(Green eyed monster)

"She's fine Ashlee they kicked us out of the room to check on the bandages and give her a bath. You can take your time."

"I don't want anyone giving her a bath" Ashlee fumed color again coming to her face but this time primarily the tops of her ears.

"Oh God. Her ears got that way the time she socked Mary Beam for stealing her boyfriend in kindergarten" Doris said as she got closer causing the other three women to promptly burst out laughing.

It was Saturday afternoon and the first time this week that Ashlee got to spend any time with her girlfriend. As usual it was a busy week with classes, papers, on Ashlee's part and staff meetings and safety inspections on Ava's but this was almost unbearable. Every time that she'd thought to call or drive over another friend stopped by or another book was added to her growing research list. She could not wait until next fall when they moved in together. Ava had insisted that Ashlee have the experience of exploring Northwestern as unencumbered as possible. Although Ashlee had lodged several loud and boisterous complaints she secretly agreed. Not that she didn't want to live with Ava but the idea of inviting new friends to pizza and beer at Ava's rooftop penthouse suite at the Beacon was daunting. So today when Ava asked to meet her their favorite coffee shop Ashlee jumped at the chance. Just when she thought her smile could not get any bigger Ashlee saw something that made it slide right off.

It wasn't that Ava was sitting in a corner both laughing with one of the baristas that upset her. It wasn't even the sight of Ava leaning into the man and sharing what looked like an intimate moment that had her on edge. She'd known Ava for some years before they became a couple but more importantly she knew her girlfriend's mother. They were born flirts. It was as much a part of her DNA as the high cheek bones. What was pissing her off was the man that was on the receiving end of the radiant smile. He was well over 6 feet tall, fit, and ruggedly handsome and from all their previous interactions a great guy. His suggestions were always excellent and his manners were conciliatory and friendly but fact that he always seemed to spend five minutes fawning over her girl while politely ignoring her was increasingly grating. They were in the middle of an old conversation when Ashlee sat down across from Ava. The fact that neither acknowledged her past a slight nod did nothing to improve her mood.

"Umm maybe someday I'll give the fermented tea a try but right now I'll take a mint chocolate chip espresso." Ava said scrunching her face and looked towards Ashlee.

"You'll never know unless you try and haven't you liked everything else that I suggested."

"Yeah but you never wanted me to pay 7 bucks for moldy tea before."

"Where's your sense of adventure?"

"I guess I should take advantage of my free healthcare."

"Now that you mention it I was looking for someone to go bungee jumping with." That was it. Not only was this overpaid waitress leaning into her girl and completely ignoring her but now he was asking Ava out right in front of her. Had he not noticed that they always came in together, always sat next to each other, and even held each other's hands? Was he a dumbass or was he just stupid?

Taking a deep breath Ashlee took one of Ava's hands and put on her fakest smiles as she commented "You know what as much as I would love to sit here and listen to you hitting on my girlfriend and you plan out your birthday adventures but I think that the people waiting on their orders would be a little upset. While you're back there could I get a large caramel macchiato?" Neither Ava nor the man knew exactly what to say and blinked at her with wide glassy eyes. When he finally stumbled away she yelled back "Oh and my Girlfriend and I will be taking those to go. We have a long day ahead of us and I don't want my baby to run out of energy anytime soon." For a split second she could see the man's fury plainly on his face before he schooled his expression and turned towards the machines and her normally unflappable girlfriend gasped and looked as if she wanted to sink into the floor. To drive the point home Ashlee made sure that they were kissing deeply as when he attempted to hand the beverages over. It was unfortunate that Ava was miffed but maybe next time he would think about who he hit on.

"Do you want to tell me what the hell is going on with you?" Ava asked as they sat waiting for the light to change. The way that Ava drug her out of the shop and pealed out of the parking lot you would have thought that she'd demanded to confront the man outside. She'd simply encouraged him to redirect his interest elsewhere far away from Ava.

"I think he used skim milk. Why the hell would I want to pay for a watery coffee?" Ashlee offered hoping that her evasion would work but she doubted as she watched Ava narrow her eyes. "What?" Maybe playing dumb would work better?

"Don't what me. What the heck was that? Peeing on me would have worked just as well and been more direct."

"I didn't think you were into that sort of thing but if we put on plastic sheets or were in the shower then…"

"Don't play cute with me Wolf I want to know what's gotten into my normally meek and mild girlfriend." Ava laughed.

"Was I supposed to just sit there and listen to him hitting on you? If anyone should be pissed it should be me." The more that she thought about it the more upset she became. Ashlee had thought of nothing but her girlfriend since they last saw each other 6 days ago and would have given a stranger's come on the same consideration that she gave an email that claimed she'd won a million dollars. Was this how Ava acted when she wasn't around? Turning around to face her girlfriend Ashlee tried her best to calm her raging temper "I simply made him aware that you were unavailable since you weren't willing to." They'd been going to the shop together for several months and he still persisted with his delusions.

"He already knows about us. He was just being nice."

"He was being more than nice." Ashlee vented. "He was hitting on you and you were encouraging it" Ashlee said as if speaking to a small child.

"You know that I love you and I don't want or think of anyone else. I was being nice and approachable. Aren't you always accusing me of being rude to cashiers and waitresses so now that I do what you ask you act as if we were exchanging phone numbers."

"Sweetheart if I found you exchanging numbers I wouldn't have wasted time asking him outside before I punched him in the face."

Rolling her eyes Ava commented dryly "It's so wonderful how higher education has improved your baser instincts."

"Not when it comes to you love." Ashlee promised without remorse. "What's your excuse?"

"He's my manager's son Ashlee I can't just ignore him." Ava said with her own exasperation. "You can make snide comments but I'm the one that has to see him almost every day when he picks up his mother."

Ava's weak excuses were getting to her but even she was shocked at what came out of her mouth next. "Being a bitch never bothered you before." Ava's face blanched and Ashlee could see the hurt in her lover's eyes before a mask of disinterest fell down. "I'm sorry." Ashlee whispered wondering how she could be so stupid.

"No it's fine. I need to find something to wear to your homecoming game." Ava had officially ended the conversation and although she'd hurt the older woman Ashlee knew that Ava would never bring it up again. The silence became less tense as they walked around the mall and by the time they made it to the food court they were again holding hands and laughing. "So do I look like a respectable wildcat?" Ava asked as she held up a hockey jersey and baseball cap.

"I love you."

"I know. You're lucky because if my mother ever sees me with a big blue cat on my chest she might rethink our partnership."

"I cannot stand the thought of anyone near you except me. I'm sorry that I was a jerk." Ashlee whispered with her head held down. "It's just that I love you so much that I get a smidge insecure when I see someone so good lucking hitting on you. But I do trust you and I know that you would never throw everything we have away."

"I'm not interested in him or anyone else. I love you." Ava promised. "Anyway he's so gay that it wouldn't matter if I was."

"What?"

"He's more flammy than a piece of charcoal. That's why we're always laughing when you see us. He was telling me about his latest dating disaster. I'm pretty sure he wasn't talking about some guy's great ass to entice me."

Ashlee's head immediately slammed down as her faced became bright red with shame. "Ava! How could you let me make a complete fool out of myself? He must think I'm a complete idiot."

"Probably" Ava laughed.