LISA

"I love this place," Jihyo says, glancing around the rooftop terrace. It's decorated in typical Hamptons style, with bright and whitewashed furniture, blue accents and pineapple palms that give off a beachy vibe. "Lots of hot guys. We should come here more often."

"Sure. I love hot guys," I joke, clinking my beer bottle against her martini glass. I'm more the type to have a beer in my local and 'Shaker Room' is a little contrived for me, but the music isn't too loud, the drinks are cold and the vibe is good, so I'm not complaining. It's nice to be out and do something for myself, other than just working and being a mom, and it's clear Jihyo feels the same as she's in an extremely bouncy mood tonight.

"I'm serious, Lisa. We live in the Hamptons, so don't you think it's time we start living the Hamptons life a little?" She shifts her attention to a group of women, all dressed up to the nines. "The blonde is cute. What do you think?"

I follow her gaze, completely uninterested in any of the women here. Back in New York, before my sister's death and before I adopted Lily, I would have had at least one of them in bed by the end of the night. But that was another life. "Nah. Not for me."

"Why not?" Jihyo frowns. "Straight women never stopped you from having fun before. Remember all those nights out on our summer breaks? You were killing it in the ladies' department, and I know you did the same in New York; I kept up with your social media."

"Were you spying on me?" I ask with a chuckle.

"Not spying, just curious." Jihyo shrugs. "Envious is a better word, I suppose. I always wanted to live in Brooklyn but unlike you, I never got away so when you moved there, I was a little obsessed with your life."

"Well, it was fun, but it was also very empty. Trust me, you haven't missed out on anything." I glance at the group of women again and shake my head. "I'm just not feeling it anymore, Jihyo, but I'm fine here if you want to go talk to someone. Or I could be your wingwoman?"

"Hmm…" Jihyo glances at my jeans and white linen shirt, then at her own little black dress and stiletto heels. "If you go with me, they'll just assume that I'm your girlfriend. Everyone thinks we're a couple anyway, it's so annoying." She laughs. "Sometimes I wish you'd just wear a dress so we wouldn't have this problem."

I arch a brow at her and shoot her an amused look. "Really? Is that what people think?"

"Yeah. One of the moms at preschool referred to you as my 'partner' in a conversation, and when I said we were just friends, she told me all parents assumed we were together."

"Jesus, no wonder you never get asked out on a date. That's just…" My voice trails away as I catch a waft of a familiar perfume. I'm not sure what it is, but it stirs me to my very core. Looking up, I glance around, and my breath catches when I see Jennie walking up to the table next to us. She's wearing a backless black dress that makes me ache for her and she's holding hands with a tall, blonde woman.

"Oh my," Jihyo says, following my gaze. "That's Neil Park's wife. You know, the real estate mogul. She's in the tabloids sometimes."

I don't know who Neil Park is and I don't care because Jennie, my Jennie, has just taken a seat and she picks up the drinks menu and starts talking to the waiter. Suddenly, as if she knows I'm watching her, she glances around, and her eyes meet mine. Her lips are still parted, stalled in the middle of a conversation. Her companion notices what's going on and looks my way too, then asks her something, but she doesn't acknowledge the question. At a loss for what to say or do, I simply smile at her, because that's how I feel. My whole body has become one big smile and at the same time, I'm trembling with nerves. She might ignore me, she might come over and throw a drink in my face. After all, I deserve that for disappearing.

"Who is that?" Jihyo whispers.

"It's Jennie," I say, never taking my eyes off her. A warm, gooey glow spreads through me when she returns my smile, shyly at first, then wider. It's so strange seeing her outside her house, like an escaped horse roaming around freely. I know that's silly, of course. She probably goes out all the time, but I was never able to imagine what it would be like to meet her elsewhere.

"Really?" Jihyo narrows her eyes and studies her. "Oh yeah, I recognize her now." She waves at them before I have a chance to grab her wrist and Jennie's friend waves back at Jihyo, then takes Jennie's hand and pulls her up.

