Page 12 of Aim for Love

“Who has a degree in theater?” Nora’s eyes widen as she looks at Scott. “No!”

“It was my rebellious phase,” he shrugs, trying to brush it off.

“What, were you in it for the chicks?”

I’ve successfully diverted Nora and Scott, at least. Mollie is still studying me, so I stand. “Be right back,” I say, and head for the bathroom.

Valentine catches me on the way back, when we’re both down the back hallway. “Look at you, out with the city folk,” she teases. Valentine—another Telluride native—makes cool content for a short-video platform in her free time, so she has an eye for a narrative.

“It’s nothing,” I insist.

She pokes me in the chest. “I’m going to let you get away with that because I only have a few minutes to pee, but I’m watching you, Mr. Man Bun.”

Rolling my eyes, I edge past her. “Haircuts are for people with a 401K,” I inform her, my usual retort. She laughs, as usual, and flips the hair in a long braid over her shoulder. Poor people humor.

When I get back to the restaurant, the group has moved. Nora and Scott are playing pool. Tyler and a couple of the other guides are playing darts. I look around for Sophie and Mollie, even walking outside to check the patio. I hear them before I see them.

“It’s not like you have to marry him just because you sleep with him.” That’s Sophie. They’re standing by the outside bar, probably waiting on drinks.

“I barely know him, Sophie.” That’s Mollie. I stand hesitating, barely outside their line of sight. Obviously, I shouldn’t listen because what they talk about is none of my business, except something tells me they’re talking about me.

“Girl, we have a week. Get to know hisbody.”

“OK,Nora. I expect this from her, not you. You know I’m not good at one-night-stands. I want what you have: a relationship.”

“A relationship is for real life, not vacation. A relationship happens when you live in the same place and have the same lifestyle. That is not what this is. This is trying new things and having a little fun. And maybe you go back to your real life and have a different perspective on reality.”

“You think I need a different perspective on life?”

“I think you’re not entirely happy with it, so getting turned upside down and slapped on the ass a few times couldn’t hurt. That man looks like he could do some serious butt-slapping. I saw him with his shirt off today.”

Standing there eavesdropping, my skin heats at the graphic descriptions.

“Sophie, oh my god.”

“Mollie. I’m completely serious. I know you’re committed to do everything on the agenda, so I’m telling you right now, I’m putting sex on the schedule. You have to do it now. Before the end of the trip.”

“Sophie!”

“I don’t care if it’s with Hunter or Scott or one of the other guys. Youneedsome sexual adventure. Admit I’m not wrong.”

A pause, then Mollie’s small voice: “You’re not wrong.”

Backing away from the conversation, I stay silent. So Mollie wants—or her friends want for her—a vacation fling. I’ve never done that. I’m a relationship guy, not a fling guy. Unlike Scott, I don’t sleep with the tourists or the clients, in part because there’s always a time limit.

If I were Scott, this would be the perfect set up. No commitments, clear end point, and a week of fun with a beautiful woman open to trying new things.

I imagine Mollie’s face, the way she bites her lip when she’s nervous and then goes for it despite her fears, stepping up to try something with that determined look on her face. Open to learn. Ready to practice.

Scott would be the perfect teacher in that context. I’d be terrible. I only teach when I’ve done enough studying and practicing on my own to feel I’ve mastered something. And I’ll never be the master of casual vacation sex. It’s not in me.

Imagining Scott and Mollie together—becomingexperts—curdles the drink in my stomach. Either Mollie doesn’t get the full experience she wants this week, or I need to master my feelings on this subject. And fast.

six

MOLLIE

It’s my Waterloo.My Rubicon. The ruin of me. My point of no return.

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