Chapter 20

Kirsten wiped her hands on her good jeans, the dark wash ones with no holes in them. She was going to meet Skyla's manager. They were going to the steakhouse at the ski lodge.

She'd never even seen the inside of that place. It was nuts.

She breathed in, then out, waiting for Reba and Skyla to get back from Reba's potty break.

She checked her hair, smoothed her shirt down, and checked her boots.

Okay. Okay, she looked as good as she was going to get. She was who she was.

"Hey. Whew! It's cold. Do we need to Uber up the mountain?"

"Nah. They keep the road really clean."

"Okay." Skyla stopped to stare at her. "Oh, honey, you look amazing."

"Yeah?" All right, that felt damn fine. "You mean it?"

"Hell, yes." Skyla came to put both hands on her hips, then went up on tiptoe to kiss her. "I love it. Let me just fix my hair and put on some mascara. Be right back." She got another kiss before Skyla ran for the bathroom.

She waited on the sofa, loving on Reba, telling herself that this was going to be amazing. That this was the next first step in being accepted in Skyla's life.

Meeting the band had been…less than stellar.

Oh, Brenda was faultlessly nice to her, and she'd made her peace with Andi and Michelle, but—Yeah. Some of the others seemed to think she was out to get whatever she could.

It wasn't that—she didn't have to be a member of the band. She didn't have to go on the road. She just wanted to be a part of Skyla's life.

She wanted to be who Skyla came home to.

"Okay! Ready." Skyla was texting as she came out of the bathroom. "I'm just letting Peach know we're on our way."

Oh, didn't Skyla look cute in her heavy tights and thick sweater dress in a pale blue that made her eyes shine? She was so damn fine. Kirsten took her hand.

"I'm ready too."

"Good. Peach is so easy, honey. You're going to love her."

"I'm sure of it. I just want her to like me, you know?" She wanted to be a good thing, not a hassle.

"She will. What's not to like, honey?" They bundled up and headed out, the night clear and vicious cold.

"Excellent question." Sort of.

Okay, know what? That was not the way to think. No way. She was strong, talented, friendly, and she loved Skyla, dammit.

"Stop worrying." Skyla walked her to the car before letting go.

They headed up the mountain to the ski lodge, the driving technical enough that she had no time to worry.

"God, this is beautiful, babe," Skyla sighed.

"Wait 'til you see it next Christmas."

"Yeah? Is it so cool?"

Kirsten grinned. "Greenery and twinkling lights. Downtown does up all the decoration. Wraps the trees. Hangs those weird tinsel things from the light posts. Last year it was gnomes."

"Oh, wow…"

"Yeah, and there's a huge bazaar at Charlotte's folks. Lars does sleigh rides. There's tons of music and fun. I love the holidays here." That was no lie.

"I can't wait. I usually get time off, because all the holiday stuff is filmed in like, July."

"Yeah? Like the specials and everything?" They needed to turn the air down cold to make it seem like the holidays, she'd bet.

"Yep. We all bundle up and sweat like crazy." Skyla shook her head. "Unless it's like, the tree lighting one in New York."

"Oh, that's cool. I've always wanted to see that."

"Yeah. It's neat, but it's crazy how many people there are there." Skyla shook her head, curls bouncing.

"My well-traveled girl."

"You can come with me. We can do it together."

"I want to think about that. I'm trying not to be a coward. I'm trying to be… Open."

"I know. You've been here a long time. I just want you with me."

She touched Skyla's hand. "I want to be with you."

"Then we can work it out somehow. Travel some of the time. Stay home some. Just be together."

"Yeah." She parked at the ski lodge, and they rushed inside, the cold biting.

"How is it so cold and not snowing?" Skyla shivered over to the fireplace.

"It can be too cold to snow, you know."

"It can?" Skyla's eyes widened. "I've never even heard of that."

"True story. That's what everyone here says, and I've never seen it not be true." She took Skyla's coat. "Are we supposed to meet her here?"

