Page 44 of High Side

“We’ll stop out at the highway and get ice and a bunch of Cokes and stuff.”

“Sounds good.” Brit kissed her, then licked her lip.

“Oh, stealing my cherry goo.”

“Mmhmm… It’s the only cherry of yours I’ll ever get.”

“True. I would apologize, but I think you like where I am with experience.”

Brit gave her a searing glance. “That I do. In fact, as long as I don’t have to have details, I’m grateful for it.”

“Fair enough. No details. Just pleasure.”

“That’s it.” She poured coffee. “Man, it’s nice out here today.”

“Mmm. It’ll get hot later, but now it’s perfect.”

This was…kind of amazing. Spending time with Brittany, no pressure or weird navigating rules. The two of them doing what they loved.

Kylie’d had summer flings and dated before, but this felt bigger. This felt like love.

God, that hit her like a punch in the gut. This really felt like love. Not just like and lust. That was nuts.

“You okay, babe? You look flushed.” Brit was going to kill her.

“I am. But not from the weather.” She let her slow smile speak volumes.

“We should have had breakfast at home.”

“Ah-ah. No touchy.” Kylie pushed Brittany’s fingers away. “At home. In the shower.”

“Life goals.”

“You have no idea.”

Brittany flopped back and ate another bite of turnover. “Yumm-o. This, you, all of it.”

“Yeah. This has been the perfect morning. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” They rested and nibbled for a while longer, then Kylie sat up. “You ready? It’s paddle, boom-boom, paddle all the way from here.”

“I like a challenge.” Brittany packed up the bag. “Last one down has to carry both kayaks to the car and rack them.”

“Oh! You’re on!” She knew this river well; she’d make it all the way down first.

Brittany popped up to her feet. “Well, come on! Let’s do this.”

They cleared up their mess, making sure that there wasn’t a hint of their breakfast, then they headed out, down the river, racing to beat the band.

Sixteen

“Hey! It’s about time.” Joe waved at them from Liz and Lupe’s patio, his goofy hat the same one he wore every year. “Smell that. Meat in the smoker.”

Brittany breathed deep. “And on the grill. Yum.” Wow. Liz and Lupe had a nice place, a two-story home with a big yard terraced into the hillside. She liked it a lot. The patio was strung up with lights, shade umbrellas set up out in the yard, lots of cushy yard furniture sitting about. It was super welcoming.

“What?” Kylie grinned at Joe, nudging Brittany with her elbow. “We were busy.”

“Very busy,” Brittany agreed.