Cute, Cozy, Queer Stories

Part 12: Carly & Reisha Continued

"Hey, girl." Slipping her arms around Reisha's shoulders, Carly kissed her cheek. "Happy Friday."

Reisha laid a hand on Carly's arm, but didn't look away from the computer screen.

"How's it going?"

"Eh." Reisha half-shrugged and then leaned her head on Carly's arm. "It's going."

"You worried?"

"A little. Some of my students are going through it and my dissertation is a bottomless pit." Leaning back, she looked at Carly. "You?"

"Not bad, actually. Pam liked the last write-up, and it's getting crazy traffic online. And, you'll never guess who responded to my interview request."

Reisha's eyebrows shot up. "You got Dr. Rainy?"

"I got Dr. Rainy."

Reisha grinned, her bright teeth shining out from under her pink lipstick. Standing up, she threw her arms around Carly. "That's amazing!"

Closing her eyes, Carly breathed in her sweet, lavender-lily scent. She let herself melt in Reisha's arms, loving her embrace. Still holding her, Carly leaned back a bit and smiled at Reisha. The good news wasn't all hers, and she wanted to see Reisha's face light up. "I mentioned you."

Some of Reisha's joy slipped into worry. "No, you didn't."

"I did. And she said she had read your research." Carly watched Reisha's jaw drop. "And that she, I quote, 'was excited to see great things from her.' Meaning you."

"She did not!"

"She did!" Carly hugged her again. "I think she only agreed to an interview because I mentioned you."

"No way." She shook her head, but her smile remained. "That's amazing, Carly. I'm so proud of you."

"I'm proud of you. I think she'd love to talk to you."

Her smile turned shy. "I don't know..."

"For sure. We're gonna do a video call, just pop in to say hi a bit before or after," Carly suggested.

"Isn't that a little, I dunno, shifty? Like, sucking up?"

"Not at all. You've read her books, you've told me all about her—you're a fan. Connections are good, but you actually know her stuff too."

Reisha smiled. "You're so famous."

Carly drank in the adoration in her smile and reflected it. "I only knew about her because of you."

Reisha blinked her long lashes. "I'm pretty great."

Planting another quick kiss on her lips, Carly grinned at her. "You are. And, actually, I have a surprise for you when you're done."

That shy grin returned. "Really?"

"Uh-huh." Carly patted her shoulders. "Finish your stuff. Help your students. Then, let's take a walk."

"Okaay." Reisha sat back down and returned to the computer as Carly stepped out. Before she did, she threw one more look over her shoulder, waggling her eyebrows, and met Reisha's eyes, making her giggle.

Carly went back towards the kitchen as Reisha's keyboard kept clicking behind her. Carly double-checked her backpack—a blue and pink blanket took up most of the space, with cloth napkins tied around silverware bundles stowed in a smaller pocket. The rest of what she needed was still in the refrigerator, wrapped securely in a paper bag.

Carly waited patiently. When she heard Reisha's computer shut down, she surreptitiously stored the paper bag in her backpack before Reisha came into the kitchen.

Beaming, Carly slung the backpack over her shoulders. "Ready?"

Reisha studied her, a smile slipping over her lips again. "You bringing all that?"

Carly leaned against the door. "Yup. You'll see."

Reisha put her sneakers on and slipped her hand in Carly's as they both left their apartment.

Outside, the street was as warm and sunny as the day Carly remembered meeting—or re-meeting—Reisha. But they didn't head towards the bistro this time. They walked down the sunny streets, hand in hand, towards the park, where Carly had the perfect spot in mind.

From the lush grass to the full boughs, the park was painted in shades of green. Pops of color mixed in; bright yellow dandelions, red and yellow day lilies along the black fence, purple lilac bushes along the sidewalk. Carly led Reisha off the sidewalk, sneaking between the fragrant lilacs, through a shadowy stand of trees, and up a grassy hill.

They were both wheezing when they got to the top, but when Reisha turned to look over the city, she uttered a soft, "wow."

Setting the backpack down, Carly got out the blanket and spread it out. Before Reisha turned back, Carly took out the bundled silverware and black bag. As Reisha turned, she saw Carly opening packages of cheese, crackers, olives, meat, grapes, strawberries and mangoes.

Reisha's face lit up. "You brought a picnic?"

Carly smiled back at her. "Yup. And..." she brought the last bottles out; two pre-mixed bloody marys and two water bottles. "Perfect."

Reisha sat down next to her, smoothing her flowing skirt around her. "You're amazing. Come here." Her fingertips slipped around the back of Carly's neck and she pulled her in for a long kiss. "I love you," Reisha whispered against Carly's lips.

Carly looked into her eyes and held her hands, still resting on her neck. "I've always loved you."

Reisha reached for both bloody marys and handed one to Carly. Tapping her cup against Carly's, she smiled. "To us."

Carly beamed back. "To us."

They both took a sip. Reisha leaned in again and kissed Carly. The kiss broke off suddenly and Reisha turned her head, looking down the hill.

"What?" Carly followed her gaze.

"Some boys ogling us." Reisha frowned.

Carly found the two muscular young men in sleeveless shirts rounding the base of the hill and looking at them. They pointed, then pointed at themselves. Just as a sharp retort formed on her tongue, one of the men took the other's face in both hands and kissed him. After a moment, they turned back, both giving vigorous thumbs up.

Laughing, Reisha and Carly both returned the thumbs up. The two men continued around the hill, hand-in-hand.

"That wasn't what I expected." Carly leaned her head on Reisha's shoulder and took another sip of bloody mary and looked over the sloping park, the rooftops of apartments and storefronts, the maze of streets and lots below, and the sunset beyond.

"I thought I knew everything that was going to happen in my life," Reisha observed, looking over the city with her. She held Carly closer. "I love the unexpected."

... 

Author's note: 

Awww :) 

This was also inspired by a post I saw a while back; two ladies kissing on a hill and, in the background, two guys, first looking, then kissing each other. Such sheer queer joy :D 

Pop in again next Mon/Tues for another cute, cozy, queer story!