Those Who Wait

by Haley Cass

Dread was already settling in her before Regan answered. “It’s a dating app. You’re welcome; you’ll be getting messages from hot girls in no time.”

Sutton scoffed as she settled back onto the couch, cautiously looking at the app. She narrowed her eyes when she read the name: SapphicSpark. “You’re kidding me.”

“Oh, wow.”

Regan’s voice right next to her ear startled her, causing her to fumble her phone in her hands. She threw her friend a glare. “I thought you were going to give me time to look. On my own.” “Well, I was. Then I noticed you were staring at someone and I wanted to see. And now that I checked, I have to say – you need to message her.”

Oh, God. This was why Sutton could never go out and meet a woman in real life; she couldn’t even talk to one online without putting her foot in her mouth.

Despite her banter, she meant it. Dean had been her boss for several years now and in those years, he had become someone she could trust. Someone who managed to maintain her respect, even after she’d seen him come running

out of her brother’s apartment in nothing but striped boxers after sighting a mouse. That alone was a feat to be proud of.

With a deep breath, she took another sip of champagne. She could feel a pleasant buzz from it, even as she nudged Dean with her shoulder to get his attention. “You’d better make an even better speech if I win the seat. I expect some tears to fall.” “If? Where is the confident Charlotte I know and tolerate?” “The Charlotte you know and love, brat.”

With that in mind, she bit back a small sigh as she fixed a smile on and shook her head. “I have to grab something from my desk first. I’ll be out there and asking you for a dance soon, though.” “We’ll see if you can keep up.” Dean started to unbutton his cuffs and crisply start to roll them up as he gave her a nod. “Excuse you. Historically, only one of us ever needs assistance on the dance floor and it’s not me.” He walked away with a wink that made her chuckle under her breath, before Charlotte made her way to her desk.

Oh, god. This is even more mortifying than our first interaction, I think. Please ignore me, now.

She wasn't sure whether to continue to be amused or to be actually concerned that this woman appeared to have been awake all night. Awake and . . . anxious about having sent Charlotte so many messages? Charlotte, 6:09AM Do you sleep?

Charlotte had to read all of the messages over twice before it truly dawned on her what Sutton was asking. If she could help Sutton find her . . . princess charming on the app. The honest-to-god genuine laughter bubbled out of her. Not that she found Sutton herself laughable – no, she was adorable – but the idea that Charlotte, of all people, was being asked to help find someone romance. She just had to take a moment to let it really sink in. Charlotte, 6:50AM Darling, take a deep breath. I would be remiss to say that I wasn’t intrigued by your proposal.

You’re not deleting your account because I’m coming off like a stalker or something, right? Because I swear to you, I’m just a little awkward sometimes.

You know I’ll go anywhere for those lemon cakes. Regan – 12:41PM Are you saying you wouldn’t come just for me, your best friend, who would do anything for you?

. save me two lemon cakes :) Regan – 12:45PM Bitch. I’ll see you soon.

Charlotte – 12:25PM

Something to add to the list, darling: if a woman ever asks you to go to The Echo – you know, that hot club in midtown? Don’t go, because she only wants a hook up.

Charlotte – 1:05PM

Just wanted to make sure ;)

Sutton – 1:14PM Are you kidding? You think I’ve been to a gay bar? I’ve told you about my embarrassingly limited experiences with women, remember?

Charlotte – 11:53AM And why were you up so late, darling? Hot date? Hot date, and you never even told your lesbian guru?

Charlotte – 12:13PM You always say that, you know. Every time that I’m going into a meeting, you wish me luck.

Charlotte took a deep breath in through her nose even though she didn’t stop herself from continuing her gaze up and over her ass. Which was just as phenomenal to look at as her legs were – or better.

Close enough to hear the daughter with the fantastic ass

In another situation, Charlotte might have found it cute. Actually, she did find it cute.

“Don’t you mean nice to meet you again?”

