5. Chapter 5
After the long lunch, Krystal and Ceth had moved to the Sycamore Lodge lobby and sat in the plush, oversized chairs while continuing their chat for another two hours at least. But then Krystal had gotten a phone call, and Ceth had left her to it, making the excuse that she usually went to the gym or took a power walk at this time of day anyway.
Ceth wasn’t actually that consistent in her exercise regime, but she’d needed the space to process everything that’d been happening today.
Instead of changing to workout clothes and seeing if the resort weight room was still open or even heading to one of the beautiful shaded walking paths at the back of the Middle Waters property, she had wandered around inside the sprawling Sycamore Lodge, lost in thought.
She now found herself pacing the length of the largest dining hall, which was dimly lit and deserted of staff at the moment.
In the half-light of a few wall sconces, the uncovered tables and accompanying chairs resembled the main hall of the old grad school library.
That’s where Ceth had fled after the argument that had ended her friendship with Krystal eight years ago.
And despite what she’d said at lunch earlier, Ceth remembered every word Krystal had said that night.
She was prone to carrying certain conversations around the way some people used to carry photos of family in their wallets. She’d pull the memories out from time to time out of habit, reminding herself of who she really was.
Like the memory of that horrible day when she’d been eighteen and Roan only ten, and her mom had stared at her, angry and heartbroken with tears in her eyes as she seethed, “How could you be so irresponsible? So selfish!”
Or the memory of that night with Krystal.
They’d been arguing about Elgin in the living room when Krystal had turned and faced her with more fury on her face than Ceth would have ever thought possible.
Or are you just butting into my life out of some pathetic need to make up for all the people and things you screwed up in your own life?
Because it doesn’t work that way, Ceth! You’re judging my choices, and all that’s doing is reminding me why you’re the last person on earth I’d come to if I wanted to feel safe!
Ceth closed her eyes and lingered in the memory the way she always did.
She always let the whole thing play out in her mind instead of pushing it aside, because it was a punishment she deserved.
A punishment she needed. It was a reminder of how destructive her selfishness could be if she let someone get too close.
Like she had with Krystal.
Her feelings for Krystal had run away with her.
She’d interfered when she shouldn’t have.
Yes, Ceth had believed Elgin was objectively bad for Krystal.
She still believed that. But she had pushed Krystal harder and farther on it than simple friendship required.
Ceth’s own hopelessly misguided desire had driven her to it.
And she’d let that take priority over Krystal’s soft, sensitive heart.
For years, she’d held onto the memory of the pain she’d caused.
But why did the memory not have its familiar, expected sting today?
In fact, trying to relive it now after spending hours with Krystal in all the vibrance and sweetness Ceth remembered, plus a new level of confidence and comfort in her own skin, gave the memory a distant, surreal quality.
Like a bad dream dissolving into fuzziness as the morning sunlight trickles in.
Drawing in a deep breath, Ceth threw open the large dining hall door and stepped into the Sycamore Lodge’s bright hallway.
She followed it past the breakfast room and the doors that led to the space outside where resort staff sometimes put on outdoor movies in the summer and fall.
Her steps were lighter as they carried her to the end of the hall toward an emergency exit and an open doorway to the right of it.
Inside, she was startled to find a dusty game room, complete with a foosball table, billiard table, jukebox, and even an old Pac-Man arcade machine. Although the machine’s paint was so scratched that it actually said c-Man.
Ceth snorted, then continued to take in the room.
Despite the dilapidated equipment, Roan would probably love the game room. He was a big fan of foosball, but she didn’t get back home to play it with him much these days. Sadness and guilt built an ache in her chest in a way her earlier reminiscing hadn’t.
A shuddering sigh escaped Ceth.
You’re the last person on earth I’d come to if I wanted to feel safe.
Krystal had apologized for those words today, and Ceth had pretended she didn’t even remember them.
It was only right.
Krystal had no business carrying even a twinge of guilt for speaking the truth.
She knew Ceth’s history…at least enough of it to give weight and conviction to the things she’d said, even though she’d thrown them out in anger.
Ceth suspected some of Krystal’s anger was because she could see through Ceth.
Realized there was an ugly, self-serving undertone to Ceth’s issues with Krystal and Elgin’s relationship and not simply a friend’s concern.
Ceth absently twisted one of the foosball table handles then froze as the realization sunk in.
Krystal wasn’t with Elgin now or anyone else. She wasn’t even straight. And in spite of everything back then, she’d forgiven Ceth and was here in her life again—for now, at least—and she was taking the time to reconnect. It was all so overwhelming that Ceth could hardly believe it was true.
Maybe today was a dream…
“This place looks like a portal back in time!”
Ceth startled at the exclamation and turned to see Krystal standing in the doorway, surveying the game room with a grin.
Ceth’s heart couldn’t seem to help but speed up at Krystal’s sudden appearance, but her voice was calm as she answered, “Right? I kind of hope they keep it or refurbish it in the remodel.”
As Krystal stepped inside, her smile widened. “Is that a jukebox?”
Ceth laughed. Of course that would be the first thing Krystal picked up on.
“I wonder if it still works.” Krystal examined the machine for a moment. “I wish I had some—”
Before she could finish, Ceth reached into her pocket and pulled out some change to hand over.
