“I haven’t decided yet, Jack. They did make a good offer, but I haven’t said yes or no.” She paused to listen again, chewing on her bottom lip. “I don’t know, a ranch possibly.” Alex heard a noise from the phone, and Elly winced, holding it away from her ear.
“Jack, it’s my decision to make, not yours. You’re not my dad.”
Alex could see Elly getting angrier, something she hadn’t realized was possible. Elly was usually so calm, so collected.
“I’ll talk to you later…No, later. Good-bye, Jack.”
Elly hung up the phone and turned it off before she slipped it back into her pocket. “Sorry about that.”
“Jack doesn’t want you to sell?”
“No. He wants me to keep it, or to sell it to him.”
“Can he afford to buy it?”
“I don’t think so. He’s not that well-off. I don’t think he could match Hamilton’s offer. But he’s furious anyway.” Elly sighed. “He doesn’t like that corporations keep buying up the land, pushing out the family farms, raising so many head of cattle.”
Alex knew little about farming, and even less about cattle. What Elly had said might as well have been Greek. “You’ll make the right decision. Just ignore him. He’s probably just pissed you didn’t offer to sell the land to him first.” Elly didn’t need the farm; she’d do just fine in the city with half a million bucks. They could work, play, and take the bike out on weekends. Elly could even afford to buy her own bike then, and she could come out with her and Will. She was starting to really like Elly, like hanging out with her.
“I’ll try to ignore him, but it’s hard. It’s such a small community.”
“Do what you want, not what they want,” Alex advised. “It’s what I’d do.”
*
It’s what I’d do.
Elly mulled that line over as they walked back to her place. She envied Alex her easy confidence, her assurance that she knew what was best for herself. She should be more like that, but she didn’t feel it inside. She wanted to.
“Do what I want to do,” she murmured to herself, her words lost in the traffic and pedestrian noise. By the time they reached her apartment, she was determined not to let Jack bully her into a decision, but she still didn’t know what to decide.
“Takeout for dinner later?” Alex suggested as they climbed the steps up to the apartment. “After a lazy afternoon like that, cooking seems like too much effort.”
“Sure. Pizza?” Elly suggested the first thing that came to mind.
“You ever had pizza from Spiros? Best in the neighborhood, maybe even the whole city.”
“Never.”
Alex pulled up the restaurant on her phone and handed it over. “My favorite is the one with lamb. What don’t you like on your pizza?”
Elly glanced at the menu. “No olives or onions. Or green peppers. Actually, no peppers of any kind.”
“Not a pepper girl, huh?” Alex chuckled. “I’ll remember that. Then how about a large lamb pizza, and maybe some calamari?”
“All right.” Elly handed her back her phone, then went into the kitchen for a glass of water. Alex followed her in and Elly watched as she leaned on the counter, her legs stretched out before her, the jeans she wore snug over her hips, hugging tight to the curves. She remembered seeing Alex in those jeans, but with her chaps on, and there was something about her in leather that made Elly damp with desire. Yet she remembered what she’d said. No sex, just friends.
Alex made the call and ordered the pizza and calamari. “We can go pick it up,” she said, “ready in about forty-five minutes. Then we can grab some pop and go back to my place.”
“Where’d you leave your bike?” Elly asked, and then wondered where Alex had left all of her gear.
“A few blocks away. But it won’t take me long to get ready.”
Elly held her glass of water, frowning down into it. If she didn’t sell the land to Jack, what would the town think? It had only just come to her, and the thought that she’d be ostracized or looked down on because she’d sold out to a corporation worried her. If she walked into the diner, there’d be disapproval instead of welcome; if she dropped by to see Mrs. Calderwood, the widow would be perfunctory instead of warm. She didn’t think she could manage that.
“Hey, you.” Alex nudged her gently, coming to lean on the counter by her, their hips just barely touching. “Earth to Elly.”
“Sorry. Thinking.”
“About the farm still? What’s to think about? You walk away with a ton of money, and all’s good.”
