Page 40 of About Last Night

“Gumbo will be ready in about twenty minutes,” Audrey says. She places the wine bottle and her glass on the table and brings the beer to me. She twists it open and hands it to me, her gaze locked on mine. For the life of me, I can’t read her. Is she trying to show me that there are no hard feelings about lying to her about the apartment? Or is she just being a good hostess?

I drain my beer and take the one she’s offering. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

I turn towards the view and lower my voice. “About the apartment…”

“Yes, about that,” Audrey says. Her eyes are cool as she rests her gaze on mine.

“I’m sorry. I, um, know you thought it was my apartment?—”

“And your bed.”

“Yes, my bed.” I clear my throat. “Max really didn’t mind.” Audrey raises an eyebrow (she does that a lot and it’s not nearly as cute when she isn’t trying to seduce me with it). “But what’s important is that it was disrespectful to you to not let you know, and I have no excuse except I wasn’t thinking straight and?—”

“So, Toni,” Willa calls. “Audrey says you are more than a pretty face.”

Audrey’s head whips around toward Willa’s voice.

“OK, she didn’t say that. But she did say that you have an impressive plan for the adventure division.”

“I can’t wait to hear it on Monday,” Greta says, before taking a bite of a cracker loaded with cheese and jam.

Somehow the cracker doesn’t crumble into bits in her hand. How does Greta make everything look so effortless? And why does she look especially beautiful and relaxed tonight when I feel like a taut wire about to snap?

“I want to hear it now. Just the highlights,” Willa says. Her legs are pulled up underneath her, and she has one arm on the back of the couch, propping up her head.

Greta leans back as well and crosses one long leg over the other.

Audrey settles into one of the chairs, her arms splayed on the arms like Jean-Luc Picard readying to give the order to Engage. She nods her head slightly and sips her wine glass.

I sit on the empty chair, which happens to be nearest Greta, and launch into my plans. As I speak, I’m in my head, imagining the future of Fourteener Adventures, remembering where I was when I had a particular idea, what trail I was hiking, who I was with, the guides from other countries who had been so generous with their time and knowledge, shooting holes in my plans and offering suggestions and advice for how to make something happen in their country. Shaking hands and making promises to collaborate, to respect their culture, community, and their natural resources if and when Fourteener Sports was ready. I mention the foundation idea, and Greta leans forward. She’s completely invested now, asking questions, making her own suggestions, until it’s a conversation between the two of us and we are feeding off each other’s enthusiasm. I glance up and catch Willa and Audrey sharing a smile. Audrey sees me watching, lifts her wine glass in toast, and winks at me.

“Toni, this is amazing,” Greta says. “I had no idea your plans were so extensive.”

I sit back and sip my beer. “Neither did I, until Audrey started asking me questions and making me put my plans into words.”

Greta looks between me and Audrey. “I had no idea,” she says again, in a low voice. She inhales and looks at me, a huge grin on her face. “You’re going to kill that presentation on Monday.”

I tense. “Yeah, about that.”

“What’s wrong?”

Audrey is on her phone, ignoring us.

“I can’t, Gert. I’m so bad at public speaking. My palms literally sweat. My palms have never sweated before.”

“Not even when you’ve cliff-jumped?” Willa asks. “Yes, I’ve googled you and watched all the crazy shit you do. How are you still alive?”

“Because I don’t take risks.”

Willa laughs. “Jumping off a cliff only wearing a flimsy wingsuit is a pretty big fucking risk.”

“But I’ve taken all the safety precautions, and double-checked them. By the time I jump, it’s almost an afterthought. It’s a relief. You’ve done all the work, now it’s time to enjoy the ride.”

“And make sure you don’t crash into the side of a cliff,” Willa says.

“That, too.”

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