by Galli, Lynn
“I’m not fine,” Glory told her. She’d sat opposite me and went through the same hairy experience. “Ron’s not actually hiring those guys is he?”
“Wayne and I have to ride with them their first few times. If they don’t improve, Ron will have to find others.”
“He must be desperate for guides if he thinks those two are anything like you and Wayne.”
“Summer help is always spotty.” Molly shrugged not bothered by what could mean a more rigorous work schedule. I knew how she felt. Whenever a boss added extra crew to get a job done, it seemed like my workload doubled trying to help them or fix their mistakes.
“Maybe I should run a spreadsheet for him to show the benefit of not hiring incompetents.” Glory smiled brightly.
Everyone laughed at the idea that a spreadsheet could be as convincing as she thought it would be. Apparently she was very good at her accounting job, but it would take a pretty sexy spreadsheet to make a business owner walk away from potential business.
“When are you done here?” Molly asked me as the others started talking about the movie they were going to see later.
“We’ve got another three days at least.”
“Then you’ll be back on regular hours?”
“Should be. This was a special deal.” Cole and I were starting our work days after school let out and working until midnight. The schedule took a day to get used to, but I didn’t mind the odd hours.
Molly nodded, finishing a gyoza dunked in teriyaki sauce. “I’m taking groups out almost every evening for hikes or biking the trails if you ever want to join us. In the summer, it’s the only way I get to see my friends sometimes since I work day and evening tours on weekends. My boss doesn’t mind unless it’s a private booking. Lena, her friend Kirsten, and Glory’s business partner Brooke join me a lot. Some of the others you met last time come occasionally, but you seemed like you really enjoyed the ride. You’d probably like everything else we do, and it’s a great way to learn the trails around here.”
The offer felt good, like so many other things since moving here. Molly was a comfortable person to be around and liked being outdoors. Even when I felt like I’d been flush with friends back in Boulder, I didn’t have anyone who enjoyed outdoor recreation as much as I did. Based on the biking tour Molly led, I got the impression that no one else in the group was like that either. I’d have to take her up on her offer. She was cool enough that I didn’t feel like I needed Natalie as a buffer anymore.
8
The backpack was starting to get heavy. How did Molly manage this with so much ease every day? Not only that, she was now carrying Tessa’s backpack as well. I didn’t know what the tiny blonde was thinking, showing up with a backpack the size of a small bear, but she’d hauled it up the mountain okay. It was the last part of the downhill trek where she’d run out of steam.
“How long are you in town?” one of Molly’s tourists asked Joanna.
Brandy snickered beside me. Molly hadn’t told us to lie to the people taking her tour, but Joanna and Brandy seemed to relish playing someone they weren’t. They’d made up some story about getting in one last spring ski run before jetting off to their homes in the Riviera. Honestly. The Riviera. And neither of them had accents.
When Molly called at lunch to see if I wanted to round out her small tour group this evening, I jumped at the offer. Curtis and Luis bummed invitations when they heard me talking to Molly. As casual as she was with allowing them to join in, I was still surprised to see Joanna, Brandy, Tessa, and Dwight loading into the van when we arrived at the shop. Molly’s friends outnumbered the tour group seven to three.
I packed a few water bottles and the first aid kit into my backpack to help ease Molly’s usual load. She said no one ever brought enough water, and she was required to bring a pretty involved first aid kit every time. At only half her normal load, my backpack with the snacks and extra sweatshirt I’d packed weighed almost as much as my new toolbox. It prompted a more thorough perusal of her figure. Her calves and thighs were well defined and her ass was a thing of beauty, both for its musculature and shape. I had no doubt under the polo she had a powerful back and visible abs. When she’d hefted Tessa’s backpack onto one shoulder, I had a moment’s pause, wondering why I’d never gone for a woman with her build before.
