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Holly was filled with memories of the duck pond and leisurely walks with her parents. It was only ever one parent, Mum or Dad, never both at once. She’d never questioned it at the time but looking back it must have been tough being so busy. Holidays were the only time they were truly a family. Nothing made her happier than knowing Mum and Dad were living their best life now. The deli was their saving grace.
She did a double take as they passed the duck pond. ‘There is a giant duck,’ she shouted.
‘Huh?’ Jen shouted over her shoulder, making her wobble again.
Maybe best to avoid conversation for now.
Floating square in the middle of the pond was a duck, at least three feet long and half as tall. It wasn’t real, of course plexiglass or something, and painted on the side were the words ‘don’t feed me bread’. It was good to know she hadn’t been seeing things last week.
They curved left, as their only other option would take them down past the pond and out of the park, and neared a wooded area. It wasn’t long before Jen hit the brakes and stopped at a fork in the road. Holly pulled to a standstill beside her.
‘What way?’ Jen asked, beads of sweat already clear on her face.
Holly pondered. Straight on would take them downhill, past the tennis courts, then up a sharp incline to the greenhouses. Left was an exit. Right was a hill; steep, but not as bad as the other one.
‘We’re going to have to do a hill at some point.’
Jen pursed her lips, weighing up her own options. ‘True.’
‘And the flagpole is up there – good views.’
‘Also true.’
‘We can go downhill to the greenhouses after, see if they’re open?’
‘Closed. I checked earlier. I know you wanted to visit them.’
‘Aw, that’s a shame.’
‘Up here then?’ Jen asked, motioning her head to the hill on their right.
‘Aye, let’s give it a go.’
It only took a few metres for Holly’s thighs to burn, and judging by the work Jen’s legs were doing she was feeling the same.
She didn’t want to break first, but Jesus suffering fuck, this was hard work. Her legs were on fire; every rotation of the pedals was like torture. How could they only be halfway up the hill?
Jen’s pace slowed and Holly focused on the shape of her thighs, the way the muscle was defined, a clear shadow running down to her knee. If she was going to let this pot spill she was going to do it for the greater good, and right now she needed a distraction from the fact her own legs were now made of lava. No harm in a little daydreaming. Needs must, and all that.
Maybe Jen would need some heat balm rubbed into her aching limbs later?
Three-quarters up the hill now. This was working. She let her mind wander further.
Toned arms, toned legs: did Jen work out? It didn’t seem like her schedule would allow for it but Holly’s eyes didn’t lie, and that wasn’t a body you got by sitting on the sofa.I bet her stomach is just as toned.
Holly’s core awakened at the thought. She swallowed hard; visions of Jen laid bare danced in her head. Kissing up those thighs, all the way up to her navel, then back south.
The sudden screech of brakes pulled her back to reality.
‘I’m going to need a breather,’ Jen said, pausing at the summit. Her face was as red as a tomato.
Holly didn’t need to be told twice; she pulled up beside Jen and brought her feet to the ground. The sweat was dripping off her and pooling in places she’d never known could hold liquid.
‘I don’t think I’m made for cycling in Scotland,’ Holly said with a smile.
‘You and I both. Want to find somewhere to sit for a bit?’
Holly nodded. ‘I think I need it.’