Elly wanted to laugh. Of course, it seemed that simple on the surface.
“I grew up there,” she said. “But it’s more than that and doesn’t even begin to cover everything that matters.”
“I grew up in several houses,” Alex replied. “More than several. But they’re just houses.”
“When I was five,” Elly said, thinking back to a long-ago day, when the leaves on the tree in the yard had changed to a brilliant yellow, and the mornings were marked with low-lying fog, “my dad decided it was finally time to teach me to ride. I’d been bothering him for weeks about it, and he’d always said no, not until your birthday. So, my birthday morning, he got up early, and got Harriet, our oldest, gentlest mare, saddled up and brushed, and when Mom woke me up, she got me dressed in jeans and boots and a new little cowboy hat. It was red. She brought me out to the front porch, even before I’d had breakfast, and there was Harriet, red ribbons braided in her mane, and a birthday hat on her head, balanced carefully between her ears. And my dad stood there, grinning ear to ear, holding the reins.”
She paused, taking a sip of her water to cover the emotion that welled in her chest. Alex was quiet.
“He hoisted me up, fit the stirrups up nice and short, and we did a turn around the yard. I’d ridden one of the pigs before, when it would let me, but being on Harriet was like being on top of a mountain by comparison.” She smiled to herself. “Then he took me out of the yard and into the ditch by the road, and we walked all the way down to Jack’s house. Mrs. Calderwood was there, and she waved at me from their porch. I waved back, feeling like…a queen, I guess. It was the best birthday ever.”
Elly swiped at her eyes, blotting away the moisture with the hem of her shirt.
“I kind of envy you, growing up like that,” Alex said. “Not the farm exactly, but growing up with both parents, and having those kinds of fun times.”
Elly glanced over. Alex stared into the middle distance, looking unhappy.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Elly asked, keeping her tone quiet, gentle.
Alex shook her head. “No. Nothing will come of it. It’s not like I can go back and change any of it, you know.”
Elly took Alex’s hand and led her out of the kitchen, into the living room, and onto the sofa. “I know you hate touchy-feely stuff,” she began, and Alex snorted, “but give talking about it a try. If I promise not to judge you or pity you, would you at least attempt it?”
Alex let go of Elly’s hand and rubbed her nose. She leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, not looking at anything in particular.
“Your life sounds like a fairy tale,” she said. “I don’t think you’d understand about my life. Most people can’t, whenever I do mention something, so I just stopped talking about it. Or, like when I was a teen, you try to hide that you’re in foster care, that you’ve been bounced from family to family because no one can commit to giving you a home for more than a year. Two if you’re lucky.”
That wasn’t what Elly had expected. Alex was so together, so confident.
“There was my grandmother,” Alex added, “but she wasn’t around as much as she wanted to be. She’s not in very good health, and even back then she couldn’t have taken me in. I was too much for her to handle, but she did her best.”
“At least you have some family,” Elly said. “And someone who cares.”
“She is that,” Alex acknowledged. “It helped. And so did
Will. I met him in junior high, and he’s been through similar situations. The one real constant in my life. There’s been no one else.”
That explained a lot. But how could Alex be so committed to Will but not to anyone else? She liked women a lot, obviously enjoyed sex with women, but had she ever had a relationship with one?
*
Alex snagged the last of the calamari and popped it into her mouth. The squid had grown cool, but she still liked the crunch of the breading.
“Hey, that one was mine,” Elly said, nudging Alex with her elbow, though gently.
“Didn’t have your name on it,” Alex replied cheekily. “Gotta be quick!”
“Last piece of pizza’s mine, then.”
“Deal.”
Elly glanced back at the television and Alex turned her attention back to the screen. Hopefully Elly liked the film. She had suggested it without thinking, assuming as she did when she was with Will that a motorcycle film would be suitable. But even he’d once reminded her, No one is as much of a gearhead as you are. When Elly laughed at the sight of Anthony Hopkins trimming his nails with a grinder, Alex hoped that was a good sign. The World’s Fastest Indian was one of her favorites.
