“Kelly, as crazy as this might sound, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind since that night. I was hoping we could spend more time together.” The hint of a blush coloured Lucy’s cheeks. “As a couple. I want to get to know you, Kelly. All of you.”

As much as Kelly wanted to believe what Lucy said, she didn’t plan on being taken for a fool.

“I thought you were straight?”

“I never said that.”

Maybe not those exact words but Lucy had definitely implied it.

“You said you haven’t met the right guy.” Kelly resisted the urge to pull her hand out of Lucy’s grasp.

“True, and I meant that. The thing is, when Paula was looking for a roommate, she asked me if I date men or women. If I’d been applying for a job I would’ve called her out for discrimination. But I was looking for a place to live while I save for a deposit to buy my own home. I wondered if it was a trick question. I didn’t want to live with a man-hater, so replied men.

“I expected Paula to show me the door, but she replied, ‘The room’s yours. The last thing I need in my home is more dyke drama.’”

Although it shouldn’t have surprised Kelly, her mouth fell open.

“Paula’s words.” Lucy quickly reassured her.

A thought suddenly hit Kelly, and she didn’t know whether to feel sorry for Lucy or pissed off. “And then you kept up the charade?”

“Yes and no. You see, what I said wasn’t a total lie. I have dated men, I’ve had sex with a man.”

Trying very hard not to pass judgment, Kelly held her tongue.

“But, that’s all it was. Sex. The experience was a disaster for more reasons than I care to explain right now. I’ve dated women too.”

Understanding dawned. “That’s why you get Kate?”

“I hate to sound cryptic,” Lucy said. “But, once again, the answer is yes and no. Kate’s bisexual. She loves cock and pussy in equal measure.”

Trust Lucy to be so frank just as Kelly took a sip of her drink. A chuckle burst forth and beer fizzed up the back of Kelly’s nose, making her eyes water.

Half laughing, half serious, Lucy handed Kelly a napkin. “Sorry to be so crass. What I’m trying to say is, I’m attracted to the person, the entire package, not just what’s between their legs.”

What Lucy said computed on one level but was also hard for Kelly to get her head around. Steve was her best friend, he was the nicest guy anyone could hope to meet, but she’d never, ever, considered sleeping with him. Because, duh, he was a guy.