Chapter 3
Teddy
Riding on the back of a motorbike was the best.
Riding on the back of Arden’s motorbike was even better. She didn’t know how long they were riding for, all she knew was that the purr of the bike vibrating between her legs, and holding on to Arden, was the best feeling in the whole freaking world.
Trees flew past them, and the occasional house, but they didn’t let up for a good couple of hours. Teddy was able to just hold on and let everything wash away. Quiet. Peace. An empty road that held nothing but promises.
It wasn’t late when Arden pulled into the parking lot of a small diner, but she cut the bike’s engine anyway. “I don’t know how long you were out by the side of the highway, but I figure some food would be pretty good round about now.”
Taking off her helmet, Teddy looked past the other woman. Diners in small towns weren’t exactly the most friendly of places.
Arden saw her look and smiled. “You’re all good; they know me here, and they’re fine with a dyke on a bike eating in their establishment.
Most of the queers travelling through this part of the world stop off here.
Plus, there’s an inexpensive motel out back that always has a ton of rooms cheap, so we can both get a good night’s sleep before driving the rest of the way tomorrow. ”
That sounded great, so Teddy didn’t know why her heart sank a little.
“Come on, baby girl, let’s get a bite to eat.”
Arden was grabbing their bags from the top box as she spoke, the nickname falling so casually from her lips that Teddy wanted to cry. It had been so long since someone had called her baby girl, and to have it tossed her way carelessly…
She hadn’t gotten off the bike, and Arden paused, looking at her. “You okay, Teddy?”
“Yeah.” That was a lie. She wasn’t okay, but she also wasn’t about to make a big deal over a stupid nickname.
“You lying to me?” The question was gentle, not accusatory, but it felt that way anyway.
Teddy swung herself off the bike and got down, handing Arden the helmet and avoiding meeting her gaze.
“Teddy?”
“Arden?”
She sensed the chuckle before she heard it, and that made Teddy even madder.
“You’re sulking. Come on, what are you sulking about?”
“I’m not sulking!” Teddy said, and tried her best not to stomp over to the diner door. But before she could open it, Arden put a hand against the wood and stopped her.
“Okay, that’s enough Teddy. Talk to me.”
There were a million reasons why Teddy should have kept her mouth shut, the main one being that she was feeling like she was about to have a full-blown temper tantrum. With a woman who wasn’t her Daddy Domme, who didn’t know her, and had been kind enough to offer her a lift all the way to Missoula.
Teddy did not keep her mouth shut. “I’m not your baby girl. You haven’t asked me, and it’s disrespectful to just throw around pet names like that.”
There was a long pause before Arden sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I should have asked.”
“Yes, you should have.” Teddy wrenched the door open and walked inside, Arden following behind her.
“Arden!!” The chorus of greetings that came from the staff inside made her take a small step back, and then Arden’s hand was in the small of her back, reassuring.
“Hey guys, can I grab my usual table?”
“Sure!” said a perky waitress with a sunny smile. “I’ll bring over the menu for your guest in a moment.”
Gesturing towards a booth, Arden nodded Teddy towards one side and took her seat opposite. “I guess, knowing the nature of your cousin’s club, I should have been more careful about the way I addressed you; I didn’t mean to make you feel a kind of way, but it was careless. I’m sorry.”
Teddy wriggled in her seat. “It’s okay; I was overreacting. I’m a bit tired and tetchy. The bike ride was amazing, but now that we’ve stopped…”
“Everything’s come flooding back?”
She nodded. “Exactly. And the last person to call me baby girl was my ex.”
Arden whistled. “That’s gotta sting. I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” Teddy forced a smile that she knew didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I suppose I should have known that it was over long before today. It wasn’t like she’d made the effort to come see me, and our messages had gotten shorter and shorter. Like I was a chore that she had to complete.”
The other woman looked like she wanted to say something, but instead reached over the table and patted Teddy’s hand awkwardly.
“Hey there!” The waitress had come over, and was smiling broadly at them both.
She teased Arden about never deviating from her order, but then turned and talked Teddy through the menu.
She was grateful for that. Considering how their entrance had been greeted, Arden was a clear favorite, but her presence at the table wasn’t ignored or pushed aside.
She came back a few minutes later with a soda for Arden and a large milkshake for Teddy. The milkshake was heaven. Exactly what she needed to take her mind off her predicament.