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  Cordy didn’t bother to hide her laugh. Instead, she grabbed a water bottle out of the cooler beside Lorelei’s chair and kicked her feet up on the chair across from her. “How many times has she wussed out?”

  Lorelei shook her head. “Surprisingly, none. But she hasn’t come across any spiders yet, either.”

  “Wow,” Oakley said as she and Max walked through the gate separating Cordy’s yard from Lorelei’s, “she’s almost got the butch look down. Almost.”

  Aspen had foregone makeup for the day, and pulled her long blonde curls into a French braid that rested over her right shoulder. Oakley was surprised to see the young woman looking anything but ready for a photo shoot. In the short time she’d known Aspen, she’d never seen her look so completely… normal.

  “Did we miss her working on the car?” Max asked, taking a water for herself and passing one to Oakley as the women claimed seats with their friends.

  Lorelei shook her head. “We’ve just figured out the lawn mower,” she replied, giving Aspen two thumbs-up when the blonde finally managed to get it started. Aspen simply frowned and turned her back to focus on the grass.

  “What the hell was that look for?” Lorelei wondered aloud, earning a shrug from her friends.

  “You’ve hurt her feelings, assholes.” Jenica stepped onto the porch and crossed her arms over her chest, glowering at the quartet.

  “Hey,” Cordy protested, “What did we do this time?”

  Jenica pulled out her phone and pulled up the group chat. “I think some of you have forgotten that we are all part of this chat; even Aspen.”

  Heat shot across all four faces. Lorelei had intended on sending those messages to a different group chat; one consisting of just her, Cordy, Max, Oakley, and Lita. She hadn’t meant to send them to the main group.

  “Fuck,” she groaned, scrubbing her hands over her face, “That explains why she’s been giving me the silent treatment since she got done taking out the trash barrels. I just thought she was trying to be the strong, silent type butch from some of her books.”

  “So much for having fun with this,” she sighed, tossing her empty water bottle into the bin, “I’ll go apologize.”

  “No,” Jenica put a hand out to stop Lorelei, “You didn’t actually say anything wrong. Your photos and messages were actually sweet and encouraging. It’s these three that should be ashamed of themselves,” she said, fixing the others with a look of disdain, “They’re the ones who need to make it right. Aspen is trying her best to help her wife, and you lot made fun of her for it. Why do you think Stormie and Dani haven’t responded? Do you think they’re going to be happy with you when you get home?”

  Max, Oakley, and Cordy all shared a look. They knew they were in trouble, and Jenica was right; they needed to make it right with Aspen.

  “I’ll go first,” Cordy sighed, “I pick on her a lot more than the rest of you do.”

  “That’s a girl, Aroha,” Jenica beamed, rewarding her wife with a kiss as Cordy moved past her.

  Cordy grumbled good-naturedly and made her way off the porch. She jogged across the yard until she reached Aspen, making sure to get the young woman’s attention by sight, rather than startling her by touching her.

  Aspen rolled her eyes and let the mower power down. “What?” she asked gruffly.

  “I’m sorry about the group chat,” Cordy said, her expression tight with contrition, “I wasn’t thinking when I made those comments, and I forgot that you would see them. I think it’s really sweet that you’re trying to do so much for Lorelei.”

  Aspen placed her hands on her hips and glared at the Lieutenant. She’d tried not to let the others’ words get to her, but the fact was, they’d hurt. A lot. Seeing the grown women who were supposed to be her friends teasing her and making bets about how long it would take before she started crying, had really made Aspen feel horrible. It felt like she was back in middle school and the popular girls were only her friends so they had someone to make fun of.

  “I don’t care what you think, Lieutenant,” Aspen replied, her voice cold as she wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, “Now, I’ve got work to do so if you’ll excuse me.”

  Aspen grabbed the pull-string and gave it a tug. Nothing happened. She tried again, pulling harder, but again nothing happened. With a growl of frustration, Aspen pulled as hard as she could, snapping the thin piece of rope clean in two. Surprised, she blinked helplessly at the cord dangling in her hand.

  “Oh, shit,” Cordy’s eyes widened and she covered her mouth to stifle the laugh that escaped. It surprised her that Aspen had that much strength.

