"I don't think Khloe wants to get married anymore," Harlow told me a few days later as we worked out by the pool again. Quinn had to go into the office for a few days, but I was still graced with Harlow's support until the end of the weekend. Even better, the bruises had finally started to fade, and didn't hurt too badly, so I wouldn't have to keep hiding them when I went out in public. Honestly, I didn't do it to protect Elliot, a lot of people already knew he'd been arrested for assault, but I just didn't want to relive that night over and over as people asked me about the bruises.

"Has she said anything about it?" I asked. Harlow had always wanted to be a cute lesbian couple and had U-Hauled with Khloe pretty quickly. If her fiancé didn't want to get married anymore, then that would be a huge blow to her.

"No. Really, it's what she doesn't say. Whenever I try to talk about something as simple as where she'd want to get married, or when, she just shuts me down. She never wants to discuss it at all. Right now, I feel like she's just using me as a place to stay and throwing me some sex once a month to pay for it."

I didn't reply right away. I wasn't really too sure what to say. I remember a few years ago, she had been head over heels for Khloe, and now it seemed like she was being dragged into the dumps. "Do you still want to get married to her?" I paused for a moment before continuing in a softer voice. "Do you still love her?"

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. "I don't know. We spend so little time with each other now, I don't even know what is happening in her life. She's going all over on her flights, but I don't know where she is from one night to the next. We never discuss where she's been like we used to. We used to be so good, but now it's like we're just roommates and that's it. Would it get better if I really did get married to her? Or is this just as good as it gets?"

I shook my head slowly, not knowing what to do here. My heart went out to Harlow, who simply wanted to be happy in a relationship, but it didn't seem like Khloe would be the one. I couldn't remember the last time she'd said something good about the way things were going. "Har, I don't think things will get better just based on your schedules and the way you've been talking about her for months and months. I mean, you started working onsite just because you wanted to get away. Unless you really want to work on things with her, which means staying back there and trying to romance her when she's home, then maybe it's time." I never talked to Khloe. Hell, I only met her once in passing via a video call, so it wasn't like I had her point of view. On the other hand, it didn't seem like she was communicating with Harlow either, and with her not wanting to discuss the wedding plans, maybe she trying to cut strings early for a less painful end? It looked that way to me, but I guess that would require the two of them to talk.

Harlow gulped down the rest of her whiskey, then nodded as she refilled it. "You're probably right." She took another big sip of the drink, then put it down with a thunk. "Maybe two people that travel so much have no chance. Maybe she already met someone else and is stringing me along. Maybe a lot of things." Tears were beginning to pool in her eyes, and I reached across the table to hold her hand. "I just really thought I could have it all."

"You still can, Har. You are an amazing woman, you really are. You'll find your person and have it all."

She shook her head sadly. "How? You already have your kids, and I was hoping to start that soon with Khloe. Now what do I do? I can't start over and still expect to have it all!" Tears were pouring down her face now, and I knelt next to her and wrapped my arms around her. Luckily, my back was feeling better because she just started sobbing against my shoulder.

"Shhhh, you're okay," I cooed. "You still have so much time, and so much to look forward to!" She blubbered for another minute before she finally calmed down, and I rubbed her back the entire time. "There you go, you got this. Har, if you want to have a kid, have a kid. You don't need Khloe for that. Hell, I'd help you if you needed it too!"

She sniffled a little, then sat back. "I could do that. Just be a single mom. I work from home a lot, and I could just do that with a little one."

"Exactly! And if Khloe wanted to be a part of things, then do it with her. If she doesn't, then you can move on and either do it on your own or find someone that is ready for you and kids."

"Who would want that?" she wondered. "A single, pregnant lesbian isn't going to have a lot of suitors."

I gave her a little shrug. "You might find more than you think. You just have to determine what you want, okay? Don't think that things are over, just think of it as a new beginning. You really have more options than you think. Try to talk to Khloe and see where her head is at, but if she is still doing the same things after the holidays then there is nothing stopping you from moving on. If she can't commit to the relationship, then you shouldn't either. The condo is in your name, right?"

She nodded, a faraway look in her eyes. "Yeah. I bought the condo before I met her, and everything is in my name. Neither of us even have a car, we just Uber wherever we need to go. It's cheaper than paying for parking there."

"So, you don't need her to pay rent or anything else?"

"Nope. She pays nothing." She dropped her head. "Fuck, she really is just using me as a place to stay. She barely even buys groceries. She just sleeps, does laundry, and leaves."

I don't think I'd ever seen her look more defeated, which was surprising as she was always the upbeat one. Honestly, I wish I had someone I could set her up with, but I really had nothing. But had she seen anyone? "Okay, so if the new year rolls around, and Khloe is gone, is there anyone that has kind of piqued your interest?"

She was silent again, but this time a small smile was on her face. "Kind of. There is a new girl on the project, who just started a few weeks ago. I think she used to be on Tori's team, but she is working with me in Arizona now. Honestly, I think she's completely straight, and I know there is a boyfriend involved, but I think there is something weird there. But there is just something about her. She's so tiny, and very delicate. She doesn't look like she should be in IT, but yet there she is every day, churning out great code. I just haven't been paying too much attention, because I'm still with Khloe, and she's got a boyfriend."

