Reagan woke, turning onto her back and feeling the other side of the bed. Empty. She sighed as she rubbed her face with her hands. Her eyes felt dry and puffy, no doubt from all the crying she’d done. God, how embarrassing. She’d really been looking forward to whatever had been about to happen between her and Jill last night. Just thinking about Jill’s wandering hand in the car sent delicious tingles through her body. But now, she felt as if everything would come to a screeching halt.

She sat up and twisted from side to side, groaning as she stretched her muscles. Tossing the sheet aside, she stood and looked for her clothes. A smile formed as she found them neatly folded on top of Jill’s dresser. She got dressed and went downstairs but stopped when she saw Jill sitting at the island drinking coffee and going over paperwork. She wore sweats and a hoodie, her hair in a haphazard ponytail, and she was wearing her glasses. Reagan melted at the vision in front of her. While she had the urge to wrap Jill in her arms from behind, instead she held back a sigh as she thought about what she needed to do. “Morning.”

Jill snapped her head around. “Oh, hey. I didn’t wake you, did I?”

“Not at all. Have you been up a while?”

“A couple hours maybe,” Jill replied with a shrug.

Reagan looked down at her hands, picking at her thumbnail. “Thanks again for last night. I never imagined I would lose it like that.”

“It’s okay, Reagan.”

“No, I don’t think it is. I asked you out and I end up sobbing uncontrollably.”

“It’s understandable. You just had a tremendous loss. While I don’t have much experience with it, I don’t think grief has any sort of rule book.”

“I guess. But you shouldn’t have to deal with it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe I’m not ready for something if I can’t keep my emotions in check.”

“Are you saying you want to end this?” Jill gestured to each of them.

Reagan sighed. “Honestly, no. I like you, Jill. And you seem to have gotten under my skin. But I feel like I’ve been putting too much of my emotional baggage on you. At the wake and again last night. I know it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Do you think I’m not up for it? Supporting you?”

Reagan saw pain flicker in Jill’s eyes. “No, that’s not it. It’s just not fair to you.”

Jill pulled Reagan between her legs. “Why don’t you let me decide what’s fair to me and what isn’t?”

“But if it’s too much, I’d rather you tell me now than later. I think it’d be easier that way.”

“I’m not running away screaming, Reagan. And I don’t plan to.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”