“Just the week,” Joanna was telling the flirtatious woman. Her hand with its outrageously colored manicure gripped the woman’s forearm as if she needed help walking down the trail. “How about you? If you’re staying the night, we should grab a drink. I know all the local hotspots that tour books don’t tell you about.”
Considering the woman had started her flirtatious ways with Luis, I wouldn’t have guessed she’d be interested. But apparently, Joanna and Brandy didn’t let a thing like sexual preference bother them.
Brandy didn’t try to hide her amused snort this time. The dark red manicure on her nails didn’t match her skimpy halter top or tiny shorts, but it was starting to resemble the color of her skin at the base of her neck and tops of her thighs where the breeze attacked. Even in May, the evening air could grow chilly. She had to know that being a local, but she’d forsaken warmth for sex appeal. That had never been my thing. Sure, I was in shorts, but they were much longer and I was in layers on top with a backup sweatshirt. Of course, I wasn’t trying to seduce one of Molly’s tourists. Or one of her friends.
Her painted fingernails rubbed down my arm. “Looks like Jo’s going to be busy tonight. I’ll have the apartment all to myself. Want to keep me company?”
Molly’s head turned to cut a look at Brandy and me. Her lips pursed, holding back a smile. I joined in her amusement. This was the third time Brandy tried to sound casual in her invitations for sex with me. Joanna offered twice before I’d even gotten into the van tonight.
I gave Brandy another once over. Her blond hair was twisted into some fancy style that kept it off her face and neck. Before getting involved with my ex-girlfriend, I would have gone for her in a second. Boulder was big enough for casual hookups. Aspen really wasn’t without making sure the casual nature of the relationship was reciprocal. I knew Brandy wanted casual, and it was tempting, but I trusted Molly’s judgment more than I wanted casual sex with a beautiful woman who could turn crazy.
“Can’t, thanks. Early morning.”
Her hand gripped my elbow as she fluttered her eyelashes at me. She stumbled when she realized it wasn’t a good idea not to pay attention while traversing rough terrain. “C’mon, Falyn. We’re only here for a week, remember?” She grinned, reminding me of the lie she and Joanna had told to the tourist lady.
I shook my head, hopefully putting an end to her pressure tonight. My eyes shot to Tessa, worried that Brandy may now make a play for her. I didn’t want to inadvertently screw up Molly’s deal. Tessa glanced back at me, a smile on her face. Didn’t look like I needed to worry. Joanna and Brandy’s antics must be well known to every lesbian in town.
When Brandy slipped back to double team the single tourist, Dwight sidled up next to me. “Good call, lady.”
I shrugged because I wasn’t entirely sure I could keep putting either of them off. It had been seven months for me, and these two were hot and ready.
“Chances are high that Jo would come home at the worst possible moment and get pissy with Brandy.”
“Seriously?” I laughed. It didn’t matter if they were hot and easy. Best just to avoid spectacles like that.
“Seriously. Wait for the softball league in Glenwood Springs to start. Your prospects will increase tenfold.”
That sounded promising and smart, but damn Brandy had all the right curves and it had been a long time. Better not, though. At least not tonight.
“You play?” Molly asked, taking up my other side. In her professional capacity she proved informative, encouraging, and entertaining. The whole trek up she’d given the three tourists as much attention as they wanted without becoming obnoxious about the activity or the area. I’d learned a
lot about the town, the resorts, and what to look out for while hiking in the area.
“Not recently.” Or in years. It wasn’t like softball was added to the prison activity schedule each spring.
“It’s mostly for fun. I’ll tell our coach if you’re interested.”
Softball, women watching, beers after the games, yet another aspect of my old life falling into place. Even when I had my girlfriend, I never missed a Sunday game. With Molly on the team, it might be a lot of fun. It was plain to see why Vivian considered her such a good friend. She could easily become that for me.
“Yeah, why not?” I felt the enthusiasm I used to feel starting to come back to me. Why not indeed. How my life had changed in the space of a month. And all for the better.
