Couldn’t they just go back to being friends? They had been this whole time, just with the benefit of sex, sex that was admittedly good. Cora had been surprised at how good. She shouldn’t have really, because of course lesbians had good sex. Two women could enjoy themselves. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be doing it. But she’d never realised it could be just as good as sex with a man. Different, yet incredible. Leg-shakingly so.

Cora was going to miss it.

But it had been a diversion. Something to bury herself under while she hid from what was going on with Alec. Maybe she could say that was why, her grand answer to offer up to Doctor Massey, and wait to see if she validated it.

But she would miss her friendship with Frazer more if it disappeared. Three months of friendship was enough to make Cora realise she needed Frazer around.

Cora got out of her car and ran up the path to Lisa’s house. The front door was already opening, and Cora dashed inside, dripping a little on the linoleum.

“Hey.” Lisa handed her a towel, the door swinging shut and closing out the weather. “Saw you pull up.”

“Thanks.”

The towel was warm. Cora clung to it when she sat down in the kitchen, watching Lisa get things for tea.

It was nice to have a friend who knew what she wanted.

“Alec still puts sugar in my tea.”

“You’ve never had sugar in your tea.” Lisa didn’t even bother to look at her while she said it. Cora knew what expression would be on her face anyway.

“I know. He doesn’t make one very often.”

Lisa slid the steaming mug across the tabletop to her and sat on the other side. As Cora wrapped her hand around it, the warmth seeped into her fingers. “Rain and tea together are a dream.”

“I hate the rain.” Lisa watched her through the steam over her mug as she took a sip. “Except in summer, I love the—”

“Storms.”

They grinned at each other. “How was the session with the head doctor?”

“It was…hard.”

There was an understanding in Lisa’s eyes. “I bet. Any wisdom?”

“No. She seems to help me find my own wisdom, rather than give me any.”

“I like her. Making you realise you have all the tools you need already.”

Cora rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”

They sat silently for a moment. Cora blew on her tea and took a sip. It was scalding, almost cleansing. Maybe it could burn all the frustration out from inside of her and leave her with something new to start with.

“Did you tell her about your affair?”

Cora winced at the word. Hearing it said felt like being slapped with a truth about herself. “I chickened out and only mentioned it right at the end.”