"Yeah. She said there was some kind of shuttle from downtown. She wanted to come up early and do happy hour and watch the skiing."

"Cool. We can give her a ride back down."

"I bet she'd appreciate that." Skyla pulled out her phone, texting. "Okay, she's up by the restaurant."

"Excellent. Getting warmer, honey?" They wandered through the lodge, and this time it was so much easier than when Skyla had been so damn scared.

"Yes. It's nice in here." Skyla paused to take a picture of the big, round fireplace with its fancy-ass chimney rising through the center of the building. "That's so pretty."

"Cherry says there's a double-sided one in the steakhouse."

"Ah, she likes to get away from her place and cheat in steaks, huh?"

"She's sleeping with the chef. It's a long torrid story."

Skyla blinked. "Aren't they all around here?"

"God, yes." They headed up the escalator. "They totally are. Small towns are like that."

"Especially lesbian heavy ones…"

She hooted. "Especially those."

"My girl! Yoo hooo!" An older lady hung over the rail of the mezzanine, waving.

"Peach! I brought company!" Skyla waved and started tugging her up the stairs.

She chuckled madly. "I see why you like her."

"She has no shame. Like me." Skyla reached the top and went to hug the lady, who wore a violently pink and purple leopard sweater, a pair of tight stretch jeans, and a pair of ostrich boots. "This is Kirsten. Kirsten, Peach."

"Pleased to meet you, ma'am."

"You're adorable. I can see why she likes you."

Kirsten's cheeks went hot. "Thank you—oof." Kirsten's breath whooshed out of her as Peach hugged her, smelling like vanilla and powder.

"Come on, now, you two," Peach said, towing her along. "I'm starving. The weather up here makes me want to eat and eat."

"I remember that. The first few days at altitude are crazy with the hungry."

"Yes. Thank God Skyla told me about water and Tylenol." Peach waved at the maitre'd. "Here we are, honey. Lawrence for three."

He grinned. "I remember, Mrs. Lawrence. Come on. Your table is ready."

"I stopped in before happy hour to see if they would let me pick our table," Peach said. "I wanted a view and a fireplace." She smiled at Kirsten. "Have you been here before?"

"No, ma'am. I'm more of a beer and pizza girl." Although Evie could barbecue with the best of them.

"Ah. Well, me too, but you know, you do that a lot, right? This is about one special night." They were led to a table that was right by one side of the big double fireplace, and where they could look out the panoramic window. Wow. The lift was all lit up, the lights down in town sparkling.

"Oh, it's beautiful. It's absolutely stunning." Skyla's eyes were huge. "I cannot believe this is real."

"I haven't ever seen it from this angle either." Kirsten felt pride well up in her chest. This was her town. This was home.

"Well, it's stunning. I can see why you're in love with this place, girls. It's like a slice of heaven." Peach was beaming at them both, and Kirsten felt herself relax.

"Hello, ladies. Oh, hey, Kirsten. How's it going?" The server was a young man she knew worked part-time for MM, too. He was at the jam sessions.

"Hey, Kane. How's it going?"

"Good. Good. Miss Skyla, good to see you."

"You too, sweetie. This is my manager, Peach."

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Peach. Would you like to hear the specials?"

"Absolutely!"

"We have an elk steak with an herb butter, there's a lobster mac and cheese, and there's a gorgeous venison filet with mushroom gravy and hasselback potatoes."

Jesus, this place was fancy.

She opened the menu, looking for something like a petite sirloin or a steak salad.

"Oh, wow. Elk. I want that. And the lobster mac." That was Peach, who beamed at them. "I'll just take any leftovers to the house."

"I want to try the venison," Skyla said. "What about you, honey?"

There had to be something affordable here. Had to be.

"I'm going to have the caesar salad and a side of risotto, I think." Even that was over twenty bucks…

"Oh, honey. If you want a steak or a special, get it. I'm going to expense this shit. You played on the demo of your song. That means you're here for work." Those prodigious eyelashes fell and rose on a wink.

"Are you sure?"

"Are you kidding? Make the label pay."

