Saturday unfolded almost exactly the way they had hoped it would.
There had been no alarms dragging them out of bed, no hurried showers, no phones buzzing with reminders of places they needed to be. When morning came, they simply got up and went for a jog together, dressed in matching running clothes that made Denisse laugh the first time she caught their reflection in a storefront window.
The park was already alive by the time they arrived. Runners moved along the paved paths, couples walked their dogs, and children chased one another across the grass while the morning sun warmed the tops of the trees. Denisse kept pace beside Lesley, their footsteps falling into an easy rhythm.
By the time they returned home, both of them were flushed and pleasantly tired. They showered, ate a light breakfast, and spent the rest of the morning doing very little at all.
And that, somehow, was exactly what made the weekend feel perfect.
By lunchtime, Gigi had invited them over to her apartment, promising that Steff was cooking.
Now they sat around Gigi's dining table, plates already set out in front of them.
The smell alone had Denisse leaning forward.
Steff carried over the last dish and carefully placed it in the center of the table beside the others. The buttered shrimp glistened beneath the warm light, coated in a golden sauce that clung to the shells. Next to it sat the beef broccoli, the tender slices of beef dark with sauce and the broccoli still bright beneath it.
Denisse's eyes widened.
"Wow. These look so delicious."
Gigi laughed from across the table. "Don't just stare at it. Try it already. I want to see that face."
Denisse didn't need to be told twice.
She reached for the serving spoon, scooped up a shrimp, and placed it onto her plate. The moment she took a bite, her eyes closed.
The buttery sauce coated her tongue, followed by garlic, a faint sweetness, and just enough seasoning to make her reach instinctively for another bite.
"Oh, God. It's so good."
She chewed slowly, eyes still closed, savoring the flavor.
Gigi leaned back with a satisfied grin. "And that's the face I was waiting for."
Steff laughed quietly, still standing beside the table.
Denisse opened her eyes and pointed her fork toward her. "You are really a good cook, Steff."
"I'll take that."
Steff finally pulled out the chair beside Gigi and sat down. But instead of reaching for her own plate, she looked toward Lesley.
"But I still want to know what the true chef thinks about my cooking."
Lesley smiled.
Her lips curved with quiet amusement as she watched Denisse savor the shrimp. At Steff's challenge, she reached for the serving spoon.
"Sure. Let me have a taste."
She took one of the shrimps and brought it to her mouth.
For a moment, she said nothing.
She chewed thoughtfully, letting the flavor settle before giving a slow, approving nod.
"It's delicious."
Steff's shoulders relaxed. "Really?"
"Really."
"What did I do right?"
Lesley glanced down at the shrimp, considering it.
"The butter sauce."
Steff leaned slightly closer. "What about it?"
"You didn't drown the shrimp in it." Lesley picked up her fork and gestured toward the dish. "There's enough butter to carry the garlic and seasoning, but you still let the shrimp's own flavor come through."
Steff smiled. "I was worried I used too much garlic."
"You didn't."
"How much did you use?"
"Fresh garlic?"
Steff nodded.
"Three cloves?"
"Four."
Lesley looked at her with a small smile. "Then you minced them finely."
Steff's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"You can taste it."
Gigi glanced between them. "I can't tell the difference."
Lesley laughed softly. "That's because you're eating it too fast."
"Excuse me?"
"You've already had two shrimp."
"Because it's good."
Denisse nodded enthusiastically. "She's right. It really is."
Steff laughed and shook her head before looking back at Lesley. "What about the beef?"
Lesley reached for a piece with her fork.
"The beef is tender."
"I marinated it first."
"With soy sauce?"
"Soy sauce, a little oyster sauce, garlic, black pepper, and a bit of cornstarch."
Lesley nodded immediately. "That's why the sauce sticks to it."
Steff pointed at her with a pleased grin. "Exactly."
"And you didn't cook the broccoli too long."
"I blanched it first."
Lesley's eyebrows lifted. "Then tossed it in at the end?"
"Yes."
"Good choice. It still has a little bite."
Steff sat back, looking entirely too pleased with herself.
Gigi reached over and squeezed her girlfriend's hand.
"Look at her," she said. "She's been waiting all morning for Lesley to approve."
Steff rolled her eyes, though the smile remained.
