Sleeping on the Terrace Ch. 02

"No you didn't. Besides, I probably would have made the same mistake," he replied reaching out to take her hand. "I'm glad Jessie was able to set things right."

"Me too," she said stifling a laugh. She paused a moment then looked up at Jason. "So, what did you tell her? About moving back to Cleveland I mean?"

"I told her I've met someone," he said gazing into her glistening eyes. "I told her that I didn't know where it's was going to go yet but I wanted to give it some time."

"Yeah, me too," she added with a growing smile.

"She said she wants to meet you sometime," he added picking up his water glass and taking a sip.

"Well we're not going to Cleveland," she replied quickly and emphatically, "I hear the weather is bad up there for people like us."

Jason choked back a laugh as he almost spit water across the table. He nodded his head and grinned at her sheepishly. "I agree!" he finally said wiping his mouth with a cloth.

"Maybe she can meet us half way, like Louisville or someplace...for coffee or something," she added with a mischievous grin.

"I like that," he said with a big smile. "I like that very much, and I think she might like that idea too."

When they returned from the restaurant they climbed the three flights of stairs hand in hand once again.

"Do you want to finish the evening on the terrace sharing a bottle of cheap wine?" she asked with a grin.

"Yes, I do," he replied sweetly. "Very much."

As Rachel opened her apartment door she looked across at Jason and smiled. "See you in a minute on the terrace?"

A moment later they both walked out their terrace doors. He stepped over the low fence, opened the wine, and joined her at her table.

"We're celebrating my latest promotion at work," she said with a broad grin.

"Congratulations," he replied. "Does it come with a corner office?"

"Not yet, but I'm moving in that direction. At least I'm not in the basement anymore," she laughed and poured the wine.

Jason paused a moment and studied Rachel's face then his lips formed a wry smile.

"What?" she asked aware that he had been staring at her for some time.

"I'm curious," he said softly, "and you don't have to answer if you are uncomfortable, or you think I'm prying, or whatever." He paused a moment and looked into her eyes. He figured that she knew this question would eventually come up. What he didn't know was how she might react.

"What's it like to be who you are?"

She smiled wistfully, let out a low whistle, and settled back into her chair. She paused a moment to gather her thoughts, looking out at the evening sky.

"Some days, like tonight, on this terrace sharing a bottle of wine with my best friend, it's rather wonderful," she replied smiling. "Other days it's really horrible."

He sat up and looked at her glistening eyes.

"Shit, I'm sorry," he murmured softly. "I didn't want to spoil the evening. Let's talk about something else."

"It's fine. You haven't spoiled a thing," she replied sweetly. "You've been perfect."

Rachel turned in her chair and reached out to take Jason's hand.

"There's a lot of confusion and fear out in the world about people like me," she continued. "Sometimes it ends in bruises on the outside and sometimes there are scars on the inside where no one can see them. The scars are the ones that take the longest to heal."

Rachel gazed softly into Jason's eyes.

"You once told me that you have issues with trust, and so do I," she continued. "I've been devastated more times than I want to remember. My sister Hanna calls me an incurable romantic and I suppose she's right. I guess that's why I jumped to conclusions when I saw you with your cousin. Jason I still can't believe that this, you and I as friends, is real. Good things like this don't happen to me, not like this. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"Nah, it's not going to happen," he said with conviction, "because we won't let it happen. We're not going to force anything. Let's take it slow and easy."

"Enjoy the moment and not worry about tomorrow?" she asked.

"Exactly," he agreed. "Oh, and speaking of shoes..."

"I was just going to ask you to ask Jessie if she wanted to go shopping with me? We leave for the Bahamas next Thursday and I haven't a thing to wear," she said striking a pose with her hand across her forehead dramatically.

"Of course, when?"

"Tomorrow after work," she replied with a twinkle in her eyes. "I need a new swimming suit and a sundress for midnight walks on the beach too."

"No shoes?" he asked.

"Of course I need a pair of new shoes! I think some fading Hollywood actress once said, 'Dawling, you can never have enough shoes,' and I believe she's right."