9
Molly’s sofa was really comfortable. Any sofa would be comfortable considering I rarely got to sit on the one at home because the boys were always lounging on it playing video games. But Molly’s was especially comfortable. Suede or microfiber, whatever the material, it cradled every part of me.
“Water or coffee?” Molly called out from the kitchen.
I pushed deeper into the formfitting cushions and propped my overworked feet up on the ottoman. They throbbed a little from the hike today because Molly could work a trail down to a rut. The dull ache felt good. Having a buddy who liked the same kinds of activities I liked felt even better. That she didn’t judge me for being in prison, or worse, ask what it was like being in prison was amazing. Who knew people would be so curious about life inside when they were never in danger of going to prison?
“I brought you both.” Molly sat next to me, placing two mugs and a bottle of water on the coffee table.
“Thanks.” I reached for the water.
This was becoming a bit of a habit. Molly would call whenever she had a small tour group. I’d join her on the hike or bike ride, then we’d head to a bar for a couple of drinks to end the night. Tonight, we’d had one too many to drive, so we walked back to her place to sober up before I drove home. It surprised me how quickly I fell back into the more than once a week drinking habit now that I had a decent paycheck.
“You might just want to crash here. I’ve got more beer and plenty of bad TV. Or the Rockies are probably on.”
I thought about going home and finding the boys wearing out the Xbox or having some of the other guys over to watch the same baseball game. I’d rather watch the game with Molly then a bunch of loud dudes. Crashing here might be fun.
I gestured to the remote. Molly smiled and flicked on the television. She settled in next to me and again I thought how nice it was to be relaxed around someone. Relaxation didn’t happen in prison, and friends after prison were hard to come by.
“Glad you moved from Boulder?” she asked.
“Denver, and yes.”
Her brow furrowed. “Natalie mentioned Boulder.”
“That’s where we worked together. After I got…uh, moved to Denver.” I was shocked at what almost jumped out of my mouth. I’d never actually said the words. After I got out of prison. Everyone who knew me before already knew. Only Natalie had stayed the same. My other friends dropped me. A few tried to keep up the pretense of politeness until I got the hint with all the unanswered phone calls and canceled plans. The few acquaintances I made at work would put in for other schedules when the dickhead line manager made a point of letting my ex-con status known. I hadn’t met anyone I wanted to tell or needed to tell since. Yet with Molly, I’d almost just blurted it out. I couldn’t chance that she’d react like Natalie. I didn’t know her that well yet, and I liked her too much to lose her friendship. I felt conflicted about keeping this from her but not conflicted about how good it felt to have someone give me the same consideration as she would anyone else.
“Never lived there,” Molly continued, oblivious to my internal debate. “I go in every once in a while. Only place to find more than ten lesbians.”
I laughed. According to her, I’d met pretty much all the lesbians in town, but Joanna and Brandy rounded up the tourists better than an escort service. I’d met more lesbians over the past five weeks than I had in my two years in Denver.
“How’d you connect up with Nat again?”
“She was dropping someone off at the airport, and we ran into each other.” Not at the airport, but Molly didn’t need to know the embarrassing truth. Natalie was picking something up at the building supply store, and I was loitering in the parking lot with twenty other desperate for work guys trying to make some extra cash on the weekends. Having her see me in that situation had been pretty mortifying, but she made it okay for me. Like she was making this restart on my life okay for me.
“Lucky.”
“For me, very.” Understatement of the year. She’d saved me from many impending hardships given my financial situation and employment outlook.
“I was just curious when I asked this before, but now I’m invested. You are planning to stay, right?”
A smile crept across my face. It was nice hearing she enjoyed our budding friendship as much as I did. “I’d like to. Affordable housing is going to be a problem. Nat pays more than my last job, but Aspen is more expensive than Denver.”
“One of my neighbors is thinking of moving out. The landlord would give you a good rate because you’re handy. She’d rather have a no hassle renter for less income than her other tenants who call her when a light bulb needs changing.”
