Free Safe Passage by Kate Owen Page A

Whole Foods.
    "Well," she said to Samson who was lying on her made bed as she got ready. "I already bought them, I might as well take them. She's special, and she likes the romantic gestures, right?"
    Samson just kept staring at her, his large head cocked to the side, trying to figure out what Jules wanted him to do.
    "Yeah, thanks buddy." Jules scratched behind his ear and walked into her bathroom, doing a final once-over on how she looked. She hung up the towel she'd tossed over the toilet and then put on a fragrance. She glanced at the clock on the radio and grimaced. She still had plenty of time. She called Samson to her, smoothed out the comforter and closed the bedroom door. She went down to the living room and turned on the TV to kill another thirty minutes.
    After she'd watched a Family Guy rerun, she put Samson in his crate with his dinner and a chew toy, grabbed the flowers and her car keys. She climbed into her grey Nissan Xterra and plugged Gen's address into her GPS. She turned on the radio for a distraction as she drove to Metairie and Gen's townhouse.
    She sang along to the bands that played and pulled up in front of the townhouse five minutes early. "Crap," she muttered as she killed the engine and turned the key to accessory so she could listen to the radio while she waited for 7:30. Jules drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. When the clock in the car ticked to 7:29, she sighed.
    "Close enough."
    She grabbed the flowers, turned off the car and stepped out.
    Jules walked along the shrub-lined path, up to the door of the townhouse. She rang the doorbell, and waited. After what felt like an eternity, but was really in reality probably only thirty seconds, the door opened to reveal a thin blonde guy in an apple green polo shirt and jeans.
    Jules looked at him, surprised. "Um, I was looking for Gen, am I at the wrong place?"
    "No, she's upstairs, I'm Jake." He turned and yelled up the stairs. "Genny, your lady caller is here." He turned back to Jules and smiled. "Come on in while we wait for her."
    Jules walked in and looked around the place. It was done in all tans, blues, and whites.
    "So, Jules," Jake said. "Where are you taking Gen?"
    "You're putting off quite the dad vibe."
    "Close, I'm her brother."
    "Oh, sorry. We're going to Lakeside Sushi."
    He laughed. "I'm totally yanking your chain, Jules. Gen is just my roomie. She was right, you are cutely proper."
    And with that, even Jules' pathetic gaydar went off, and she laughed. "Yeah, uh, thanks, I guess?"
    "Oh, you're welcome. Our Gen is quite taken with you, you know? It's been all Jules this, and Jules that, for like, ages."
    "We've only really been talking for a week."
    "Oh, yeah, but she's been waiting for you to ask her out since she started that job. I kept telling her that she sends out too much of a straight vibe to expect to get picked up at work, but would she listen?"
    "Jesus Christ, Jake! Could you at least try to keep a little bit to yourself? Please!"
    Jules stood as she heard Gen's voice and turned to see her on the bottom step.
    "Oh, she stands up and everything, very old school. Do you have any brothers, Jules?" Jake asked.
    Jules wasn't really listening to the guy at all. She took in Gen's blue dress that hugged her curves without being trashy. Her blonde hair was down and flowing around her shoulders. Jules walked over to her. "You look great," she said.
    "Thanks." Gen smiled. She plucked the flowers out of Jules' hands. "Thanks for these too."
    "You're welcome." Jules was moving toward Gen, not realizing how close she was getting. Gen went to put her arms around Jules and Jules had already gripped her hips.
    Jake walked over briskly and grabbed the stargazer lilies from Gen's hand. "I'll just take care of these, you know the girl-on-girl really doesn't do much for me." He walked quickly into the kitchen.
    Jules moved one hand to cup Gen's cheek, and she bent down. Their lips met and Jules sighed into the kiss. She'd been dying to do