In fact, only when she felt the now familiar sensation of Jenny’s
fingers tangling in her hair did Gabby stop pondering on this theory.
“You can put me down now,” Jenny said, giggling.

“Right,” said Gabby, stammering and hating herself for it. As soon as
Jenny’s feet touched the floor, she retreated behind her familiar wall
of bitchiness and folded her arms across her chest. “I reiterate my
former statement,” she snapped. “What do you want?” When the other
brunette’s eyes danced with amusement, she added, “Besides another
beer.”

“I wanted to get you away from my friends before you caused them to
realize something that they’re not really ready for,” said Jenny in
simple and sweet tones, smiling softly at Gabby.

Raising an eyebrow at this, Gabby snorted and looked back to the table
where Helena and Alice were staring at them only to immediately avert
their gazes when they noticed that Jenny and Gabby had finally noticed
it. “You’re talking about how Queen Elizabeth has the hots for the
always unaware Alice?” she retorted.

“Something like that,” admitted Jenny with a chuckle.

“Why should you care? And more importantly,” Gabby drew the words out,
turning back to Jenny and wearing an expectant expression. “Why should
I? I want Alice and I’m not about to let some British wench’s crush to
stop me from going after what I want.”

“You want Alice,” Jenny echoed the words, her eyes suddenly becoming
shadowed and her body language withdrawn. “But you also hurt Alice,”
she said in solemn observation. “I heard all of the stories about it.
Shane told me.”

“Shane,” said Gabby mockingly, rolling her eyes. “The almighty casanova
with a conscious, strikes again.” She leaned against the bar and met
Jenny’s eyes in an honest gaze. “I hate Shane and her bullshit routine
of I care about women, I tell them the truth, I don’t hurt anyone line
of *****. Before a few months ago she broke just as many hearts as me.
The only difference was somehow she was considered nicer in the way she
did it.” Gabby gave a short burst of laughter then said dryly, “Maybe
it’s because I come off more confrontational than she does. She’s got
that whole zen vibe hocus pocus ***** working for her.” Shaking her head
and releasing a humorous sigh, Gabby looked to Jenny and said,
“Whatever it is, I’m not going to apologize for not having it and I’m
especially not going to apologize for having been with Alice, for
wanting to be with Alice, and even for ***** hurting her. What’s the
point?” asked Gabby with disdain. “What’s done is ***** done. It’s
cooked like a turkey using a baster that some sad ***** suburban house
dykes like to get themselves pregnant with.”