Dear Ex-Girlfriend (Lesbian, Girlxg... - Chapter 37: Chapter 37

Reporters were looking at me like hungry hounds. Every single one of them who'd pulled me inside the room.
The nearest one shoved her recorder under my nose, pressed the start button, and began spitting a rap verse that would put Eminem to shame. Or maybe she was asking me questions. It was too fast.
"We all know we came here for Mr. Danes' debate. But one can't help but question, Ms. Jones. Why are you on his team and not Mr. Morgan's?"
Another reporter elbowed the woman aside and spoke. "You've become a sort of enigma these past few years, Miss Jones. Rising superstar from the biggest firm in the city. Young and successful. But more than, that you have a history with Lyndon's daughter, Gene—"
"Stop!" I lowered their recorders. They were giving me claustrophobia. "Did you schedule an interview for me?" I asked. "I don't recall receiving a note from our assistant, and she's a mighty fine one." When Linda wasn't in the mood to grill me herself that is.
All five of the reporters shoved their cassette thing on me again. Or was it digital now? They were making me dizzy.
"Why do you evade these kinds of questions, Destiny? If you've answered them long ago, we won't be on your tail now."
My eyebrow twitched. "Who are you again?"
The man stood straighter. "Douglas," he answered. "From KEY-TV."
He was getting on my nerves. "Well, Douglas from KEY-TV. I'll sue you for harassment if you don't step back. And I can assure you, Mr. Danes' himself will defend me. He hasn't lost a case." I smiled at the rest of them. "Thank you for taking an interest in my private life, but that's how it should stay. Private."
I reached for the knob behind me and flung the door open before they could respond. I was out of the corridor, then to the lobby in a matter of minutes.
Linda and Mr. Danes' turned to me. "What took you so long?" Linda waved a paper. "The debate will begin in twenty. We have to get to our room and brief with the team."
I straightened my blazer and wiped my forehead. Damn those reporters. They've been following me since last week.
"Sorry about that," I said. "Too many women in the bathroom. You know how it is."
"That's my Destiny." Mr. Danes' winked when I looked at him. "Always meeting girls everywhere."
"You know that's not true, sir." I motioned to the hall. "Anyway, let's go to our room. We have a debate to settle."
Almost everyone in Bear Creek was present for the debate, if not for the whole State. At the back of the room I could spot several camera's positioned and ready to record. Reporters were on the side, while the rest of the audience were seated on the chairs, waiting for the show to begin.
I tapped Linda's shoulder and gestured behind me. "I need to pee," I murmured.
"Again?" Her mascara-perfect lashes batted before her eyes narrowed. "Ugh, you look pale. Can't have you barfing all over Mr. Danes'. Go and do your thing."
"Thanks." I turned around and left the room. My stomach was getting queasy. "Take a deep breath, Destiny." I sucked in air through my mouth. Why was I feeling this way? On the day of the debate too. They must have put something in the egg this morning.
"Destiny?"
My heart pounded when I glanced behind. But it was only Linda again, shooing me away. "Take a walk, girl. Seriously."
"Okay. I'm on it." I gave her a thumbs-up before going for the stairs. There was one on the far end of the hall.
"Destiny."
"I am walking, Linda. Can't you see my— Hey!" I was pulled into a room again, pushed to the wall, and hugged so fiercely I thought I would break. My legs reduced to nothing but decoration as I glanced down. But I didn't need to see her. Cotton candy. That was all I needed to smell.
"Destiny. . . Destiny Jones. . ."
I pried her fingers from my back and gently pushed her away. Genesis Morgan stared at me. All blonde hair, plump lips, and those eyes. I smiled at her. "Thought I might see you today. It's been a while."
"Six years." The crack in her voice echoed like a bell. A broken church bell. But I was never a religious woman, so I remained stone-faced, while she. . . She tried to search my eyes. Tried to lure me in her galaxy. "You weren't answering my emails," she said.
"I was busy."
She turned her face like she'd been slapped. "You could have told me where you were. I was losing my mind."
Was she? I forked a hand through my hair. That was too bad.
"Look Genesis, I don't know why you pulled me in this room. But I have things to do. Maybe if you schedule a meeting we can. . ." She hugged me again, tighter this time. It was suffocating. Drowning.
"Destiny?"
We both turned to the door. Woody was peeking in, her eyes taking us suspiciously.
I stilled my pounding heart long enough to duck out of Genesis' arms, onto Woody's reach. She automatically wrapped her arms around my waist, then kissed me on the forehead. "What's going on?" she murmured.
"Nothing." I leaned to her. Woody's cedar scent calmed me down. Gave me strength. I gestured to Genesis but didn't glance at her. "You know Genesis Morgan. She's here for her father's debate."
"Hey," Woody said, then turned to me without waiting for an answer. "The debate has started. You should be there looking out for Mr. Danes'."
"The man can take care of himself," I said.
"Yeah, but he'd still be searching for you." Woody took my hand and gave a polite nod to Genesis. I was more interested on my shoes. They were the most expensive kind I could find on the shop. I've worked hard for them, those shoes.
I glanced at Genesis and smirked. "Good luck on your father's campaign."
The smirk was still on my face when Woody and I left the room.
The debate was a blur. A nondescript event that had come and gone while I was seated next to the podium. The one reserved for me, Linda, and Woody.
Both of them turned to me while the audience clapped and stood for the conclusion of the discussion. "I can't believe Lyndon made some good points today. His team was on fire." Linda swatted my leg with a folder. "Are you even listening to me, Jones? Hey!"
Woody squeezed my hand. "Destiny, she's talking to you."
"Huh?" I glanced up to see the two of them frowning. The one on Woody's face made me squirm. "Did you put something on the egg today, Linda?"
"What? Aside from the cinnamon powder?"
