No Strings Attached (The Pink Bean Series Book 1) (7 page)

“It’s past midnight, I’ve done my exercise for the day,” Robin said, a smile in her voice.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Micky woke with a start. What time was it? Where the hell was she? Then she heard rhythmic breathing beside her and, in a flash, remembered everything that had happened. She searched for an alarm clock and found one on Robin’s side of the bed. It was five fifteen. She would have to get up soon. Argh. Could she call in sick during her second week? Even though Micky had never held a proper job in her life, she did possess a certain work ethic.

She let herself fall back onto the mattress for five more minutes. But she had to go by her house and grab some clean clothes before going to The Pink Bean—and had working there not already served its purpose? Micky couldn’t wait to tell Amber about this, but chances were that, by the time Amber came to the coffeehouse for her daily green tea, Micky would be snoozing in the storeroom.

“Morning,” Robin said, her voice croaky. “Do you have to get up already?” She threw an arm over Micky’s middle, trapping her in the bed.

“I have to be there at six thirty and go by my house first.” Should Micky have prepared for this scenario and put a spare pair of underwear in her bag? This made her wonder if Robin was the kind of person who went through life with a clean pair of panties tucked away in her purse. There was so much Micky didn’t know about Robin, and would probably never find out.

“I’ll lend you a pair of panties,” Robin mumbled. She sounded as though she was still half asleep. “Stay a while longer.” She snuggled up to Micky a little closer.

“I can’t work in the shoes I was wearing last night.”

Robin started stirring more beside her. Then she pushed herself up on one elbow and looked at Micky. “Sorry, I’m not used to waking at an ungodly hour like this. I often have conference calls with the US in the evening so I tend to go to the office late.” She yawned without holding a hand in front of her mouth. “Coffee?”

“I have plenty of that at The Pink Bean.” Micky smiled—she couldn’t help it. Robin looked so different from last night. Still hot, but also very disheveled and a lot less arrogant. “Why don’t you go back to sleep.” She wanted to chat more, but this was not the time. She also needed to process. Additionally, she didn’t want to make Robin feel as though she owed her in some way. If it was Robin’s intention to walk away, to truly have this be a one-night stand, then Micky wasn’t sure she should argue with that. Micky wasn’t sure of a lot of things, apart from the fact she’d had a wild and supremely satisfying time last night. She had to speak with Amber.

“I’ll see you for coffee later.” Robin pressed a kiss on Micky’s arm and let her head fall back onto the pillow. “I had a great time last night.”

“Me too.” Micky kissed Robin’s hair and slipped out of bed.

✶ ✶ ✶

Micky’s body was tired, but her brain was super alert. She’d been serving customers for half an hour when, during a brief quiet spot in the morning rush, Josephine elbowed her in the side and asked, “And? How was your hot date?”

Just then, Kristin joined them behind the counter.

Micky’s ears grew warm. She hoped the blush wouldn’t reach her cheeks any time soon.

“You know Robin, right?” Josephine, with all her unbridled youthful enthusiasm, said to Kristin. “The hot blonde who always asks for a wet cappuccino instead of a latte?” Then she waggled her eyebrows suggestively.

“Wow, Micky.” Kristin cocked her head. “That must have been one wild night. You look a bit worse for wear.”

Micky hadn’t had a chance to say one word about this yet. On the one hand, she was glad because she feared she might sound like a schoolgirl with a crush, but on the other hand, she did want to have a say in the matter.

“It was a good date,” she said, understating it gravely. What time did Amber’s morning yoga class finish again?

“It looks to me as though someone got lucky.” Josephine just wouldn’t leave it be. “She is so hot, Micky. Way to go.”

The heat did spread over Micky’s cheeks now. She wasn’t even out. The gayest public thing about her up until yesterday was that she was always hanging out with Amber.

Luckily, three customers walked in at the same time, and everyone behind the counter snapped to attention.

Micky was far from comfortable having her lesbian virginity taken and then having to discuss it profusely with the people she worked with.

✶ ✶ ✶

By the time Amber arrived at The Pink Bean, Micky was exhausted, but she had hours to go before her shift ended. Still, it was good to see Amber’s friendly face.

