JL Short Fiction

Making the rent [3]

When Lisa answered the door, her expression was guarded. She stepped aside and Jennie entered. Her body language was awkward as she braced herself for either insult or rejection - both actually. Lisa merely nodded her over to the sofa. She waited for her to take a seat before she lowered herself into the leather armchair.

She was fidgeting. Lisa never fidgeted, but she couldn't seem to keep her hands still and her gaze would lock with hers and then flick away. "You wanted to see me," Jennie finally prompted when the strained silence got to be too much.

"Uh, yeah. Yes," Lisa said, mentally berating herself for being such a spaz. "I wanted to give you this." And with that she handed her another envelope in the same buttery yellow parchment as her earlier note.

Jennie's brow creased in a frown, but she accepted the envelope, clutching it in her hands.

"Open it," Lisa said somewhat impatiently.

Frowning, Jennie opened the envelope and felt like an idiot when she saw it was cash. Lisa just wanted to pay her. She felt like smacking herself in the forehead. Of course, if she was paying her, that must mean she was done ... which was a rather unpleasant thought. For as uncomfortable as she felt right now, she still liked the idea of being near Lisa, of having an excuse to see her - to be in her bed. "Thanks," she said with a tight smile. "If you ever need another model, you know where I live."

"I'm not going to pay you to pose for me again," she said firmly.

Oh, this was the crushing rejection part of the evening. She was actually glad she hadn't eaten, or she was fairly sure her blunt set down might have made her vomit. "Oh," she said quietly, "I see."

With a frustrated noise, she stood up, staring down at her with a scowl. "No, you don't see," Lisa said. "I'm paying you, ending our business agreement, because the next time you're naked in my bed, I want to know that you're there because you want to be there and not because of money."

"Next time," Jennie parroted, wide-eyed. She was certain that she could see her gulping for air and swallowing it harshly but she couldn't help it. There was no way she meant what it sounded like she meant.

"Yes, next time," Lisa answered, moving a bit closer until she was craning her neck to look up at her. "I want to take you out to dinner tonight," she added more quietly, reaching down and trailing her fingers over her face and stopping to cup her chin. "After this morning, I think it'd be a good idea to spend some more time getting to know each other."

"We've known each other for a really long time," Jennie said, feeling like a moron for the trembling in her voice because she meant exactly what she said. She had known Lisa for so long she barely remembered not knowing her. Lisa had dinners with their family, came to Christmas, New year, the whole shebang. She knew her, lusted after her, fantasized about doing much more than what happened this morning and yet she couldn't seem to meet her eyes without her knees feeling rubbery. Not that her knees didn't feel rubbery before...but still.

"I think we both know there's a difference between then and now," she answered huskily. Just as Lisa was about to kiss her, Jennie's stomach roared. Lisa's brow wrinkled as she frowned at her tummy and then looked back up at her face.

"Guess my stomach agrees with your plan for the night," Jennie joked. "Where do you want to go to eat?"

"Anywhere you want," Lisa said, still frowning, "And while we're there we can discuss your money issues and why you think paying me rent is more important than eating."

***

Lisa frowned as she pulled her black Mercedes up in front of a club. It looked loud and one quick glance at the Marquee informed her that it was an all ages club. She was used to a different type of place, ones with forty-dollar cover charges and adults only. However, Jennie assured her that the kitchen was of the good and frankly if it would make her happy, she would have taken her to Chuck E. Cheez.