After The Game

This is the first of two sequels to ‘Amy makes a new life’, but it really doesn’t matter if you skipped that one, I’ll cover what you need to know so that it should stand alone. It tells the story of what happened to Sarah’s friends after her cricket debut. Sexual activity is secondary to the story.

Any resemblance to real people is accidental.

After the celebrations

Dad was in the front chatting to the driver, he’s always voluble after a couple of drinks, so the driver was going to get an ear-bashing and a full report on the day’s events. Karen and I were in the back, my head rested on her shoulder and her cheek was against the top of my head. Amy had arranged the car to get us back home because we’d been drinking all day. I’m going to blame the last glasses of champagne for putting me over the edge.

I closed my eyes. Karen, Sarah and I had lived close to each other and gone to the same high school. We’d been firm friends since we were eleven and seldom apart until it had changed just before we were fifteen. Sarah had taken up playing cricket and it became a passion that she devoted herself to. It was also about that same time that she and her Mum met Amy King, coincidentally at a cricket match. It was the first time Sarah had ever watched a professional game.

Sarah’s father had disappeared from her life when she was about seven and Meredith had done a great job as a single parent. Sarah and her mum had sat down next to Amy at that game. Amy was a widow whose wife had died three years earlier, they struck up a conversation and a friendship developed. Meredith had once confided in me how she realised that she had feelings for Amy and after some soul searching confessed her feelings. Karen, Sarah and I had enjoyed sleepovers for years but they had never been at Sarah’s house because it was small and too impractical. That changed when Meredith and Sarah eventually moved into Amy’s home. We were there a lot and I loved those occasions. Amy was generous, not just with money, but her time, her advice and the latitude she gave us. She was also very funny and we could see how happy they all were.

Sarah had a real talent for cricket and today she’d played her first one day game for the England Women’s team and, luckily, in our own city. It was a big deal, a wonderful achievement for our friend and we were very proud of her. Amy invited Karen and me to join Sarah’s family in a box she’d organised, complete with food and drink all day. Sarah’s cricket hero, Hayley, was also playing and because Amy was friends with Hayley’s Grandma, she’d invited her family as well.

I’d been excited when I saw where we were watching from and had phoned my dad to brag. Amy had heard me and, unknown to me, had called him inviting him to join us. I nearly fainted when he turned up a few minutes after the game had started. Dad had spent much of the day with Hayley’s father and Sarah’s Grandad, he’d drank a lot of beer and there had been lots of high fives from the three of them, although in Sarah’s Grandads case they were low five’s because he was a bit unsteady on his feet, even without alcohol.

I was delighted for Sarah, who’d had a successful game and Hayley was awarded player of the match, they were both, rightly, very proud. I smiled thinking about how Sarah’s efforts had paid off, I admired her a great deal for the effort she’d shown. After the game, Amy had taken us all back to their home, a five-minute walk away from the ground and where she’d opened several more bottles of bubbly. It was a true celebration and I’m sure it was the last glass that did it to me.

Karen was staying with us overnight and when the car dropped us off, we headed, a little unsteadily to my room. After saying goodnight to my dad, we undressed and climbed into bed wearing T-shirts and our panties as we’d done countless times before. On this occasion, we lay facing each other and as I whispered, “goodnight” we moved together to kiss. This time we kissed lip to lip and not on the cheek as we had done before. It was electric and there seemed to be a current running through us.

I rolled onto my back staring at the ceiling thinking. We’d kissed like that before, years ago when playing some stupid game, but this was different, very different. I was a bit shocked, but this was my gorgeous friend. I reached out to take her hand as it rested on her belly. She squeezed it a little, acceptance, contentment. I turned my palm flat onto her belly and she laid her left hand over it. Her other hand, her right hand came across and rested on my belly, it felt warm. She moved, just a tiny amount, left and right and I did the same. Her hand was still on mine, but she didn’t stop me, simply allowed me to mimic her movements.

It felt lovely, appropriate, comforting and rather wonderful. I have no idea why I moved my hand slowly, gently, down her belly, but I did and she mirrored my movements. She didn’t stop me as I reached the waistband of her panties and I slid the tip of my middle finger under it. Her hand remained on top of mine as she continued to follow my movements. By now I was more sexually aroused than I’d ever been and I knew that I wanted more. I wanted to touch her, for her to touch me.

