Annie’s heart was pounding as though she was being chased by a bear. She rapped on Jane’s door. Agitated as she was, she didn’t wait for Jane to reply and pushed the door ajar.

Jane glanced at her. It had just gone six. Annie was fairly certain she hadn’t disturbed her in the middle of writing the scene that would constitute her comeback as a practicing writer.

“Sheryl’s here,” Annie whispered, as though this was confidential information. “She’s looking for a copy of The Female Eunuch. I told her she could have ours. Do you have it in here?”

“Sheryl’s here?” Jane echoed.

“She’d like to say hi.” Annie could do with her wife’s presence in the living room, if only to make her less of a target for Sheryl’s unspoken wrath.

“Okay,” Jane said to Annie’s relief. “I’ll be out in a second and I’ll bring the book. I’m sure it’s in here somewhere.”

“Thanks, babe.” Annie was of half a mind to walk over and give Jane a big hug, but instead she turned on her heels and joined Sheryl in the living room.

She suppressed the acute need to pour herself a glass of wine, out of courtesy to Sheryl, to whom she couldn’t offer one, and sat as far away from her as possible. As if physical distance made a difference and could assuage her rising levels of mortification. Because that was really what it was.

Sheryl might be there for a completely innocent reason. Annie didn’t know her that well, but she was pretty sure Sheryl was not a malicious person, out to defend her wife’s honor. But her presence confronted Annie with her feelings and the fact that the person she’d had a crush on was in a long-term relationship herself.

Sheryl curled up a corner of her mouth and regarded Annie for a few long moments, and in those moments, Annie was sure she knew. Of course Kristin had told her partner. If Annie had been in Kristin’s position, she’d have confided in Jane as well. It was the logical thing to do—and not something to keep from your significant other.

“Kristin says hi,” Sheryl said, breaking the silence.

“Oh.” Hearing Sheryl say her name took Annie aback. Where was Jane? But she could hardly count on her wife to get her out of this awkward situation. This was a consequence of Annie’s actions alone. She was the one who had to deal with the fall-out.

Sheryl’s gaze remained glued on Annie’s. Annie wanted so desperately to look away, but she felt that would be the same as admitting guilt. As saying to Sheryl: yes, I fantasized about your partner. Even while that was true, that was not a low Annie wanted to stoop to. Not while she was being scrutinized by Sheryl like this.