LJ Maas - Rebecca’s Cove

“Cool.”

“How about I drop you two off at home so you can sleep it off? Then I go home and go to bed.”

“That doesn’t sound like any fun at all.”

Hobie’s laughter was an unexpected surprise. “Yep, it’s the curse of being good. Just call me Hobie ‘no fun’Allen.”

Baylor leaned against Hobie. “Maybe that’s because nobody ever gave you a good enough reason to be bad.”

Hobie felt her stomach flip. She was thankful that Juliana was in the car with them because if they had been alone, she knew she would have pulled over and ravished the woman beside her. Instead, she took a deep breath and gripped the steering wheel even harder.

They eventually reached Evelyn’s home. Juliana and Hobie assisted Baylor inside and deposited her on the couch.

Hobie held out two aspirin and a glass of water for Baylor. “Take these, they may help in the morning.”

Baylor swallowed the pills obediently. “Don’t go yet, Hobie,” she pleaded.

“What is it?” Hobie sat on the couch beside the now prone woman.

“I...this all started because I had something to say to you... something very important.”

“I remember. ‘Life altering’ I believe is the way you put it.” “Right, right. Life altering.”

“And it would be?”

Juliana stood in the shadows watching them. “Huh?” Baylor looked confused.

“What did you want to tell me, Baylor?” Hobie enunciated each word carefully.

“Oh, yeah. I wanted to say...” Baylor squinted her eyes. “Um... I wanted to say...”

“Yes?” Hobie was afraid to hear what it was, but she was more terrified to think that it wouldn’t be what she was expecting. She didn’t have the nerve to come out and say it herself. “You wanted to tell me something important?”

“Yeah. Hobie, I...I...damn, I can’t remember.” Baylor looked at her surroundings as though something would jog her memory.

“Right.” Hobie rose. “If you think of it, just holler,” she added with a gentle smile. How could she find fault with Baylor’s inability to speak when she herself couldn’t gather the courage to speak openly about her feelings? How could Hobie take the chance of opening her heart when Baylor might not have had that in mind? How big of a fool would she look then?

She grabbed the blanket from the end of the couch. Baylor was already asleep by the time Hobie pulled the covering over her. Hobie was almost thankful for that. It gave her the opportunity to look down on Baylor unobserved.

“I better go.” Hobie pulled her gaze away from the sleeping figure.

“Let me walk you out,” Juliana said.

The air surrounding them still felt humid as they stood on the porch, welcoming the light breeze that brushed against their skin.

“I appreciate your help in getting Baylor home.”

“That’s all right.” Hobie turned and smiled. “It wasn’t a big deal.”

“She had a pretty good reason for getting as hammered as she did. Do you want to know why?” Juliana tilted her head and made eye contact with Hobie.

“No. No, don’t tell me.” Hobie lowered her head to hide a sudden blush. “I’d kind of like to use my imagination as to what she was going to say to me.”

“Hobie, if you’d like to change your mind about tomorrow—” “No,” she said softly. “I wouldn’t. I just hope you won’t be too disappointed.”

“At what—being second choice? Nah, I’ve been Baylor’s friend for so long that I’m used to losing out to her.”

“Look, we’re—”

“Dear God, if you say ‘just friends’ I’ll scream.” Juliana sat against the porch railing. “Hobie, I’m not looking for anything magical to happen between us. It’s just been a long time since I’ve been out with a beautiful, intelligent woman...a nice woman. I’m simply looking forward to seeing that wonderful smile across the table from me tomorrow, nothing else, no strings.”

“You two.” Hobie shook her head. She paused to push her glasses up. “Between you and Baylor, I swear, you’ve got more charm than two women ought to be allowed to have. I think a night out with you sounds like fun, Jules. Thanks for asking me. Do you think Baylor will be able to handle you going off on a date while you’re a guest?”

Juliana laughed as if that question were an inside joke. “I don’t think she’d mind so much if I was going out with someone other than you. No, I fully expect the top of her head to blow off. You know, it’s been a long time since Baylor’s cared about anyone to get this worked up. Matter of fact, I don’t ever remember it being this bad.” She gave Hobie a devilish grin. “I think it’ll be good for her.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.” Hobie turned to leave. “Say about six?”

