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  Emma smiled as she too recalled those good times they’d all had. Her father had been the most important person in her life. She’d lost her mom early on, and her dad had been the best father a girl could ask for. When he died, it nearly broke Emma. Hailey had been at the funeral. She’d been there for Emma when Emma needed her most. Emma would always love her for that. Every year on this day, Hailey either texted or called her to let her know she was thinking about him and about Emma. She’d texted earlier that day as well, but Emma hadn’t responded. She wanted to be at home alone in case the conversation caused tears.

  “I remember all that too,” she finally replied. “I miss him.”

  “I know you do. But he’s looking down on you, Emma. He’s so proud of you.”

  “I guess,” she replied half-heartedly. “How’s Charlie? How’s life as a newly-wed?”

  “You are the master of a non sequitur.” Hailey laughed. “She’s great. I’m still crazy in love with her. We’re thinking about getting a little brother for Eddie,” she said about their dog.

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah, we’re looking at different breeds and trying to narrow it down.”

  “How’s work?” Emma asked, still wanting the subject to be on anything other than her.

  “It’s good. The new CEO is finally in place. We lost the last one to a start-up that just went IPO. You know about the one before that, so I’m hoping he sticks around for a while.”

  Hailey worked for a tech company as their Director of Public Relations. She’d gotten the job in a way thanks to Charlie, who’d met the company’s CEO, Summer Taft, on business. They became friends and Summer met Hailey, hired her, and then promptly fell in love herself with another of their friends, Lena. She’d then quit the company she’d founded with her brother.

  “That’s good news, Hails.”

  “And how are things there? Job? Woman or maybe women?” Hailey asked.

  “I just got here, Hailey,” Emma replied.

  “I know, but I also know you moved at least in part because you wanted a fresh start in that department.”

  “Well, it didn’t help that basically everyone in my group of friends is married. Also, I did sleep with two of you. Now, you’re married, and Summer is engaged. I’m happy for both of you. I’m happy for all of you because you found your person, but it’s hard to be around that sometimes.”

  “I tried to hook you up with Van. She’s single,” Hailey pointed out.

  “And I am not attracted to her at all. “I told you that. She’s nice, and I like her, but I have no desire to have sex with her. It was better to try for something new, and the job gave me a chance.”

  “And you like it?” Hailey asked.

  “So far. I’m still getting used to it, but Ivy seems like a good boss. I’ve got a good team under me. I won’t lie though, I’ve been trying to identify the single women on the floor and try to guess if they play for our team.”

  “Really?” Hailey laughed. “And what have you determined?”

  “I think all the women on this floor are either straight and married or just straight. There are a couple I can’t get a good read on, but I’m not interested.”

  “Would you date someone you worked with?” Hailey asked.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. I mean, where do you meet people as an adult? You met Charlie at work.”

  “We waited tables in college, and we didn’t date back then. This is different. This is like a real place of business, and if you date someone and it doesn’t work out, it would be awkward,” Hailey said.

  “I know, but I haven’t done this since college. I had to when I got to Rutgers, but all the college freshmen were in the same boat, so it was easier. When I moved back to Chicago, I’d grown up there; I had friends. Then, I reconnected with you, and we had this group of friends. But now – I’m on my own, and everyone here is just living their life normally. No one else is the new girl, you know?”

  “I know, but you’re basically in the gay country. There’s San Francisco and Provincetown. I’d prefer the weather there to Provincetown, but there are tons of places you can meet age-appropriate, gay women, who aren’t your crazy ex that cheats on you for months and then wants you back,” Hailey replied and mentioned Emma’s ex-girlfriend, Eli.

  “I used to be more outgoing. Remember when I was outgoing?”

  “I remember us being alone in your room a lot or on dates alone. I guess you were a joiner in high school, but I wasn’t really involved in that, so I didn’t see you around those people much.”

  “And I thought you fell for me because I wore those hot dance outfits at the football games.” Emma chuckled.

