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Dex’s brows rose and she stared at the back of Echo’s head, waiting. “Of course I won’t repeat it.”
/> Her friend peeked at her over her shoulder and then looked out over the water. “I came here this week hoping to be able to find out whether our standing date to do scenes at the club would eventually lead to something more.”
Since Echo wasn’t actually looking at her, Dex figured it was safe to wince. Tak was like Dex and Grant used to be—happily and resolutely single. Although she knew Echo liked him, she’d never actually asked if Dex thought she had a chance with him, so Dex had never needed to come up with a comforting lie or a nice way to tell Echo the truth.
“Uh-huh,” Dex replied, going for noncommittal. Echo hadn’t actually said she wanted Dex’s opinion, so she’d try to stick with just listening rather than giving advice.
Dex paddled, careful not to get too close to the spot where the lake turned into small rolling waves hitting the shore, while also watching the woods for wildlife. They’d seen a lot of deer around the bend from here the last time she was up.
“I mean, I’m not expecting a marriage proposal or anything, but it would be nice if he wanted more with me.” She groaned. “So before lunch today we did a scene. It was pretty intense, and there was a lot of eye contact, you know? Afterward he sat me on his lap and I felt really connected to him during aftercare. We made out a bit and talked about a scene he wanted to do tonight, then I went for a shower, and when I came back down . . .”
Dex’s heart sank.
“When you came back down, what?” She steered the canoe away from shore for what felt like the millionth time in a row. The wind kept ushering them toward land.
“Well, you know Stephi from the club? She was on his lap and talking to him about a scene she wanted to do with him, as if I hadn’t been in exactly that spot a few minutes before. It was like—I know we haven’t made an agreement or anything, but after that intense of a scene, I just felt . . .” She shrugged. “Replaced? Disrespected? I don’t know. Maybe I’m being a baby, or maybe I’m just PMSing, but it hurt my feelings. I’m not wired to be poly, so maybe I’m fooling myself thinking we could have more together, you know?”
Dex grunted. “Did he agree to play with her?”
“What?” Echo called over the rising wind. She turned her head to look at Dex, her eyes red-rimmed. “Sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.”
“Did he say yes?” Dex called back. The wind had really picked up. Warily, she eyed the skies, which were an interesting new bruise color.
“Well,” Echo began, tilting her head back and forth, as though deliberating, “I guess maybe he looked surprised? She was on his lap, though, and he didn’t make her get off of him. And he didn’t say no—at least, not when I was standing there, but then she noticed me listening, and I just . . . left.”
Wave tips were licking over the side of the canoe from time to time. “I think we need to turn around and head back. It feels like a storm is coming.”
“Do you think so? I don’t see a lot of dark sky.”
“Look over there.” Dex pointed to the tops of the trees that lined the nearby mainland. “It’s really dark there and I bet the trees are hiding the worst of it.”
“Are we supposed to get rain today?”
“I don’t know. Maybe? I didn’t have a chance to check my weather app this morning.”
Echo stared at the sky where Dex had indicated for a long moment. “Maybe we should get to shore and wait for this to blow over. The wind seems to be coming from more than one direction right now, and I wouldn’t want to get stuck in open water in a canoe during a storm.”
“But Grant will be worried,” Dex said, knowing it was a stupid thing to say before it even came out of her mouth.
“I have my phone. We’ll call him and let him know we’re waiting it out.”
Considering how cold the lake could get, especially where it was deep, the risk of flipping the canoe and being stuck in the water for a long time didn’t appeal to Dex.
“Okay, let’s head to that little beach over there. At least it’s sheltered and we’re less likely to get really wet trying to go ashore.” Dex waited for Echo to agree, then they made their way to the shallows. When they hit bottom, at least it sounded like sand.
Echo hopped out then pulled the canoe higher on the beach and held it steady as Dex got out.
“You really have done this before,” Dex said, impressed.
“Yes, and my flip-flops will dry in no time,” she said, lifting a foot to show off how smart she was.
“Yeah, well, I’m wearing Chuck Taylors because I didn’t plan on canoeing today.”
Echo hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Thanks for coming. When I saw Stephi with Tarka . . . I just wanted to go for a drive, you know? But there are no cars here to drive!” She gestured at the forest around them, laughing dreamily over the rush of the wind. “I guess being stuck out in a storm is the same kind of quality therapy as driving long distance, blasting The Doors.”
Her friend let her go, and they looked at the sky again.
“Maybe we should find some shelter before you start the primal screaming portion of this afternoon’s therapy session.”
