Page 75 of Unbossly Manners

It was clear that he’d been the target of whoever had spiked the beer.

“Not because of Derrick, either,” he said. The tires crunched over the gravel and skidded to a stop in front of the large stone entrance.

“Say it,” Selena turned in her seat.

“I didn’t do this, this was done to me,” I parroted.

Still. The whole company was in turmoil because I’d been drugged.

“Tell me about the bike race,” I said, sick of talking about the unfortunate incident, as I called it.

“It’s a journey,” he corrected, looking up our reservation on the rental app for check-in instructions.

“What does that even mean?” Selena asked, running her hands through her newly dyed royal blue hair.

“You and your riding partner leisurely follow the course through the peaceful countryside to the finish line. It’s not about who finishes first. It’s about the experience.”

“But there is a start and finish line,” I said, leaning between the front seats.

“You’re not timed and there are no prizes,” he said.

Selena and I were a team, obviously, and Jackson was riding with a guy from his cycling group.

I gave him a hard time, but I was glad we were taking this trip. I’d spent too much time in my head over the past week. Despite his efforts to distract and comfort, without work, I’d had little to do but think about the party and the aftermath.

My memory had many gaps, and I’d spoken to a therapist, which the company had set up for me, but there wasn’t any healing to be done. All I remembered was having fun, talking to Derrick, then waking up and feeling like shit at Jackson’s in the morning.

I wasn’t hurt or violated.

“I hate causing all this drama.” I moaned.

“Stop it,” Jackson warned, shoving his phone in his pocket.

“I know. Blah blah blah. I’m not causing the drama. The asshole who drugged me is.”

Selena reached back for my hand. “I understand you feel responsible, but Jackson’s right.”

“Thanks, Lena,” he said and opened his door.

“De nada.”

I liked that he called her by her nickname like he’d adopted her as a friend, too.

“How many people are staying here?” I stepped out of the car, pulling my weekender tote onto my shoulder.

“Six. The three of us. My riding partner, Jovan. And a weekend rider, Nellie, and his wife, Bee. Nellie and Bee are as serious as you two.”

“We’re not serious at all,” I said.

“Exactly. They’re here to play games and drink.”

The cabin’s foyer was two stories high and led to three long steps down into a grand living area with a two-sided fireplace. One side faced the expansive living room and the other side faced the large dining table and open kitchen. The living room had floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the green rolling hills and a pond at the far end. It was idyllic.

“There are two masters. You two can take the one upstairs, Bee and Nellie will take the one downstairs, and Jovan and I will take the last two bedrooms. There’s a swimming pond on the far end of the property with kayaks and canoes and acres of walking trails.”

It was Thursday and the race or journey or whatever wasn’t until Sunday, so we had a few days to chill before the event. I’d brought my book and downloaded several movies to watch, and Selena had downloaded a new serial podcast she was excited about.

I was looking forward to the hikes the most. The one thing I loved when I’d visit my mom in Breckenridge were the hikes. I enjoyed working hard for the beautiful pay-off when you finally took in those gorgeous views. Not to mention the sights along the way, and the unexpected wildlife—deer, chipmunks, moose, colorful birds.

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