Page 24 of Lakeside Longing
“Me too. And relieved. She seems so much lighter now. Like a weight has been lifted.” Sarah’s smile softened. “She’s been through so much, you know, with the pressure of Hollywood and everything. I’m just glad she’s finally comfortable being herself.”
Rebecca nodded, unable to meet Sarah’s gaze. “Me too.”
Rebecca’s heart swelled with pride as Sarah shared the news of Quinn’s coming out, but as Sarah’s words hung in the air between them, the reality of their situation settled heavily in Rebecca’s chest. The memory of that night with Quinn, the softness of her lips, the electricity that had coursed through Rebecca’s veins... It had been a moment of weakness, a lapse in judgment that couldn’t be repeated.
Rebecca could live with being Quinn’s first real kiss, a stepping stone on her path to self-discovery. But she couldn’t be her first girlfriend. The mere thought of it made her stomach sink with guilt.
And then there was Sarah’s invitation to Thanksgiving. How would that even work if Rebecca showed up as Quinn’s girlfriend? Sarah and Jeff were the most accepting, loving parents Rebecca knew, but this... This was too much to ask of them. To expect them to welcome their daughter’s much oldergirlfriend – Sarah’s best friend – into their home, to their family table...
No, Rebecca couldn’t do that to them. She couldn’t do that to herself. As much as it pained her, as much as every fiber of her being longed to explore this connection with Quinn, Rebecca knew what she had to do.
She had to end things before they went any further. She had to make it clear to Quinn that, while she would always be there for her as a friend, anything more was off the table.
17
Quinn stood in her kitchen, the aroma of roasting meat and herbs filling the air. She checked her timer. Dinner would be ready in less than ten minutes. She sat at the breakfast bar while she waited, replaying last night’s events. She’d done it. She’d come out, and the world hadn’t ended. She’d had a long phone call with Piper earlier, filling her in on everything from kissing Rebecca to coming out to her family.
Piper had actually cried. Even as Quinn told her everything, it still didn’t sound real.
She’d picked up her phone more than once today, wanting to text Rebecca, to see if she wanted to come over tonight, to tell her what had happened. But she’d hesitated, not wanting to seem overeager. In the end, she decided to wait a day or two before reaching out.
A knock at the door took her away from her thoughts. Quinn walked to the door, expecting to see Reagan’s grinning face when she opened it. Instead, her breath caught in her throat.
Rebecca stood on her doorstep, bathed in the soft glow of evening sunlight. Her off the shoulder teal sweater revealed tanned skin, and her hair cascaded in loose waves, her copper highlights catching in the light. Quinn’s heart skipped a beat.
“Hey,” Quinn said, unable to keep the smile from spreading across her face.
Rebecca’s eyes met hers, an unreadable expression flickering across her features. “Hi,” she said softly.
Before Quinn could say another word, Rebecca stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her. Her breath tickled Quinn’s ear as she whispered, “I’m so proud of you.”
Quinn melted into Rebecca’s arms, the warmth of her body and the subtle sweetness of her perfume.
As they pulled apart, a smile played on Quinn’s lips. “News travels faster here than it does in Hollywood. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.”
Rebecca’s smile was radiant, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “She is my best friend. She told me this afternoon over a coffee.” She slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans. “She’s proud of you. And relieved that you’re okay.”
Quinn’s heart swelled at the words. She still couldn’t believe how well it had gone. “I know.”
A shrill beeping from the kitchen interrupted the moment, and Quinn glanced over her shoulder. “My dinner’s ready,” she said, turning back to Rebecca. She hesitated for a beat, a sudden nervousness fluttering in her stomach. “Would you like to stay and join me?”
Quinn held her breath, her heart pounding in her ears as she waited for Rebecca’s response.
Rebecca’s eyes softened, a smile tugging at her lips. “I’d love to.”
Quinn turnedoff the alarm and took the roast chicken out of the oven. The scent of rosemary filled the air as she started filling their plates a few moments later.
As they ate, Quinn asked Rebecca about her job and then her family. She had no idea that both of Rebecca’s parents had died in the last five years.
The conversation flowed easily, and as physically attracted as Quinn was to Rebecca, she knew it was more than that. It was more than infatuation or lust. She loved spending time with her, and as much as she wanted to pick up where they’d left off the other night, Quinn was happy listening to Rebecca, to finding out more about her, about what she liked, about what she hated.
But most of all, she loved that Rebecca hadn’t asked a single question about her life in Los Angeles. There had been no probing inquiries into the men she’d dated, no curiosity about whether she knew whoever her favorite actress or actor was, and no interest in what it was like to work with any particular person. Rebecca seemed genuinely uninterested in the Hollywood aspect of her life, and it was so refreshing.
18
Rebecca loaded the dishwasher while Quinn topped up their wine.
“Thank you for dinner,” Rebecca said, leaning back against the counter. “It was delicious.”