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She laughs and says, “Let’s take a break.”
I nod and sit, pulling a water bottle from my small pack, and she does the same.
“So, this hiking thing is new,” she says, and she sounds suspicious.
I shrug. “Eric turned me on to it. As you know, not big into exercise, but I lost all that weight so fast, and I need to tone things up, and the gym is not my scene.”
“Eric always loved to hike,” she comments, looking out over the large canyon from where we sit. “It was his outlet. He and Carter would go camping, hunting, and fishing. Neither had dads who cared in their lives, so they taught themselves everything.”
Eric had told me about growing up, his mom raising them both, as his dad wasn’t really in the picture. And Taryn told me Carter’s parents were alcoholics and he damn near raised himself and spent a lot of time at Eric and Taryn’s growing up. It made me sad because I have a loving family and had a great childhood.
I briefly wonder what Eric does for an outlet while in Africa, but put that thought aside for now since there’s no use in dwelling on it.
“You know, I was thinking...” Taryn starts. I stay quiet and let her continue. “I told you about the Mile High Rooms, didn’t I?”
“Yes, after I dragged it out of you,” I reply, opening a peanut butter protein bar. I offer my other one to Taryn, but she shakes her head. “Why?”
“I can put the app on your phone,” she offers.
My best friend is a computer scientist and is married to a millionaire app developer—Eric’s best friend. He developed an app rich people use to access a secret sex club that rotates around the Mile High City’s area every month, an app that costs thousands a year. As far as I know, Carter doesn’t run the club, he just does the app part for the owner. Then, I remember something.
“I thought you said some congresswoman caught her husband there and demanded it be shut down,” I comment, then take a bite of the bar.
She shakes her head. “No, she tried, but they got rid of the sex workers so there was no justification to shut it down. It’s a legit club. Everything’s on the up and up, I promise.”
“Okay. What makes you think I want the app?”
She shrugs casually and then meets my gaze with her honey-colored one. “I thought maybe you could go in there and have a peek. See if it might be something to do. I mean, you’re not going to meetthe onethere, but it might take the edge off your loneliness. And of course, the sex is super fun. I’m sure you’re feeling deprived.”
I, of course, never talked to Taryn about my sex life with Eric because I certainly wouldn’t want to talk to Larissa about hers with my brother. But she knew we were intimate. It was impossible not to be with how sexy Eric is. We’re drawn together almost organically. Chemically. It was impossible to not want to share that with him. Plus, I loved him.
Lovehim.
“Eh, I don’t know. I don’t think it’s a good idea. What if Eric comes back and finds out?”
She gives me a side eye and then looks out over the canyon again. “Well, he has the app on his phone, too, so...”
I gasp. “He does?”
“Yeah, Carter told me he asked for it when he... got out.”
“Has he ever gone?” I ask.
She turns back to look at me. “I can honestly tell you that I don’t know. I never asked.”
I stay quiet. I feel a little hurt but I can’t put my finger on why this hurts me. I’m sure he just wanted to get laid after being in prison for so long, so if he did use it, that’s none of my business. It would have been fun to go there with him, though. I think. Taryn says it’s pretty kinky in there. My curiosity is piqued but I’m not sure I would have the balls to go in there by myself.
“What if I see someone I know?” I ask. “I’ve lived here my whole life. I have tons of clients at the firm, too. Wouldn’t that be weird?”
“You can wear a mask.” She shrugs.
“I can? Do a lot of people?”
She nods. “Yes and no. About half.” She looks at my arm. “But your tattoos won’t be able to hide you. You should wear long sleeves.”
I ponder this. I miss sex but I miss sex with Eric. I’m done with random hookups. That was my past before I met him. I don’t think I could do that. Would it be cheating? No, it wouldn’t. He left me and went halfway around the world without so much as a goodbye. He doesn’t love me and never did. I bite my lip to stay the tears at that thought. I’m literally free to do whatever I want, and I don’t want to.
“Let’s keep going. You’re gonna love the gondola lift. It’s breathtaking!”
