Sue Agrees To Let Anna Buy Her A Drink

"Why not?" Sue Storm said.

Three blocks away, through an alley, and then downstairs to a basement bar, Anna and Sue clinked glasses. The bar was cosy, mismatched furniture and glassware, photographic prints of women in various states of undress on the wall—yet it was clean, no roaches or rats, no flies or puddles on the floor. The bartender was a thin, hollow-eyed woman with a French accent and too many ear piercings, who offered a wine list without asking—and a rather impressive list it was too.

The Invisible Woman sipped her pale Bordeaux, dry and with an acid bite that cut through her throat and left a pleasant warmth in her stomach. The two women drank in silence for a little while, Sue's eyes ranging around the room, the few other women present.

In fact, it was all women.

"Is this a lesbian bar?" Sue asked.

Anna grinned. "That obvious?"

Sue shrugged. "Never been in one before. You bring dates here often?"

Anna grinned wider. "Oh, is this a date now?"

Sue sighed, and showed her left hand, her wedding ring prominent.

"I'm married," she said.

"So?" Anna said, utterly deadpan, as she sipped her wine. "You wouldn't be my first."

The Invisible Woman and shook her head.

"I appreciate the interest, I really do," Sue said.

"But you're not into women?" Anna prompted, an eyebrow raised.

The blonde heroine hesitated. She couldn't honestly say no. After all she'd done with Nairobi, it didn't feel right to call herself strictly heterosexual.

"I'm—bisexual," Sue said. Even to her own ears, the words came out with the tone of a confession.

"So you're saying there's a chance," Anna said, still grinning.

Sue laughed at the absurdity of the conversation—and, to her relief, Anna laughed with her. The Invisible Woman wondered exactly how many married women Anna had managed to seduce with that easy smile and easier laugh.

"Look," the dark-skinned woman said as she set her empty glass down. Her free hand found Sue's on the tabletop. "I appreciate what you did for me back there in the park. Really appreciate it. I'd like to do something for you. Thank you properly."

Those dark eyes held Sue's own blue orbs.

"So I'm going into the bathroom. If you want to be thanked, come in after me. If not...I'll pay for the wine."

Anna stood up. She let her hand linger on Sue's for a moment, then turned and walked toward the bathroom. Leaving Sue Storm with a strange choice.