After pausing briefly, I moved further down and my fingers brushed, gently, through her pubic hair, which felt soft. I could smell sexual arousal, but I’m not sure who it was coming from and I didn’t care. The tip of her finger touched the top of my slit and I sighed. I did the same to her and she sighed as well.

I hadn’t started this with any particular outcome in mind but I now realised, at that moment, I wanted to make her come, I wanted to come. Our hands moved in synchrony and a single finger entered me as my finger entered her. I probed, gently, stroking and applying a little pressure. One of my fingers found her clit as she found mine. The next few seconds or maybe minutes were pure ecstasy. I felt a warm wave washing over me until I came. I’d never felt such love or satisfaction before and from the cute mewling noises Karen was making, I guessed that she felt much the same.

I withdrew my hand; she withdrew hers and we rolled together and kissed. It was brief and wonderful. I smiled at her, although I doubt that she could see it in the dark. I muttered, “Thank you,” before rolling onto my other side. Karen spooned in behind me and a hand snaked around my waist and held my left breast. I fell asleep as happy as I’d ever been.

* * * * *

I felt the bed move and remembered what had happened the night before and I smiled inwardly. When I opened my eyes, I saw Karen, with her back to me pulling on her clothes, “Kay?”

She turned towards me and I saw that her cheeks were tear-stained, her eyes puffy and she didn’t seem to want to meet my eyes directly. “I’m sorry,” she muttered.

“What? Come on, talk to me.”

She grabbed her jacket and, as I tried to sit up, getting tangled in the duvet, she snarled, “That was awful, that was wrong. I need to go, don’t call me.”

With that, she left and was gone by the time I’d moved. I sat back on the bed. The best night of my life had turned into the worst way to wake up. I didn’t understand what had happened, this had been a momentous thing, but surely, we could talk as we’d talked about everything for the last eight or nine years. We had no secrets, as far as I knew.

I made some tea and went back to bed. She wasn’t answering her phone, not replying to text messages or the voice messages I’d left. My emails had been ignored and all I could do was lie in bed and cry. The words she’d uttered as she left, looking angry, told me that what we’d done the night before had upset her. I struggled, it had been the best experience of my life and now she was angry with me.

I wasn’t a lesbian, I’d never looked at another girl, but it had been great and I’d never felt so good, sexually or otherwise. I was terrified that I’d just ruined my closest friendship. Sarah might understand, but she was busy and I couldn’t get hold of her.

I wanted to talk to Karen, but that didn’t seem possible so I tried to sleep. I kept going back to the kiss, not the other stuff, just the kiss. I didn’t know that a kiss could feel like that, that it could stir such emotions, such pleasure, such a feeling of warmth and love.

I was a mess, now I had a headache and a sense of loss, almost grief. I tried reading but gave up, I tried watching TV but that didn’t work either. I hid under the duvet.

Late the next morning I was making some toast and waiting for the kettle to boil when Dad appeared. “Ah, there you are. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, great.” I was lying and he knew it right away. He sat down staring at me.

“Good, that’s good,” he said, sarcastically, “just a couple of things. You look as if you haven’t slept for a couple of days, you’ve been crying a lot, I’ve not heard you on the phone and Karen isn’t here. You’ve fallen out, that’s obvious. What happened?”

I turned my back to him as I muttered, “Nothing.”

When I sat at the table with my toast and tea, he looked at me, “I don’t think that you’ve lied to me before now, you never lie, but that was a whopper. So tell me.”

“I can’t Dad. It’s sore and embarrassing.”

There was silence for a few minutes as I ate my toast and he sipped his coffee. “You love her, don’t you?” I stared at him in disbelief and he looked back with kindness and affection.

“Dad, what the fuck are you talking about?”

“Please don’t swear.” He was collecting his thoughts before going on, “The three of you were always close. Then Sarah moved away, it was the right thing for her. That seemed to bring you and Karen closer together, sisters couldn’t be any closer and sometimes it’s hard for me to remember that Karen isn’t my daughter as well.” He laughed at that thought. I was scared of what was about to be said.

“When you’re here overnight you share the same bed. I’ve wondered before if you two are…. You know, but I was pretty sure that wasn’t the case.”

I stared at him in disbelief, how could he think that?

