“Well…”Well, what?Faye had no idea where she was going with any of this. “I should probably head off. Talia is back at work tonight, so I could be doing something useful with my time while she’s out.”
“Back at work? And on a Wednesday?”
Faye headed for the door, turning back as she placed her hand on the handle. “She lost her job when the boss found out I used to go there.”
“Is he serious? She’s the only reason that place is open!”
Faye held up a hand. “He asked her to end our relationship or leave the club.”
Phoebe softened immediately, wrapping her arms around herself. “And she chose you…”
A thrill still travelled through Faye when she was reminded of just how much Talia loved her. It hadn’t seemed possible in the beginning, it felt as though too much was in the way, but now? She couldn’t imagine any other outcome. Talia completed Faye in every aspect of her life. And the support she’d shown Faye in her career, it was all she’d dreamed about. “She chose me.”
Phoebe scoffed. “I got her completely wrong.”
“You did.”
“But you know what? It doesn’t matter anymore. I got my karma by losing you, and you’re thriving.”
Faye turned the handle and stepped out into the corridor. She turned back to Phoebe and offered a slight smile. “I’m not saying it’ll be forever, but for the time being…I need some space from you.”
She closed the door gently, pressing her back to it as all tension left her body. Faye couldn’t recall the last time she’d stood her ground around Phoebe, but it felt good doing so. If Talia had taught her anything at all, it was that Faye deserved more than a poor best friend. In Talia’s eyes, Faye deserved all the happiness she could get her hands on.
Maybe down the line, Phoebe would still be someone she considered a friend, but right now? Everything was still too raw for Faye to let her back in. What she had with Talia was building into something beautiful, and she wouldn’t allow anything oranyoneto get in the way of that.
She strode down the corridor, pressing the call button on the lift. From this moment on, Faye was putting her love life and her future first. To hell with everything else.
EPILOGUE
Nine months later…
Talia kicked the last empty box from the middle of her living room, hunched over as she pressed her palms to the coffee table. How did Faye have so much stuff? Her place was smaller than Talia’s. She straightened herself and looked over her shoulder. Three more boxes were stacked against the wall in the far corner. At this rate, they were going to need a bigger place.
She lifted her phone from the couch, calling her best friend.
“Greetings, my little lesbian,” Jay said as he answered the phone. “Shouldn’t you be like…asking her to marry you right now in between all those boxes.”
“Even if I was planning to, I couldn’t. I’ve never known another person to have so much stuff. I don’t remember seeing half of it back at Faye’s flat.”
“That woman gives you orgasm after orgasm. She’s entitled to bring every last thing she owns, and you can’t question it.”
Talia grinned, flopping down onto the couch. Faye really did bring out the very best in Talia. And yes, Jay was right. That woman could shatter the earth with Talia at any given moment. “Don’t tell her I told you that.”
“Would I do such a thing?”
Talia snorted. “Uh, yeah. You would.”
“What have you called for? Have you already had your first lovers tiff?”
Talia wasn’t sure they were capable of fighting. In the last nine months, life had been far too perfect to imagine them ever falling out. Of course, it would happen, but not if Talia could help it. “Faye is out. I was taking a break.”
“She’s left you to unpack all her boxes? Charming!”
“No, no. She had to meet with her publisher. She’s signing a new contract.”
Jay squealed. “Oh, that’s brilliant. I love her stuff.”
“You’ve…read it?”