  “Oh, I did.” Hailey laughed back. “You were super cute.”

  “So, what do I do? Go to a bar? Sit alone, drink a martini and hope a woman approaches and strikes up a conversation?”

  “You could try online dating.”

  “No thanks.” Emma took a long drink of her wine.

  “Hey, it’s not how it used to be. Remember when your dad tried it?” Hailey laughed again. “He got so many responses, he was overwhelmed and deleted his account.”

  “My dad was a chick magnet after my mom died. He wanted to throw out the computer when he got the five hundredth request for a chat that weekend. I had to remind him that just throwing it out wouldn’t do anything,” Emma replied.

  “It’s not the same. There are apps now. Hook up apps for gay ladies when you just need a little action,” Hailey said.

  “Oh, Hails, don’t say action like that. It sounds weird coming from you.”

  “Hey, of the two of us, I’m the only one getting any action right now, and it’s with a super hot chick I married. You should probably take my advice.” She paused. “I’ll send you the article I found on the apps for lesbians. Some aren’t just for hooking up. You can even pick a type for yourself and a type for what you’re looking for.”

  “Type?”

  “Yeah, like butch, femme. Wait. What are you? What am I?” Hailey seemed to be asking herself more than Emma. “What’s Charlie?”

  Emma just laughed and set her wine glass back on the table.

  “I don’t think any of us fit those types to a T. We’re all maybe a little in the middle,” she offered.

  “And you don’t really have a type you’re attracted to, do you?” Hailey questioned. “If I’m in the middle, Eli was kind of on the butch side, if I had to put her on that spectrum. Summer was a little in the middle too. There was that one woman you dated when we were just starting to be friends again. She was more femme, I think.”

  “Marissa. And yes, she was a little more girly,” Emma agreed. “I don’t know. I guess I just want the right woman for me. I don’t care if she’s a certain type. I just want her to be herself, and I want to be myself, and I want it to work for once.”

  “You’ll find her, Em,” Hailey encouraged.

  “I guess I’ll try the bar thing for a while and see how that goes.”

  “Summer met Lena in a bar. Technically, Charlie and I met in a bar,” Hailey said.

  “It was Ember’s family restaurant.”

  “We met at the bar in the restaurant,” Hailey stated.

  “Not the same thing.”

  “Ember and Eva met at that restaurant too. Maybe you shouldn’t have moved. Maybe you should have just gone to the restaurant and waited.”

  “You’re hilarious,” Emma replied sarcastically.

  “Emma, you’re amazing. You’ll find someone that is amazing for you. They say this stuff happens when you least expect it. A watched pot never boils. Maybe just focus on work and getting used to living in the city. Maybe that’s how you’ll find her: you won’t be looking.”

  “Thanks, Hails. You’re a good friend.”

  “I know,” Hailey replied. “So are you.”

  ◆◆◆

  Emma woke for her third day at her new job and was determined to do more than just settle in for the rest of the week. She had to m
eet with her team, meet Joanna for the first time since she was returning from her trip, and get an understanding of the major projects her department was undertaking for the next several months. It turned into a very hectic day as she bounced from conference room to conference room. By the end of it, she had pulled her hair back and had finished her fifth cup of coffee.

  “Emma?” Mason called from the doorway.

  “You’re still here?” she asked him.

  “I was about to head out when Keira called. She asked if you were available to pick the caterer tomorrow. I checked your calendar. You have the afternoon free. She said it would likely take a few hours. Should I tell her yes?”

  “That’s fine.” She nodded.

  “I’ll add the info to your calendar and head on out then. Have a good night.”

  “You too,” she replied.

