L + S

Chapter 7

        My face contorted in confusion. There was no way that she had just said that.

        "Can you say that again? I thought you said that you were in love with me."

        "I did."

        At this point I couldn't tell if Sarah's face was red from embarrassment or alcohol. 

        "You have a boyfriend I thought."

        "I made him up so I could keep up my image at work. The truth is, I've never been with anyone."

        I suddenly felt uncomfortable. It had been my dream since I had started crushing on Sarah for her to say something like this, but now it seemed so out of place. I had always imagined the stone face, office Sarah to dominate me when she said she wanted me, but instead I was being confessed to by a Sarah that reminded me more of a shy teenage girl. 

        "So you've been treating me like s**t at work because you like me? I'm so confused, Sarah. At this point I don't even know if I'm mad, I'm just legitimately confused."

        "I don't know. Like I said, I didn't know how to act around you once I heard you in the bathroom, so I just tried to act like I normally do to people, but get closer to you."

        That's why she had kept me from the meeting. She didn't want me being taken by any of the other managers. It explained a lot, though it didn't justify her actions. Still, even if this wasn't what I had imagined, maybe this was my chance.

        "I'm not sure what to say, Sarah. What do we do from here?"

        She reached across the table and took my hand. 

        "I was hoping that you would become my partner."

        "Okay."

        The words came before I could think about it. It was like my subconscious had answered for me, telling me to forget all my grievances and take what I had always wanted. Sarah smiled shyly from across the table, seeming both relieved and pleased with my answer.

        "What now?" I asked.

        "I guess we get a drink to celebrate our new relationship?"

        The idea sounded perfect to me. This day had been one of the most stressful I'd ever had, and a drink sounded amazing. 

        "You wait here and I'll go talk to Steve."

        Sarah got up and made her way to the bartender, who evidently was named Steve. They had a short interaction, which ended with Steve giving Sarah a heartwarming hug before pouring two tumblers of what appeared to be scotch.

        "I'm sorry, I never asked what you liked."

        "This is fine." I said while shaking my head in an attempt to confirm my statement.

        "Well then, cheers I guess."

        The sound of our glasses clinking together broke the stillness of the bar, which other than the soft lofi music playing in the background, was completely silent. I took a sip from my glass, but to my surprise, Sarah downed her's. 

        The rest of the evening continued like this more or less, with Sarah and I talking about work and her asking more about my personal life. I tried to ask Sarah about her's, but every time she seemed to deflect the question and move on to a different topic. 

        "It's getting late. Maybe we should call it a night."

        "Noooo. It's still early! I want to know everything I can about my new girlfriend!"

        Sarah was clearly drunk, showing me a second aspect of herself I had never expected. In my mind, I had always seen Sarah as a single drink woman who refused to let herself be seen losing her image.

        "I have a great idea! Since you think we should call it a night, how about you come over to my place."

        My chest became warm as I processed the words. It was our first night being together and she wanted me to come to her place? 

        "I don't think that's…"

        Before I could finish my sentence, Sarah was pulling me from the table to the exit.

        "Sarah! We have to pay!" I cried out in confusion.

        "Don't worry about it! Steve will just let me know next time I'm here."

        I shrugged and let Sarah pull me along. While it wasn't the personality I had imagined, I had always wanted Sarah to pull me somewhere like this. It felt like a crazy dream where I was with a crazy version of Sarah.

        "Hey."

        We stood in front of Sarah's car, when suddenly she pushed me onto the hood and kissed me.

        "Wait-"

        She wouldn't hear it. As I tried to protest, she kissed me, more passionately than the first time, caressing my lips with her tongue until I gave in and kissed her back. Instinctively I grabbed her ass with my hands, pulling her closer to me. My hands were freezing from frigid air, but at the moment I didn't care. Instead I pulled Sarah up so she could mount me, and she balanced tediously on my stomach with her feet on the bumper. Our lips were still locked, our tongues wrestling one another until Sarah slid her mouth to my ear. My chest shuddered as her lips closed around my earlobe, and I submissively offered her my neck. Sarah didn't miss a beat, and I felt her begin to suck on my neck as her hands moved up my shirt towards my breast.

        "My house, now."

        It had been the first command she had given me since lunch earlier that day, and even though she was drunk, I felt compelled to obey. The only problem was that Sarah was most definitely too drunk to drive, and I didn't know how to get to her house. 

        "Here, give me the keys."

        Sarah fumbled in her jacket pocket before producing the car keys and placing them in my hand while placing another kiss on my lips. I closed my eyes to savor the taste of her soft lips and scotch before Sarah climbed off of me and giddily ran to the passenger seat of the car. I was nervous, but seeing her so excited made me feel warm and I could feel my body tightening from anticipation. This drive was probably going to be the longest of my life.