=TWO=

Jason raced home after his last class on Thursday and bounded up the three flights of stairs two steps at a time. He raced into his bathroom and jumped into the shower. A few minutes later he stood in front of the mirror shaving as close as he could. He was fortunate enough to have fair hair so the process wasn't all that arduous but still stubble was annoying when you tried to apply a smooth foundation. He dashed into the bedroom and pulled open his closet door. A moment later he stood looking into a full-length mirror wearing a loose cashmere sweater over a nice pair of fitted slacks.

"Hmm, very nice," he heard Rachel say as she peeked around the bedroom door. "I like that sweater, casual but very smart, in a gender neutral sort of way. Nicely done."

"Thank you," he replied with a smirk. "I said no dresses and I meant it."

"Just the shoes, I know," she replied. "Are you ready?"

"Just the makeup, can you help make the magic happen?"

She smiled serenely and nodded towards the living room. "My dressing table is all yours Jessie."

"Wait, I need some hose and my shoes," he said as lifted his wig off the wig stand on his dresser and took her hand.

"We'll come back for them. Come on, Sarah closes her place early on nights like this.

He reluctantly followed her out of his apartment and into hers glancing around the hallway to make sure that no one could see him. Twenty minutes later Rachel was applying the finishing touches and the transformation was complete.

"There, as beautiful as ever," she said with a coy smile adjusting his wig and pulling out a few curls.

"Thank you Rachel, you are truly a magician," he said looking at his reflection in her dressing table mirror.

"Now come on, don't dawdle, we need to get going if we want to have time to shop."

"I'll meet you outside in a couple of minutes, I have to put on some shoes," he said rushing out of her front door.

Three minutes later he met her in the hallway as he closed his front door. He had on a pair of knee-high hose under his slacks and a pair of the ballet flats. They were the same ones he borrowed from her two weeks ago when they first went shoe shopping. She glanced down at his shoes and smirked.

"You want me to wreck in heels?"

"I didn't say a word," she replied as her smirk grew into a broad grin.

"I thought we were in a hurry," he said pushing her in front of him to lead the way down the stairs. She giggled all the way down the first flight of stairs.

They arrived at the Shoe Boutique shortly before five, which according to Rachel would give them just over an hour to find the perfect sandal for the beach. Jessie made a beeline for the heels and started trying on a pair of five-inch 'Rachel Roy's'. They screamed for the chance to caress his feet. He slipped them on and admired the look in the mirror while Rachel shook her head with a wry grin and walked away.

Thirty minutes later, shoeboxes in hand, Rachel found Jessie at the back of the store trying on a pair of pumps from the clearance rack. The stiletto heels were at least five and a half inches tall.

"You really go for the tall ones don't you?" she asked.

Jessie walked in front of the mirror admiring the way the shoes looked.

"They make my feet look small," he whispered with a shrug. "And they are totally sexy."

"How much are they?"

"Only fifty nine dollars, I paid attention this time," he replied with a twinkle in his eyes.

"That sounds like a bargain. Jessie, are you going with Jason and me to the Bahamas?" Rachel asked coyly. "Because if you are, you should look for some sandals."

Jessie stopped and glanced over his shoulder at Rachel. He turned and walked over to her and gave her a gentle hug. Then he leaned back and smiled sweetly.

"Thank you for asking but no, that's just for you two, I'd just be a third wheel," he replied earnestly. "We'll go to someplace special just the two of us when you get back, okay?"

"Okay," Rachel replied her smile broadened and she gave Jessie another hug.

"But I do want details, lots of details," Jessie added with a wicked grin and a whisper.

Rachel smiled winsomely and nodded, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Bring your shoes up front I want you to meet Sarah," she said picking up Jessie's flats and putting them in a shoebox.

Jessie followed Rachel to the front of the store sashaying up the aisle in her stiletto heels. Behind the cash register was a buxom young woman with bright red hair and half a dozen piercings on each of her ears. She had tattoos running from the wrist up both of her arms and an assortment of rings on each hand.

"Jessie," Rachel said gesturing to the girl behind the counter, "this is Sarah. Sarah, this is Jessie, a very good friend of mine who continues to keep me out of trouble and is in love with your store."

Jessie blushed bright crimson and reached forward to shake Sarah's hand. "Hi."

"Hi back at you," Sarah replied. "You're going to like those Rachel Roy's and the Sergio Rossi's look good on you."

"Thanks," Jessie murmured with a coy smile.

