Page 55 of High Side
She knew whatever it was, they were going to have to figure this out. No question.
They needed their people to be safe. And it was her job to help keep them that way.
Nineteen
Brittany tapped out the last bit of her outline, half a slice of pizza hanging out of her mouth. The weekly pizza. She and Kylie had been together long enough to have a weekly meal.
Wow.
Her outline was due tomorrow, her final paper in a week. The summer season was almost over, and she had three resumes out, but hadn’t heard anything.
She was starting to worry.
“How’s it going, babe?” Kylie sat beside her, hand sliding down her back. “You’re frowning.”
“Huh? Oh, the proposal is going fine.” She smiled, then chewed a piece off the pizza. “Thanks for helping me with it.” Kylie had helped her with the idea for a way to integrate state park campgrounds with the more modern camper, with platform tents and eco-friendly food ideas and more. It was awesome, and worked into the idea that she wanted to be a park ranger.
“Anytime. It’s fascinating stuff. Seriously. Are you going to apply to the forestry service out here?”
“Yeah. I am. I mean, I think they open applications in the spring…” Was now the time to talk to Kylie about wanting to stay on for the winter?
“So is this the whole ‘this is weird but super-important’ talk time?”
“Yeah.” She turned in the desk chair, which she didn’t think Kylie had ever used. She closed her laptop. “Is that cool?”
“Might as well. Come sit, though. I don’t want to have to stand here and stare down at you.” Kylie took her plate for her, going to the couch to shove Sadie down to one end instead of smack in the middle.
They sat together and held hands, and it was weird, but wonderful at the same time. Seriously.
“Okay, lay it on me.”
Brittany took a deep breath. “Well, I know you asked me to move in, but was that just for the summer, or for—for however long. I mean…”
“It’s hard to say for good, huh?” Kylie smiled, rubbing her fingers.
“It is. Not because I don’t dig you like crazy, but because I don’t have the best role models for long-term.”
“I asked for real. I asked because I love you, and I want long-term. I know I’m old and stuff, but—”
“Stop it. You’re a couple of years older. Notold.”
“Well, that’s cool. But I mean, you’re just out of college. You have a lot to explore.”
She chewed her lower lip. And Kylie popped it out with one thumb, which made her smile. “I have a lot I want to do, sure, but I know what I like to do, and it’s outdoor rec. There’s a lot of that here, but what if I can’t find a job for the winter? I need to pull my weight.”
“Well, through Christmas, if nothing else, there will be seasonal work. The mountain is always hiring. I can talk to Lars who owns the Christmas tree farm.”
“That sounds cool. I mean, I would love to get something in my field to get some experience, but I would take it. I want to hang around.” Brittany tried for super casual, but she searched Kylie’s face for approval.
“Yeah? Because I want you to stay. Like, you live here, stay. Like permanently.” That was less super casual, for sure.
“Wow.” She nodded, though, before she even thought about that. If it was that instinctive, then it was a good sign, right?
“Yeah. I mean, we fit. I keep thinking about the fall, having a fire in the fireplace, having holidays. Together.”
“Yeah?” Brittany grinned. “Or skiing, fireplace, hot buttered rum?”
Kylie laughed. “We can alternate old lady stuff for me and young shit for you.”