Skyla stroked her thigh. "I bet that ribeye is calling your name, love. Mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts?"

She may have made an embarrassing yummy sound.

"That's such a good choice," Kane said. He got their drink orders too. "I'll get that in for you, and please let me know if you need anything else."

"So, I want to know everything about you, Kirsten. I'm notoriously nosy, and I can tell I'm going to love you."

Kirsten shrugged, but she was tickled as hell. "I'm a waitress, I teach music, I play gigs. Uh. I have cats and a Subaru."

"No, no. That tells me what everyone else knows." Peach put her elbows on the pristine white tablecloth. "Tell me one thing no one else knows."

"I—I'm a secret John Denver superfan."

"No shit?" Peach cackled madly. "Me too! I love him."

"Yeah, my granny was a huge fan, and I love that I'm in the Rockies now. It makes me stupidly happy."

"I bet." Peach nudged Skyla. "See? I adore her already."

"We'll have to do a cover, babe," Skyla said. "‘Poems, Prayers, Promises' for the win."

"I love that song!"

"Y'all are so cute." Peach just beamed at them.

"Okay, Peach. Your turn. Tell me a secret about you."

"Hmmm. I told my husband I had vaginal dryness two years before I even started menopause. I'm the queen of the handjob."

"Peach!" Skyla blinked, her eyes wide, but Kirsten cracked up, her laughter ringing out. That was perfect.

"I know, baby girl. I'm like your granny. But Kirsten and I are bonding."

"We so are." Kirsten held out a closed fist to bump, and Peach popped her gently with a be-ringed hand.

"So, you have a house here?"

"An apartment. Sort of. It's a house, and I've had the same landlady for my whole time here. I love it."

"Oh, that sounds nice."

"You'll have to come see it while you're here. Meet the cats."

"I'm thinking of making an offer on it," Skyla said. "Kirsten says the landlady is getting older, and she might want the responsibility off her hands."

"Seriously? Are you going to just have the whole house then?"

"I'm the only one that would be interested in buying. Mr. Hardiston is selling his store, and the McGarry's are househunting for when their lease was up. I think she just lets me stay because I never leave."

"Ah. Well, that sounds grand." Peach chuckled. "Young people. I mean, I'm at the downsizing stage, so I understand your landlady."

Their food came not long after that, the chatter so bright and happy that Kirsten didn't even get self-conscious about the size of the damn steak. It was luscious.

They dug in, everyone sharing bites, just talking and happy.

It was so weird, that Kirsten was sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop. But Peach was just genuine and kind and happy. Kirsten really liked her a lot.

"Oh, God, that was so good." Skyla leaned back. "Is it awful that I want dessert?"

"Baby. If you want dessert, you should get it. Or we can share stuff. You know me."

She wasn't worried about it.

"Let's see what there is."

"Ladies, would you like to see a dessert menu?"

"Yes please. And coffee, son." Peach waved at the table. "I'ma need it."

"You and me both. I could have something hot and caffeinated."

"Coffee all around?"

"Uh-huh." Skyla laughed. "And that menu."

"Be right back."

Coffee was just as fancy as the rest of it, with cups and saucers and cream in little ceramic pitchers and all that good jazz.

"I do love a fancy restaurant. I do." Peach liked a sweet and creamy coffee too.

Kirsten would have to remember that.

"Oh, me too. Carrot cake or death by chocolate, honey?" Skyla asked.

"I'm easy. I like it all." She was as full as a tick.

"How about we all three share the chocolate. We'll get carrot cake to have for breakfast in the morning." Peach clapped her hands, clearly tickled.

"Oh, I like it. One chocolate for here, two carrot to go?" Skyla was over the moon.

Kane was tickled, too, she could tell. His tip just kept going up. Kirsten got it. One good table could make someone's night.

The fire crackled, the lights below twinkled, and Kirsten watched Skyla and Peach tease and joke and play with each other with a sense of deep peace. This was right. This thing with her and Skyla.

She just had to figure out how to make it work out on the long-term.