Page 42 of Fighting Furry

“Axel is certainly smitten with you, that's obvious.” She patted my shoulder and grinned, revealing two missing teeth. “He's been alone for too long and he seems so happy that you're his girlfriend. No man should go so long without sex.”

“I'm not-”

“The way he talked about you, I expect there'll be a wedding soon. We could certainly use some happy—”

“Hey, Esther,” Clarissa said, stepping up next to me. “I need to steal Julie for a minute.”

“Alright, dear. I was just about to ask Julie if she wanted to join me for a dive.”

“No,” Clarissa said.

Esther frowned and glared at Clarissa. “I asked Julie.” She smiled sweetly at me. “Would you like to join me for a dive? It's the most fun you can have on the mountain.”

I looked to Clarissa for some idea of what the elderly lady was talking about, but Esther slapped my shoulder. “Don't look at her, she's a stick-in-the-mud. Just say yes.”

I remembered Axel's advice about saying no and had a feeling I understood what he'd meant. “Not this time,” I said. “But thanks for inviting me.”

Esther frowned, but was quickly distracted by two teenagers who were…Were they spiking the fruit salad with…Sugar?

Clarissa pulled me away to an empty couch and I sat next to her. “What was she talking about?”

Clarissa rolled her eyes. “Esther's favorite thing to do is waterfall diving.”

“What's that?”

“Exactly what it sounds like, you stand at the top of a waterfall and dive, headfirst. That's how she lost her teeth.”

“That little old lady likes to dive from a waterfall?”

Clarissa grimaced. “Yeah. She tries a different waterfall every week. She's challenged a few of the young ones to a competition, but even they bailed after they all broke bones diving with her.”

“How is she still alive?”

“One of life's mysteries.”

“Thanks for rescuing me from her.”

She gave me a blank look. “Rescuing you?”

I pinched my lips shut tight and tried to think of a way to un-insult Esther.

Clarissa burst out laughing. “I'm teasing you. Of course, I rescued you. Eat up and then tell me what's really going on with you and Axel.”

I ate and we people-watched while Clarissa told funny stories about pack members.

I was halfway through my plate of food when a boy approached us. He looked about fourteen, with an angel's face and the devil in his eyes. He asked Clarissa if she knew of an attachment he could put on the zip-line so he could ride it upside down. He swore he'd have someone on the other end to catch him so he didn't bash his head into a tree. Clarissa told him no and, that if he tried it, she'd put him in jail.

After he walked away, she shook her head. “The threat of jail is the only thing keeping half the town alive lately.”

I was chewing my last bite of food when a middle-aged woman asked if we'd like to go roof-sledding. Clarissa said no.

“Roof sledding?” I asked, after the woman had walked away.

Clarissa sighed wearily. “They put a sled on a roof-top and ride it down. Usually, they wait for winter and deep snow, but I guess they're bored.”

I could see how boredom could be a problem there, but I didn't mention that to Clarissa.

As soon as Clarissa saw my plate was empty, she twisted to sit crisscross apple sauce on the couch and face me. “Okay, tell me about you and Axel. Obviously, you're sleeping together.”

---