worried. Is everything okay?” The look of concern was so genuine, Stacy was almost tempted to spill…almost. Stacy wasn’t a “girl time” kind of woman. She didn’t do late night ice cream binges while sharing secrets. No crying and calling for the head of some asshole who did her wrong. She was most certainly not a member of the Uterine Solidarity Club. That was not Stacy. Never had been and never would be.
“Of course, buttercup, I’m peachy.” Well, that came off a little more snarky than I intended. “Sorry, running late today, so, my bitchy side is in full glory, you know how it is? You’re having a bad day so you intend to go twenty-five percent, max. A nice respectable, but with an edge, mild bitch level, but then some asshole pulls out in front of you in a tractor in a no passing zone, and before you know it, you’ve done went full bitch. And believe me, you never want to go full bitch before nine a.m.”
The laugh they shared felt good. That was her intention, to cut some of the tension from the other day and by her own snippy tongue. Maybe one day, she could just dip a toe in the Uterine Solidarity Club pool, just to test it out. “So, what brings you down to the county courthouse without your resident legal counsel?”
“Andy? He and Marco are across the street already. We were just up here filing some paperwork. We popped over for coffee. Well, they did, I am relegated to tea. Nice boring, decaffeinated tea.” She rubbed her belly lovingly as she faux complained. “I left my phone in one of the boxes by the metal detector, so… Sometimes, I swear I’d lose my head if it weren’t attached. This pregnancy has turned me from mildly forgetful to full-on flake.” Gus’s attention turned from her barely-there belly back to Stacy. “I see what you mean about late. Did you eat in the car or just crumble your toast on your top?”
A delicate hand reached out and brushed the bagel crumbs off Stacy, which she was grateful for. Her hands were full and she wouldn’t have passed a mirror before appearing in front of a judge with the remnants of her breakfast.
“Thanks for the save. That would have been embarrassing. Look, I’m late and gotta run, but if you’re free later, I‘d really like to have a chat, if you’re up for it?” Unidentified emotions crossed Gus’s face and left something painful and sad in their wake.
“That’s kinda the second reason I wanted to check on you. I think a chat is in order and I need your advice on something, so, um, yeah, that’d be awesome if we could get together.”
Stepping away, Stacy firmed up their plans. “Okay, how does seven, your place, sound? I’ll bring you your tofu vegan pizza and a full-on heart attack one for me.” At Gus’s nod, she continued down the walk, and up the steps before turning back. “By the way, breakfast was a bagel, not toast, buttercup. Oh, and this advice you’re in need of, if it’s legal, I’m not cheap, but I’ll give you the friends and family discount.” With a wink and a lighter heart, she turned to face the door.
Maybe this whole being normal thing could be for her. A hot man, loyal friends, and sense of belonging. Yep, maybe it could be.
She spared a quick look at Gus crossing the street, and as her head swiveled back to the door, she caught the reflection of a figure on the opposite corner that transmuted her spinal fluid to ice crystals.
Hank.
Blinking and shaking her head, she refocused, but the man was gone. Convincing herself there was no fucking way, Stacy took a deep breath and entered the courthouse. Bypassing the metal detector via the private entrance, as usual, she greeted the all-too-familiar uniformed security guard, Fred, with their typical morning salutation.
W aking up without Stacy after last night was bittersweet. He’d awakened long enough to say goodbye, jerk off, and watch her leave, before returning to dreamland. He lay there wondering how content he’d feel to simply roll
“Of course, buttercup, I’m peachy.” Well, that came off a little more snarky than I intended. “Sorry, running late today, so, my bitchy side is in full glory, you know how it is? You’re having a bad day so you intend to go twenty-five percent, max. A nice respectable, but with an edge, mild bitch level, but then some asshole pulls out in front of you in a tractor in a no passing zone, and before you know it, you’ve done went full bitch. And believe me, you never want to go full bitch before nine a.m.”
The laugh they shared felt good. That was her intention, to cut some of the tension from the other day and by her own snippy tongue. Maybe one day, she could just dip a toe in the Uterine Solidarity Club pool, just to test it out. “So, what brings you down to the county courthouse without your resident legal counsel?”
“Andy? He and Marco are across the street already. We were just up here filing some paperwork. We popped over for coffee. Well, they did, I am relegated to tea. Nice boring, decaffeinated tea.” She rubbed her belly lovingly as she faux complained. “I left my phone in one of the boxes by the metal detector, so… Sometimes, I swear I’d lose my head if it weren’t attached. This pregnancy has turned me from mildly forgetful to full-on flake.” Gus’s attention turned from her barely-there belly back to Stacy. “I see what you mean about late. Did you eat in the car or just crumble your toast on your top?”
A delicate hand reached out and brushed the bagel crumbs off Stacy, which she was grateful for. Her hands were full and she wouldn’t have passed a mirror before appearing in front of a judge with the remnants of her breakfast.
“Thanks for the save. That would have been embarrassing. Look, I’m late and gotta run, but if you’re free later, I‘d really like to have a chat, if you’re up for it?” Unidentified emotions crossed Gus’s face and left something painful and sad in their wake.
“That’s kinda the second reason I wanted to check on you. I think a chat is in order and I need your advice on something, so, um, yeah, that’d be awesome if we could get together.”
Stepping away, Stacy firmed up their plans. “Okay, how does seven, your place, sound? I’ll bring you your tofu vegan pizza and a full-on heart attack one for me.” At Gus’s nod, she continued down the walk, and up the steps before turning back. “By the way, breakfast was a bagel, not toast, buttercup. Oh, and this advice you’re in need of, if it’s legal, I’m not cheap, but I’ll give you the friends and family discount.” With a wink and a lighter heart, she turned to face the door.
Maybe this whole being normal thing could be for her. A hot man, loyal friends, and sense of belonging. Yep, maybe it could be.
She spared a quick look at Gus crossing the street, and as her head swiveled back to the door, she caught the reflection of a figure on the opposite corner that transmuted her spinal fluid to ice crystals.
Hank.
Blinking and shaking her head, she refocused, but the man was gone. Convincing herself there was no fucking way, Stacy took a deep breath and entered the courthouse. Bypassing the metal detector via the private entrance, as usual, she greeted the all-too-familiar uniformed security guard, Fred, with their typical morning salutation.
W aking up without Stacy after last night was bittersweet. He’d awakened long enough to say goodbye, jerk off, and watch her leave, before returning to dreamland. He lay there wondering how content he’d feel to simply roll
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