Page 60 of Cherry Picked
I coughed. “Maybe?”
“So Jack’s rescue mission worked, huh?” She buffed her freshly manicured nails on her shirt. “You’re welcome, bee tee dubs.”
“That was your idea?”
“Weelllll, no. I can’t take total credit. The man was a mess for days. Fucking up orders, talking to himself like he thought you were there, flying off the handle for no reason. Tense as a drawn bow. I just kinda… aimed him.” She grinned, clasped her hands under her chin, and said in a tremulous, high-pitched voice, “Ruh-roh, Jack! Bad storm’s a-coming! Hawk will need someone to fuck him gently through it! Maybe I’ll call Simon! He’s got big-dick energy!”
I rolled my eyes. “So you were the one who got him all riled and jealous. We fought about that, I’ll have you know.”
“Sure, sure.” She waved a hand. “But you didn’tjustfight, did you? I could tell the minute you walked in the diner today. You have the look of a man who’s experienced a Righteous Orgasm.”
I felt my face go hot. “Yes, well.Ahem. The official devirgination hasn’t happened yet.”
“But it will?” She wiggled her eyebrows.
“Yeah. Tonight. He… he wants me, Crys,” I whispered. “And not just sexually. We talked about a lot of stuff. Really connected, you know? And he has a lot of reservations and concerns, but…” I bit my lip but couldn’t restrain my excited smile. “We’re doing the relationship thing.”
“Hell, yeah! Victory!” She punched both hands in the air before clapping me on the shoulder. “I think we need to find some of that hard-core kombucha. You gotta celebrate this moment before you two get down into the hard relationship work.”
“Uh. Your idea ofworkis a little different from mine,” I joked. “I’m not nervous about tonight at all. I’m not experienced in anal, but I’ve done my research, and I’m as prepared as possible. It might be a little uncomfortable, but—”
“Boo.” Crys stopped walking and stared at me, torn between worry and amusement. “You know I’m not talking about the sex, right? I’m talking about the relationship itself. You know, the thing where two whole-ass humans, each with his own needs and fears and ambitions, figure out a way to coexist as part of something larger while not losing themselves entir—”
“Mr. Hawk, Mr. Hawk!” Grayson Fischer barreled into me, throwing his tiny arms around my waist. “I haven’t seen you in four weeks!”
“Days,” a woman with a long, black braid corrected rushing up behind him. “Fourdays, kiddo.”
“Felt like weeks, though,” I agreed, ruffling Grayson’s curly hair. “It’s good to see you, buddy.” I gave the woman a smile. “Are you his mom? Because I’ve gotta say, you’re doing a killer job. Grayson’s great. Super passionate about nature.”
“I am. Allison Ramos.” She held out her hand to shake. “And really, I should be the one thanking you. Ever since you started doing your hikes with the kids, our whole family’s developed a new hobby.”
“Oh? That’s awesome—”
“My husband and I have been following your Instagram, too. I think most of the Nature Scout parents have. Lots of us are committing to hike Fogg Peak weekly before the place is lost to history, like you said in the caption on one of your posts.”
I remembered the picture she was talking about. The sky had been streaked with orange and yellow clouds during sunset the first night I’d spent up on the mountain. Vast swaths of trees covered the ridge, and a northern harrier could just be seen spreading its wings against the warm sky near the right edge of the frame.
“Wow. That’s so great to hear.”
“Scott and I—and Grayson—would love to help out with your protest if you need volunteers. I don’t know what the end goal for the Peak is, after we get the ‘no’ vote on the current proposal—like, should it be turned into a preserve and not developed at all? Or just developeddifferently?—but if you’re planning to present alternative proposals to Evola, Scott’s brother is a sustainability consultant in Burlington, and he could help.”
I stared at her blankly. Protecting Fogg Peak by getting the town to vote no to the current proposal had been my endgame, and I hadn’t really thought about what exactly should happen after that. Coming up with an alternate proposal seemed incredibly complex and messy. A task I wasn’t sure I was qualified to take on…
But if I didn’t, who would?
“I, um… I appreciate that. I’d love his contact information.”
“Sure thing. In the meantime, do you have any interest in opening up your page to other folks’ pictures from the Peak?” she asked.
“Gosh, yes. Absolutely.” I ran a hand through my hair. “I, uh… I feel a little bit disorganized,” I admitted. “I’m usually a helper, not a… aleader. I’m still figuring this part out.”
“Well, I think you’re doing a great job so f—”
“Mom, look! This lady’s gotpotatoes, and potatoes are my very, very best vegetable!” Grayson said, pulling on the hem of her T-shirt and pointing to a nearby table. “Can we get some?”
“I guess we’d better.” Allison rolled her eyes but let him pull her away. “See you later this week, Hawk. Thanks again for the inspiration!”
I lifted a hand in acknowledgment but stared after her, feeling a little confused and a lot overwhelmed.