“I’ve seen the way that you look at each other sometimes, you often hold hands, you cuddle, you finish each other’s sentences. I’m stunned that you… Have you been deluding yourself?”

“No, Dad. This is awkward, can I tell you about it? It’ll be hard for me to tell you and for you to hear but you’re the only one I’ve got and you’re right, I won’t lie to you. I don’t tell you everything, I’ve always had Karen or Sarah for that.”

He took my hand, “It will be hard for both of us, but it’s been just the two of us for a long time.”

I told him about what had happened after the cricket and I told him almost all of it, I spared him the more intimate details. “I was happy, Dad. Then the next morning she looked horrified, she pulled her clothes on and just before she walked out of the bedroom door, she looked at me, full of anger and snarled, ‘That was wrong, just awful’. She hasn’t answered a text a phone call, email, anything.”

“You’ve had lots of time to think and not slept much, so what thoughts have been swirling around inside that head of yours?”

“I want her back, Dad. At least as my friend, I can’t bear the idea of her not being in my life. I know that I love her, no doubt about that. I want us to still be friends, but I suppose I want more than that. I want…” I burst into tears, Dad held me close and soothed me as I sobbed against his shirt. At least here, with him I was safe.

“Does something else scare you about this? You know, being two women?”

“Yes, it does. It makes no sense. I’ve seen Amy and Meredith together; Sarah has had girlfriends. It never bothered me until now, when I realised yesterday that I might be a lesbian as well. You know I’ve had a boyfriend and well, it was horrible Dad and it’s not something I want to repeat.”

“I’ve known Meredith for years, not well, but… She changed when she met Amy, she’s happy and in love. Amy is just a wonderful woman; I’d fancy her myself but… There is nothing wrong with love between two people. I loved and adored your Mum, but she was taken from us. I didn’t set out to fall in love with her, I just did. If you love Karen, go and tell her. Things aren’t right between you now, so it can’t get worse.”

“Doesn’t it upset you that I might be… you know?”

“No, I don’t care. You’re my daughter, the most precious thing on earth to me. I wouldn’t mind having two daughters.” He laughed. I sat silent thinking.

I made myself a fried egg roll and more tea. I was going to need stamina.

I went back to my room and sat on the bed. Staring at the wall didn’t seem very productive, but nothing distracted me. How did I truly feel about Karen? That was an easy question to answer and something I’d never considered before; she was always there and I could never imagine her not being, but I knew now that my feelings ran deeper than for her as just my friend. I’d never seriously contemplated sex with a woman, sure I had any idea what it was about, Sarah had shared bits and pieces, but what happened the other night was not just sex, it had to have been a connection on another level. I slapped my thigh, I loved her, loved her as much more than my mate and I wanted to be with her in every sense. I hated the label lesbian, but the truth is if we were going to be lovers, I’d need to accept it and I wanted to be lovers. The only way to sort this was face to face.

I showered and dried my hair. That done I went to my wardrobe and studied the contents. I selected a dress, navy blue, with a flared skirt, scoop neck and short sleeves. Light make-up and low heels. A deep breath as I stepped outside.

Confronting Karen

Karen’s mum answered the door with a tight smile, “Hello love. You look nice, come in.”

“Is Karen here, is she okay?”

“Come into the kitchen, you and I need to talk.” She made more tea, just what I didn’t need, something to dilute my resolve. “Karen’s been in her room ever since she got home just before midday yesterday. Apart from getting herself drinks, sandwiches and using the bathroom, she’s been holed up. She’s barely spoken to me and it’s obvious that she’s upset and that has to be something between the two of you.”

“When did she get home?”

“Just after half-past eleven, quarter to twelve something like that, why?”

“When I woke up, she was pulling her clothes on and snapped at me before walking out. It was just before nine o’clock.”

“I wonder where she was before she got home. Anyway, what caused that?”

I blushed. “I’m not sure that I’m comfortable telling you that. Maybe that’s something for Karen.”

“Did you argue about something?” I shook my head. “Plenty of drink, inhibitions down, did you kiss?”

I blushed again or at least went an even darker shade of red. I nodded and hung my head; it was clear that she had a good idea what had happened.

“You need to talk to her, but before you do let me say this. I’ve expected this to happen for a long time.” She paused, “Like most parents, I imagined that my daughter would come home with some young man and I was worried that I wouldn’t approve. One day I wondered if the two of you would become even closer than you already are and I laughed out loud at that thought, I was driving at the time and nearly crashed my car. The thought of you as my daughter in law, it would be hard to disapprove, given that I love you.”

