, so he can come if he wants to, it's only fair." Nikki knew Hector had a right to know but she didn't want him making things even more complicated between her and Lo. She loved Lo so, so much. A tear fell from Nikki's eye as she felt bad about all her thoughts. "Am I being selfish Christine?" Nikki said in-between gulps of air. "What do you mean?" Christine asked whilst she tentatively rubbed Nikki's knee. "I mean. Well. I-I don't want him to be that involved. I just want it to be and Lo-Lorraine. He keeps asking me out at school and I-I just. I don't know. He thinks I'm single. Only you and Sonya know about me and Lorraine. I don't want to upset him if he thinks he's got a chance with me. I'm happy with Lorraine." Nikki spoke, voice wavering. Christine smiled sadly at Nikki and pulled her into a hug. "I understand what you mean, Nikki. Do you want me to tell him about you two?" Christine asked as she rubbed her hands up and down Nikki's arms. "Oh erm. Thanks Christine, but I think he'll appreciate it more if it comes from me, you know?" Nikki spoke pulling away from her friend.
"Of course, Nikki. I shouldn't have said anything." Christine sighed feeling a little let down.
"Christine, you can say what you like. You've been there for me when no one has, even when Lorraine wasn't." Nikki smiled gratefully. This caused Christine to feel warm inside, she glanced over at the brunette who was leaning over to get another crisp from the coffee table and she couldn't help but look down at the brunette's slender waist as her top rose slightly but then quickly glanced down at her knees, ashamed almost. Feeling a little heated, Christine said her farewells and left Nikki to it. Nikki looked towards the door in confusion wondering what she'd done. She couldn't think of anything really though. Needing the toilet, she got up to leave the room and noticed Christine had forgotten her cardigan, 'this is unlike her' Nikki thought. Confused at how abruptly her friend left, Nikki decided to text her and see if she was alright. 'Are you okay? You left your cardigan behind. X' Nikki text hoping it had nothing to do with what she'd said. Christine was such a good friend, she couldn't afford to loose her. Then her thoughts turned to if it was alcohol related and she ran her hand through her short hair. Jumping slightly at the noise, Nikki's phone lit up, 'Yeah sorry. I had to rush off for something. Could you bring it me tomorrow morning at school? X' Christine had text. Nikki felt a little more relieved, 'if she was planning on getting wasted, she wouldn't be planning on being on time for work, surely?' Nikki thought to herself.