Benched by Blythe Rippon

Author:Blythe Rippon [Rippon, Blythe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: lesbian fiction
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Published: 2017-03-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Sitting in her car staring at Tori’s house was becoming a bad habit. Genevieve shivered against the winter chill seeping into the car, put on a brave face, and marched to the door.

Tori opened it shortly after she knocked and leaned against the doorjamb, a copy of Kellen’s god-awful new book on US tax law tucked under her arm.

“Hi,” Tori said.

“Um, hi.” Genevieve drew it out, but Tori made no move to let her pass. “Uh, can I come inside?”

“I suppose. We have a lot to talk about.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out Genevieve’s phone. “Like, for example, why you spent the night at Penelope Sweet’s house last night.”

She casually tossed the phone to Genevieve, whose brain scrambled. She barely managed to grab the phone before it fell into the snow.

By the time she’d scrolled through the messages and found the one from Penelope, Tori had long since retreated inside. Chilled to the bone for multiple reasons, Genevieve trudged after her, kicking off her shoes just inside the door and frantically thinking of what to say.

Tori was huddled in the corner of the couch, a cup of tea resting on her legs. Genevieve sat down as close as she dared, given that she had no idea which direction this conversation would go.

“Tori, it’s not what you think. Nothing happened between us. I slept on her couch, and she loaned me some clothes. That’s all.”

Tori turned and scrutinized her, and Genevieve suddenly felt naked. She tried to hold Tori’s gaze but failed, and she was sure Tori saw the heat in her cheeks.

“I see,” Tori said as if she’d just decided something, and Genevieve’s heart thudded in her ears.

“What—what do you see? I just said nothing happened.”

“Well, regardless, you went over there for a reason.”

“You pissed me off, and I wanted to be with someone who…I felt like was on my side.” It sounded unconvincing, even to her.

“Mm. I don’t think you’re telling the truth—to me or yourself.”

“I—what’s that supposed to mean?” Genevieve’s face turned red for an entirely different reason. “Don’t assume you know—”

“It’s hard not to make assumptions when you disappear, sleep over at another woman’s house, and then can’t even look me in the eye when explaining why.” Tori looked away, her eyes bright with tears.

Which somehow made Genevieve more angry than sympathetic. “Look, it’s no secret that things between us haven’t been great—”

“Here it comes. Just say it. I know you’ve been wanting to.”

“You know? How the hell… God, if you’ve got it all figured out, I don’t even need to be here for this relationship, do I? You can just imagine whatever version of me you want, make it your reality, and that’s that.”

Tori turned back to her, shoulders slumped. “You think I want you to cheat on me? To decide this relationship isn’t worth it? I’m not worth it?”

“Look, you’re the one who doubted this relationship from the start. Never introducing me to your friends, refusing to be seen with me in public—you never fully committed to me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.