Those Who Wait

by Haley Cass

“We’re friends,” she whispered, and she saw the way Sutton shuddered as her breath hit her collarbones. She very narrowly resisted biting them. For now. Sutton nodded, and she could see her swallow before she said back, “Friends,” in a low tone. “And this isn’t going to change anything,” she asserted, this time not just for Sutton but for her own peace of mind as well. She arched an eyebrow up at Sutton, stomach dipping low from want, even as she waited for a response. Which came quickly, Sutton squeezing her hand lightly as she affirmed, “I don’t want it to.”

The grin that was on her mom’s face grew a bit as she shrugged lightly. “I suspected. But even so.” Her expression grew more serious, though, as she seemed to try to search Sutton’s face through the webcam, “You know that this doesn’t change the way I love you. Or the way your father loves you. You’re still our Sutton, no matter who you love.”

Charlotte gave her a warm look before quickly placing her wine glass on the small table next to the door. She whirled back around, and before Sutton even realized it, strong, bare arms wrapped around her tightly. Charlotte’s hand stroked along her back, making her arch into the tingle from the sensation. Charlotte spoke softly next to her ear, “I know you were nervous about it. I’m so glad for you, Sutton.”

“Because it’s just going to end up on my floor.”

“But, can you just – can you tell me what to do?” “It just so happens –” Charlotte spun them and started walking Sutton backward until her knees hit her mattress, and she sat down. Charlotte ducked her head, brown curls curtaining the two of them, as she leaned in to nip at Sutton’s earlobe. “That I love telling people what to do.”

“You’re not wrong. But you have quite the advantage over everyone else here.” Charlotte tossed a wink at her as they weaved through the crowd. “Me.”

“I said to keep them here. You’re going to come like this.”

“I can say with absolute clarity that I’ve spent my entire adult life taking strides to make this country a better place, so your comments on my ambitions are entirely accurate. Yet, for all of your life experience, where has your ambition been?”

Um, I don’t know if I should respond to your message. My lesbian guru once told me that someone who has such specific wants on their profile is someone who isn’t over her ex. With a deep breath, she walked through the archway. She peered down the long hall that appeared to be empty, save for the security guard at the very end. “Your lesbian guru was right.”

Sutton held tighter when she realized that the rough breathing coming from Charlotte was crying, as she felt hot tears land on her collarbone.

“So I would have been a goal, then? You’d have waited for me?” She let out a disbelieving laugh, and she didn’t think she should be as utterly charmed by that as she was, but here they were. “Darling,” Charlotte pulled back, a slow smile spreading over her face. “Haven’t you ever heard that good things come to those who wait?”

“I want to marry you, Sutton Spencer,” she admitted. “Winning or losing an election doesn’t mean anything if you aren’t by my side for it.”