Halfway across the lounge to see Lucy out, Kelly’s phone chirped. She swiped the screen and read the message from Nicole.

“Forgot something I need for work. Put your pants on, I’m coming home.”

While trying to formulate a witty reply, out of the corner of her eye, Kelly saw Lucy’s face drop.

“Hey, what’s that look for?”

“Do you often have naked women in your bed?”

Ah, there it was. The barely contained vulnerability that bubbled just below Lucy’s confident exterior. A trait Kelly admired.

She took Lucy’s hands in her own. “I’ve owned that bed for over a year, and you, Lucy-Lou, are the first woman to spend the night in it, with me, between those sheets.”

Lucy’s game face slid back on. “Well, in that case, I’m honoured.” She gave Kelly’s hand a squeeze. “Thanks for a great night. I’ll talk to you later.”

*

All day Friday, Kelly bustled around the café feeling like she was walking on air. She couldn’t recall ever being so smitten. She’d wanted to ask Lucy to come over that night, but also wanted to give her space if she needed it. Just because they had great chemistry didn’t mean they had to be joined at the hip, as much as Kelly wouldn’t mind that.

When she received a text from Lucy saying, “Staying home tonight, flatmates having friends over for drinks,” Kelly’s heart plummeted.

Like a slap upside the head, the reality of their situation hit her hard. For obvious reasons, they couldn’t flaunt their relationship for as long as Lucy paid rent to Paula.

A nauseating sense of guilt clawed at Kelly’s insides.

That’s what you get when you have to keep your relationship a secret.

“I’m not doing anything wrong,” Kelly screamed into the wind as she sped home on her motorcycle.

That night, the frequent text messages Kelly received from Lucy put a smile on her face.

“Miss you.”

“Miss you more.”

“You’re hot.”

“You’re hotter than a hot fudge sundae.”

“You’re lame.”

“You’re lamer than a three-legged donkey.”

“What? That doesn’t even make sense, go have another drink!”

Turning her attention back to the movie she’d totally lost the plot of, Kelly put her phone on the chairside table.

Friday night spent with her besties enjoying a few cold ones, and snacking on pizza, was far from a hardship. And better yet, Jacinta had swapped her Monday shift with Kelly, so Kelly had the weekend off.

“Care to share.” Steve shielded his eyes. “You’re practically glowing over there.”

“We were just texting about donkeys.”

“What?”

“That’s what Lucy said.”

In a lightning fast move, Steve snatched Kelly’s beer and took a swig.

When he tried to hand it back, Kelly held her fingers up in a cross. “Ew, boy germs.”