"I think she'll take both," Rachel said as she set her boxes on the counter alongside of Jessie's.

"Is this your first time in here?" Sarah asked Jessie.

"No, I was in here a few weeks back and bought a pair of red pumps," he replied softly trying to keep his voice as feminine as he could.

"Good, I love to see a repeat customer," she said with a grin.

"Oh, she's a repeat customer all right," Rachel chided. "If I don't keep an eye on her she'll buy out the whole store," she added laughing.

Jessie merely rolled her eyes as Sarah finished ringing up their purchase.

Jessie handed his credit card over to Sarah and whispered, "my treat," to Rachel with a wink. Rachel started to protest but then she smiled demurely and whispered, "thank you."

Jessie wore the stilettos out of the store and strutted across the parking lot to his car.

"You are shameless in those heels," Rachel said playfully swatting Jessie's shoulder.

"Yes I am but I simply adore them. I'd wear them all the time except for the damn social construct that seems to prevent it."

"So, do you wear them around the apartment?" Rachel asked.

Jessie turned and leaned against his car door.

"Actually, no I don't. I only like to wear them when we're together. I know that sounds weird but somehow I think wearing them all the time would take away the magic."

Jessie reached into one of the bags full of boxes and pulled out the flats he had borrowed from Rachel the first time they went shoe shopping.

"I really ought to buy my own pair of flats," he said slipping off the stilettos and placing them in a box.

"Just keep them," she replied. "It will give me an excuse to borrow those Rachel Roy's," she said with a devilish grin, "they scream trouble."

She grabbed his arm and pulled him away from his car. "Come on, let's go to the mall." She walked around his car to sit in the passenger seat. "I still have that dress to find."

"And a skimpy bikini," Jessie added with a grin.

After they ran in and out of several of smaller boutique shops they stopped in Forever 21 and found a delightful sun wrap that fit Rachel remarkably well.

While she tried on several other dresses he wandered over to the swimwear section and gathered several bikinis for Rachel to try on. He walked back over to the fitting rooms and waited for her to come out.

A moment later Rachel appeared wearing a lovely blue dress that gathered asymmetrically and accented her breasts and the curve of her hips nicely.

"Now that one is a keeper," Jessie said enthusiastically and handed Rachel his bikini selection. "Here try these on."

She blushed crimson and took the swimwear with her back into the fitting room. She turned at the fitting room door and looked back at Jessie.

"I'm not going to show them to you out here," she said firmly. "So you'll just have to accept whichever one I choose."

"No problem, I'm sure that they all will look stunning on you," he replied.

A few minutes later Rachel walked out of the fitting room with several dresses and one of the bikinis wrapped up hidden in the bundle.

"Which one did you choose?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"You'll just have to wait until we get to the beach," she said with a smirk.

The next stop was Victoria's Secret. After a thorough search through the bras and panties Rachel grabbed Jessie's hand and pulled him towards the dressing room.

"What are you doing?" he asked looking a bit alarmed.

"I thought you'd like to help me," Rachel said with a wicked grin.

"You are such a tease," he replied. "Now hurry up, I'm getting hungry. I'll be over there checking out the lingerie."

Rachel put on a mock pout and then she smiled demurely at Jessie.

Jessie shook his head and smirked. "You are still such a tease," he repeated with a grin.

She laughed and ducked into the changing room.

After she spent way too much money in Victoria's Secret, Jessie drove her over to a little Italian restaurant for dinner.

"I've been wanting to go to this place since I first spotted it when I moved here," he said browsing through the menu. "A colleague at work told me its one of the best in town."

A few minutes later the waiter left with their order returning moments later with a bottle of nice Chianti. He poured the wine then disappeared behind a screen to welcome new customers.

Two men walked across the dining room towards a table that apparently had been reserved for them by the windows.

"Shit," she whispered ducking her face behind the wine menu. "Those guys over there are from my work."

"Really?"

"Quick, trade places with me after I take a trip to the restroom," she pleaded and he nodded.

As she stood up Jason stood as well. He moved to the other side of the table as she left for the restroom. Several moments later Rachel returned and managed to slide into her seat unnoticed.

"They didn't even look up," he said leaning forward to whisper.

"Good," she muttered looking tense.