I looked up stunned, too stunned to speak. “Go and talk to her. But hug me first.”

I stood and went to Marion. She took me in her arms and whispered, “Fix this, please.”

* * * * *

The door was closed and there was no answer to my gentle knock. I took a deep breath and opened it just a little to peer inside. It was dark, the curtains were drawn and Karen was curled up in a ball, crying. “Oh God, go away. I don’t want to speak to you. Ever again.” She buried her head deep in the pillow, she looked terrible, her normally long glossy dark brown hair was lank and hadn’t been combed for a couple of days. Her eyes were dark and red, her skin was pale and blotchy. But now I’d accepted my feelings, I thought that she was the most wonderful girl in the world, despite how she looked.

She flinched when I sat on the edge of the bed and touched her shoulder. “You and I have been close friends for a long time, we’re like sisters and I love you like my sister. What happened on one night when we’d both had too much to drink should not mean that we can’t move on.”

It looked as if she was paying attention, so I kept going. “I have no idea why what happened on Friday night happened, but we both played an active part. I fell asleep happy. I had no idea what would happen the next morning, but I didn’t expect you to get all hostile and rush off without saying anything. I wanted to talk, you ignored me. I know you’ve been holed up here ever since and you look awful.”

She muttered an angry, “Thanks.”

“I suspect that we both did the same thing and went over those events, our lives and wondered about our futures, again and again. I know that what we did doesn’t make either of us a lesbian, the thought of carrying that label bothered me and I’m guessing, you too. I’ve given it lots of thought and know that the only way forward is to talk to you.”

At least she looked at me now and she was listening. “When I went to get something to eat my dad cornered me and wanted to know what was wrong. I told him nothing and he called me a liar. After a few questions, which I dodged, he said that he thought that I was in love with you. I was stunned and started to deny it, until the truth of what he’d said hit me. I’ve always loved you, like a sister, like I loved Sarah, but things have changed. I don’t know when it happened or why, but I’ve never faced the fact that I do love you, like my girlfriend, like someone I want.”

Karen was shaking her head, either in disbelief or denial, I wasn’t sure which. “Dad told me to come and speak to you and try to sort it out. I realised that he was right and I decided that I want you in my life in some capacity. As my girlfriend or my girlfriend, but not as an ex-friend.”

“But that’s not…” She didn’t finish and started to cry again.

I needed to finish what I wanted to say, “When I got here your Mum gave me the same third degree because you wouldn’t speak to her. I didn’t tell her much, it’s not my place, but she knew.”

Karen’s eyes went wide as she mouthed, “Knew what?”

“Your Mum knew the same as my dad. The thing I hadn’t realised and that you still need to admit. We love each other, we belong together, as a couple.”

She looked terrified and slowly shook her head from side to side muttering “No,” repeatedly.

I lay down beside her on the bed and slid an arm underneath her as she stared at me wide-eyed. Eventually, she asked, “My Mum knows? Your Dad knows?”

“Yes, and they don’t care, actually I’d say they were pleased. We’re idiots, you know that?”

There was a minute of sniffling and a few tissues were used before Karen spoke again, “I liked what happened the other night. Kissing you was lovely and the other stuff, well it was good as well. But I was ashamed of myself the next morning. I thought that it was just too much drink. I was embarrassed and had no idea how to face anyone again. I sat in the park staring at the ducks for a couple of hours. I wanted to die; I didn’t want to lose you but…”

“Answer me this. Do you think Amy and Sarah’s Mum are nice, good people?”

“Yes, they’re lovely.”

“Does the idea that they’re two women in love repel you? Do you still like Sarah, even though she’s had at least two girlfriends?”

“No, they’re great, but…”

“So somehow we’re different?”

“No.” She closed her eyes and I lay beside her silent, she needed to come to terms with this and make her own decision.

After a few minutes, she opened her eyes and looked at me, “Do you really love me? Do you really want to have…?”

“Yes, I really do love you. It’s sudden I know, but I do love you and yes, at some point I do want to have sex with you. You’re beautiful when you’ve not been crying for two days and funny, and smart.”