“Sounds good. Baylor doesn’t know it yet, but I plan on using her Jag.”

“I don’t want to be around for that fight,” Hobie said as she walked away. She waved goodbye and wondered for the millionth time that night why she was going out on a date with the best friend of the woman she really wanted to go out with.

Tomorrow should be an interesting day, Hobie thought.

“Hobie...Hobie,” Baylor mumbled in her half sleep. She had been dreaming that she and Hobie were sharing a kiss. The kiss seemed familiar, but even in her dream state, Baylor knew that she’d never kissed Hobie before, and she had no idea why she would remember it. She woke from her slumber a little more fully and immediately felt the pain of the previous evening’s indulgence. Barely squinting her eyes open, she found the source of the wet kisses.

“Arturo, get off me!” Baylor pushed at the white ball of fluff, but he took that as an invitation to play. “Stop, Squirt. Hey, quit chewing on my ear!”

It took Baylor some time that morning to get motivated enough to move. She eventually made it into the kitchen, turned on the coffee maker, and sat at the table. She rested her head on the smooth wood, which felt cool against her cheek. That was how Juliana found her.

“Good morning, morning glory! Hey, are we going to the Cove for brekky? I sure could go for some eggs and greasy bacon.” Juliana poured two cups of coffee as she spoke.

“Eat shit and die.” Baylor groaned without raising her head from the table.

“Let me fix you up with my patented hangover cure. It has raw eggs in it.”

“Tanti keeps a gun and I’m not afraid to use it.”

Juliana laughed but kept her voice down. She reached out and stroked the top of her friend’s head. “Here, this may help, mate.” She set the mug of coffee on the table in front of Baylor.

Baylor sipped the steaming brew and massaged her temple with her free hand.

“How many gimlets did you have last night?”

“I think I lost count at ten. How shitfaced did I get? Tell me I didn’t do anything to piss off Hobie.”

“Um, well...”

“Oh, no. What did I do?”

“Let’s see. You cornered Hobie and kept telling her you had something life altering to tell her. Then you passed out on her. She helped me get you home. You threw up—not on her, thankfully— you flirted shamelessly with her in the truck, and that’s about it.”

“Did I tell her?”

“That you’re in love with her? Nah, by the time we got home, you couldn’t remember what it was you wanted to say.” She easily interpreted the stricken look on Baylor’s face. “And, yes, you told me that you cared for her.”

“Geez, I must have been drunk. God, she must hate me.” “Surprisingly enough, I believe she still thinks you’re rather cute. Damned if I know why.”

Baylor’s head popped up at that. “Cute? Were those her exact words? I mean did she actually say I was cute?”

“Can we say pathetic?” Juliana chuckled.

“Oh, shut up. If she didn’t come out and say she liked me, then how do you know for sure?”

“Trust me on this. I’ve lost enough girlfriends to you that I know what it looks like when I’ve been relegated to alternate status.”

“Really?” Baylor asked with a small smile.

Juliana glared. “I’d appreciate a little less enthusiasm at that comment.”

“Sorry,” Baylor said. “I meant...really?” she added with a somber expression and a low tone.

“That’s better.”

“So at least I didn’t embarrass her too bad, huh?”

“I didn’t say that. I said I think she likes you and that you didn’t piss her off.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that you embarrassed the hell out of her. Don’t you remember the dance?”

“Dance? Dance?” Baylor mumbled the words under her breath. “Oh, shit.” She looked over at Juliana, her eyes widening.

“I see it’s all coming back to you.” “Not all. Refresh my memory.”

“Okay, let’s see. Not that I meant to eavesdrop, mind you.” “Oh, naturally.”

“Well, I think it started when you walked up to the table she was sitting at...”

“Hey.” Baylor walked up to Hobie’s table. She was well on her way to inebriated bliss.

“Hiya, Baylor.”

“Hey, Bubba. Hello,” Baylor slowly drawled as she attempted to get Hobie’s attention.

“Hello, Baylor,” Hobie said at last. “May I have this dance?”

“Are you insane?” “What? What’d I say?”

“Women don’t dance together on Ana Lia,” Hobie said. “Those old dykes do.” Baylor pointed to Katherine and Helen

as they moved together on the dance floor. “They’re sisters.”

“I don’t think anyone really believes that, do you? Come on, let’s dance.”