"I wanted an expert opinion."
"Well," Lesley said, taking another bite, "you have mine."
"And?"
Lesley glanced at the dishes spread across the table.
"You're allowed to cook for us again."
Denisse laughed.
Steff pointed at Lesley. "I'll remember you said that."
"You should."
Gigi shook her head, reaching for another shrimp. "Great. Now you've encouraged her."
Steff smiled as she served herself some beef broccoli. "You say that like you're complaining."
"I'm not."
"Exactly."
Denisse looked around the table, smiling as she watched them bicker so easily. A few months ago, she never would have imagined this scene. Back then, she had been certain that whatever she and Lesley had was already over, something she would eventually have to learn to live without.
Yet here they were.
Lesley was sitting beside her, laughing with Gigi and Steff as though she had always belonged among them. The warmth of the apartment, the food spread across the table, the easy conversation—it all felt so ordinary, and somehow that was what made Denisse's chest tighten with happiness.
She reached for Lesley's hand beneath the table and gave it a gentle squeeze.
She had thought she had lost this.
Now, she was sharing lunch with her girlfriend and watching her become part of the lives of the people she loved.
The smell of garlic and butter drifted toward her again, drawing her attention back to the table.
Denisse reached for another shrimp.
Gigi noticed.
"Another one?"
Denisse didn't even bother pretending otherwise.
"Don't judge me."
"I'm not judging."
"You sound like you're judging."
"I'm just impressed."
Denisse popped the shrimp into her mouth and grinned.
"Then be impressed."
Gigi laughed, and Steff shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips.
The rest of lunch passed just as easily, with good food, playful teasing, and conversations that wandered from one subject to the next. By the time they finished, nearly every dish on the table was empty, and laughter still lingered around the room.
-
Later that evening, the girls called for a girls' night.
It was the kind of night they had made their own over the years, when titles and responsibilities could be left at the door. No one had to be a CEO, no one had to answer emails, and no one had to pretend they had everything under control. They could eat too much, drink too much, talk about absolutely nothing, and stay up as late as they wanted.
Just friends.
Friends who had known each other for more than a decade and had somehow managed to remain close through everything life had thrown at them.
Lesley volunteered to bring the food.
By the time she finished preparing the sushi and sashimi, everything had been arranged neatly into containers, ready to go. She changed, grabbed the paper bag, and headed out with Denisse.
They were almost at Stacy's house when they spotted Alex and Sam waiting near the gate.
"Late too?" Lesley called as they approached.
Alex laughed. "Yeah. I had to finish some paperwork."
"Always busy with work, Alex," Denisse teased, her arm comfortably wrapped around Lesley's.
Sam rolled her eyes. "Seems weekends aren't her rest days."
Alex gave her an offended look. "I rest."
"When?"
The question earned a burst of laughter from all four of them.
They made their way inside together.
The landscaped patio was already glowing beneath the outdoor lights, the evening air carrying the faint scent of greenery and whatever Stacy had burning on the grill. Stacy and Athena were settled comfortably on the patio furniture, each holding a glass of whiskey, while Zoe sat nearby with a glass of juice.
"Hi, guys," Lesley called as they approached.
Athena looked over immediately.
"Finally! What took you so long?"
"Because I made sushi?" Lesley replied, giving her a pointed look.
Athena's face brightened. "Really? Come on, let us have it."
Lesley shook her head with a laugh and set the paper bag on the table. She pulled out the containers one by one, revealing rows of sushi and neatly sliced sashimi.
Stacy leaned forward.
"Wow."
"They look delicious," Zoe said, already eyeing the containers.
"They are," Denisse said as she settled onto the cushioned sofa. "I've already had a few while Lesley was making them."
Lesley glanced at her. "A few?"
Denisse gave her an innocent smile.
"Okay. More than a few."
Everyone laughed.
Lesley shook her head, then reached for the four empty glasses waiting on the table. She filled each with ice before pouring whiskey into them, the amber liquid catching beneath the patio lights.
She handed one to Denisse before looking toward Athena.
"And what is the reason Trixie isn't here tonight?"
Athena picked up a piece of sushi with her chopsticks.
"She said she's not feeling well and couldn't make it."
"That's too bad," Stacy said.
Athena nodded, already taking a bite. "Yeah. She said she'd make it next time."