"Well, who knows, right? When we first met, you thought I was straight too." We met right after I started managing projects, and she was a new hire out of college that impressed me right from the get-go. I was married with a pair of kids, and she had every right to think I was straight as an arrow, but once we started hanging out more, things were said, and stories were told that made it clear I wasn't. "Maybe she's the same way. Maybe things aren't serious with the boyfriend too. Or maybe it's just a sign that there you can notice people and that there could be others out there that you can meet. Just do me a favor and don't sleep with the client like Elliot did!"

"Fine." She was smiling broadly now. "I'll see what can happen with Khloe. I'll give it a fair shot and see if it can improve, and if not then we'll see what happens once I end it. Oh, and if you are still looking for names as a new regional account manager, check out Landon Woods. He's been kicking ass on my team. Don't promise him Europe though, because if things go south, I might seriously take it to start over. Those Scandinavian countries are always rated as the happiest in the world, and maybe I need that in my life."

"Good point." I couldn't remember where, but I did seem to remember hearing that too. "You'd seriously want to go to Europe?"

She shrugged before thinking about it and nodding. "I'd give it a shot. I wouldn't be too much further from you if I was near a good airport, and we'd have great vacations. I could be the cool American single mom that helps warm up the ladies at night. That works, right?"

"Hell yeah. I mean, I've pretty much been a single mom, and I know you can do it too. You'd be an awesome mother," I assured her. "You're incredibly organized as well as a lot of fun. The best of both worlds. I have little doubt that you'd provide everything for your child and also make sure that they were the happiest kid on the planet."

"You really think I can do it?"

"I do. Yes." If there was anything I was sure about, it was Harlow's ability to do anything she set her mind to.

She wiped her eyes, then took a deep breath and sat back. "Okay, fuck it. No more being sad. I'll do my best with Khloe, and if she still wants to be with me, then great. If not, then I can say I did my best and move on."

"And you know I'll help you out any way you need."

"I know you will. Thanks." She gave me a sad smile, and I gave her a long hug that she desperately needed. I even ignored the tears that seeped onto my shoulder, because that is what fiends do. 

The rest of the day went well. Harlow was kind enough to help me install the new door locks and get them programmed with their code. The in-home cameras took a little more time, but only because the house was so big, and I needed half a dozen of them to cover all the common areas. But I felt better, and even Harlow liked it so much that she was planning on doing something similar in her place since she and Khloe were gone so much these days and it would make it safer.

In the meantime, I'd been texting Zee every morning and night, though nothing crazy. I didn't want to distract her from classes, but it was nice to exchange good mornings, and good nights, and catch up a little while we got ready for sleep. No, we didn't do any sexting, or exchanging naughty pics, but it made me miss her voice.

So, I called her.

"Demi, are you okay?" she answered after a single ring, her lovely Spanish accent making me warm inside. "Did he come back?"

"No, no, I'm fine, thanks. I'm sorry to worry you. I just missed your voice."

I could hear her sigh in relief on the other end. "I missed yours too. And your touch, and your..."

"Okay, stop there," I said with a quick chuckle. "I don't need to get worked up before bed."

"Why not?" she wondered innocently. "I take care of myself every night thinking about the things we've done together, and that we'll do together in the future."

"Every night?" My mouth was suddenly dry as a desert at the thought of her playing with herself to thoughts of us together. I might have to get something to help with that.

"Yeah, every night. I can't help it. I lay here in bed, and as soon as my eyes close, I can see your face hovering over me, and I just want you to do so many things to me. But, you're not here, so I have to take care of it myself. Do you not think of me like that?"

"This conversation is veering into very dangerous territory," I groaned. "We're supposed to be learning more about each other, and now I just want to hear you. But, to answer your question, yes. I do."

"I'm sorry," she whispered with a hitch in her voice. "You make me crazy, mommy, you really do. I can't help myself around you."

"You're already playing, aren't you?" There was a neediness in that whisper, and I knew that was what she was doing. And I knew she never called me mommy unless she was enjoying herself or teasing me. "Tell me what you're doing."

"Oh, mommy." She let out a little whine, and then a low moan. "I have my fingers in my pussy, just pumping slowly, and I wish they were yours."

"You're such a good girl too," I cooed. "I'd make sure to give you the best orgasm you've ever had. I'd make sure I took care of you so well." I could hear her breathing pick up, and I knew she was getting into it. "You don't have to talk, okay? Just enjoy your play time. I'll tell you what to do, and you just do it. Will that work for you?"

"Uh huh!" she gasped, then went back to panting.

"That's it. Keep those fingers moving. But I want you to press on your clit too, okay? Use the base of your thumb and just rub it every time you stroke in and out." She gave me a hum of acknowledgement, and I heard her breathing pick up as I kept encouraging her.

"Mommy, yes!" she grunted out after a few minutes. With her breathy moans, I could tell that she was close, and I could only wish that my face was buried between her thighs right now.

"That's it, Zee. Let me hear you cum, baby. Be good for mommy and let it go."

"Oh! Fuck! Yes, mommy!" she cried out, making me smile and blush at the same time.

"Damn, you sounded so good for me! I'll give you a special reward when you get back here."

I could hear her giggling on the other end, and then she caught her breath after a moment. "That was so much better with your talking. I can't wait to come back and visit."

"Well, I have a lot to tell you, and a lot of ideas on things we can do going forward, so hopefully it goes well." Between the Norway project, her moving into the room in the cellar, and us kicking off our relationship, that was a lot to cover.

"I can't wait, I really can't."

We wrapped up our call a few minutes later, but it had been well worth it.

Until I got a text from Hollie.

Hollie – Seriously? Can't you keep her quiet? No more phone sex with my noisy roomie, I need sleep!

Oops.