She leaned up on one elbow, wiped her tears and reached behind my neck. She pulled our heads together and our lips met. I’d felt something the other night that I’d thought was really good, but this felt like nothing I’d felt before, magical, mystical, electric. Our lips danced and then our tongues joined in, flicking, licking, probing, testing, wonderful. It felt as if it was meant to be.

When we pulled apart, she whispered, “That was better than the other night, much better. Can we do that again?”

“We’re still young, I have no idea what the world holds for us, but I’d like to find out with you beside me, holding your hand and occasionally kissing you like that.”

“I think that I’d like that as well. I’m sorry, really sorry. I was torn, hysterical, mixed up, confused, stupid. I should have talked to someone, but I didn’t have the courage. I’m sorry.”

She stopped speaking, looked at me and came back for a follow-up. When she pulled away again, she smiled and flopped back onto the pillow. “I’m still a bit scared by the sex thing, I mean, I don’t have a clue really.”

I looked down at her and smiled, “That makes two of us. We can learn together; we just need to say stop or help or whatever and respect each other.”

“That was the best orgasm I’ve ever had the other night, it scared me though.”

“It was the best I’ve ever had as well. Can I….” I hesitated.

“What Liv?”

“Can I touch your breasts, please? I have never seen anything as beautiful as they are.”

She giggled as she slid her hand underneath the left one, she was bigger than me by a full cup size and had lovely nipples. “You mean this one?”

“Both actually.” I took the breast in my hand and weighed it. I used my thumb to tease her nipple and I felt her relax and heard her sigh. I was almost in tears; I was so happy.

“Jesus, yes.” I teased her for a few seconds and bent down to take the nipple between my lips. I teased with my tongue and sucked gently, closing my lips tight. “Oh fuck, yes, yes. That’s it, like that just like that. Oh, oh my, I might come.”

I kept up what I was doing and shifted my weight so that I could take her other breast and nipple into my free hand. I teased the nipple with my thumb, Karen gasped and shuddered. Then she relaxed and fell backwards, the tension flowing from her. She opened her eyes and sighed before adding, “Thank goodness you talked me into this, that was wonderful, thank you.”

We lay alongside each other looking into each other’s eyes and I made small gentle circles on the abdomen. Karen looked shy, “Are you going to touch me again, like the other night, down there?”

“Would you like me too?”

“Yes, I would, I’m scared and I want to touch you, but…” She grabbed me tightly and nestled her head into my shoulder, “I’m scared Liv, really….”

“We’re in this together K. You and me, no one else. I love you.”

We stayed like that for a couple of minutes and then suddenly she moved, sliding downwards. She paused and looked up, she looked shy, “I need to do this, help me.” It puzzled me for a moment, I wasn’t sure what she wanted help with, but there was a brief flurry and she was between my legs. She looked up and stuck her tongue out at me, inches away from… and then she thrust it into my opening. The surprise was pretty big, but the wave of pleasure was like a tsunami and I heard Karen sigh contentedly.

We kissed, stroked and used our fingers on each other and after a while, she used her lips and tongue to tease and satisfy me. It was rough and ready with little sophistication, neither of us had much of a clue, but I learned, in however long it had taken, that this was right and what I wanted, at least with Karen.

I came twice and Karen slid back up the bed to kiss me. I’d never tasted myself before, it was nice, certainly not repellent. She lay staring at me. “Liv,” there was some hesitation, I was sacred what she was about to say. “Liv, I loved that, I just loved it. I want to do it again. I made you come, I made you come with my tongue. I want you to do that to me, would you? Please?”

I was no more competent at this than she had been, but I wanted to do it and I discovered that giving her pleasure was an incredible turn on for me as well.

Licking her and sucking her clit was something I’d never imagined until now, but I loved it. Feeling her undulate, beneath me, hearing her sighs, feeling the vibrations through her body was such a turn on and then she screamed, loudly and tried hard to stop it. I giggled to myself, not very discreet, I thought.

She grabbed me and pulled me into her torso. I got a gentle kiss. “I’m sorry, so sorry. That was fantastic and I’m an idiot and dumb and I love you.”

“I love you too, I always have.” I have no recollection of anything else as I fell asleep being held tenderly.

Parents

A couple of hours later, the two of us were in bed, cradled in each other’s arms and staring at each other without words, when there was a gentle knock on the door.

