You Can't Go Home Again by Jeanette Bears

Author:Jeanette Bears [Bears, Jeanette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Coming Out, Contemporary, Dogs, Family Relationships, Friendship, Lesbian Romance, Military, Nonbinary/Gender Fluid, Pet, Physical Therapist, Sapphic Romance, Second Chance
Amazon: B0D9DMGVNN
Goodreads: 200201092
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2024-08-13T04:00:00+00:00

Even though they’d really believed they had sobered up the night before, the throbbing headache of a hangover lingered the following morning as Rae stood in the basement with their aunt. They refused to show it, though, knowing the lecture they would get. They were in a lasting good mood for the first time in a while.

The two stared at the cut-out hole in the unfinished basement plaster wall directly under the kitchen. A bundle of ancient wiring disappeared into the ceiling. Rae had cut out a piece of the wall when the breaker surged one too many times while making coffee that morning. Coffee was what they needed most.

“I can fix it,” they told her.

“So can Ralph. It’s what he does for a living because he’s a professional. An electrician, some might call him.”

Rae resisted the eye roll that they knew would earn them a dressing-down from their aunt. But they didn’t have the patience to be silent. Their head throbbed with their caffeine deprivation. “No need to, it’s a lot of rewiring but it’s not complicated. It’s just old.”

“You fly things, he wires things, it’s still my house for a little bit longer, and I want a professional.”

“It’s one of a lot of things that need fixing up. I can save some money. Just let me handle it.” Rae turned to her. “Please.”

Marlene studied them. They didn’t shy away. Rae wanted to do something meaningful and feel purpose again. To contribute. They were starting their journey back to whatever their new normal might be, and this was just one of the ways they could help. Marlene let out an exasperated breath.

“Just get it done right and don’t fry yourself in the process.”

Rae laughed. “Come on, I started breakfast, and more importantly, coffee, before I got distracted. I think the circuit is back on now.”

As they sat at the table together, Marlene broke the comfortable silence.

“When did you get in last night, then?”

Rae looked up from their plate. They’d hoped she hadn’t heard them, although looking back that was nearly impossible given the level of noise Jordan was capable of making—and did—getting out of Lena’s cramped van. She was still crashed in the guest room, and Rae didn’t feel bad at all for her that her breakfast was getting cold.

“Lena brought us home safe, we were out with a group,” Rae answered. They felt like the rebellious teenager that they never really were.

“I just asked what time.”

Rae sighed. “I honestly don’t remember.”

Marlene shrugged. “Have a good time?”

Rae did not have to think for long as they recalled the evening and couldn’t place a time they’d had quite that much fun in so very long. They nodded.

“You and Jules doing all right? Talking to one another?”

Rae nodded again. A ball of excitement surged in their chest at the mere thought of her. They remembered stupidly asking her to dance, pushing the edge of what they knew they should be doing around her. They remembered the quick looks shared between them as the group hung out, the feel of Jules’s head resting on their shoulder.

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