  The sound of Cordy’s laughter filtered into Aspen’s mind, landing on her already raw nerves like a stray spark on dry tinder. In a flash, rage boiled up from deep within her, drowning out everything except the sound of Cordy’s mirth.

  Lightning quick, Aspen spun around with an angry roar and extended her fist. Surprise and disbelief flashed across Cordy’s face, and before she could brace for it, she found herself flat on her ass on the ground.

  “Aspen!”

  “Cordy!”

  Cordy stared up in shock, her eyes locked on Aspen’s as the younger woman loomed over her. Aspen was visibly shaking, trying to control the inferno within.

  “You hit me,” Cordy said in disbelief, rubbing her throbbing mouth. Her eyes widened when her fingertips came away bloody.

  Aspen’s nostrils flared and the fists at her sides clenched tighter, almost as if she were debating whether or not to do it again.

  “Aroha, are you all right?” Jenica asked, dropping to her knees and carefully taking Cordy’s face in her hands.

  Cordy glanced over as the entire group converged on them. Lorelei looked upset, but Cordy was certain the look of worry on the younger redhead’s face was for Aspen, not her.

  “She hit me,” Cordy repeated, her voice still surprised as she allowed Jenica to tip her head for a better look, “and it hurt.”

  “Good,” Aspen spat, her eyes narrowing dangerously, “Maybe now you’ll stop fucking with me.”

  She lifted her gaze as Lorelei stepped toward her, stopping the woman in her tracks. Aspen raised her hand, pointing a slender finger quickly at Max and Oakley. “That goes for you two and Lita as well,” she said, “I’m done putting up with your shit. Keep making fun of me, and I’ll knock you all on your asses.”

  With that, Aspen stepped around Lorelei, shaking off the woman’s attempt to reach out to her, and stalked toward the house. “What the hell just happened?” she asked, throwing her hands up in frustration.

  “I don’t really know,” Cordy admitted, climbing to her feet and dusting off the seat of her pants, “I apologized for the messages, but she didn’t accept it. She basically told me to fuck off, and when she tried to restart the mower, the cord snapped. I laughed, because I was surprised that she was strong enough to break it, and she hit me!”

  Lorelei’s cheeks puffed as she blew out a breath and ran a hand through her hair. She glanced back at the house, hoping to see Aspen sulking on the porch. No such luck. “Aspen has a mean right hook,” she said absently, trying to narrow down where her wife might have fled to, “She used to take boxing classes, until last year. She’s hard to provoke, but when you do, you’d better duck.”

  “Thanks for the fucking warning!” Cordy said, staring pointedly at her friend.

  Max, Oakley, and Jenica couldn’t help but laugh at the incredulity on the Lieutenant’s face. Lorelei tossed her friend a sympathetic shrug and started back toward the house.

  ***

  “Babe?” Lorelei called out as she stepped through the sliding glass door. When silence greeted her, Lorelei groaned and started through the house, peeking into the various rooms as she went. When she reached the office, she was surprised to hear Aspen’s raised voice floating through the closed door.

  “… I said we’ll be out there in a little while. I love you, too.”

  Lorelei was just about to
knock when the door was yanked open and Aspen breezed past her.

  “Babe?” Lorelei asked, catching Aspen’s arm, “Stop for a minute. What’s wrong?”

  Aspen yanked her arm free, continuing down the hall toward their bedroom without looking back. “Daddy called,” she replied, her tone flat and emotionless, “He wants to see us. Now.”

  Confused, Lorelei followed her wife. “Why?” she asked, frowning as Aspen shucked her clothing and began digging in her closet.

  “I don’t know,” Aspen replied, yanking a lightweight yellow sundress from its hanger and tugging it over her head, “He just said that he wanted us to come over right away, and he didn’t sound happy.”

  Lorelei huffed out a sigh and grabbed her keys off the dresser. She waited while Aspen applied a quick layer of makeup, watching her young wife curiously. Aspen noticed the cautious scrutiny, and it only furthered her irritation.

  “What?” she asked in the same sharp tone she’d used with their friends.

