Page 10 of Protected By West
That told her she must be cold and clammy against Jaime's hand.
"Okay, we're outside on our own and walking. Can you tell me what's going on?"
Tracy lifted her head to look at her friend and tried to muster up a real smile. "If I said I was going through menopause, would you leave it at that?"
The look Jaime gave her said she wasn't buying it. "You're thirty-f-"
"Ixnay on the ageway leasepay."
She heard Jaime sigh. "I'm going to listen but only because you know that pig Latin makes my head hurt."
"Sorry. I just..."
Jaime turned and Tracy heard another door swing open. "We'll go in here."
Tracy felt the air get even cooler on her face and managed a smile. "Thanks. I feel so much better already."
"Sit."
Tracey felt Jaime turn her until her butt was leaning against the edge of the counter. She knew she was feeling better when a sassy little comeback was on the tip of her tongue.
"Let me get you a wet towel."
Tracy groaned a little at the sound of the water coming out of the spigot. "You're going to ruin my make-up."
Jaime's laugh was almost a snort. "You don't really wear make-up." The water shut off. And she heard water falling back into the basin.
That's when Tracy opened her eyes. "I am feeling better, you know."
Jaime arched a brow at her before handing Tracy the cool, wet paper towel. "Feeling better and able to function are two different things."
Tracy felt the cool touch of the towel on her open palm. "We've functioned on less than nothing before."
Jaime turned, leaning against the counter beside Tracy and folded her arms across her chest. "There's a long way between ‘we were up all night hammering out the annual report for the members’ and ‘drinking way too many rum and cokes,’ and looking like you're about to pass out before this conference really starts."
Tracy straightened up as she touched the towel to her forehead. "We haven't done that in years."
She moved the towel to her temple and then down her cheek to her chin as Jaime chuckled.
"Well, I'd like to think that we're grownups now and we wouldn't do that again."
Tracy dropped her chin and touched the cool cloth to the back of her neck. The temperature was soothing. Letting out a long exhale she looked at her friend. "We were grown up when we got sloshed that night. We're just heading toward the other side of middle-life and know better."
Jaime laughed out loud, and the sound echoed off of the walls.
Tracy laughed but it was softer.
A little less than her normal sense of humor.
"My life sucks."
Jaime turned her head. Tracy could see the movement out of the corner of her eyes. "And this is in regards to..."
"That cowboy you were eyeing on the stage?"
Jaime nodded and Tracy moved the towel back to her forehead.
"Yeah?"