“I bet you have a lot to talk about, huh?” Josephine said. That girl. She was twenty years younger than Micky, yet spoke to her like they were best friends. “Go. Take your break.” At least she was smart enough to know that Micky really needed the break.

Micky was also antsy because between nine and nine thirty was usually the time when Robin came in. She would be able to deal so much better with all of this after a good night’s sleep—or at the very least an afternoon nap. But today was also the day she picked up Olivia and Christopher from school, which led her to the conclusion that, even if Robin did want to see Micky again, they’d have to wait until next week.

Micky brought over Amber’s green tea—and another double espresso for herself.

“It was amazing,” was the first thing she said. “My God, Amber, I feel like a different person. I’m tired and overwhelmed, and I’m pretty sure she won’t want to see me again, but still, it was A-mazing.” Micky was so glad she could utter these words to her best friend. Most of the tension slipped off her—making her feel even more tired.

Amber nodded. “That’s so great.” She wasn’t the type to say I told you so. “Why do you think she won’t want to see you again?”

“Erm, let’s see… Divorced mother of two who has never been with another woman meets incredibly hot expat banker who’s not looking for anything serious. Not exactly a match made in heaven.”

“I’m not saying you should marry her, but you know, you can be friendly with each other.”

“I sure wouldn’t mind spending another night with her,” Micky blurted out. She knocked back her espresso. This combination of feeling so wired while being bone-tired would soon catch up with her.

Then the front door opened and there she was. All freshly washed and suited up. Robin just gestured at Josephine behind the counter, then came over to Micky and Amber.

“Hi, ladies.” She painted a grin on her face.

Micky was momentarily stunned but then found the wherewithal to introduce Robin to Amber and vice versa.

“Do you want that to go or to stay, Robin?” Josephine shouted from behind the counter.

“To stay, please,” she said, causing a flood of relief to wash over Micky. “Do you mind if I join you?” Gosh, someone had suddenly become very polite. Maybe Robin was nervous about this as well.

“I’m just going to powder my nose.” Amber rose, taking her tea with her.

Why was this so mortifying? They were all adults. Why couldn’t they all just say what was what? Robin certainly hadn’t had a problem with that last night.

Micky mouthed “Thank you” to her friend, then tried to look at Robin but found that, when she did, it made her go all gooey on the inside.

“Look,” they both said at the same time.

But Micky was keen to let Robin do the talking, lest she say something she shouldn’t.

“I meant what I said this morning,” Robin went on, unperturbed. “I had a great time last night.”

Just then, Josephine brought over Robin’s beverage, creating another uncomfortable silence.

“Me too,” Micky said as soon as Josephine left. Thank goodness there was another customer and she didn’t hang around. Micky would have given a lot to have this conversation in private and not with Amber lurking a few tables away—and not at her place of work.

“Would you like to do it again some time?” Robin asked.

Micky’s heart leaped into her throat. “Er, well, uh, yes,” she stammered, “but I thought—”

“We can be friends with benefits,” Robin added.

Coincidentally, Micky knew what that meant. She’d been ironing in the living room one evening while Olivia was watching a silly rom com with exactly the same title. They’d had a conversation about it afterward. Friends with benefits? Really?

“Okay.” The hesitation in Micky’s voice was unmistakable.

“We should talk about this some more in a different setting.” Robin sipped from her coffee. “But the idea is to keep it casual. I don’t think either one of us is in a place right now to want more.” She fixed Micky with a stare that made her heart beat faster. “When can we talk properly? I’m sorry, but I need to get to work.” She sipped from her coffee again, suddenly in a hurry. Maybe it was being confronted with Micky in the clear light of day that was spooking her. “You know what? You have my number. Text me?”

Robin rose, drained the last of her cup—she always drank her coffee so fast—looked at Micky funnily for a second, as though deciding whether to kiss her or not, but then clearly decided against it.

“Sure. I’ll call you.”

“Great.” Robin quickly patted her on the shoulder, went to the counter to pay, and left.

Micky felt none the wiser for having seen Robin.

“And?” Amber was already sitting next to her again.

Micky just shrugged. “I really don’t know. She said to call her and something about being friends with benefits.”