Lesley raised her glass.
"Then we'll drink for her."
"Absolutely," Alex said.
Glasses lifted around the table, and the night finally began.
The night settled into the kind of ease that only came with people who had known one another for years. Stories turned into jokes, jokes into teasing, and before long they were talking about places they wanted to visit, things they wanted to do, and plans that might still be years away.
Lesley sat back on the sofa, her whiskey glass loose in one hand while her other remained intertwined with Denisse's.
She looked around the patio.
Her friends were scattered around them, laughing beneath the warm glow of the outdoor lights, their glasses resting on tables between plates of half-finished food. And beside her was Denisse, close enough that their shoulders touched.
Lesley let herself take it in.
She had spent so long keeping herself from this kind of happiness, afraid that letting someone too close would eventually give them the power to hurt her. There were moments when she wondered why she had waited so long. Why she had allowed fear to make so many decisions for her.
Maybe she couldn't change that now.
But she could appreciate where it had brought her.
Whatever had happened between them during their time apart had changed them in ways neither of them could have understood back then. When they found their way back to each other, they weren't the same women who had once struggled to communicate or let fear get in the way of trust.
They already knew what they had lost once.
This time, they knew how to hold on to it.
The things they had once needed to work so hard at came naturally now. They talked when something was wrong. They listened. They trusted each other. They gave each other the space to be themselves without ever making the other question where they stood.
Somehow, being together again simply fit.
As though all those lessons they had learned apart had been waiting for them to find their way back to each other.
They loved each other so much. That made everything easier.
More than anything, Lesley was grateful that Denisse had let her back into her life.
A voice broke through her thoughts.
"Look at the two of you," Athena said, pointing her glass toward them. "You could be sitting anywhere, and you're still holding hands."
Lesley laughed and sniffed dramatically.
"Oh. What's that smell?"
She leaned toward Athena and sniffed exaggeratedly, like a dog searching for a scent.
Everyone watched her.
Lesley made a face.
"Oh, it smells like bitterness."
The patio erupted in laughter.
"Duh. Not bitter at all," Athena said, rolling her eyes.
"Really?"
Lesley turned toward Denisse, her grin widening.
"How about this?"
Before Denisse could ask what she meant, Lesley leaned in and kissed her.
Denisse kissed her back without hesitation.
"Oh, God! Get a room!" Athena shouted, grabbing a sofa pillow and throwing it at them.
The pillow landed against Lesley's shoulder.
She barely noticed.
She kept kissing Denisse until Denisse finally pulled back, laughing softly.
"You always know how to tease Athena, babe."
"She started it," Lesley said, reaching for her whiskey.
"Excuse me?" Athena protested.
More laughter followed.
"Oh, wait," Alex said. "Aren't you two headed to Greece next week?"
"Yeah," Denisse said. "For Leanne's wedding."
"Give Leanne our congratulations," Zoe said. "We really wanted to go, but you know, Sebby's still too young for us to take him out of the country."
"Leanne will understand," Lesley said.
Sam lifted her glass. "We'll try to book a last-minute ticket if our new investor permits us."
Alex laughed. "But Athena is definitely ready for Greece, right, Athena?"
Athena took a long sip of her whiskey before nodding.
"Yup. Not missing her wedding. Especially in Greece."
Lesley smiled.
Stacy leaned forward, her expression suddenly mischievous.
"Speaking of weddings..." She looked between Lesley and Denisse. "Aren't you two planning yours yet?"
Lesley nearly choked on her drink.
"We just started our relationship," Denisse said with a laugh.
Then she looked at Lesley.
Her expression softened.
"But whatever the future has for us, as long as I'm with her, I'm where I want to be."
Lesley stopped breathing for a second.
She held Denisse's gaze, waiting for something to come to her. A joke. A teasing response. Anything.
Nothing did.
Denisse eventually looked away, taking another sip of her whiskey as the conversation continued around them.
But Lesley remained still.
Her eyes stayed on Denisse, her words echoing quietly in her mind.
Whatever the future has for us, as long as I'm with her, I'm where I want to be.
Denisse had just told her, in the simplest way, that she wanted her in her future.
And suddenly, Lesley found herself wondering if she wanted the same.
The answer came quietly, without hesitation.
Yes.