Resisting at first, Jennie looks like she wants to escape, but she gives in eventually and follows her friend to our table.

"Hi," her friend says. "I'm Chahee and this is Jennie, but I believe you two already know each other." She holds out her hand and I get up to shake it. "Lisa," I say, only taking my eyes off Jennie for a split second. Then she turns to Jihyo, who looks a little starstruck. "Are you two together?"

"Gross, no!" Jihyo exclaims. "Will everyone stop saying that? I'll never find a decent man if everyone keeps assuming I'm with her." She laughs and shakes Chahee's hand. "I'm Jihyo. Lisa's friend. It's very nice to meet you, and it's lovely to meet you too, Jennie."

Apart from greeting Jihyo, Jennie still hasn't said a word and Jihyo and Chahee exchange semi-nervous looks.

"Can we join you?" Chahee finally asks, pointing at our booth. She gives no excuses as to why she wants to share our table, and I like how straightforward she is.

"Of course, please do." I scoot over and there's an awkward moment in which Chahee practically pushes Jennie down next to me before she turns to Jihyo.

"I think I'll get drinks at the bar instead so I can micromanage the assembly of my much deserved first cocktail of the night. Want to join me?" Chahee asks.

Jihyo nods and follows Chahee to the bar like a puppy on her heel and then just like that, we're alone. "If I didn't know better, I'd almost think our bumping into each other had been orchestrated," I say, turning to Jennie.

"Yeah, me too. It's not, though, I promise."

"I know." I shift in my seat, the energy between us flaring like never before. I expected it to fade but it hasn't. Not one bit. "Are you angry with me?" It's a heavy first question but one I have to ask.

"Yes," she says, looking at my lips. "I'm angry and hurt. You just disappeared."

"I'm sorry."

"No, you're not." Jennie picks up my beer bottle, takes a sip and turns to me, handing it back. "You don't have to apologize, though. You didn't want it to be anything more than it was and I've accepted that. I understand, I really do. But my feelings haven't changed, so it's hard for me to see you again." She glances at the bar, where Chahee and Jihyo are talking animatedly, laughing like old friends while they toast. "Chahee is not one to argue with; if it wasn't for her, I'd be out of here. Anyway, I'm sorry if I freaked you out."

I shake my head, suddenly not so sure of anything anymore. The effect she has on me is astounding. I want her, I crave her, and I adore her. "You didn't freak me out. I just had to…"

"Protect yourself?" she says, finishing my sentence. "I understand that. And you have different priorities. Lily is still young."

"Yes, and you're…" I pause, letting out a long sigh. "Never mind, we've already had that conversation." I put a hand on her arm and watch the hairs rise on her skin. "How's Ella? Are you speaking?"

"Ella's fine. We're fine; she just thinks I'm a little deranged. Maybe I am." She doesn't sound convinced as she says it.

Relief floods my system and I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders. "So I haven't ruined your relationship with her?"

"No, of course not, this was never your fault. Ella and I are good. If anything, we're talking more than we used to." Jennie looks down at my hand that is still resting on her forearm. "It's better if you don't touch me, though. It makes me…"

"Sorry." I retract my hand and move away slightly. "What did you tell her?"

"That it's nothing serious but that I'm crazy about you." Her words linger between us and as much as I try to, I can't keep my eyes off her. She's got me, wholly, fully… "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, but it will pass. I also told her I think I'm gay, that this is not a phase." She doesn't sound one bit like the nervous Jennie from before. She's sure of herself, more confident.

"That's very brave of you."

"It's the truth."

I swallow hard and bite my lip as I let her words sink in, and then this weird statement just rolls off my tongue. "Life was simple until I met you."

Something flashes across Jennie's gaze and I know she realizes how loaded that simple sentence really is. "Same here." She squares her shoulders and straightens her back, her beautiful silhouette radiating from the spotlights of the bar behind her. Her lips are shimmering with a subtle coat of gloss and her lashes long and dark as she bats them at me. "Don't you think that means something?"