Tia was finishing up braiding her hair the next morning as she approached Tinkerbell’s cage. The rat peered sleepily up at her new master. “It’s hard to believe that just days ago, I had nothing. Now I have you, a new job, and a damn good-looking coworker to look forward to seeing, too!”
The rat yawned. The beginning of Tia’s day was the end of a rat’s day.
“Oh, please, please be like me,” she said as she secured the end of the braid and then reached for her purse.
“Of course that doesn’t mean that she’s been entertaining the same fantasies I have, even if she is a lesbian, but I can hope, can’t I?”
Tinkerbell yawned.
The last two days had been the longest two days of her life, she realized as she retrieved her bike from the private balcony off of the living room, wheeled it through the small room, out the door, and down the stairs. Never had she been so eager to go to work.
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Courtney and her mom looked up as soon as the store door opened. Courtney smiled brightly, and Morgan said, “Good morning.”
“Good morning,” Tia replied brightly.
“What a cute little top,” Morgan also said.
“Thanks,” said Tia, glancing down at her bright pink tank top, which had glitter along the neckline.
“That is cute,” Courtney added. “How’s Tinkerbell?”
“Good. She’s incredibly friendly and smart. Do you have any rats at home yourselves?”
“Good God, no,” said Morgan. “Rats, snakes, can’t stand ‘em. Don’t know what I’d do without Miss Fear Nothing here.”
Tia and Courtney laughed, then Tia said, “To tell you the truth, I’m really glad you don’t have any tarantulas.”
Courtney laughed even harder.
“Ok, girls. Courtney, show her where she can keep her handbag and then decide who’s doing what.”
“Yes, boss.” Courtney motioned for Tia to follow her. “Right this way, ma’am.”
Tia followed her into an office that was cluttered yet seemed organized enough at the same time.
“You can keep your handbag over there on top of the filing cabinet. It’s just me and my mom coming in here, so it’ll be safe here.”
“Ok,” said Tia
Courtney watched her as she placed the handbag on the cabinet. Tia wore a little makeup today, unlike the last time. She wasn’t sure which she liked better, no makeup or what little she had on now. Tia seemed gorgeous either way. Smelled good, too.
“Is that Pink Sugar you’re wearing?”
Tia faced her and smiled. “Actually, it is. You know your perfumes, huh?”
“No, not really. My ex wore it a lot,” realizing she had just admitted to being gay unless Tia was naïve enough to believe the ex could be a man who had worn it, and somehow she didn’t think so.
“With my ex, it was Pink Lace.”
Courtney blinked in surprise and nearly took a step backward.
“Yeah,” Tia smiled, “we swim in the same sea.”
“Let’s go, ladies,” Morgan called from up front.
“Coming!” Courtney said as the two quickly made their way up front. “Which would you prefer, cleaning cages or working the register?”
“Definitely the cages. I’m not that great with numbers.”
“You got it then.” Courtney smiled, dark eyes sparkling as she looked into Tia’s vivid blue ones. “Today’s hamster and gerbil day. Just take the supplies from where I showed you and give a shout if you have any questions.”
On her way to the office, Morgan added, “You can empty the stuff in the trash bags under the cages where the food is kept, and then dump the bags in the dumpster out back. Don’t forget to change their water, too.”
“I’m right on it,” Tia said and headed over to where the supplies and cages were kept. She worked methodically all the while stealing an occasional glance at Courtney. If Courtney was sneaking any peeks of her own, then she was doing it when she wasn’t looking.
Or because she’s not interested, Tia thought. After all, she’s your coworker and the daughter of the store’s owner. And why should she be attracted to you just because you’re attracted to her?
After a day of changing cages, sweeping floors, and waiting on people with a little guidance from Courtney, she was almost bummed out at the thought of going home. Knowing Tinkerbell was waiting for her helped as she pedaled through traffic. Even so, she knew she was in for another couple of very long days, furry friend waiting or not.
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The evening was warm and the winds were calm. Courtney picked up her guitar and padded barefoot out onto the porch. She sat on the bench swing and slowly looked over the peaceful mountains and savored the peaceful beauty all around her. She could never imagine living with neighbors just a driveway away, much less just a wall away. Space and privacy were definitely something she valued. To be able to sit outside and strum her guitar without being gawked at or having to strain to hear herself over the passing car stereos, barking dogs, and other annoyances was something she’d never want to give up.
She softly picked at her guitar and thought of Tia. Sweet, beautiful Tia. She should be here, she thought to herself. With me. Not with a bunch of beggars, druggies, and God knows what else.
She had wanted to ask Tia various questions about herself and her life but didn’t want to seem pushy. Especially if Tia didn’t have any interest in her. Why put forth the effort if Tia had someone else in mind or simply wasn’t into her either way?
When her mother told her she’d know it right away when she met the right person, she laughed and said that wasn’t possible. But she had been wrong. She wanted Tia there with her that very moment. She wanted to know all there was to know about the girl. So what if she had a few dark spots and wasn’t perfect? Who was?
Normally, she loved Wednesday evenings. She knew she could enjoy the following two days off. But this Wednesday evening was different. She almost wanted to go to the store tomorrow.
She loved her mother and valued her advice and opinions. When she told her mother that they were now aware of each other’s orientation, she asked if she should call her.
“No, I’d take it slow,” her mother said. “Try to see her as just another co-worker for a week or two and get to know her a little better during breaks, maybe even offer to take her to lunch or something. Remember, if you two clash outside the store, you’re most certainly going to clash inside of it, and then we’d have to let her go and start all over again. The guy at Rainbow Robin insisted she was a great worker and that he was sorry to see her go.”
“You mean you really checked her out?” Courtney asked.
“Of course. Would you want to take chances after the last one and with all the shady characters in this world?”
“I guess not,” she said.
In the meantime, she couldn’t help but dream of the girl. She pictured her around the property, in the trailer, in various clothes, saying and doing various things. They would share their lives together without holding back. They would be happy, have hot sex, and eventually grow old together. She knew most people would consider her a silly little dreamer, but she was what she was, nonetheless. And she was already in love with a blue-eyed blonde girl named Tia.
If Tia were suddenly there with her, she’d give her anything she had without a second’s hesitation. She’d let her wear any of her clothes, she’d let her eat any of her food, and play any of her CDs. Silly or not, wasn’t that the way it was supposed to be when you truly loved someone?
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