“I don’t see why not. You can sit the whole time. It’s one of the zillion things we have free tickets for.”
“Then we need to go. I want to do everything with you.” She wanted to experience and enjoy and any other ‘e’ words she could think of.
“All right then. Let’s get going.” Mari went and got her crutches, then helped her up.
She was beginning to get good at this, this whole crutching around without feeling like a dancing bear.
“I never asked you how long you’d be in that cast.” Mari got the door for her and held it. “Does it still hurt?”
“Four weeks, and then a boot. Yay boot!” She winked at Mari and clumped out the door. “And no. It really doesn’t. Cool, huh?”
“At least that’s something.” Mari closed the door behind them. “Pictures here we come. I hear you can see the valley and the village from up there.”
“I’m excited.” She loved this whole thing—well, not the crutching part. That sucked. But the going and doing, the seeing new things, that was wonderful.
Being with Mari was too.
She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed Marissa until she’d been able to reconnect.
The shuttle drivers all knew them by now; they were kind of a celebrity couple getting free rides and free adventures all week. And everyone believed they were married.
“Have a fantastic day, ladies!” the driver said as they exited the shuttle.
Slowly.
The driver watched as Mari helped her. So awkward. “And…bye!” the driver said again once she was actually off the shuttle.
Mari just giggled at her.
Bekka wasn’t sure she’d ever heard Mari make that sound sober. It was cute as hell, and Bekka wanted to hear it again.
“Even the shuttle is an adventure, huh? But, nothing like door-to-door service.”
“Well, you know, if that tree hadn’t jumped in front of me, hmm?” Bekka’s cheeks burned, but she made herself laugh, because she was the reason they were…galumphing along.
“Fucking tree.” Mari deadpanned.
“Yep. It hates me. I’m not going to be a skier, I guess.” She hadn’t tried too hard, but once had been enough for right now.
“This is not the end of the world. Besides, it’s good for couples to have some different hobbies.” Mari blushed. It mixed in with the pink from the cold air, but it was unmistakably a blush. “You know…friend-couples. Who are mostly friends but kind of a couple. Sort of together, you know what I mean.”
“I totally do. Fake-married couple-types.” She wasn’t going to walk away from this. No way. Mari could walk away.
“Right. Exactly.” Mari looked at her. “Well, wait. No. More than fake-married-couple-types. Just not quite…definable. Yet.”
“Fair enough. At least having fun together types, hmm?” She wanted that.
“Yes. That at the very least.”
“Ready, ladies? Looks like you’re getting a private ride.” The gondola was small, meant to seat maybe eight people, but there was no one else in line.
“Oh, it’s like it was meant to be…” Bekka carefully crutched into the tram, trying to be super careful. One fall was an accident. Two was clumsiness.
“Wait, I’ll help.” Mari was right at her side and assisted her in, then climbed in with her and helped her get seated. There was no clumsy fumbling of her crutches or awkward where should she put her hands moments, Mari just made it happen.
“Wow.”
Mari blinked at her. “Wow, what?”