“I won’t know until we finish the house and Nat picks up more work, but thanks. Let me know if the neighbor leaves.” I finished off the bottle of water, already starting to feel the buzz leave me. I could safely drive home, but I didn’t want to. I’d rather celebrate the normalcy of hanging with a good friend. Of all the things I missed in prison, this luxury was at the top of the list.
“Did you decide what to do about J&B?”
I snorted at the recurring topic. Sometimes I brought it up, and other times she did. One or the other of them called to try to make plans at least once a week. The game they’d started had become somewhat amusing, especially since I could make fun of their efforts with Molly. “Nope. They know how to pour on the pressure though.”
“Wait until they drop by your work for a tour. That’s when you know they’re really getting serious. They aren’t the least bit interested in design or construction work.”
I chuckled, glad I’d listened to Molly’s first warning. I couldn’t know just how involved they’d get in trying to one up each other if I slept with one or the other. “So,” I drew out because Molly was having a little too much fun at my predicament. “What are you doing about Tessa?”
She whipped her head around. Suspicious brown eyes bored into me. “What about Tessa?”
“C’mon, Molly, I’m an outsider. You can tell me.” She needed to tell someone. If she talked it out maybe she’d see how difficult her quest would be.
“Tell you what?”
Her earnest tone gave me pause. I didn’t want to force her to talk about it, but I wanted to let her know she could trust me. “You like her, right?”
“No. I mean, sure. We’re buddies and she’s going through a rough time.” She couldn’t keep my gaze.
“A rough time that includes crying over a chick who never loved her and being willing to take that chick back when another chick is pining for her.”
As convoluted as my observation was, she seemed to follow it. She held up a hand to wave me off. “No way, man.”
“Like I said, I’m an outsider. If you need someone to talk to, I’m your woman.”
She seemed to consider that for a moment. “I’m not hung up on her.”
“She’s single, she’s pretty, she’s your type.” I counted each point on my fingers.
“How do you know my type?” Her gaze came back to mine with that familiar playful smile on her lips.
“Tessa, Glory, J&B. You like the pretty ones but not the gorgeous ones like Vivian, or I assume that’s why you never made a play for her.”
Her head dipped back, eyes large and amused. “They’re the only ones in town.”
“There was Nat.”
“Nat’s hotter than pretty.”
“That’s for sure,” I agreed. “Which brings us back to Tessa and your unrequited longing.”
Her laugh was a sharp bark this time. “Zip it, sister.”
“All right, but I’m a good listener.”
She sighed and admitted, “Kathleen’s a bitch.”
“Is she a bitch for what she did to Tessa?” I gave her a second to ponder that before posing, “Or is she a bitch because she can get Tessa back in a second even being the bitch she is?”
Molly’s gaze pinned me in place. That one hit home. “Let’s talk about you. Ever have a thing with Natalie?”
I choked in surprise. “She was way too young when I knew her.” When I met her, I should say. We’d established our relationship as big sister and little sister. No way I’d screw that up even when she got all hot and stuff.
“Otherwise you would have been all for her?” Molly’s teasing tone resurfaced.
“I like the pretty ones, too.” Which was why I’d never gone for the toned, non-girly types like Molly. When pretty was around, all other types got lost in the background.
“And Nat’s not pretty?”
“She’s hot, alluring, magnetic.” Sexy androgynous rather than pretty.
“Sizzling and very attached.”
“Yep, and I’m really happy for her.” Envious, too.
“Me, too, for Viv.”
“So, we’re just two chicks happy for our close friends who are madly in love and looking for love ourselves?”
“In a tiny town with almost no singles around, yep.” She raised her coffee mug to mine to clink. After taking a swig, she settled back next to me.
I didn’t get nervous that we’d run out of things to talk about while the game was on. I didn’t get nervous that it would be awkward to get this couch ready to crash on tonight. I wasn’t even nervous about seeing her in the morning after taking advantage of her hospitality. We had that kind of camaraderie now, and it made me very happy.