Chapter Text
“Juney, are you mad at me?”
You are both sitting up in bed, you with a book, June with her face in her phone. She does this every night no matter her mood, but you can tell by the tightness in her forehead, the intensity of her scrolling, and the fact that she hasn’t interrupted your reading to show you any funny memes or cute animal videos, that she is clearly upset about something. In fact, you realize that she hasn’t said a word to you since you got inside. You have had to learn to pick up on these little quirks of hers, since she is not one to tell you in words when something is wrong, not unprompted at least. You dog-ear your page and set the book down on your nightstand.
“I’m sorry, baby, I know you don’t like the parties. You know I wouldn’t make you go if it was just for funsies but, you know, it’s just part of the job! I wish being a writer was just writing, believe me, but it’s not, you gotta be places and see people and be seen, and, you know, network!”
June makes a small disgruntled noise.
“What!?”
She doesn’t respond.
“What!?” you ask again more insistently.
Without looking up, she mumbles about how you looked like you were networking pretty hard with that waitress. She asks how the waitress is going to help you get your next book published. You can’t help but laugh at that, but then she finally looks at you and the daggers in her eyes make it clear that she does not think it’s funny.
“Aww, sweetie is that what you’re upset about? Baby, come on, I was just being nice! She’s in school for creative writing, I was just giving her some advice! What’s wrong with that?”
June asks if putting your hand on her arm was part of the advice.
“OK, Juney, I’m sorry, but now you’re being unreasonable!”
She tells you you were flirting with her, in a very accusatory tone.
“I was not flirting, Juney! Believe me, if I were flirting you would know! I’m just a friendly person, I’m affectionate, this isn’t news to you! In fact, I seem to recall you rather liking that about me...”
As you say this, you begin to gently stroke her forearm with your fingertips. For a brief second she seems to have fallen under your spell, but then remembers again that she’s mad at you and rolls over, pulling the blanket up to her chin.
“Juney come on! Look, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that you had a bad time and the party and I had fun! And I’m sorry that I never get to pay enough attention to you at these things. I know it must be boring, but I need you there, baby, that’s just part of the deal I’m afraid! You’re my wife and it would look very bad if you didn’t come…”
June makes another little noise to express her dissatisfaction with your response. You realize that you don’t blame her for that, as it wasn’t really an apology at all. You center yourself and try again.
“OK... I’m sorry if I upset you by being too friendly with the waitress. I mean it, Juney, I’m sorry, I feel bad. I get into party mode and I just get a little carried away sometimes, I can’t help it. I know it comes more naturally for me than it does for you, and that’s fine, but I still have to really focus to make sure I stay charming and engaging and interesting all night long, and… I get carried away.”
She doesn’t turn back around, but she also doesn’t resist when you place your hand on her shoulder.
“Do you forgive me?”
She waits a few seconds and then mumbles ‘maybe’. Maybe is enough, you can work with maybe. You slide yourself down, wrap your free arm around her, and rest your chin gently on her shoulder so that your mouth is just an inch away from her ear.
“Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?” you whisper in your most comically exaggerated seductive voice. Her cheek twitches. Bingo.
“Ha! I saw that June Egbert! That was a smile! You’re busted!”
June giggles and rolls around to face you, admitting defeat. She lays her face just in front of yours and looks at you with big sparkling blue eyes that you just can’t resist.
“Well, hey there, beautiful...”
She reminds you that you promised to make it up to her.
“Say no more...”
You reach around to cradle the back of June’s neck in your hand, lacing your fingers through her thick black hair, and pull her into a deep kiss.
Lalonde, you are simply too good...
********
ectobiologist [EB] began pestering tipsyGnostalgic [TG]
EB: hey roxy! <3
EB: i know you’re probably super busy with your conference
EB: i just wanted to say hi
EB: and i miss you
EB: i would say i wish you were here, but i think you would kinda hate this tbh, so i don’t!
EB: if anything i wish i were wherever you are right now!
EB: cause honestly, this whole thing is just kinda...awkward…?
EB: idk, i know i probably just need to give it more of a chance
EB: and i know i should be grateful that they even asked me to do this
EB: i mean, i am, it’s a cool opportunity
EB: it’s cool that people are interested in us and our story!
EB: i guess i still just kinda wish that i was actually the one who got to tell it...
EB: i mean, they let me play a little bit of the GodQuest demo and it’s ok, definitely a lot better than mine would have turned out tbh
EB: though i guess they did take a lot of, uh... liberties...
EB: like, there’s a whole level called “the dark forest” (???) where you have to go around killing salamanders, but they’re like, giant scary salamanders with big sharp teeth
EB: and there’s also like, a killer fungus that if you step on it it drains your health unless you do a healing spell
EB: i mean, i can’t do healing spells, obviously, in real life, but, you know, i guess that’s just kinda a standard video game thing so they decided to throw it in
EB: i probably should have thought of that when i was still working on my game honestly
EB: not that it would’ve mattered though anyway...
EB: ugh, i’m sorry i didn’t mean to just start complaining at you
EB: i’m sure the panel will be fun!
EB: and everyone’s been really nice and supportive about my new name, and, you know, gender, lol!
EB: well, almost everyone, but i guess that’s just sorta how it goes…
EB: i mean, it’s kinda weird that people are cosplaying me and selling art of me, ngl, but at the same time, it’s kinda nice to see hundreds of people walking around like, affirming my womanhood…?
EB: like, yeah, here’s june in a pretty dress because why not? lol!
EB: oh yeah, and i even saw a bunch of people dressed up as you! XD
EB: some of them are pretty good, actually!
EB: but of course, nothing can compare to the real thing ;)
EB: it does just kinda make me miss you more though
EB: i miss you so much
EB: i know it’s only been a few days, i just always kinda feel like there’s a part of me missing when we’re not together
EB: as cheesy and cliche as that sounds, but that is honestly how it feels
EB: sorry, you’re busy, i’ll leave you alone
EB: i gotta get ready soon anyway
EB: i should be done around 10 if you’re free and maybe wanna call
EB: ok, i’ll talk to you soon!
EB: i love you <3
ectobiologist [EB] ceased pestering tipsyGnostalgic [TG]
*******
You had just finished loading your cart full of groceries into the car and sat down, and as is your custom, you check your phone before starting on your drive home.
4 UNREAD MESSAGES
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Hi, Roxy, it’s Claire! From the party the other night- I was the one telling you about some of my short stories...
UNKNOWN NUMBER: I just wanted to thank you again for offering to help, I know you must be super busy!
UNKNOWN NUMBER: I was wondering though if I could take you up on that coffee so we could maybe go over a few of them together? My treat, of course!
UNKNOWN NUMBER: I’m flexible so just let me know when works for you! And thank you again! ;)
UGH, did she have to add the little winky face?
You sit and read the texts several times, as if to commit them to memory before doing what you know you have to do, but really don’t want to...
ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT TO BLOCK THIS NUMBER?
NO YES
You close your eyes and press YES.
Sorry, Claire. You are extremely cute, but some things are just more important...
You put your phone away and drive home, where your wife is waiting for you.