“Hm.” Amber got that overly empathic expression on her face she so often wore. “What do
you
want, Micky?”

“I honestly have no fucking clue.” Micky needed time to think. She could do with not having a job right then, with having all the time in the world to mull this over. And to finally come to the one conclusion that she hadn’t allowed herself to reach yet: was she a lesbian or not?

“Chances are you’ll be seeing her again tomorrow. What are you going to say to her?”

“How does that even work?” Micky failed to reply to Amber’s question directly. “Being friends with benefits? You and I are best friends, Amber. Doesn’t that give us loads of benefits already?”

“You do have the benefit of all my free advice.” Amber shot her a silly smile.

“Yes, that’s true. I do remember you telling me to take this job and to reply with a resounding yes if a hot female customer were to flirt with me. So many benefits.” Micky was getting giddy with fatigue and a strange kind of weariness.

“All included in my friendship,” Amber said.

“I’d better get back to it. I won’t be at yoga this afternoon. I need a nap before the kids come home.” Micky inhaled deeply. When she walked to the counter, it was as though she could feel a tingle in all the places where Robin had touched her the night before.

CHAPTER NINE

“She didn’t come in for the rest of the week,” Micky said. She and Amber had only been at Kristin and Sheryl’s well-appointed apartment for ten minutes before the conversation had turned to Robin.

Josephine, with her big mouth, had told Kristin at the change of shift on Thursday. “Micky’s a bit upset because her girlfriend hasn’t come in today,” she’d said.

 
The worst part of it was that it was true. Micky was genuinely thrown by Robin’s absence. What was she meant to do now? Text Robin like she had said? And what would she say?
I’m ready for some more of the benefits that come with our flimsy friendship
? The more Micky had thought about it, the more ridiculous it sounded. Maybe she wasn’t ready for a big romance, but well, maybe she was? Because what else was she going to do? Play the field?

“I’m sure she’ll come by tomorrow,” Kristin had said. But Robin hadn’t shown her face again. Micky had lingered after her shift, munching on a croissant at a table near the door, in case Robin’s work schedule had changed and she came in later.

Now it was Saturday evening, and they all sat gathered around Kristin and Sheryl’s table sipping excellent wine, and Micky didn’t know what to do. She didn’t want this dinner at her boss’s to be all about this, but truth be told, it was pretty much all Micky had been thinking about. Whether she wanted it to be or not, this was a huge deal for her.

“Why don’t you text her now?” Amber offered. “So we’ll all be here when she replies. You won’t be alone.”

Micky wanted to sink through the floor with embarrassment. But Kristin had been the one to ask her about it, and now here she sat, discussing Robin again.

“What would I say?” Micky looked up, straight into Sheryl’s face. Micky hadn’t spent a lot of time with Sheryl, and Kristin’s wife was still a bit of an enigma to her. They’d only exchanged pleasantries at The Pink Bean, but not much else. What must this woman think of her? This accomplished professor who sat there with one leg slung over the other, sipping her wine as though she knew all about wines and their grapes of origin.

Sheryl shot Micky an encouraging smile. “Why don’t you simply say hello,” she said.

“Look, ladies, I don’t want tonight to be all about me and this…” Micky had trouble qualifiying it. What was this anyway?

“Kristin and I have been together for a long time. Please, do us the favor of being able to live vicariously through you for a bit.” Sheryl took a sip of wine. “This is exciting.”

“Micky is quite new to this,” Amber said.

“Quite?” Micky repeated. “Until a year ago, I was married to a man.”

“All the more reason to enjoy this delicious time of discovery.” Sheryl’s voice was matter-of-fact.

Micky had had ample sleep since her night with Robin. Her life had returned to normal, almost as though Micky hadn’t, for the very first time, touched another woman like that. In a way, it was comforting to be able to slip into the routine of everyday life. To wear that coat of normalcy. But it
had
happened, and when Robin failed to show at her regular time at The Pink Bean twice, Micky had to draw the obvious conclusion. Robin had probably met another friend with benefits—because how many of those could one person realistically have?

“I like her,” Micky admitted. She might as well. It was not often that she found herself in the company of lesbians who understood what she was going through. “But we’re very incompatible. So why even bother?”