  Emma knew she should apologize to Keira. She hadn’t exactly been nice or welcoming to her. It was the worst day of the year for Emma to meet a new person, and especially someone that oversaw the biggest event of the year for her department. She wasn’t exactly sure how to apologize, though, without giving away the details of her personal life. She wasn’t ready to do that with a stranger. The loss of her father wasn’t something she talked about with anyone. Hailey was the only person who really understood it because she’d been around when he was alive and she was there after he died. Even Eli hadn’t been someone she’d felt entirely comfortable spilling her guts to. Maybe she should have seen that the relationship wasn’t meant to be based on that alone. Even though it had been years since his death, talking about it was still incredibly difficult for her. Instead of outright apologizing, she’d maybe just try to be nicer to her tomorrow.

  She’d thought about Keira Worthy a few times since their meeting, but mostly it had been because Emma felt bad about how she’d dismissed her. That wasn’t Emma. She knew she’d left a bad impression, but she’d also thought about Keira’s light blue eyes and long blonde hair. When Keira had mentioned the catering, Emma had a thought that she kind of looked like one of those waiters at events, with the black and white and the vest. All she needed was one of those little bow ties. It wouldn’t suit her, though, Emma thought as she gathered her stuff to leave the office. Keira Worthy wasn’t a woman who would wear a tuxedo or a suit. Emma had a feeling she was a woman that looked great in a killer dress. She found herself wondering how she dressed when she was just hanging around the house or when she went out with her boyfriend or husband. Emma didn’t see a ring. She was embarrassed she’d even checked. But, apparently, the older she got and the more desperate she became for companionship, the more she glanced at ring fingers to see if a woman was officially taken.

  She made it home feeling pretty good about what she’d accomplished that day, changed her clothes from her business casual work attire to jeans and a white t-shirt that she then threw a navy blue sweater over and headed out the door. It was a Wednesday night, which likely meant the bars wouldn’t be too packed and would, therefore, be a little less intimidating for her to just sit and have a drink. She told herself she’d stay for at least thirty minutes. If no one approached, she’d leave. That was the first step. She wasn’t a woman that expected another woman to approach her. Normally, she had no problem doing the approaching or asking a woman out. She’d done it many times before. Tonight, though, she was just starting. She’d sit and see if there was anyone interesting. If she saw someone she couldn’t take her eyes off, she’d consider buying her a drink. But her promise to herself was thirty minutes and then she’d go.

  She’d done some research and landed on a bar she’d known to be a lesbian spot, and it was only about seven blocks from her apartment. She could use the walk and the night out after all the moving and getting used to a new job. She arrived and, upon entering, decided it wasn’t great. But the bar would do for her first attempt. It wasn’t busy; there were about twenty women milling about. The bar was the typical U-shape, and there were two bartenders behind it. One was probably in her mid-twenties and was kind of cute, while the other was probably in her forties and wore a leather vest, which wasn’t really Emma’s type. She settled on a stool on the younger bartender’s side.

  “What can I get you?” the bartender asked and placed a napkin in front of her.

  “House white?” Emma asked.

  “Sure.” The woman smiled a small smile that she probably delivered to every woman she made drinks for and moved to grab the glass and the bottle of wine.

  She poured it in front of Emma and turned to focus on another guest who’d just sat down a few stools away. Emma resisted the urge to pull out her phone and scroll through the news or respond to work emails. She thought that might make her unapproachable. So she sat and looked around the bar at the women moving in and out.

  She made it a full fifteen minutes before she started to feel like a creep with all her staring and pulled out her phone to stare down at it. After another fifteen minutes, she’d finished her wine and was bored. She watched her phone change time and officially made it the thirty minutes she’d promised herself earlier. She placed cash on the bar to cover her wine and a tip and turned to go. She decided on a bathroom break before she made the walk back to her apartment, and as she turned to enter the ladies room just off to the left of the bar, she noticed someone familiar walk in.

  Keira Worthy had walked in alone, but Emma saw her wave at a table of three women and then join them with a wide smile. Hugs were shared. She sat down next to them while one slid a drink in front of her and Keira took a sip. Emma opted to wait for the bathroom until she got home and slid out the front door of the bar without Keira noticing. She hadn’t pegged Keira as a lesbian. Of course, she could be bisexual, or she could be the straight friend hanging in the gay bar with her gay friends. It was an unexpected event nonetheless, and she couldn’t stop thinking about it the entire walk home.

