One Night

Michelle had butterflies in her stomach.

Dinner had ended surprisingly quickly after Roy's suggestion that they all spend the night at Jessica's house. Not because anyone had stopped having fun, and definitely not because the food had suddenly become less delicious. They simply had work to do. Nobody had arrived expecting a sleepover, after all.

There were purses to retrieve. Clothes to pack. Makeup to collect. Phones to charge. Zara had announced that she needed to go home because she had approximately seven different things she couldn't sleep without, then immediately admitted that at least four of those things were probably unnecessary.

Jessica had left at the same time as Elaine and Zara, promising to meet them all at her house later that evening. Apparently, there were preparations to make before four unexpected overnight guests descended upon her.

That left Roy and Michelle alone in the apartment. Michelle stood in their bedroom with her overnight bag open on the bed, staring at it as though she'd never packed anything in her life.

This was ridiculous. It was only one night.

Only one night that could lead to so many more.

The thought made her smile. A few days earlier, the idea of spending the night at Roy's apartment would have seemed romantic. Exciting. Maybe even a little daring.

Now she was packing a bag to leave the apartment where she lived with her boyfriend so that she could spend the night at her boyfriend's other girlfriend's house.

And honestly? Michelle had never been happier. Living with Roy had happened so quickly that she hadn't really had time to process it.

Everything about that terrible day had been stressful. Her mother showing up at work. The shouting. The humiliation. The awful things she'd said about Roy, in front of her and her coworkers, as though Michelle's happiness was something that needed to be corrected. There had been no going back after that.

At least, not for Michelle.

She hadn't wanted to go home. More accurately, she hadn't wanted to go back to a place where she would have to defend every choice she made. Every feeling. Every moment of happiness.

Roy had looked at her. He'd listened. Then he'd taken her in. Just like that. No long discussion. No conditions. No hesitation. There had been a spare drawer waiting for her before she'd even fully understood that she was staying.

Now, somehow, this was home.

Their home.

Michelle folded a shirt and placed it into the bag. Living with Roy had taught her something she hadn't known she'd been missing. Before her dad died, she'd thought she understood what she wanted from life. Her family hadn't been perfect. Nobody's was. There had been arguments and stress and all the ordinary frustrations that came with people living together.

But there had also been love.

Her father had been there. Her mother had been different. For a long time, Michelle had assumed that was the life she wanted someday. A family. A husband. Maybe children, eventually. A warm house where people looked after one another. That was the dream.

Or so she'd thought.

Then everything had changed. Her dad had died. Her mother had changed. And Michelle had learned just how quickly a home could stop feeling like one.

For years after that, she'd kept her head down. Worked hard. Saved money. Planned for school. One job, then another when she needed more money. There wasn't much room in her life for trouble. There definitely wasn't room for dating.

Men could wait.

Romance could wait.

Sex could wait.

All of that belonged to some distant chapter of her life. A future version of Michelle who had more time, more money and fewer things to worry about.

Then Roy had happened.

Michelle smiled to herself as she tucked a pair of pyjamas into her bag. Of course, Roy had complicated the plan. Or maybe he'd made her realize that the plan had never been particularly good in the first place. Being with him felt like discovering a kind of happiness she'd somehow missed the first nineteen years of her life. Not because her childhood had been miserable. It hadn't. There had been good memories. Wonderful ones.

But this was different.

Roy loved her. Really loved her. Not because she was useful. Not because she worked hard. Not because she did what she was supposed to. He loved her because she was Michelle.

And now there were the other women. Michelle paused with another shirt in her hands.

Zara.

Oh my God. Zara was fantastic. She was older than Michelle by, like, ten years, which Michelle had briefly thought might make things awkward.

It hadn't.

If anything, Michelle had immediately wanted to become friends with her. Zara was fun. Not just pleasant or nice.

Fun.

The woman could barely go thirty seconds without having another thought, another idea or another completely unnecessary piece of information that absolutely had to be shared immediately.

Michelle loved it. For most of her life, Michelle had been the responsible one. Work hard. Save money. Don't cause problems. Don't waste time. Then along came Zara, apparently determined to make up for every spontaneous thought Michelle had ever ignored.

And she was sexy as hell.

That part had been a genuine surprise. Michelle had always known that nerdy women could be attractive, obviously. She wasn't stupid.

But Zara? Oversized glasses. Tiny skirts. High heels. Huge breasts. That pixie cut. And somehow the whole combination worked so well that Michelle had caught herself staring more than once.

There was no question that Roy had good taste in women. Michelle herself was an excellent example of that. But Zara?

Michelle smiled.

Definitely good taste.

Jessica was wonderful too, although Michelle still felt as though she had only scratched the surface of who the older woman really was. Smart. Beautiful. Calm in a way Michelle suspected she would never be able to manage. And she had a daughter.

Ava.

That was going to be interesting. Michelle zipped open the side pocket of her bag and began gathering the things she thought she might need for one night.

Ava was almost the same age as her. That could be weird. Or it could be great. Michelle wasn't entirely sure what Ava would think about the situation. Finding out that one of her mother's other girlfriends was essentially her peer? That had to be strange.

Still, if Ava was anything like Jessica, Michelle was willing to bet she'd be amazing. Maybe they'd get along. Maybe they'd even become friends. The idea made her smile.

It could be like being a family. Not the one Michelle had imagined when she was younger. Something bigger. Stranger. And, somehow, better.

Her mind drifted back to her mother. For years, the thought of simply not speaking to her would have been impossible. Even when things were difficult, even after her dad died and the relationship between them became increasingly strained, her mother had still been her mother. You didn't just close the door on that.

Except...

Maybe sometimes you did.