  Lorelei’s eyebrow shot up and she raised her hands defensively as she took a step closer to Aspen’s vanity table. “Okay,” she said, her own irritation beginning to show, “I get that your feelings were hurt, and you’re pissed off, but I didn’t do anything to deserve being spoken to like that.”

  “If you’d actually read the messages I sent out, you’d see that I was bragging about you, not making fun of you. I know you’re mad, babe, but don’t take it out on me. I’ll be out in the car.”

  Lorelei stormed out of the room, leaving Aspen to stare after her in the mirror. Fuck my life, she thought, rolling her eyes as she dropped her eyeliner pencil into the tray, I don’t need this shit right now. First, she gets hurt, then I can’t focus on anything except getting her better, then my dad wants something, and now I’ve pissed her off. What next?

  Grabbing her purse off the hook inside her closet, Aspen made her way out to the driveway. Lorelei was in the driver’s seat, staring straight ahead while she waited for Aspen.

  “I’m sorry,” Aspen said, once she was buckled into her seat, “I shouldn’t have snapped at you.”

  Lorelei backed the car out of the driveway and eased onto the street. Traffic was pretty non-existent on their block, no matter what time of day it was, but Lorelei was still cautious of the neighborhood kids who liked to ride their bikes and play ball in the road.

  “No, you shouldn’t have,” she agreed, turning onto the main street that would take them out of Falls City, “I accept your apology, baby, but you need to work on that. I don’t ever snap at you when I’m upset with someone else, and I don’t appreciate you doing it to me.”

  Aspen offered Lorelei a tight, apologetic smile. “I know you don’t. I’ll try not to let it happen again.”

  Lorelei smiled and reached for Aspen’s hand, bringing the younger woman’s fingers to her lips. “I love you,” she said dropping their hands onto her knee, “Why’d you change into a dress? I thought you were butching it up today.”

  Aspen laughed and squeezed Lorelei’s fingers affectionately. “Daddy may not be as pretentious as Mother, but he’d have a stroke if I showed up looking like I’d spent all day working in the yard. He already thinks everyone in Falls City is either a hick or a lesbian. Hell, Mother just calls everyone from out here the Brawny people.”

  Lorelei’s head slowly swiveled toward her wife. “What are you trying to say, my love? Are you not itching to trade those sexy curls and miniskirts for a mullet and some flannel to become a real lesbian like the rest of us?”

  Aspen tried to hold a scowl, but it didn’t last long. “As enticing as the idea is,” she laughed, “I think I’ll stick with the miniskirts and curls. I had fun taking care of you today, but I’m not cut out for the butch crowd. I guess I’m not meant to be a real lesbian,” she added with a dramatic sigh.

  Lorelei smirked and shook her head. She turned left at the junction, pointing them toward Marilynn and Dallas. Aspen’s parents lived in an exclusive neighborhood on the outskirts of both cities; midway between the city limits of Marilynn and Dallas. The county had made use of one of the old logging roads, converting it into a bypass that would allow residents living in the neighborhood to avoid having to make the superfluous trip through Marilynn to reach the main road that led to the community.

  “Real lesbian or not,” Lorelei said, releasing Aspen’s fingers to caress the blonde’s thigh, “I love you just the way you are. Besides,” she added, her voice dropping suggestively, “You look sexy as hell in miniskirts and curls.”

  ***

  “Hey Lorelei! Hi, sis!” Aspen’s younger brother, Brett, beamed and pulled the two women into a tight hug as they stepped into the massive foyer of the Aldrich family home.

  “Hiya, B,” Aspen replied, tiptoeing to press an affectionate kiss to her brother’s cheek.

  Brett blushed but didn’t object as he leaned down to accept the peck. He adored his older sister, and hated the fact that his mother had publicly disowned her.

  “How’s school going?” Lorelei asked, chuffing the sixteen-year-old on the shoulder, “Paying attention in all your classes?”

  Brett rolled his eyes. Two years earlier, when Brett was a freshman, he’d proven himself to be a bit of a problem for his Chemistry teacher. “Yes,” he replied, “In fact, I’m TA-ing for Mrs. Preston this year. Did you hear, Aspen? She’s leaving Dallas at the end of the year.”

  Aspen shook her head, surprised. “No, I hadn’t heard that. She’s always said she’d never leave Dallas. She loves that school!”

