Page 36 of January

“Nice to meet you,” Kyle said, nodding.

“Yeah, you too.” Bridgette turned her eyes to Melindaand lifted an eyebrow. “So, where did you two meet?”

“On a tour,” Kyle answered first. “Although, technically, we saw each other at a bar before that, huh?”

“You did, did you?” Bridgette asked.

“Yeah. But the tour was where we really met,” Melinda added. “She and her sister did the food tour, and we got to talking.”

“Now, you’re having drinks?” Bridgette said. “Speaking of, I’ll head to the bar and get one for myself.”

“I’ll join you for a second. Kyle, I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” Kyle said, returning her attention to the pianos.

“What’s going on, Mel?” Bridgette asked when they arrived at the bar.

“Nothing. She was on the tour, and we talked, and I’ve hung out with her and her sister and–”

“Is she gay?”

“I think so. We haven’t talked labels. She’s into women, though. I know that much.”

“So, is this a date?”

“What? No. She came on another tour while her sister hung out with some friends, and she asked if I wanted to have a drink.”

“Mel, that’s a date. You invited me on your date.”

“She doesn’t even know thatI’mgay, Bridge.”

“She doesn’t?”

“It hasn’t come up. She hasn’t asked.”

Bridgette sighed and rubbed her face.

“What?” Melinda asked, worried that she’d screwed up.

“It’s fine. I have no right to be mad at you about this. It’s not like she and I even said a word to each other. Hell, she didn’t even look up when I walked past. But, apparently, she did whenyouwalked by.”

“She saw me, yeah.”

“And you didn’t mention it to me?”

“No.”

“Because you were trying to spare my feelings?”

“We’re just having a drink, Bridge.”

“You looked pretty close when I walked in.”

“The music just got loud. We were trying to hear each other,” Melinda offered.

“I should go,” Bridgette replied.

“What? Why? You just got here.”