Page 39 of High Side
“Awesome.” She would be so tickled to have Kylie back at full work mode. It would ease the load on all of them, and it would take them back to the even ground they’d started out on.
“Yeah. I’m ready.” Kylie wiggled her toes, which were bare and hanging out of the walking boot.
“I bet. Me too. I miss hanging out with you.” That got her a look that warmed her up to her own toes. Which were pretty warm. It was midsummer. “So what do you do for the Fourth?”
“Usually we all have a big cookout at Liz and Lupe’s. They’ll announce it this week. We’re closed that day.”
Brittany blinked. “It’s a good tip day.”
“We get paid.”
“Well, woo and hoo. That’s awesome.”
“Too many drunks on the river that day. It’s worth keeping the business closed and avoiding that mess.” Kylie sounded like she knew what she was talking about, and if she had a day to play with pay?
Brittany was down.
“Cool. That’s the best news I’ve had all week on top of you coming back to work.”
“Mmm. Come over here and sit by me instead of so far away.” Kylie pulled a chair right over next to her.
“Sounds good.” She slipped over there, leaning over to kiss Kylie again. Those lips were a little chapped, but still soft and perfect and the contact made everything in her tingle, her nipples drawing up to hard points.
Kylie’s fingers twined with hers, holding on and squeezing just a little.
“Mmm.” She pulled back. “Now that was a nice good morning.” Brit felt like they were back on solid ground now. Like things had been a little teeter-totter-y for a few days. They were still new, right? Still learning how things fit.
“It is. I was missing you. Thanks for breakfast.” Kylie leaned back and stretched tall.
“No prob.” She tilted her head. “Did I piss you off, not coming to meet your friends?”
“Piss me off? Nope. I was kinda surprised, but that’s on me. You have a life too. We’re not like, joined at the hip.”
“Right.” Right? See? She’d been reading too much into things. They were keeping it chill.
“Now, if you want to go out with me tomorrow and meet some more of my not-rafting friends, I’ll give them a call. We were talking about maybe doing a cookout up at Evie’s ranch.” Kylie didn’t quite meet her eyes.
“Do…do you want me there? I mean… Jesus, why is this so weird?”
“Because we’re into each other? Like whoa?” Kylie hit that nail square on the head. Boom.
“Yeah.” Brittany nodded hard, her hair slapping the back of her neck. “That’s it. I mean, like, I’m so into you I want things that we haven’t known each other long enough to want.”
“Me too.” Kylie’s expression was one of total relief. “So how about we just preface anything that might be too soon or too pushy with, ‘does this seem too weird?’ That way we can be right out there with what we want.”
“Yeah. Yeah, because I’m…into you.” She didn’t know how it was going to work, or if it could, but she wanted it.
“Ditto.”
They grinned at each other, and Kylie stood up, way more stable than she had been.
“No crutches?”
“Walking boot now. Wanna go take it off and get some us time in?” Kylie reached for her hand.
“Hell yes. We spread your legs wide enough, we’ll be sure not to bump your foot…”
“Listen to you! Wicked girl.”