  Brett nodded. “I know. I was pretty surprised when she told me. She said she was taking a position at another school, but I’m not sure which one. I just know I’m going to miss her. She actually made Chem class fun.”

  Aspen laughed knowingly, following Brett when he motioned them toward the hall. She’d been a student of Christina Preston’s in her freshman year as well, and she adored the woman. She’d been Christina Hess at the time, but even then, Aspen knew it was just a matter of time before the teacher decided to take her Police Officer’s last name.

  “Dad said to show you into the office,” Brett explained as they made their way down the long hallway, “Mom’s out with the ladies from one of her clubs, so you won’t have to deal with her.”

  Lorelei saw Aspen’s posture relax and sent up a silent thank you. Slipping her arm around Aspen’s waist, she gave her wife a reassuring squeeze and a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Dad; Aspen and Lorelei are here,” Brett announced, knocking sharply on the open door to Ambrose Aldrich’s office.

  Office was too simple a word for the room where Ambrose spent most of his time, but that was the official designation on the mansion’s blueprints.

  Large enough to easily house the entire Falls City Fire Department on drill night, the room dripped with pomp. Lorelei had been in Ambrose’s office more times than she could count over the years, and she’d never felt comfortable in there.

  Floor to ceiling windows took up one wall, though the shades were always drawn. Aspen couldn’t remember a single time when she’d ever seen the heavy burgundy cloth pulled back to allow the sun to brighten the room.

  A dark mahogany executive desk claimed center stage in the space, facing the wall to the left of the door. Several monitors were on the wall across from the desk, each displaying a dizzying assortment of numbers that scrolled by at a speed too fast for most people to decipher.

  The wall behind the desk was Ambrose’ favorite. Instead of the bookshelves one would expect to find in an office, the king of the Northwest investment scene had chosen to have a custom wet bar installed. Ambrose was a cognac man, and his clients often showed their gratitude with expensive bottles. Thanks to the wide shelves of his bar, he had plenty of space to show off the fruits of his labor.

  “Good afternoon, ladies.” Ambrose greeted them, as always, with a warm smile and open arms.

  “Hi, Daddy,” Aspen returned her father’s smile, accepting his tight embrace. She
loved her father, and never tired of the affection he so readily gave. Ambrose was affectionate with both of his children, but more so with Aspen since Talia’s dismissal of the girl. Brett understood and didn’t begrudge his sister their father’s attention.

  “Lorelei, always a pleasure,” Ambrose shook Lorelei’s hand, pulling her in for a quick hug. He didn’t understand the intricacies of lesbian culture, or why his daughter-in-law still preferred a handshake to a hug, but he appreciated that she was willing to compromise.

  Ambrose had gone to great lengths to understand and respect Lorelei in the years that he’d known her, and he was grateful that she made the same effort. As a girl, Lorelei had been steadfastly against any kind of physical contact.

  He remembered the first time he’d offered the thirteen-year-old Lorelei a proud pat on the shoulder. Her whole body stiffened at the contact and she’d jerked away from his touch like she’d been scalded. Ambrose could have sworn he’d seen fear flash through the young girl’s eyes, but the emotion was gone in a blink, replaced quickly by an apology and an explanation that he’d startled her.

  “It’s good to see you, Ambrose,” Lorelei replied, her hand finding its way to the small of Aspen’s back, “You wanted to see us?”

  Ambrose’s brow furrowed and Lorelei thought she detected a hint of distaste on the man’s face before he turned and motioned them toward a long leather sofa in front of his desk. “I did. Have a seat, I wanted to talk to you about Aspen’s grades.”

  “Her grades?” Lorelei parroted, frowning as she shared a look with her wife, “What about them?”

  Ambrose eased himself into his leather desk chair and pulled out the lap drawer, removing a manilla envelope and a pair of thin, wire-framed glasses. It always surprised Lorelei that he wore them, and that the simple addition added so many years to the dashing man’s face.

  Ambrose Aldrich wasn’t what most people envisioned when they thought of an investment broker. Tall and muscular with thick blond hair, piercing blue eyes, and a California surfer tan that many would kill for, most people assumed Ambrose did physical labor for a living.