Page 9 of For the Record

Coy huffed a laugh, ignoring the immediate throbbing between her thighs at Sawyer’s harsh demand. She shook her head, loosening the last lug nut on the flat tire and trying to rid herself of the hot image of the older woman shackling Coy to a spreader bar. She seemed the type to know her way around kink and dominance. If she didn’t, Coy bet Sawyer was a fast learner.

“What can I say? It’s my lucky day running into you, and I don’t want to waste a second of it. I was on my way to lunch with a friend, but it must have been serendipity that brought me here to you.” The sound of Sawyer’s scoff drew Coy away from the spare tire she was fitting on.

“Do you actually believe the bullshit you spew? Or is everything just a game? Women are not shiny prizes to be discarded when boredom strikes or when you find a new toy. Everything comes so easily to your generation. You don’t know what it’s like to be forced to conform.”

Coy didn’t reply right away, not knowing what to say and smart enough to know she’d pushed some buttons. Her brain stumbled over the last thing Sawyer said about being forced to conform and repeated it over and over until she thought she’d go crazy without knowing.

“So, I’m right, then? About you? You do like women.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

Coy hoped her grin looked natural as she reached for the last lug nut to fasten into place. She tried not to let Sawyer’s words bother her. After all, the woman knew nothing about her. Coy offered no empty promises when she picked up a partner to spend the night with. She explained from the beginning that she wasn’t looking for anything longer than one night. How did that make them “toys” in Sawyer’s eyes? She furrowed her brow in thought.

“There. You’re good to go.” Coy loaded the flat tire and tools into the trunk and wiped her greasy hands on her coveralls. She’d wash them better when she was back in Tegan. Once she had disengaged the Rover’s suspension, her eyes met Sawyer’s.

“Here, for payment. I don’t want to owe you any favors.” The purse Sawyer fished two embossed certificates out of was bigger than Coy’s first aid kit, the cardboard clutched in her fist already going limp in the rain.

“Desmarais,” Coy read, scanning the contents of the card. It looked to be an upscale fusion restaurant of some sort. It was the first she’d heard of it, but that was no surprise. She’d never had a reason to go fine dining. “‘The bearer is entitled to two complimentary meals.’” She glanced up at Sawyer, thoroughly lost.

“For payment,” Sawyer repeated, impatience making her hands jerky as she opened her car door again. “I don’t have cash on me. I don’t suppose you carry an Interac machine on you?”

“No payment was necessary but thank you, Sawyer. I appreciate the gift.”

“Not a gift, McCoy.” Sawyer was already climbing into her Rover. “A repayment of a debt.” With a flick of her hand, she closed her door, effectively ending the conversation. Seconds later, there was a low purr as the engine came to life.

Coy waved goodbye before heading back to Tegan. She was drenched as she started the Jeep, and an unsettling feeling burrowed deeply in her gut as she watched Sawyer drive away. Sawyer had repeatedly thwarted her attempts to flirt, so shouldn’t her rejection lift whatever chokehold she had on Coy?

As she examined the coupons still in her hand, Coy wondered if she’d ever see the older woman again.

Chapter 5

Sawyer

The following morning, Sawyerwas still fuming over yesterday's fiasco. She couldn’t understand how someone she’d had the misfortune of meeting twice could get under her skin so detrimentally. McCoy—whatever-her-name-was—had slithered under her skin and plagued her thoughts. Thankfully, however, she’d never warmed Sawyer’s bed.

“If only she didn’t have that stupid, cocky smile,” Sawyer griped, slowing down at a red light as she made the daily commute to work. The problem was that she couldn’t figure out how to remove said smile from her cerebrum. It should have been illegal to smile that wide and with not one dimple but two. Yes, something about McCoy set her blood thrashing, and not in a good way.

Her phone rang through the Rover’s speakers as she drove through the intersection. Glancing at the display on her dash,a smile that only her daughter could pull out of her stretched Sawyer’s lips from ear to ear. McCoy was forgotten as she pressed the steering wheel to accept the call. “Hey, love! Don’t tell me you’re just getting up!”

Bree’s soft laughter from the Range Rover’s speakers was the missing warmth in Sawyer’s frigid heart. Her emotions were waking with the melody, sparking to life, and she was beyond grateful for their close relationship. “Good morning,Maman. You know habits are tough to break.”

Ugh. You can say that again.Case in point, she’d dumped a full carafe of coffee into the sink that morning after remembering it was just her and Patches in the house. As much as she’d grown to resent Olivier, for years she’d had a purpose around the home. No, more than that. She’d had an obligation to fulfill, and now that it was no more, Sawyer felt unsettled. She didn’t know who she was anymore outside of work.

“Indeed. How late were you up last night?”

“Ohhh, ‘til about two. I watched the entire season three ofThe 100with Scott. We bakedpouding chômeurbetween breaks, but it never turns out as well as when you and I make it.”

“I miss bringing you with me to work.”

Sawyer winced as the truth spilled out, not wanting Bree to feel sorry for her. Their after-school routine may have ended a couple years ago, but they were still some of Sawyer’s fondest memories.

“Me too. I miss cooking and baking in the backhouse with Barb and everyone. I always felt safest at the restaurant with you. I … I hope you know that.”

Sawyer’s throat and sinuses burned as she forced herself to remain calm. Walking into work with tear-stained cheeks just wouldn’t do. Neither would sobbing into the phone to her daughter. Bree witnessing her come apart was the last thing Sawyer needed. It hadn’t happened in years, but Sawyer knewher daughter would rush back to Vancouver if she thought her mom wasn’t coping. Sawyer couldn’t let that happen.We’ve both sacrificed too much to just throw it all away.She would do anything to make sure Bree’s future wasn’t in jeopardy. Just as she had for the past twenty years.

Despite her best efforts, Sawyer’s vision blurred. Fuck, she was crying. Silently, but there was no way Bree couldn’t hear it in her traitorous voice. She wiped a lone tear from her cheek, and said in a tight voice, “I … Thank you for the call. I’ve gotta go now, Bree. Talk tomorrow, love, okay?”

“Sure, take care,Maman. I love you.Je m’ennuie de toi.” I miss you.

---