Michelle rested both hands on the edge of the bed. The strange thing was that she didn't feel particularly guilty about it anymore. Somewhere along the way, the guilt had simply become smaller.

Roy had helped. Elaine had helped too. Both of them had listened without judging her. Neither had pressured her to forgive. Neither had insisted that family automatically deserved access to every part of her life.

And now there was Zara.

Jessica.

Maybe Ava too.

If she closed the door on her mother, there were still people on the other side of her life. People who loved her. People who wanted her around. Michelle didn't know when she'd become comfortable with that. She just knew that she was.

A drawer opened behind her. Roy had been packing his own bag. Michelle turned.

At first glance, nothing seemed wrong. Roy was smiling.

Mostly.

But something about him felt quieter now. At dinner, surrounded by Elaine, Zara and Jessica, he'd been overwhelmed but happy. There had been laughter in his voice. A kind of disbelief whenever the conversation had taken another ridiculous turn.

Now the energy had faded. His movements were slower. Thoughtful. Michelle watched him fold a work shirt and place it into his bag.

"Mister Man?"

"Yeah?" Roy looked up.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

Michelle gave him a look. Roy returned it.

"What?"

"You know I'm going to keep asking, right?"

A small smile appeared.

"I know."

"Good."

She crossed the room. Roy had his back turned as he reached into the drawer again. Michelle stepped behind him and placed both hands against his back. The muscles beneath her palms felt tight. Slowly, gently, she rubbed between his shoulders.

For a moment, Roy said nothing. Neither did Michelle. She didn't need to fill every silence. Not yet. Finally, Roy sighed.

"It's just a lot."

"I know."

"Do you?"

Michelle smiled against his back.

"Not exactly the same way you do, probably," she said gently, her breath against his neck. Her hands continued moving slowly. "But I know it's a lot. It could be a big change having us all live together, being close to you, doting on you day and night..."

"When you say it like that..."

"When else am I supposed to say it?"

Roy laughed. Michelle felt some of the tension leave his shoulders. She stepped around him until she was standing in front of him.

"I think it was a good idea."

"The sleepover?"

"The whole thing."

Roy looked uncertain. Michelle hated seeing that expression on him.

"Mister Man."

"What?"

"You don't have to decide everything tonight," she said, her hands against his chest as she watched his eyes soften. "We're going to Jessica's. We're going to see her house. We're going to spend time together. Maybe tomorrow we'll still want to do this."

"And if we don't?"

"Then we don't." She shrugged. "Although, personally, I think we're definitely going to want to."

That brought another smile.

"You're pretty confident."

"Obviously."

Michelle leaned closer.

"Have you met us?"

Roy laughed. A real, genuine laugh. A warm feeling spread through her chest. That was better.

"Besides," Michelle continued, "you had a good idea."

"The sleepover?"

"Yes."

"Don't look so surprised." She poked him lightly in the chest. "You're smart sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"Don't get greedy."

Roy looked at her with warmth and love, leaned in, and gave her a quick, gentle kiss.

"Thank you," he said.

"For what?"

"For being you," he answered.

Satisfied, Michelle returned the kiss, then returned to packing. Looking down at the open bag on the bed, she reminded herself that she was only packing for one night.

One night at Jessica's house.

It could be crowded. Five people. Or six, if Ava was home. And that brought up another very important question. Michelle looked back at Roy.

"So."

"So?"

"Sleeping arrangements."

Roy stared at her. Michelle waited.

"What about them?" he asked nervously.

"Mister Man."

"What?"

"Don't pretend you haven't thought about it."

"Honestly?" A grin appeared on his face. "I have no idea what to do."

"I love sleeping with you," she said, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.

"I know."

"Don't sound so smug."

"I wasn't being smug."

"You were."

Roy smiled. Michelle tried to maintain her serious expression. She failed.

"But," she continued, "it's Jessica's house."

"True."

"And she's your girlfriend too."

"Also true."

"So maybe she gets first dibs."

Roy stared at her for a moment.

"First dibs?"

Michelle nodded.

"That's the technical term."

"Is it?"

"It is now."

A laugh escaped him. Michelle smiled.

"Honestly, I don't care where I sleep as long as you're there." The words came out more sincere than she'd intended.

Roy's expression softened. She reached for his hand.

"But Jessica should get to decide," Michelle said with finality.

"And what if Jessica tells you to sleep with me?"

Michelle immediately brightened.

"Then I would graciously accept her decision."

"How selfless of you."

"I know. I'm very mature."

Roy again pulled her closer. Michelle let herself enjoy the warmth of him for a moment.

This.

This was what she'd been missing in her life. Not just Roy, although obviously Roy was a very important part of it. Belonging. That was what this felt like. She belonged somewhere. And maybe soon, they all would.

Together.

Michelle looked at the two bags on the bed.

"Are you ready?"

Roy glanced down at his own bag.

"Almost."

A few minutes later, both bags sat zipped shut beside one another. Michelle looked at them. Then at Roy. A smile slowly spread across her face.

One night. That was all this was supposed to be. One night at Jessica's house. But Michelle had a feeling that something important was happening.

Maybe she was about to meet Ava. Maybe she was about to discover what Jessica's home was like. Maybe, if everything went well, this could become the beginning of a completely new life.

A better one.

Michelle stepped closer to Roy and placed her hands gently against his face. Then she kissed him. Not quickly and gently like before, but with passion and intensity. The kind of kiss she could pour herself into and wash away in the love she felt for him. She suspected that tonight she'd be sleeping alone, and so she wanted to make sure he remembered what was waiting for him when it was her turn.

Then, panting, she released him.

"Come on, Mister Man," she said, licking her lips. "Take me to your girlfriend's house. I can't wait to see it."