It was a wheat crust, and the honey was echoed in the thick braid of bread. It wasn’t exactly pizza, but it wasn’t offensive. Just odd.
She chewed thoughtfully, watching Beks do the same. “I don’t hate it, but I can’t say I understand it either.”
“No, but it’s interesting and not gross…” Beks dipped again, catching a drop of honey on her tongue.
Oh, the things she could do with honey. And Rebekka.
Jesus.
That really should be her last sip of beer.
7
Beks couldn’t remember ever having so much fun with Marissa, and they’d had some good times together.
They’d shopped and eaten, laughed and gone to the neatest little Christmas do with a band and craft booths and a huge tree.
It was sparkly and pretty and…magical. Snow was coming down slowly, the world was pure Christmas, and…well, the leg thing sucked a little, but that was life.
Something had changed. She remembered Marissa as a perfectionist, picky, more of a wine girl. But this Mari drank beer, and tried weird pizza, and didn’t complain one single time about wheeling her around town or ruining her shoes in the snow.
This Mari let Bekka feed her bites of decadent fudge by hand and bought her a cashmere scarf that was so, so soft and the most luscious violet.
“The next shuttle isn’t for a bit, are you okay waiting here? Are you cold?” Mari parked her wheelchair next to a bench under an awning where they were out of the snow and sat down. “It seems like it’s actually warmed up a bit, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah, this is amazing. It’s like a little wonderland.” Of course, she wasn’t having to push Mari, so maybe…nah. It would still be cool.
“It’s beautiful. Summit Springs is so cute and homey feeling, right? I loved the coffee shop with the fireplace…and that art gallery across the street. I bet it’s neat to live here.”
“I know! I see why Bryan moved up. I wonder how much a condo here is…it has to be better than Dallas.” Less humid for sure, and friendly.
“He’s nice. Your brother. A little misguided, but nice.”
“He’s a turd, but I suppose I’ll keep him. He’s really harmless. He just wants to be on the ski slopes, you know?”
“Well, he’s in the right place.” Mari looked at her with a curious expression. “This was really nice. Fun. I had a good time.”
“I had a ball. Thank you so much. This has been an amazing turnaround of a day.” She couldn’t stop smiling, didn’t even try.
The shuttle pulled up and let a few people off, then lowered the lift for her chair.
“That’s our ride.” Mari rolled her on and set the brakes. “See you inside.”
“Okay.”
“How you doin’, honey?”
“I’m amazing.” She was cold, her leg hurt, her butt hurt from the chair, her hair was wet from the snow—who knew snow was wet?—and she had to pee, but she’d never been happier.
Mari climbed into the shuttle and sat next to her, all smiles as they drove off toward the resort. “Warner in here, huh? My fingers are frozen. Feel.” Mari took her hand and squeezed her fingers, then covered their clasped hands with her free one. “Oh. Yours are cold too!”
Bekka dared to tug up her sweater and press their hands on her belly. Her abs jumped and jerked, and her nipples went hard as diamonds.
“Beks…”
For half a second she thought she’d made a terrible mistake because Mari looked so shocked and confused. But that feeling of dread turned into something else entirely when Mari leaned over the arm of her wheelchair and kissed her. It was a confident kiss, the kind you got when someone knew what you wanted, not questioning at all.
She whimpered, opening right up to the flavors of peppermint and coffee and fudge and Mari.