"That's it!" My smile was so wide I could feel my lips stretch. Beside me, Woody was looking worried. "I'm okay," I said. "It's just the cinnamon. I get these nasty rashes from eating them."
"Since when?"
"Since none of your business, Linda." I nudged her with my leg. "Mr. Danes' is coming back. Let's debrief."
Our team was indifferent with the results. We'd expected that Mr. Morgan would have garnered his supporters early in the competition, but at the same time, our own Mr. Danes' would get some equal footing. The meeting didn't last long.
"Destiny?"
"Yeah?"
"Kiss me."
I glanced at Woody who was sprawled on my bed in the RV, staring at the ceiling. She'd changed into her usual flannel, jeans, and sneakers. Those must have been the only things that stayed true to her, because Woody, over the years that I've known her, have gotten hotter. The roguish features were still there. But had grown to be more attractive, playful, sexual.
She beckoned me with a hand. "Kiss me."
"Nope." I removed my blazer and hooked it on the rack. I got to give it to Linda. She could be a pain in the ass, but she knew how to make suitable accommodations.
"Why not?" Woody was standing now, and she didn't look happy. "You always kiss me when I tell you. Sometimes you do it when you think I'm not aware."
"Oh? And when was that?"
"The other night." She walked to me steadily, brown eyes aimed at my lips, until her hands snaked around my waist. "You love me, don't you?"
"Yes." I traced her lips with my fingers. Her mouth that was my sanctuary, whispering words that would calm me when I was rocking back and forth, afraid of my own shadow. Woody had come into my life, had searched for me herself. And if it weren't for her, I would never have thought of convincing Mr. Danes to run for governor. But the hard work was all on me. I owe that to myself.
Woody groaned when I ducked away from her kiss and sauntered to the door. "You're really a tough woman to get."
"I'm an enigma." I winked at her. "That's what the reporters called me this morning."
"They're still following you?"
"I'm used to it by now." I tilted my head. "But enough of the negatives. Want to hear something great?"
"Sure."
I reached my hand to her. "The kiss won't happen anytime soon, but if you get your butt here, I might just introduce you to my dad."
The two of us huddled outside my house forty minutes later. It would usually only take a fifteen walk from the location of the RV to here, but I had dragged every second, going as slow as possible.
I stared at the two-story building in front me. The key was in my pocket, nestled along with the motorcycle's, but somehow it felt wrong to use it now after all these years. Was I even allowed to?
Woody nudged me with her elbow. "What are you waiting for?" she said.
I exhaled. How do I even begin to explain?
Woody hooked our hands together and tugged me to her. She did it now. She did it before. She'd do it whenever I lacked the courage to pursue my goals, like just before that time I went into Mr. Danes' office. "He'll forgive you," she whispered on my ear. "He's your father."
"Your father didn't forgive you when you walked away from your business."
"But I didn't pursue woodcraft. I pursued you." She reached to the doorbell and rang. "Plus you know how the man is. He said he didn't forgive me, but he kept putting money on my account until I was able to support myself."
The two of us focused back on the door.
"Damn," I said. "He must be in the shop." I was about to turn around when the door creaked open. And just like that, for the second time today, I only felt truly at home in years. "Dad?" My voice cracked so bad I had to cough. He pulled me in an embrace.
Dad was a reserved man. He liked to keep to himself. But he was a good man, an honest man, a great father. I had to abandon him to keep him safe. It tore me apart.
"I'm sorry," I whispered to his chest. "I'm sorry."
Inside, the house has barely changed. The same sofa was there. The same decors on the wall. The same everything- even the scent of wood shaving next door.
Dad was wiping the corner of his eyes when he pulled another chair from the kitchen, so we could all lounge in the living room. Woody was beside me on the couch, hands on her knees, fidgeting until I placed my hands over hers. She smiled at me for gratitude. It was my turn to take care of her.
"Dad. . ." I shifted on my seat. His eyes had never left my face ever since we got seated. "You know Woody, right? She's my girlfriend."
His fingers brushed against his mouth. "Since when?"
"Two years," I said. "But we've been speaking in the city since four."
The understanding that passed his face was mingled with hurt. But he brushed it off with a nod. "What have you been doing there?" he asked.
"After completing my high school diploma online, I interned on Mr. Danes' law firm. He's taken me under his wing for four years now. I started by scrubbing his toilet."
"Des."
"I know, dad, but he was testing me." My throat was getting scratchy. I wish I could ask for water, but I didn't want to end the conversation. "After scrubbing the toilet, I was promoted as his runner, then his personal coffee fetcher, after which I became his assistant. Now I don't know what I'm called, but he'd been teaching me the ropes."
"You left Bear Creek for that?"
"No." I stared him the eyes. "I left Bear Creek to be a woman worth everyone's time. And that is something money can't replace, even power."
Back in my room, Woody was checking out my things. Dad had been called to the woodshop for a shipment. I insisted that he oversee it himself, with a promise that I wouldn't leave and vanish before I say goodbye. I knew he didn't believe me.
"Do you think he spent the money you sent him over the years?" Woody glanced at me.
I shook my head. Ever since getting the job at Mr. Danes', I've cut half my monthly check to send to dad. The money was always care of a different person's name. And I had to go to a different town or city each month just so they wouldn't track my whereabouts. But I wasn't hiding anymore. The egg had hatched.
"Come here," I said.
Woody left the Destiny's Child posters and went to me. All the while, I pressed my back to the window, waiting.
"This was my favorite spot in the house. You know why?"
"No." Woody had made it in front of me, smelling of cedar and musk. I pulled her closer.
"Because you can see a lot of great things from that window," I whispered. "Now kiss me."
"Close your eyes," she said.
And I did, just before I pulled the curtains open, and let the fire, guilt, and love consume me.