Gwendolyn had never had many close friends. Despite being a former State beauty queen. Despite graduating law school near the top of her class. Despite working alongside the same people every day, she had always had her guard up, kept a safe distance. So, when Clark had dumped her for some slutty waitress barely still in her teens, the hurt went pretty deep.
She had suspected, when Clark first swept her off her feet, that it might end something like this. When it came down, it came down fast. Clark, asking for the engagement ring back. Her replacement waiting in the car outside in the meantime. It was a well-engineered break-up, she had to give Clark that much credit.
Now, at 36 she was going to have to start over. It was depressing to say the least.
"Double vanilla latte ma'am. Cash or credit?" The barista at Java Shinobi had said. It seemed like this one was always on shift. Coriander, her nametag said. A slender young woman with a nice figure. Very Japanese looking with her eye makeup always impeccably done, hair in a longish black bob. Always polite, dainty, cheerful and professional, it was one of the reasons Gwendolyn always came here.
The words came right out of the random blue. "Coriander, would you like to get a drink with me sometime?" Gwendolyn heard herself say.
"Sure, I'd love to." Gwendolyn was surprised to hear her reply. "I get off at five. You could pick me up here."
"Okay. I'll see you later. I'm Gwendolyn by the way." Gwen said.
She couldn't believe she'd just done that. But there was something open and unassuming about the barista. Anyway, she needed someone to vent to. Why not a perfect stranger?
Coriander was waiting outside the coffee shop, still in her barista uniform, when Gwendolyn picked her up. There was a quiet little wine bar down on 6
th
. The perfect spot for a conversation.
Coriander was nursing her first drink as Gwendolyn finished off her second and ordered a third. Gwen, couldn't get over how easy the girl was to talk to. Stranger or not, she seemed to get Gwen in a way that few people ever had.
"You're a beautiful woman, Gwendolyn. I'm sure someone will come along who'll make you happy. Just be patient." Coriander advised.
Maybe she was right. It was all in the timing. She shouldn't have had that last glass of wine.
"Coriander, can you drive?" Gwen asked.
"Sure, Gwendolyn. You've had a bit much?" Coriander asked.
"Yeah, I'm afraid so." Gwen admitted.
Coriander helped her out of the car and into the apartment. Gwen sat down on her couch and waved Coriander over to sit next to her.
"I should call a cab." Coriander said.
"Thanks. Okay. Stay a bit longer?" Gwen said.
"Okay, I guess I can." Coriander smiled.
"Thanks again. I had a really good time with you tonight. You're so easy to talk to." Gwen admitted.
"You're welcome. I had a really nice time tonight too. You really are a beautiful woman Gwen. I'm not exaggerating when I say it really is Clark's loss." Coriander said.
"What a sweet thing to say." Gwen said.
Gwen was thinking back to her beauty pageant days. There had always been a cohort of girls who were into each other. Meaning a few times, she'd walked in on girls making out with each other. Thinking back, it's likely that a couple of times, she'd been come on to, but she never got past the curious about it, but too scared to act on it stage.
Now she had this feeling in the pit of her stomach. She looked at Coriander beside her on the couch, so sweet and pretty. Gwen felt horny like she hadn't in ages.
"Coriander?" Gwen said hesitantly.
"Yes, Gwendolyn?" Coriander replied.
"Would it be weird if I kissed you?" Gwen blurted out.
"I think that it would be absolutely lovely." Coriander smiled.
Gwen reached out to caress Coriander's cheek, drawing her closer and softly touching their lips together. It was a moment of pure magic. Gwen was amazed at how sweet Coriander's mouth was. She could feel her arousal growing in her loins. Why hadn't she tried this years ago?