“Are you okay? Can I come in?”

“Mum, go away!” Karen snapped and started to blush, again.

“Make yourselves decent.” Twenty seconds later the door opened and Marion came in. “As I thought, you’re in bed, just like you have been hundreds of times before now, so that’s not new. I’m pleased to see that you’ve made up though and got over that silly nonsense.”

“What, Mum?”

“I’m not stupid and I still have my hearing, your scream wasn’t from pain.” The two of us turned bright red. “Now, you can move forward as lovers, stop fooling yourselves and be proud about who you are. I don’t care who you love, Karen.” Marion turned to me, “Olivia, please phone your dad, he’s worried. I told him I thought things were okay, but he needs to hear it from you.”

“Okay,” I replied sounding like a five-year-old.

“I’m going to make some pasta. You two have a shower, use the one in my room.” She smiled as she said that. “And change this bed, it smells…” I was pleased that she didn’t finish that thought.

As soon as we heard her mother’s footsteps retreating, Karen jumped out of the bed, still naked, grabbed my hand and smiled at me, “Come on, Mum and Dad’s shower is big enough for two.” As we dashed, I realised that Karen had changed in the last couple of hours, she’d accepted her feelings and, now, been given her mother’s approval.

The shower didn’t take long, but being washed by someone else, for the first since I was a baby, was wonderful, almost as good as washing your lover. My lover, no doubt’s what she was.

Marion was smiling at us when we appeared in the kitchen holding hands. “Can I have a hug please?” She enveloped both of us and when she pulled away, she looked all serious. “Be honest with each other, this is new for all of us. You make a lovely couple; I love you both. Your Dad sends his best wishes.”

“You told Dad?” Karen was shocked.

“Yes, we had our regular video chat and I told him. He’s okay.”

“Bloody hell.”

“Funny, that’s what he said as well. I suggest that you give him a call this evening, but not too late they’re ahead of us in Dubai remember.”

* * * * *

Karen was more nervous about going to speak to my dad than I was. He grabbed me the minute we got through the door and hugged me. “Are you okay? Is this thing sorted now?”

“Yes, dad we’re good, we’ve made up.”

He let me go and grabbed Karen, “Are you okay or has she corrupted you against her will?”

Karen gave a real loud laugh, “She has corrupted me, but I’m pleased or I’d still be hugging my pillow and missing her.”

The three of us sat talking for ages until Dad asked, “Are you going to spend every night together?”

Karen and I looked at each other and I answered, “Yes, I’d like that.” Karen nodded. “Maybe some nights here and some at Karen’s.”

“Okay, same rules, if you’re not going to be here, let me know and Karen that rule applies to telling your Mum.” We both nodded in agreement.

“I have something else to tell you. I’ve been seeing someone; I really like her.”

Dad had been alone for too long and I’d told him to move on more than once, but he was worried about someone trying to replace Mum. Enough time had passed now and I was much more mature, or so I thought. “That’s good. Can we meet her, what’s her name?”

“Her name is Samantha Frost, she’s five years younger than me. She’s a doctor, a surgeon actually, a cardiac surgeon and hopes to be appointed as a consultant soon.”

“A surgeon? Good catch Dad. What else?”

“She was married for a few years, but it didn’t work. No kids. She plays the guitar.”

“Got a picture?”

He reached for his phone and then looked up, “She’s quite striking and don’t go by first impressions.” I had no idea what to expect, but I was stunned when I saw the photo. She had a mop of very blonde hair, a tight shirt that showed that she was very well endowed and her skirt barely existed, revealing some very long legs. She had a nice face, she was gorgeous, but the impression was, well bimbo?

“She’s a heart surgeon, right?” I asked, Dad, nodded. “Well, she must be pretty smart, and she’s good looking, but she does look a bit…”

“I know, when I met her, she was wearing scrubs. Blew me away when she turned up at the restaurant for our first date. She likes to dress a bit out there, but she’s really down to earth.”

Karen and I walked back to her place, each of us carrying a bag, my clothes and university stuff. “Your Dad’s girlfriend does not look like a doctor, but he seems keen.”

“I think we need to meet her soon and give her the once over.”

“We need to meet her?”

“You and I are a couple, we share things, you can hold my hand whilst I interrogate her.”

When we got back home, it wasn’t my home but…. We told Marion about our conversation with Dad and about his new girlfriend.