No, actually, I feel as though I might be sick because you don’t know it, but I’m bisexual, and the woman who has been acting as my secretive online lesbian guru is basically your coworker

who is here tonight, and she’s so gorgeous it’s almost painful.

As she turned to face the front of the room, she caught Charlotte’s eye, and was unable to look away. Especially when Charlotte winked at her.

Still, she kept her smile in place. “Interesting? It seems you might understand a thing or two about disappearing from an event.” She inclined her head in the direction of where she and Verbeck had been.

Charlotte found herself chuckling, an actual, full-on laugh. “I can’t believe you actually thought that.”

She smirked. “Do you think I slink around in dark alcoves with people who aren’t my friend, darling?”

“Well . . . I do have it on good authority that you had somewhat of an experienced past with women in all manner of places.” Charlotte’s mouth fell open. “Excuse you!” Sutton laughed, loudly, and she could picture the flush on her face. It was a nice image and despite so many of her plans for the night having fallen flat, she found herself grinning as she walked through her apartment door.

It was already too late. “Why don’t you give her some sugar?”

“Great. Good. Okay, let’s go.” “I’ll see you at home, my tall drink of water. Take care of her, Stunning Charlotte!” Regan

called out to them, and Sutton threw an exasperated glare over her shoulder.

“No, darling, it’s okay. I’ve actually been looking forward to this.”

Charlotte chuckled in a way that was more affectionate than anything else, before she reached out to loop her arm around Sutton’s. “Okay, we won’t talk about that.” Charlotte tilted her head up to look at her in surprise. “How are you so warm? You only have a sweater on, not even a jacket!”

“Do you actually like gardening?” She asked, then wondered if it was weird that she remembered that. “I mean. It was on your profile.” “Yes, I do love to garden. That is all true. And what about you? Was yours all true?” She tipped her head to the side, narrowing her eyes in thought, “Lemon cakes, dogs, knitting, snow, literature, and . . .”

It was an interesting paradox, and Charlotte felt it mirrored the same one that Sutton herself presented. She was beautiful – clearly – yet, she was so easily flustered. And flirting could make her blush darker than her hair, yet she had those sassy, sarcastic moments that caught Charlotte off-guard every time. She was both intelligent and naïve, awkward and bold, and Charlotte was very, very much enjoying it.

Tonight, for the first time, Sutton was coming to her apartment for dinner and a movie. It had been Sutton’s idea; one of those bold moments, where she seemed to speak before she could let herself think it through – Charlotte very much enjoyed those moments. They both amused her and made Sutton that much more endearing, because those blue eyes would get so big, like Sutton couldn’t believe she said what she’d said.

Even now, Charlotte shook her head, with a light laugh at the memory. Adorable Sutton Spencer, offering to help Charlotte de-stress . . . with dinner and a movie.

“Now, you are going to leave, because she’s going to be here any moment now. And you’ll take advantage of her easily-blushing nature.”

“Apparently I stayed until the perfect time.” He grinned.

With a teasing smile, she asked, “Devastatingly good-looking?” Sutton rolled her eyes, but the flush on her cheeks remained. “Are they both as modest as you are, too?”

It wasn’t as though she hadn’t known Sutton was bright, but this – her creativity, and knowing that she was behind creating one of Charlotte’s favorite characters – made an unfamiliar warmth settle in her chest.

“Because life isn’t all about Casablanca, darling,” she teased. “Come, watch, and then you can have those lemon cakes that I saw in another bag for dessert.”

She enjoyed the way Sutton rolled her eyes. “I don’t, typically. But usually my friends aren’t featured there. I think I’ll be paying closer attention during this race than I have during most others.” “Aw, you’ll do it just for me?” she teased, but the pleased feeling she had was real.

Charlotte knew for certain that de-stressing with Sutton would be amazing. The idea of fucking Sutton, of being the first woman to

have the honor of it . . . the desire settled low in her stomach. Even just kissing her, with those full lips so inviting and only inches away from her own, was unimaginably appealing.