5. Bambi

CHAPTER 5

BAMBI

"There you guys are. I've been looking all over for you. We need to decide on a morning coffee meet-up spot and stick to it." Deborah takes a seat next to me cradling her steaming mug like it's the Holy Grail. "Where's Octavia? Missing again?"

I take a sip from my own mug, savoring the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee before I answer. "She was up and out the door early this morning. Said something about helping out the housekeeping staff."

"Again?" Kiki shakes her head. "What is she, some OCD neat freak or something? Why is she always volunteering to help? Yesterday she worked in the kitchen from sunup to sundown."

"No clue." I shrug. "I really hope she's using that excuse as a cover for some clandestine rendezvous with a hot Sasquatch, though."

As usual, Steph just looks away. I've noticed Steph is uncharacteristically avoidant whenever Octavia is brought up. I'm not sure she realizes her behavior is so obvious.

"You know, Deborah, I think you're on to something." Kiki's eyes widen and she straightens. "We need our own coffee spot. Like a Grotto Starbucks."

"Exactly!" Deborah's eyes light up. "We should find ourselves an empty cave and turn it into a cozy little coffee nook. Frank didn't put a limit on our budget, so unless he does, maybe we could get some top of the line equipment and do it up."

As the others chatter excitedly about flavored syrups and bean grinders, my mind wanders. Sure, an underground, limestone Starbucks sounds great, but there's a ticking clock hanging over all of this. In less than a month, we'll have to decide: stay in Grotto or return to the human world, memories wiped clean.

I steal a glance at Kiki, who's gesturing animatedly about proper espresso extraction. She's already made her choice. Kiki has committed to a life with Gruffydd. How did she know it was right?

"Hey, Kiki," I begin, aiming for casual and nonchalant, "can I ask you something?"

She turns to me, eyebrow raised. "Sure. What's up?"

I fidget with my mug, suddenly feeling like I'm back in high school asking for advice about boys. "How did you... I mean, what made you decide to stay? With Gruffydd, I mean."

Kiki's face softens, a dreamy look clouding her eyes. "Oh, honey. The Sasquatches, they're something else. Noble, honorable... Gruffydd treats me like a queen. And holy hell is he hot in bed. Sasquatch sex is out of this world, I'm tellin' ya."

My heart does a little flip thinking about Sasquatch sex.

Kiki leans in conspiratorially. "But maybe you already know that. Have you and Olwydd?—"

"What? No!" I blurt out, probably a bit too forcefully.

"Why the hell not?" She shrugs. "You're here. The opportunity is in front of you. Or…" Her eyes narrow and she studies me for a moment. "Maybe Olwydd isn't the one for you. Is there another Sasquatch you've got your eye on?"

"Absolutely not." Even as I say it, I realize it's true. None of the other Sasquatches have caught my attention in the least. None like Olwydd.

"I knew it." A smug grin stretches across her face. "I knew it wasn't all one sided. I knew you liked Olwydd too."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. I do. I do like Olwydd. The way I feel around him, it's...different. Unlike anything I've felt before. I didn't even fall this hard for the creepy jerk-faced liar who ended up ruining my life.

Olwydd is…sweet, funny, a bit of a show-off sure, but there's a genuineness to him that's hard to ignore.

"Earth to Bambi!" Steph's voice cuts through my reverie. "You still with us?"

I blink, realizing I've been staring into my coffee mug for who knows how long. "Sorry, just...lost in thought."

"Mm-hmm," Kiki hums, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Thoughts of a certain tall, dark, and furry hottie?"

"A hottie who worships the ground she walks on." Steph winks.

I feel my cheeks heat up. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Suuuure," Steph snorts.

I roll my eyes, but can't keep the smile off my face. "He doesn't worship the ground I walk on."

"Are you blind?" Deborah chimes in. "Honey, he follows you like you're his entire world. And the way he looks at you…woo-hoo…like you hung the moon and stars."

"He does?" I ask, my voice embarrassingly breathy.

The others exchange looks that scream "duh!"

"Oh, come on," Kiki says, exasperated. "You can't tell me you haven't noticed the way he looks at you..."

"Like you're the last slice of pizza at 2 am," Steph adds helpfully. "The man wants to devour you whole. Uh-huh he wants to eat you up, lick you all over from head to foot, he wants to?—"

"We get it!" Kiki nudges her.

I laugh, but my mind is racing. No, it hasn't escaped me that Olwydd has been over the top in his pursuit, of course not,but is it possible he has real feelings for me? I mean, not just because I'm single and available but because I'm ME?

The thought makes me feel all warm and tingly inside.

"I'm telling you," Kiki arches a brow, "at least take the hairy hottie out for a test drive."

"I don't know," I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "It's just... complicated."

"What's so complicated?" Steph asks. "Just do it. Bury the bone. Polish the porpoise. Batter dip the corn dog. Slime the banana. Take a trip to pound town?—"

"Enough! Sheesh," Deborah huffs.

I let out a labored sigh and palm my forehead. "Listen, I swore off men after…well, you know. I vowed never to get involved in another relationship."

"Understandable." Steph claps me on the back. "But no one said anything about a relationship. Just do the no pants dance. Clean the carpet. Burp the worm in the mole hole. Ride the skin bus to tuna town?—"

"Stop!" Deborah glares at Steph who shrinks ever so slightly, but does indeed stop blabbering out euphemisms for sex.

"I don't know." But even as I protest, a traitorous little voice in my head whispers, "What if?" What if I let down some of my walls? What if I took a chance on...whatever this is between Olwydd and me? The very thought is as scary as it is titillating.

"Look," Deborah says gently, "no one's saying you have to make any big decisions right now. But…what would it hurt to give the guy a chance?"

I know the answer to that. I lived the answer to that—the worst case scenario. But, then again, I'm older and wiser now. Not as naive. Better able to suss out backstabbing, cheating, sociopathic liars. Aren't I?

I bite my lip, considering.

"Yeah, maybe." I nod slowly, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. Maybe, if Olwydd asks again, I'll say yes. If he asks again. But right now, I'm off to work before I'm late.

I swallow the last of my coffee, stand, and wave them all goodbye.

As I stroll through the winding caverns, making my way to school, Olwydd is at the forefront of my mind. Honestly, when isn't Olwydd at the forefront of my mind?

He's popped into my thoughts unbidden since the square dance when he introduced himself, made a point of flexing his biceps, and then trailed me around all night asking me to dance and bringing me food and drinks.

I probably do need to stop pushing him away so hard. Probably. It's not like I'm committing to anything serious. Just... exploring the possibilities.

After all, like Deborah said, what would it hurt?