“I saw the two of them a couple of days ago and I was pretty shocked I admit. It’s no business of mine, she looks a bit…. Well, I’m sure you thought the same thing, but she must be pretty smart.”

We went online and chatted with Karen’s Dad. She explained what had happened and he said that as long as we were both happy, that was enough for him. I think that we were both relieved

* * * * *

It was a bit awkward going upstairs that evening. Obviously, Marion knew that we’d be sleeping together. We’d done that many times, but tonight it was different. She must have sensed it as well, she stood up and, as she was about to walk away, turned back, “Girls, this is something new. I know that it feels awkward for me and you two look so sheepish I’m surprised I can’t hear bleating. Let’s be mature about this. I’m going to make tea and take it to bed. See you in the morning.”

Karen turned to me, “She’s right Liv, it feels weird. Let’s just go to my room.” I nodded and we moved. As we’d done so many times before we undressed, slipped into a T-shirt and took turns to use the bathroom. Karen was sitting on the bed waiting. I walked over and took her hand, “I know what happened earlier, but suddenly I’m nervous again.”

She smiled, “I know, but I suppose we don’t have to have sex every night, do we?”

“No, come on let’s cuddle and see what happens.”

We held each other face to face. Her long dark hair was draped around her shoulders and her dark brown eyes sparkled. There was a contrast between us, my hair was shorter and blonde and I had pale blue eyes. Aside from that, we had a similar build, although Karen had a bigger bust than me. I stroked her shoulder and she came closer for a kiss. The kisses lasted for a long time and were filled with sexuality, her hand slid downwards until she was touching me, so I copied her. Suddenly our fingers were inside each other and I felt the tension rising rapidly in the two of us. The orgasm that followed was great, not the earth-shattering event of earlier, but simple and lovely.

“That was nice, I love you,” I whispered.

“It was wonderful, I hope that we can still be doing that many years from now.”

Seconds later I heard some soft snoring from Karen and I must have fallen asleep almost immediately, with a smile on my face.

Next morning

Karen was awake and watching me when I opened my eyes. We were close together, arms draped across each other. She looked as if she’d woke up not long ago, still tousled and, I’d never realised before, damn sexy. “Good morning, my love.” She giggled.

“Good morning to you too, what’s so funny?” I replied.

“Saying, my love. It sounds funny but real. I have a confession though. I’ve been lying here for about ten minutes and watching you sleeping. It’s a lovely thing to do.”

“And what do you want to confess to?”

“I’m a lesbian.” She had a wide grin, “I must be, I love another woman and that makes me so happy. After the other night, I’d cried thinking how admitting that to others, especially my folks, would be hard. I wasn’t even sure that I was. Now I know that I do love you, I want to have sex with you, share my life with you and no one cares. I’m not going to race around with a rainbow flag or anything, but I am what I am.”

“That confirms what I’ve always thought, you’re crazy, but I love you.” We kissed and I realised that doing this first thing in the morning might make us late for things unless we started earlier or curbed our enthusiasm.

Telling Sarah

Karen had called Sarah and asked if we could go over. We’d been invited to spend the night which would mean the three of us sharing a bed. Karen and I agreed that the situation might change when we told her our news.

The first half-hour of our conversation was about cricket and what had happened after her debut. We were just finished eating when she asked, “Karen said that you had news, so what’s up?”

I noticed Amy look at Sarah’s Mum and then burst out laughing. Sarah looked surprised and asked what she was laughing at.

Amy wiped a tear away as she answered, “Sarah, you’re a smart girl, clever, talented and funny, but you can be as dumb as a stump at times.”

“What? I don’t understand.” The look of incomprehension was very amusing.

“Goodness, look at the two of them, it’s ripping out of them.” Sarah still looked puzzled, “They’re in love, a couple, girlfriends.”

Sarah’s mouth and eyes were as wide as they could get, “What? You two? What the hell?”

Karen explained what had happened, in a bit too much detail if you’d asked me. Meredith and Amy were great and made lots of positive noises. Sarah just sat looking shell shocked. “I’m stunned, you two are my favourite people and you’ve always been close. But you two are…”

It was my turn to laugh, “Not as straight as we all thought, obviously.”

“Damn. I’m pleased for you, but a bit jealous. Mum and Amy, now you two and I’m still on the shelf.”