“Did you take up mind-reading?” Krystal asked with a chuckle. “Thanks.”
She brushed the back of Ceth’s hand with her warm fingertips as she accepted the coins.
Ceth swallowed hard and nodded. How had she forgotten how tactile Krystal could be? Quickly, she turned away and pretended to study the c-Man machine.
Behind her, Krystal fiddled with the jukebox before letting out a tiny squeal. Ceth turned to see her covering her mouth, as if embarrassed by the outburst, but she was looking at the machine. Then her eyes met Ceth’s, and mischief flashed through those blue-green depths. “Remember this one?”
The speakers came to life as the jaunty skiffle intro to Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime” filled the room.
Ceth listened for a second then slapped her forehead. “Oh my god. Yes! The dude who lived next door to us?”
“Right!” Krystal cackled. “He played it over and over again for almost a week.”
“I know!” Ceth said with a snort. “We tried to be patient because maybe he was neurodivergent or something, but it was driving us up the wall.”
Krystal moved closer and took Ceth’s hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and started swaying her hips to the music.
“Driving you up the wall, you mean! That one day you finally slammed down your coffee and said, ‘That’s it! I don’t care if he puts on an Imagine Dragons polka tribute band.
That guy has gotta play some other song! ’ And you stormed next door.”
“You’re exaggerating. I thought the neighbor might be in mental distress by that point. I probably wanted to do a wellness check,” Ceth argued dryly, as she pulled Krystal closer and moved in sync with her.
“Wellness check? You were about to do a violence! That’s why I went with you.”
Ceth shook her head, even as she continued dancing, despite the fact her ribs were now shaking with barely stifled laughter.
“But then we got there and he was an eccentric old artist saying he needed to play the same song on repeat for inspiration to finish his painting,” Krystal continued.
“Right. He said if he didn’t finish the painting that week, he’d have to switch to playing his other favorite song: ‘Rock Lobster’ by the B-52s. I swear he was trolling us by that point.”
Krystal’s eyes twinkled with amusement, but she didn’t answer at first. She shimmied, then swung closer, and Ceth lifted their arms to guide Krystal in a spin that was well-executed, if she did say so herself.
It wasn’t difficult with Krystal. She had a musician’s natural rhythm and timing.
Had they ever danced like this before? So carefree and easy?
“But he turned out nice,” Krystal pointed out. “He gave us wine and talked our ears off because he said he only had his cute little pet salamander for company. Then he sent us back with a plate of brownies.”
“Special brownies,” Ceth clarified. “We were reeling from the whole bizarre conversation when we got back to our apartment. And then you just looked at the plate and solemnly said, ‘I don’t think these are legal brownies.’”
Krystal threw back her head in a full-bodied laugh.
God, she had a beautiful smile and an even more beautiful laugh. Everything inside Ceth hummed in response.
“Legal brownies. I’m such a dork!”
“Hey, I didn’t say that!” Ceth protested through her own laughter.
“You didn’t have to.”
Ceth pulled Krystal closer again and smiled down at her. “Well maybe I like you dorky.”
Krystal beamed back, and they continued swaying until the song came to an end.
The room went quiet, but they didn’t move apart.
Krystal’s breathing was a little fast from exertion and laughter, and they were standing close enough that Ceth could feel the subtle heave of her full breasts. It made her skin buzz in a way that dozens of moments with intimate partners never had.
Krystal looked down where their bodies were touching, as if only now becoming aware of it, then slowly raised her eyes to Ceth’s.
The small movement made Ceth’s breath catch, and she was suddenly focused on nothing else in the entire world but Krystal.
The heat emanating from the closeness of their bodies.
The light honey suckle fragrance mingled with the uniquely Krystal scent that Ceth still remembered from all those years ago.
The open, searching look in those pretty eyes.
“Ceth…” Krystal murmured.
“Hm?”
“I’m so glad you’re here.”
Ceth’s heart squeezed. “I am too.”
Krystal’s gaze dropped to Ceth’s lips, and Ceth held her breath. Was she really going to…
“There you are, Ceth!” a boisterous voice called from behind, making them jump apart like they’d been caught vandalizing the c-Man machine instead of dancing and…whatever they’d been about to do.
Ceth reluctantly turned to face Jonas and tried not to scowl.
“What’re you doing here in the condemned part of the building?” he asked.
Without waiting for her to answer, he said, “We gotta get going if we want dinner at that barbeque place we had last time. They get packed in a hurry, remember?”
“Yeah, but I was thinking of having dinner with my roommate,” Ceth protested. “We’re old friends, you see and—”
“Then bring her along!” Maria chimed in as she appeared beside Jonas. “She’s a friend, you say?”
With a huff, Ceth nodded. This wasn’t going like she’d wanted at all, although if pressed, she probably couldn’t have said exactly what she had wanted. Turning to Krystal, whose cheeks were an appealing shade of pink, Ceth said, “Krystal, these are my work friends, Jonas and Maria.”
Looking at her friends, who were now studying Krystal curiously, she said, “Guys, this is Krystal. She and I used to room together when I was in grad school for a while. She’s been with FunDaze for a year now, and we just reconnected today.”
Krystal seemed to shake off her more subdued demeanor right before Ceth’s eyes and then flashed Jonas and Maria the friendly, outgoing version of her smile. “Hi! It’s great to meet you both.”