AR Returns Ch63

“That little…” Jess trails off, frustrated. “Harlot!”

The HVAC is back and the AC’s blowing, although it’s actually a nice night in Gurlberg. She’s covered in goosebumps from the chill as she stands in the bedroom in sexy black underwear and thigh-highs, hands on hips, fuming.

“Huh?” Stef calls from the bathroom over the hum of her electric shaver that she uses for landscaping.

“She says they’re having dinner at Mary’s.”

“Sounds normal.”

“It’s not fair. Mary has a Sybian. What’s she need Riley for?”

“Say that again, but slowly.”

Jess groans and stamps her foot. “You know she’s just fooling around with Adella.”

“They need time alone together sometimes,” Stef laughs.

Jess scowls at her reflection in the mirror.

“Well, I didn’t do all this hygiene and prep for nothing, damn it!”

“Oh, that kind of prep?”

“Don’t talk about it!”

“Are you doing a bad job communicating to me that you want me to perform my wifely duties?” Stef can barely contain herself in there.

Jess rolls her eyes. “Yes.”

“Rough day, huh?”

“Obviously!”

AR Returns

It’s a beautiful evening. The cicadas are going wild in the humid twilight. Gurlberg is sedate, and the relatively cool weather means that the college students are out in droves.

It’s a long walk from the house that Riley grew up in to the apartment that Adella has rented in the heart of town, but they couldn’t have asked for a better night. Gurlberg has some problematic laws, but they won’t hassle Riley and Adella for holding hands while they stroll. Especially when Riley is now a local celebrity.

She pauses and tugs Adella’s hand to make her stop. Adella joins her in gazing down the road that leads to the pizza place just outside town, the one across from the old Go Kart place.

“Want to ride Go Karts?” Riley asks jokingly.

“I’ve seen Val and Alice there,” Adella says seriously.

“You mean after we took them?”

“They must like it.”

“Didn’t Val smoke everybody and Alice just crashed?”

Adella shrugs. “I don’t remember.”

“It was fun though.”

“It was.” Adella faces Riley and gazes down at her fondly.

“No PDA in public in Gurlberg. That’s pushing our luck,” Riley warns bitterly.

“Of course.” Adella gives her hand a light squeeze. “What do you think Jess had in mind?”

“Can you think about me for five seconds?”

“I’m always thinking about you.”

Riley snorts. The sun’s setting; it’s golden hour.

“Maybe a little PDA,” she says with a suspicious look around. She goes up on her toes and kisses Adella on the lips. “Just this once.”

“Very generous.”

Riley takes Adella’s other hand as well and peers up at her. The seconds stretch.

“Yes, darling?” Adella asks mildly.

“It’s been almost two years. Why haven’t you asked me to marry you yet?”

Adella stiffens, taken aback.