Ronnie ran the backs of her fingernails through the short hair at her friend’s temple. Up close, Nev’s hair was a mix of strawberry blonde and white. Nev must have gone grey early, because her hair had been this color when they met. She hadn’t aged. If anything, she appeared to be getting younger.
Pale eyes opened, blinked. Nev’s pupils contracted, focusing. Ronnie watched, curious to see how her friend would react to waking up in an unfamiliar bedroom.
Nev subtly stretched her spine, which cracked, then smiled. Nev freed her arms, then lifted one off the mattress, making her invitation clear.
Ronnie scooted closer, closed her eyes and relaxed again, exhaling deeply. Her hands, pressed against Nev’s chest, found their way out and around in a symmetrical loose embrace. She relaxed again.
Nev’s breath slowed and became even.
Ronnie didn’t have anything to compare this to. It wasn’t like any romantic relationship she had known. She wasn’t even sure if it was romantic, but hoped it would be. Nev would be a gentleman in a way that none of her previous partners—male or female—had been.
There was a reciprocity to it, a hesitancy, like climbing a tree and testing every branch.
The next time she opened her eyes the sun kissed the curtains and Reg stood in the doorway. “Knocky knock. Wakey wake.”
Nev, who lay curled facing Ronnie on the side of the bed closer to the door, stretched and rubbed her face, then groggily muttered, “right, what?” before immediately falling back asleep.
Reg grinned and made a heart shape with his fingers, which was something Mattie would have done. “The rest of us are driving to the Tea House at Lake Barrine for brunch. They have the fresh scones with jam and clotted cream that you like. Keen to tag along? My sisters are coming. They want proof of life. If you don’t go, they’re threatening to come over after.”
“Is Rainbow going?”
Nev blinked, rolled over, spotted Reg in the doorway, then covered her eyes with her hand like a kid trying to make someone disappear.
“It was her idea. You’re invited, too, Bickerman. Morning, cougar. Where’s my shotgun? Never mind, I haven’t got one.”
“Don’t make fun of me,” Nev muttered.
“You? Never,” Reg teased. “You two bogans coming? Does Brokeback Mountain do brunch?”
Ronnie took stock of the sensations in her body. Stiff. Sore. “Five minutes.”
“Get dressed, have a wee. We’ll meet you there.” Reg disappeared but left the door open.
She watched Nev reach for a shirt and shrug it on with an effortlessness that made her jealous. The sheep farmer had slept in matching grey cotton panties and bra—duplicates of the same ones Nev always wore. One-type-of-undies, one-type-of-socks basic bitch, like Ronnie. Reg had reacted exactly the way she had known he would. He didn’t care what she did so long as she was safe and happy.
Nev cleared her throat. “I expect you forgot all about this because it was a while ago, but I finally got around to mailing that climate change emergency relief grant you told me to apply for after the flood. It was a pain in the ass. Maybe the greenies who work for the state will throw some money at us for the moldy hay. Worth a shot. Thanks for suggesting it. I’m no good at asking for stuff like that.”
Ronnie held out her fist. Fist bump. “That a girl! Leveling up in life.”
“More like plumbing new depths of humiliation.”
Sometimes it was the same. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Rainbow walked in without knocking as Nev was buttoning her jeans. Nev didn’t blush, didn’t run away—that was new. Thegirl looked like a tween in a white tank top and cut-off shorts. She approached the side of the bed and loomed over Ronnie, frowning. “Are you sick?”
Ronnie pulled the sheet up to her chin and sighed. “No, but I would like privacy while I get dressed, if it’s not too much to ask.” She didn’t want the girl to see the bruises. They looked worse than they were.
Rainbow turned her judgement on Nev. “What are you doing here?”
Nev respectfully ignored her.
“Try that again, but in a nice way,” Ronnie said. “You can say, what a pleasant surprise! I’m happy to see you here! She’s going to brunch with us.”
“Why are you still here?” Rainbow asked Nev.
“Your mother asked you to do something. Did you hear what it was?”
Rainbow stared at Nev like she had two heads.
