Tucker brings wine

Sneak Peek #Phoenix Rises

Alison opened the door after peeking through the peephole. Tucker was standing on her stoop with flowers and wine. “Uh-oh,” she said.

“What?” Tucker said as Alison stepped aside to let her in.”

“You want something.”

“Why do you say that?”

“You always bring wine when you want something.”

“Can’t I just bring some wine for us to enjoy?”

“Of course you could, but you don’t.”

Tucker scowled. She took the flowers and wine to Alison’s kitchen, put the flowers in a vase and the wine into a chiller with ice. She turned and put her arms around Alison and kissed her sweetly.

Alison never got tired of Tucker’s kisses. They were deep and soulful and communicated so much in her heart. Alison swept her hands up into Tucker’s hair, then down her neck and across her shoulders.

Tucker buried her face in her hair then moved to her neck and kissed her lightly. Her lips on Alison’s skin made her shiver and she heard a deep chuckle in her ear, which doubled her reaction.

Then Tucker pulled back slightly and looked into Alison’s eyes. “You’re right, I kind of do want something.”

“Kind of?”

“Well, it’s Paul.”

Alison rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. Tucker had told her about some of her and Paul’s escapades in school, and Alison wondered how they managed to avoid getting the crap beaten out of them by some of the more homophobic of their classmates. Actually it seemed that Paul was the instigator and Tucker trailed along to back up the flamboyant youngster.

“What does he want? You two haven’t spoken in years, have you?”

“No, he just got in touch with me today.”

“O-kay…”

“He wants to do a National Coming Out Day celebration. He wants a picnic with drag volleyball and softball, and he’s almost got Pug’s convinced to let him direct a show there.”

Alison did a face-plant in her hand. Tucker pulled her hand away and kissed it.

“It might not be as bad as all that.”

“No?” She turned away and fiddled with the flowers.

Tucker slipped her arms around Alison’s waist and kissed the top of her head. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s one thing for you to help Paul and support this event, but I have to be careful. No one knows me well enough yet for me to go gallivanting around with Paul and his cronies.”

Tucker raised an eyebrow and turned Alison to face her. “Cronies?”

Alison raised her hands helplessly. “You know what I mean. Don’t tell me he’s not planning on bringing the Queens from Pocatello in.”

“Of course he is; he goes up there every weekend. We’re a small community here; it’d be good to have some support from Pocatello.” Tucker realized she was using the same arguments Paul had used with her, but it made sense. “And people like you. You’re good with the kids and that goes a long way around here.”

Alison put her head against Tucker’s chest and tucker put her arms around her again. She tucked Alison’s head under her chin and hummed.

Tucker could hum, though she couldn’t sing after the fire. It wasn’t much more than a growl, but it seemed to soothe Alison and she sighed and snuggled closer.

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course I do.”

Alison was silent for several moments, then said, “What was it you wanted?”

“Oh.” Tucker cleared her throat. “Paul wants a meeting this Saturday.”

Alison pulled back and looked at Tucker. “Weren’t we going to camp overnight at Cottonwood? There isn’t much more good weather for us to do that.”

“I know.” Tucker ran her finger down Alison’s face. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise. He’s calling some of his friends from Pocatello and it sounds like he’s making sort of a party out of it.”

“Meaning everyone’s going to be in drag.”

“Well, not everyone.”

“He’s cutting this thing awfully close,” Alison hitched her thumbs into Tucker’s belt loops. “We’ve got a little over a month to get all the sponsors we need.”

Tucker knew that when Alison said ‘we,’ she’d been convinced to go along. “Well, Wiley Construction can probably sponsor the picnic, and I’ll talk to Joe at Pug’s. The ladies can take care of the show. How does that sound?”

“All right, I guess, but I don’t think it’s fair for you to take on the whole picnic.”

“I know; I’m not that happy about it either, but it’ll only be this time. Then I’ll impress on Paul the importance of proper planning.”

“I suppose that’s all we can do.” Alison stroked Tucker’s face, then turned to the chiller. “Let’s have some of this wine.”