Her phone vibrated on the side table and she picked it up, glancing at the number. “Hey, Will.”
“What’s up, gorgeous? You’re not at work.”
“Had the night off.”
“Doing anything fun?”
“Watching a movie.”
“I’ll be over in a bit, then.”
“With Elly,” Alex added. At the mention of her name, Elly glanced over.
“Oh. I’ll leave you to it, then.” With a snort, Will hung up. Alex shrugged and put the phone down.
“That was quick,” Elly said.
“Just Will. He wanted to hang out, but I’m busy.” Alex laid an arm over Elly’s shoulder and Elly cuddled in close. This was just about perfect. Maybe she could convince Elly to soften her friends-only stance.
“He doesn’t mind, does he?” Elly asked.
“No, he won’t mind.” Alex leaned forward and grabbed a piece of pizza. Elly followed suit, taking a cautious bite and chewing slowly.
“This is good,” she said, taking a second bite. In a matter of seconds, it seemed, the slice was gone.
“Told you,” Alex said with satisfaction. She bit into her own piece, catching a bit of cheese on her finger and bringing it to her mouth. Elly set a paper napkin on her lap and Alex used it to dab her lips and wipe the grease from her finger.
“I’ve never seen a bike like that before,” Elly said, her gaze fixed to the screen.
“I can’t imagine riding that close to the ground,” Alex said. Anthony Hopkins stretched out, almost horizontal, on the Indian.
Elly shivered. “I’d hope you wouldn’t,” she said. “That’s just insane.”
“You don’t have to worry,” Alex said. “I won’t be going down to the salt flats to race.” Not that she didn’t want to; it was just too expensive.
*
“What did you think of it?” Alex asked as they lay stretched out on the sofa, the credits rolling.
“Better than I expected,” Elly conceded. She’d been having that reaction to a lot of new experiences lately. “Though I don’t think I want all my movies from now on to be motorcycle-themed. Just so you know.” She rested her head on Alex’s shoulder, enjoying the cozy warmth from being sandwiched between Alex and the back of the sofa. She could almost fall asleep like this.
Alex’s phone buzzed and she felt Alex sigh heavily as she reached for the phone and looked at the number. “It’s work.”
“Why would they call? It’s your night off.”
“I know, but I still have to see what’s up.” Alex answered the phone. “Eric, you know it’s my night off, right?” she said after listening to the voice on the other end. “Dammit. Fine. I’ll be there in a few. Keep him in the bar.” Alex hung up. “Will’s hammered and refuses to cab it home. Stupid idiot.” She shifted on the sofa, sitting up slowly, inching out from under Elly’s arm. “Sorry, babe.”
Elly sat up. “Want me to come with you?”
Alex seemed to debate the idea. “I suppose you should. I only have the bike, and someone will need to drive Will’s car home.”
“You’d put drunk Will on the back of the bike?” Elly asked, surprised.
“I have done, but I don’t like to. We’ll shove him into the backseat of his car. He’ll probably fall asleep before he’s even home. Idiot,” she muttered again. “He’s usually not so stupid.” She stood and stretched. “I’d hoped to have a night in. With you.”
“We can come back here after.” Elly swung her legs over the side of the sofa.
“Is that a promise of something more?” Alex teased.
Elly laughed. “I don’t know yet.” She stood. “Let’s go, get Will home, then we can come back and talk about it.”
Alex went to fetch their gear. Elly pulled on Alex’s spare set of chaps and took up the spare helmet. There was a chill in the air as they headed outside, and Elly zipped her jacket right up to her chin, pulling her collar up as far as she was able.
“It’ll be a quick ride,” Alex said. “And it’ll be warm in Will’s car, assuming he got that thermostat issue fixed.” She rolled her eyes. “Hop on.”
They zipped through the dark neighborhood and out onto the busier roads, making it to Parry’s as quick as Alex had said. She parked the bike beside a battered old Honda.
“Will’s?” Elly asked, taking off her helmet.
