Maya felt Hanna’s body tighten slightly and watched Hanna’s face redden as she slow-blinked. Maya was recognizing that as a way Hanna gave herself time to carefully choose her words.
When Hanna opened her mouth to respond, Maya cut her off and playfully said, “Hmmm, I think I like payment upfront, but I could settle for a deposit.”
17
LILY
Lily popped a sour gummy in her mouth and breathed through her chewing, letting the cold air focus her senses. She adjusted the rolled-up blanket she had strapped around her for them to sit on, should they decide to linger. They were all now sated, showered, and bundled up again for their hike—walk. Lily wasn’t sure, if Hanna hadn’t gotten them moving, that she would have been able to convince her body to leave that bed. If she was being honest, part of her mind was still there, still nestled in between Maya’s legs while Hanna worked inside of her…
“Lily? We doing this or?” Maya’s voice brought her mind reluctantly back to the present.
“Look who is eager to get started,” Lily teased back.
“I’m eager to get this over with,” Maya retorted.
“Oh stop, it’s going to be beautiful at the top, you’ll see,” Hanna said, starting them forward on a clear footpath into the woods away from the water.
“How would you know?” Maya asked Hanna, falling into step between them.
“Because we’re in picturesque northern Vermont? Also, I doubt Lily would make you go somewhere ugly, not when we could have just stayed in,” Hanna said, a slight chuckle in her voice.
“Right you are,” Lily huffed out, and popped another sour gummy in her mouth. The truth was that Lily was surprised she was taking these two women on the walk. Mainly, because she was going to take them to one of her favorite spots overlooking the property, during her favorite time of year when everything was crisp and still, when they were less likely to be interrupted. But she hadn’t exactly realized what the reality of them spending so much time together would mean beyond rolling around naked. Really she needed something to pass the time, because when they spent time idly (not in bed), the tension that still loomed in the background threatened to surface. Ice skating hadn’t gone well, and there wasn’t a whole lot to do out here this time of year.
The snow covered grass crunched underneath their boots as they walked and when Maya gave a small grunt of what Lily identified as displeasure, she handed her a sour gummy.
“Are you bribing me with gummies again? How many of these do you have?”
“Not a bribe, just an incentive, and I have…enough,” Lily said, smiling.
“The movement is going to keep you warm, Papaya,” Hanna said.
“Mmmhmmm sure, warm,” Maya said, but there wasn’t any real annoyance behind it. “So how long is this hike?”
“Thewalkis about thirty minutes, not too long,” Lily responded.
“And what do we do when we get there,” Maya continued.
Lily couldn’t help but smile at how genuine the question was.
“We look around,” Hanna said.
“And then we…” Maya pressed on, and Lily actually chuckled. Maya was being too cute.
“Come back,” Lily said, popping another sour gummy into her mouth before continuing, “like people normally do.”
That last remark earned her an eye roll from Maya. “So we are going to walk for forty minutes, just to, what, have a look-see?”
While it was hard not to find the whole exchange endearing, Lily's stomach made a small flip-flop. This is why she should have planned better. Sure, they had gotten all hot and heavy over video calls and exchanged texts about their day-to-day every now and then, but what did they reallyknowabout each other?
“So Lily, do you take this trail often?” Hanna asked, shaking Lily from her spiral.
“Yeah, I mean I come up here sometimes when I’m here for the summer and helping my aunt.”
“Andhanging out,” Hanna said the last bit in air quotes and there was a touch of ice in her voice. “Do you bring all the girls up here?”
“Hanna,” Maya said cautiously. Lily was appreciative of Maya’s attempt to quell things, but also noticed the note of impatience in her voice. Perhaps Maya was doing so for her sake.
“And what if I do?” Lily bit back, with way more heat than she’d meant. “Possessive much?” Her defenses were rising and she was over the tension between them for reasons she didn’t think she’d rightfully earned.