The waiter returned again with their salad and the main course shortly afterwards. They quickly finished their dinner and were about to leave when the men from Rachel's office decided to stop by their table.

"Good evening," the taller of the two said as his friend joined him. He was holding a glass of wine and the remainder of another bottle of Chianti. "Rob and I wanted to know if you girls would like some company? You two looked so lonely over here."

Is this how guys try to pick up girls? Jason wondered. No wonder we usually strike out.

"Hi, my name's Bill," said the taller man as he extended his hand to Rachel after he sat the bottle on their table.

"And I'm Rob," said the other man reaching over to shake Jessie's hand. Jessie was beginning to panic as the men pulled up chairs over to join them. He looked a bit frightened as he glanced across at Rachel.

Rachel wasn't faring much better; these guys were after all, from her company. Thankfully it didn't look like either one of them recognized her. She replied with a simple, "Hi, I'm Rachel and this is Jessie," she said gesturing towards Jessie with a modest smile.

Jessie managed a pleasant smile and nod but he didn't offer much more for fear that his voice would give him away.

"How about we buy you girls another bottle of wine? This Chianti is really quite good," Rob said with a grin.

Jessie watched Bill's eyes rove over Rachel in a way that suggested he had more on his mind than pleasant conversation and another bottle of red wine.

Rachel smiled demurely. "Thank you Rob, you're very sweet, but no thanks. I'm in a committed relationship with someone right now and I don't want you to get the wrong idea."

Bill looked a bit disappointed but then he joined Rob and both men smiled at Jessie.

"The someone I'm in a relationship with is her," Rachel said gesturing towards Jessie and blushing slightly.

"Oh, I see," muttered Rob looking disappointed. "Well, you girls enjoy your dinner."

"Yeah," Bill added. "If you change your mind we'll be at the bar."

Both men stood up and replaced the chairs they brought over from another table then they sauntered off in the direction of the restaurant bar.

Jessie drew in a big breath and let it out slowly.

"I don't think I've ever been so frightened in all my life," he said blushing bright crimson. "I felt like Rob was undressing me the whole time he sat there."

"From the look in his eyes, I think he was," Rachel replied with a giggle. "Do you want me to call them back?" she asked with more giggles.

"God no, that's not even funny!" Jessie hissed, his eyes flared with embarrassment.

"Oh come on," she chided, "you have to admit it was a huge compliment, Rob looked like he was really interested."

"He was only interested in the illusion you've created, my dear," he replied with a smirk. "I'm sure he would have been disappointed to discover what the total package contained."

"Most likely Bill would have reacted the same way," she added. "That's why dating boys can be such a pain. They all have some sort of ideal of who and what a woman is. When they find that I don't match that ideal they get angry, sometimes violent."

"What about women? Do women react the same way?"

"No, most women don't make a scene but I immediately feel a 'push-back' when they realize who or what I am. At best it's disappointing," she murmured softly. "When I really have an attraction to someone, or think that something could develop between us, it's the worst. I crawl back into my shell and hide out with a bucket of chocolate ice cream for a couple of days."

"Do you really do that?" he asked looking incredulous. "I thought that was a Hollywood myth."

"Well, myth or not, it's what I do."

"Does it help?" he asked earnestly.

"A little, but mostly it deadens the pain. And then I have to work off the pounds I gained in they gym over the next four weeks."

"Rachel, you're a mess," he said with a sweet smile.

"I am a mess," she replied. "And right now I'm a happy mess, so I don't care."

Jessie motioned for the waiter to bring the check. A few minutes later they walked by the bar on their way out of the restaurant. Near the far end of the bar they saw Bill and his friend Rob chatting up a couple of college co-eds dressed like they were on the prowl for a pair of lawyers.

"Looks like the boys are going to get lucky tonight," Jessie said with a smirk.

"I wonder if the girls will too?" Rachel added.

Jessie started the car then reached up and pulled off her clip-on earrings with an "Ouch". She sat there rubbing her ears as the motor warmed up.

"You really do need to get your ears pierced Jess," Rachel said with a snicker.

Jessie rolled his eyes.

The following morning Rachel sat in her I.T. office dressed as Ray. Outside in the corridor she overheard two of the junior members of the law firm talking in the hallway.