The Last to Leave

by Erica Lee

Courtney lifted an eyebrow and smirked as if fully aware of the fact that Nicole had just checked her out. “Nicole Dawson. It’s been a long time. You like what you see?”

The thought of her being jealous over anyone hooking up with Nicole was absolutely insane.

I wanted them to do what I felt like they should have been there for—to make sure the students knew they didn’t have to go through anything alone. So, I became that person.”

With every person that she pulled close to her, she closed her eyes and pretended it was Nicole behind her.

“Can I cut in?” Courtney thought she was imagining it when Nicole took the place of dance partner number thirteen. “You’re a good dancer,” Nicole whispered as she wrapped her arms around Courtney and rested her hands on her hips. “You also totally won. I’ll deny saying this when we’re both sober, but I didn’t have a chance. You owned this bar tonight.”

“Spoken like a true lesbian.”

Now, it was Courtney’s turn to laugh. “You know, for a second there I almost thought you were nice.” “To the girl who broke my nose? Never.” The way Nicole smiled at her told her she was kidding, and it felt like something passed between them. It was different from the lust-filled dancing in the club. This was actually a nice moment. “My number is ten by the way. Ten people who are now living a much more satisfied life because they got a piece of Nicole Dawson.”

“Goodnight, soccer star.” “Goodnight, Speedy.” Even if she had wanted to, Nicole couldn’t have stopped the smile from spreading across her face as she drifted off to sleep.

“I think you know exactly what I’m proposing. Once you take off your pants, and turn yourself around to give me the same access, you’re free to do whatever your heart desires to me. You know, for as long as you can hold on with what I’m about to do to you.”

She loved the way Courtney’s nails scratched at her legs as she went.

Oh no. Nicole wouldn’t have that. She rolled over so she was straddling Courtney’s hips and smiled down at the girl pinned below her. “Double or nothing.”

“This is the one and only time you’ll ever hear me say this, but you’re in control. Show me what you want.”

Courtney knew she was asking for trouble, but she couldn’t help herself. Flirting with Nicole was too hard to resist.

Good lord, this girl was going to be the death of her.

When neither of them could keep their eyes open anymore, Nicole had wrapped Courtney up in her arms as if it was the most natural thing in the world. And that’s how it felt—completely natural, like this was exactly where she was supposed to be.

“What are you waiting for? I was promised Laurel Lake and snuggles and I want it now.” “Those may be the sexiest words I’ve ever heard spoken aloud,” Nicole said as she followed her into the bedroom.

She didn’t bargain for this. She didn’t expect Courtney to become so important to her.

“Such a romantic you are,” Courtney said teasingly. She ran her fingers up and down Nicole’s arm and she thought she might doze back off to sleep because of how nice that felt. Nicole didn’t want to move. She wanted to stay lost in this moment forever.

Nicole wasn’t sure what felt better—the hot water covering her body or the arms that wrapped around her and pulled the two of them impossibly close. Never mind. It was no question. It was those arms. Being wrapped up with Courtney was great, and it only got better when Courtney laid her head on Nicole’s shoulder and squeezed her tightly.

Somewhere along the line, Courtney had gone from the girl she couldn’t stand to somewhat of a friend to someone she absolutely couldn’t live without. She knew she was getting ahead of herself but Courtney felt like her person. She didn’t think there was anyone else in this world who could keep up with her the way Courtney could. Heck, she had tried with other people. No one seemed to understand her until Courtney, and she seemed to get every single piece of her. It made her feel like maybe she wasn’t crazy. Maybe she wasn’t the issue. As Courtney had said once, she just needed to find someone who could keep up with her. She just never in a million years thought that person could be Courtney Fields.

Dating Courtney was exactly what she wanted.

“When I said that I liked you. It might be crazy to say this so soon, but I don’t just like you. I love you.” Nicole put her hand on top of Courtney’s, stopping its movements. “You do?” When Courtney nodded, the smile that came to Nicole’s face lit up the whole room. “If you’re crazy, then we both are, because I love you too.” Courtney’s heart swelled and she thought she might burst from all the happiness she was feeling. This was the best feeling in the entire world.

“Nicole Dawson is in love with me. There’s no greater prize in the world than that.”

She knew she would do anything it took to make Nicole happy.

Nicole looked over at Courtney, and she saw her whole world in front of her. What a crazy twist of fate that Courtney Fields would come back into her life and end up being the person she was waiting for.

“Would you look at that. Looks like I’m the last to leave.” Nicole brought Courtney in closer and placed a quick kiss on her lips. “No, darling, you’re the first to stay.”

“I want every sunset, sunrise, rainy day, snowstorm; every up; every down. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

The two of them had fought over who got to be the first down the aisle, mostly because they both wanted to be able to watch the other walk down, but it was Nicole who had won out in the end. A lucky win in a game of Go Fish they were playing with her nephews was what had given her that chance. Of course, she didn’t tell Courtney it was luck. Even though everyone knew there wasn’t much strategy to the game, she insisted she was a Go Fish pro and that’s why she won.

“I wouldn’t change a thing though.” Nicole looked from her wife to her two daughters and her heart felt more full than it ever had in her entire life. “Me neither, babe. Me neither.