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She threw one arm over her head, looking for something to grasp, finding the bedpost and wrapping her fingers around it. With her other hand, she reached for Helen’s head, curling her fingers into that thick hair, tugging it until Helen moved her mouth to comply.

Just a little bit more…just a little…

Annie cried out as the force of her orgasm thrust her hips upward.

When she finally opened her eyes, Helen was sitting up on her legs, watching.

“All right?” she asked.

“A-plus.”

* * *

Helen had left Annie to sleep a few hours. When Annie finally forced herself to get up, it was still dark out. She was sticky between her legs and felt clammy from sweating. She smelled like sex.

As the shower heated up, she looked in the mirror. Her hair was a tangled mess, and there was a red line on her clavicle, a dark splotch on her neck, a red patch between her breasts. A map of where Helen had been.

She showered, washed her hair, and shaved under her arms while her conditioner set. She took a few extra minutes to blow-dry her hair, brushing it out to straighten it as she went. She pulled on a pair of black slacks and a dark pink sweater, then slipped on her ballet flats. She transferred what she had already packed into a suitcase into a smaller duffel bag that would be better for traveling. She had plenty of stuff at home, so she didn’t need to pack a lot of clothes or toiletries, just some underwear, an extra pair of shoes, one nice outfit, and her makeup. She had to take some books; she had too much studying to do for the next quarter’s classes to leave it all behind. Helen hadn’t lied: her midterm grades were hanging on the refrigerator next to Ashley’s spelling test and a dinosaur drawing Kevin had made.

That was her: just one of the kids.

Coffee was ready when she got to the house. She poured herself a cup, then double-checked that she had her driver’s license—she’d finally gotten a California one—and her plane tickets. She had a layover in Salt Lake City. She was just pulling her keys out of her purse when she heard footsteps on the stairs.

“Good morning.” Helen leaned against the kitchen doorframe.

“Yeah.” Annie felt stupid that she couldn’t come up with something more clever. “Um, I’m going to leave you my car key in case you need to move my car for some reason.”

“I promise not to let Kevin take it for a joyride.”

“Much appreciated,” Annie said. “You know, you don’t have to do this.”

“I’m taking you. And then Sal and the kids and I are going to get a Christmas tree.”

“I’m sorry I won’t get to see it.”

“We’ll leave it up until you come home,” Helen promised. “Which is?”

“December29. Not till late, though.”

“Call from the airport if you need a ride,” Helen said. “Is that your only bag?”

“I’m just going home. I don’t need much.” She slung the duffle over her shoulder and picked up her old purse. The strap was really fraying now. Her mom would sigh when she saw it, embarrassed for her.

“You ready, then?” Helen asked. She was dressed in jeans and an old gray sweatshirt. Her hair was damp and her face scrubbed. She looked beautiful and relaxed. “I’m sorry you didn’t get much sleep.”

“I’m not.”

Helen smile widened. “Let’s go.”

It was only about a thirty-minute drive to the airport in light traffic, but it was too early, and they were both too tired to really talk about what had happened between them, which was just as well.

“What airline?”

“Delta.”

The airport was busy with Christmas travelers. Helen pulled up to the curb just as another car left. “I could park. Wait with you at the gate for a little while?”

“That’s okay. You have a tree to get,” Annie said. “Um, thanks. For the ride and for…the other stuff.”