Karen answered, “It’s a bit early to be still on the shelf, you’re an England cricketer, smart and drop-dead gorgeous, you’ll have suitors falling at your feet soon.”

We excused ourselves to head to Sarah’s room and just as we were about to move Amy came over to us. “I guess this is all a bit new and scary. If you need anything at all, a friendly ear, moral support, anything I’m here for you. Coming out can present challenges and I might be able to help or just listen. Love you both.”

I hugged Amy and started to cry. She’d been nice to us from the day we first met her and her offer was amazingly kind. I kissed her cheek, “Thanks Amy, I may take you up on that.”

The next two hours were spent talking about what had happened and our feelings. Sarah just sat and listened and eventually she told us how she felt. “I’ve told you this before. I realised that I was gay a long time ago, soon after Mum and Amy got together. I always knew that I loved you two, but never ‘like that.’ I assumed you loved each other the same way, but now I’ve heard you… I’m not surprised, I’m happy for you and I suspect this isn’t going to fizzle out, I think you’ll be together for a long time.”

Karen took her hand, “Thanks, Sarah. Neither of us knew, but deep down there was always something a bit more between us if you get my drift. We both still love you and,” Karen started to tear up, “I hope that you’ll always be our friend.” I nodded along, I hoped for that as well.

When we eventually turned in for the night the three of us cuddled up together as we’d always done and I fell asleep, happy being with my best friends, well best friend and girlfriend.

Meeting Samantha

Dad collected us and we drove to the restaurant. Samantha was already seated and she stood as she saw us heading towards the table. She’d toned down her look, the hair was smart, the cleavage was covered and her legs were still long, but partly concealed by an almost knee-length skirt. Dad introduced us as we sat. It felt awkward.

“Girls, I’m sure that this might feel a bit odd to you, but I’d be less scared starting a heart transplant than I am right now. I’m terrified.”

I touched the back of her hand. “My Dad says that you’re nice, so that’s a good start, but you need to know that this will be an interrogation.”

Samantha smiled and replied, “I kind of expected it, so do your worst, you brought reinforcements as well?”

“Karen and I have been friends for a long time. That changed recently as I’m sure Dad has explained. Sorry, but you have to impress us both.”

Karen giggled, “Samantha, that’s rubbish. I’m not sure I should be here really, but Roger is almost as close as my own Dad and he’s a lovely man, so…”

“Okay, girls. First, let’s order a drink and some food, then you can get the thumbscrews out.”

As the waiter walked away Samantha looked up at the three of us. “Okay, I’ll start. I’m forty, an only child born in Edinburgh, but my parents moved to London when I was ten. I studied medicine in London and my folks died almost twenty years ago. That’s a long story for another day, but they left me well provided for.” She paused to sip her wine. “I lived and worked in London until I moved here three years ago. I wanted to work with the Professor here and although I could have probably become a Consultant before now working somewhere else, I wanted to learn and money isn’t the main driver for me.”

“Dad says that you were married?”

“I got married when I was thirty. He’s a doctor as well and I went all in, head over heels. He’s a nice man but can’t keep it in his pants. The first time I shrugged it off, but when I found out about the nurse 13 years his junior and pregnant, I decided enough was enough. That prompted me to move and here I am.”

Food arrived and we tucked in. “I need to add that I’ve never been short of interest, partly I suspect because of how I like to dress when I’m not working. I know that I look a bit… like a bimbo, but it’s the opposite, the contrast to my working persona. I’m not a… okay, I’ve had a few boyfriends, but only two since I got divorced, one was a real mistake on my part and the other is sitting next to me. Your Dad is a nice man and I really hope that we work out. One thing terrifies me though.”

I was surprised she didn’t explain and it was Karen who asked, “What’s that?”

“Olivia terrifies me. I can never replace her Mum and I wouldn’t want to try. I know nothing about kids unless they have a heart problem, but I would like to have a good relationship with you, both of you actually.”

We were halfway through the main course when I realised that, so far, I liked Samantha, she was okay. She looked up at Karen and me, “Your Dad has told me a little bit about the two of you, but I suspect that there’s much more to it. I’d like to hear as much as you feel you’d like to share.” I looked at Karen and she nodded. We both took turns to tell her about our lives up until Sarah’s debut game and then what happened afterwards.