“It’s a piece of crap, isn’t it? I keep telling him he needs to buy a better car. Come on, he’ll be inside. Sooner we get him out here, sooner we can go home.”
The bar inside was busy, but not overly so. Eric waved to them and indicated the end of the bar, where Will stood with a young woman, his arm flung casually over her shoulder. He held a pint of beer in his free hand and drank from it liberally.
“Babe, you made it!” Will caught sight of Alex and grinned, his face florid, his eyes bright.
“Time to go, Will,” Alex said, walking up to him and taking the pint from his hand. “Give me your keys.”
“I’m fine,” Will said stubbornly.
“You’re not fine,” Eric retorted, coming up beside him. He gently disengaged Will’s arm from around the young woman. “You’ve been cut off.” The young woman smiled.
“Later, babe,” she said, patting Will’s arm and heading over to the pool table.
“That’s my date,” Will said, his words slurring slightly. “You jerk.”
“Come on, Will.” Alex hooked his arm, pulling it through hers. “We’ll take you home.”
“We?” Will blinked and Elly found herself in his sights. “Oh. Her.” His mouth set in a frown, but he let Alex lead him out of the bar. Elly followed a couple of steps behind.
“Keys,” Alex said, holding out her hand when they got to the Honda. Will pulled them from his pocket and put them into her palm. She handed them off to Elly, who flipped through the keychain until she found the right one. She unlocked the driver’s side door.
“She can’t drive my car,” Will protested. He moved forward, but staggered.
“You’re not getting on the back of my bike,” Alex pointed out, “and Elly can’t drive my bike, so she’s driving you. Just be quiet and get in.” Her voice was stern, almost sharp, like Elly had never heard it before.
“The things I do for you,” she heard Will mutter as he climbed into the passenger seat. The smell of beer filled the car and Elly rolled down the window halfway. It might be a chilly night, but if she had to smell that, she’d tolerate the chill.
Alex shut the passenger door once Will had his feet inside, and came around to the driver’s side window. “Just follow me, babe,” she said, leaning down. “I’ll take it slow. It’s a bit of a drive—he lives out in the ’burbs.”
Elly nodded and turned the key in the ignition. She waited until Alex was ready, then follow
ed her out of the parking lot and down the road. Beside her, Will sagged in his seat, his eyes at half-mast.
It was a longer drive than she’d expected, out to one of the northwest suburbs she’d never been to. They turned into a community and she slowed her speed when Alex did.
Will struggled to sit up. “Pull over.”
“What?”
“Pull over.” He frantically rolled down the window and she pulled to the curb. He leaned his head out the window and she heard the sounds of vomiting. A sour smell wafted into the car and she grimaced. Up ahead, she saw Alex slow and stop.
Will sank back into his seat, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Sorry,” he muttered. Elly pulled back into the road and caught up to Alex, pulling up to the red light behind her. They turned onto a smaller street, and then made a second turn onto a cul-de-sac. Alex stopped in front of a town house and Elly pulled into a free spot.
Will pushed his door open and staggered out, vomiting again onto the lawn. Elly killed the engine and got out, locking the doors. Alex had dismounted and come over to Will.
“Jesus, Will, couldn’t you have better aim?” Elly heard her say. She came around the front of the car and almost lost her dinner at the sight of the vomit-splattered passenger door.
“Oh, ugh.” She wrinkled her nose.
Alex hooked her shoulder under Will’s arm and shepherded him toward the door. He went with her willingly and Elly trailed behind, holding Will’s keys. She unlocked the front door for them, and once inside, Will disentangled himself from Alex’s hold, pulled the keys from the lock, and stuffed them in his pocket.
“She can stay out there,” he said, holding on to the wall as he toed off his shoes, then staggered toward the bathroom.
“We’re leaving,” Alex said sharply, loud enough for Will to hear before he shut the bathroom door. She turned to Elly, who stood on the cement step. If Will didn’t want her inside, she wasn’t about to go. “Sorry about him. He’s not usually such a jerk.” She rolled her eyes. “Let’s go. We need to carry on from where we were.”
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