  CHAPTER 4

  Keira needed a night out with friends. It had been a long time since she’d just gone for a drink. Normally, they’d pick a place closer to home, but she’d been in a different part of the city for a meeting and her friend, Hillary, worked a few blocks away. They’d agreed to meet at McCoy’s, which sounded like an Irish Pub by name but was actually a popular lesbian hangout owned by two sisters, both gay and named McCoy.

  “So, how’s the big one going?” Hillary asked Keira about thirty seconds after she sat down.

  Hillary had taken to calling the health fair that since it was the biggest event Keira had ever done on her own and was incredibly important to the success of her business.

  “It was going okay, but now I don’t know.” Keira took a drink of the gin and tonic Hillary had ordered for her in advance.

  Hillary was shorter than Keira – only about 5’6” – and she was a little on the stocky side compared to Keira’s lithe form. She had short black hair that she kept neat at her ears and wore the typical professor garb of khakis and polos or button-downs with jackets on most days, including today.

  “What happened?” Hillary asked.

  “This is the health fair thing, right?” Greene checked.

  Greene was actually Macon Greene, who was named after her great-grandfather for some reason her parents never bothered to properly explain to her. She hated her first name, and her middle wasn’t much better, so she went by Greene with pretty much everyone she could. She was about Keira’s height, maybe an inch taller, and had electric green eyes. Many people just assumed she went by Greene before knowing it was her last name thanks to the eyes she’d been genetically blessed with. She had near jet black hair and golden skin that perfectly demonstrated the blend of her parents’ Italian and Irish heritage.

  “Yeah, it’s the health fair thing. It was going fine until Ivy, the Head of the entire Department, delegated the planning to a new Director named Emma, who apparently hates me.” Keira grunted and lifted her glass to her lips. “Well, I might have had something to do with the hating.”

  “W
hat did you do?” Kellan asked from her seat next to Greene.

  Kellan was a recent acquisition to their friend group. She was a year younger than Keira. They’d met through a wedding she’d planned. Kellan had been the lesbian bridesmaid that had caught Keira’s attention from the start. Keira had been single. Kellan had been single. They started dating. But before it got to girlfriend status, Keira met someone else. They’d gone out a couple of times before she mentioned it to Kellan. She’d never made any promises to Kellan. They were both free to date or sleep with whoever they wanted, but Kellan had been a little more into their budding romance than Keira had been. She and Keira parted ways. Eventually, Keira messaged her that she wanted to be friends if Kellan was up for that, and a few months ago, they’d gone for drinks with Hillary and Greene. Their new foursome had been formed.

  “I didn’t do anything, technically,” Keira replied and rolled her eyes in Kellan’s direction. “I almost did something, I guess.” She glanced in Hillary’s direction. “I was running late – and don’t say anything.” She pointed at Hillary, who always liked to tease her for her consistent tardiness. “I was at a stop light, and it turned green. Emma, who I didn’t know at the time I would be working with, was crossing the street. I nearly floored it to get up the hill. You guys know how steep those hills are in the city, and my old car–”

  “You almost ran over her?” Greene laughed.

  “It wasn’t like that at all. She was fine. I didn’t even hit the gas that hard. I stopped a few feet away from her. It was really kind of her fault too, for not moving fast enough through the intersection.”

  “Haven’t you ever heard the phrase pedestrians have the right-of-way?” Kellan asked.

  “I felt bad about it, but I never thought I’d see her again. Then, Ivy introduces me to the new Director she’d put in charge, and it’s Emma Colton.”

  “Colton?” Greene asked. “Emma Colton.” She stared skyward as if trying to picture Emma in her mind. “That’s a nice name. What did she look like?”