Page 19 of Back Up Plan

Ari smirked and held open another door.

“You can’t be serious? Golf?” Cass said, jokingly sticking her tongue out and faux gagging.

Ari tossed her head back and groaned, “Look, golf is fun. It just gets a bad rep from all the white, tech bros who are obsessed with it.”

“Uh-huh…” Cass said, staring Ari down.

“I’m serious,” Ari said as she gestured Cass toward the check-in desk, placing her hand on Cass’s mid-back.

Cass turned to look at Ari, clearly surprised by the familiar touch.

Before she could say anything, Ari continued, “Plus, my bosses love it and think I do too so you should learn it before pretending to be my girlfriend.”

Or being my…anything.

“Hi, checking in for Ariel Graves,” she said to the receptionist.

Exhausted from a long shift, the employee said “Great,” and reluctantly scrolled through the reservations list.

“Top floor, stall 18,” they said as they turned to grab the clubs that Ari had reserved.

Ari grabbed the caddy from them and smiled, “Thanks.”

She walked toward the stalls, Cass following behind. She was more familiar with the place than she preferred.

As they opened the doors to the piers and the driving range, Cass stopped in her tracks.

“Holy shit, it’s huge,” Cass said.

Ari laughed and shrugged.

Cass followed behind her. Ari could feel Cass’s eyes examining her straining arms. The caddy slung over Ari’s shoulder was heavy enough to require a little bit of strength. She let her fingers drape over the clubs at the front of the caddy.

Once they climbed up to the top floor, Cass’s mouth dropped open.

“This view…” Cass said.

“Yeah, sometimes the landscapes and views are the only part of golf I enjoy,” Ari admitted.

She started setting up their tee at the 18th stall, while Cass watched. Ari knelt down to put the tee in the putting green. As she did, she made a point to stick her ass out and descend slower than normal.

What are you trying to prove?She couldn’t help but ask herself. Cass’s gaze felt curious but safe. Ari normally tried to hide herself from women, but Cass made her want to display herself, to impress her.

As she stood back up, Cass offered her a hand.

Ari surprised herself by taking it, putting more weight on Cass’s arms than she would’ve expected.

“So, what do you know about golf?” Ari asked.

“Well, I know that it’s every dad’s favorite show to put on while they nap,” Cass said with a smirk.

Ari giggled, blushing a little at Cass’s charming, loop-sided smile.

“Watch and learn,” she said with a wink, trying to recover her composure. She pulled out a drive from the caddy and lined herself up with the tee and ball. Still in her heels, she knew her form was off but was only really worried about where Cass’s eyes were.

Cass tilted her head to look at Ari’s stance, watching her hands reposition on the club.

The tendons in Ari’s hand strained as she gripped the driver, her long fingers wrapping into each other.

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