“I heard you’re a great kayaker,” Laura said as they hiked.

  “I’m okay. Who told you I was great?” Morgan asked.

  “Riley.”

  “I’m not sure how exactly Riles would know I’m a great kayaker,” she said loudly to get Riley’s attention from her place about ten feet ahead on the trail.

  “Maybe we could go out on the water sometime,” Laura suggested.

  “Maybe,” Morgan replied, hoping the subject would change. Then, she saw the clearing ahead. “I think we’re at the site.”

  Morgan marched a little faster, passing her friends, until she was in front of all of them. She turned to face them, giving them her most frustrated glare.

  “Really?” she whispered.

  “What?” James asked.

  “Laura, that’s what.”

  They made their way into the clearing. Morgan kept walking until she was near the fire pit. Then, she tossed her gear down and pulled on Kinsley’s arm. Kinsley’s other arm was attached to her girlfriend’s. Riley came with them. While Reese, seeming to understand Morgan’s plight, occupied Laura with conversation.

  “Are you kidding me?” Morgan asked.

  “What? She’s nice,” Riley replied.

  “Nice and chatty,” Morgan countered. “She didn’t shut up the entire way here. She kept asking me about my preferred climbing technique. Did you know that some climbers are slow and deliberate, with a static technique? Some climbers use a fast, dynamic climbing technique. I do now.”

  “Morgan, she’s excited. She’ll calm down now that we’re here,” Kinsley said.

  “Why is she so excited? Did she know you two, idiots, were setting us up?” Morgan pointed between the two of them. “You failed to mention that to me.”

  “She’s recently out of a relationship. Well, not recently; they broke up last year. But she’s ready to start dating again. She loves the outdoors. You love the outdoors. She’s a successful businesswoman. You’re a successful business-woman. Kinsley and I thought you two should meet,” Riley said.

  “I am also a Pisces. Is she a Pisces?”

  “I don’t know,” Riley replied. “I can–”

  “No, I don’t need you to check,” Morgan interrupted. “Guys, I’m not interested in meeting anyone right now. Things at work are–”

  “So busy,” Kinsley interrupted. “We know. They always are. When are you going to meet someone if you’re always working?”

  “And don’t say you don’t want to meet someone, because Kinsley and I have both listened to you talk about how you want to find someone,” Riley added.

  “Not Laura.” Morgan nodded behind her.

  “You could give her a chance. I mean, you guys are sharing a tent tonight,” Kinsley replied.

  “Damn, I hadn’t thought about that.”

  “Maybe if you find someone, you’ll share a tent with them, and you won’t be the single girl needing to share a tent with the other single girl,” Kinsley suggested.

  “You guys really suck sometimes,” she replied.

  She turned to go, but Kinsley took her arm and turned her back to herself. She looked at her girlfriend, who took the hint and walked toward the other women.

  “Morgan, I’m sorry. I honestly thought you’d get along with her. She’s excitable, but she’s also kind and funny. She’s smart, too. She’s also easy on the eyes.” She nodded toward the dark-haired woman. “You’ve just been spending all your free time talking to a certain unavailable woman. Riles and I wanted you to, maybe, meet someone who was available.”

  “For your information, Adler broke up with her boyfriend. She is available now.”

  “Oh, Morgan… No, she’s not. She’s still straight,” Kinsley reminded.

  ***

  “Can I ask you a question?” Laura shifted in her sleeping bag.

  “Sure,” Morgan replied reluctantly.

  “You’re not interested in me at all, are you?”

  Morgan turned her head to face the woman lying next to her, but there was no light in the tent. She couldn’t make out Laura’s features to tell if she was upset by this or just asking the question to know the answer.

  “It’s not you.”

  “Please don’t say it’s not you, it’s me,” Laura replied with a soft laugh.

  “No, that’s not what I was going to say. My friends decided to set me up without my consent. I wasn’t really looking to meet anyone on this trip. It was just supposed to be all of us hanging out, which we hadn’t done in a while.”

  “Then, Riley invited me along and ruined it for you,” she said.

  “Not ruined it, Laura. I just wasn’t expecting to be thrust into a blind date while hiking and then have to share a tent with someone I don’t even know,” she replied.

  “I’m sorry. I honestly thought they’d told you. Riley mentioned to me that you’d be here and that you’re single. She didn’t come out and say, ‘Blind date,’ specifically. But it was implied. I didn’t realize they hadn’t done the same with you.” She paused to exhale deeply. “I come on a little strong sometimes,” Laura said. “I was in a very long relationship. We weren’t legally married, but we were in every other way. We were together for fourteen years. I thought we’d be together forever. A year ago, it ended. This is technically my first foray back into the dating world, and I realize I may have talked your ear off about rock climbing and my love of the outdoors. The only thing I knew about you, beyond that you were single and gay, was that you liked the same stuff I do.”

  “Our friends didn’t handle this very well, did they?” Morgan asked into the darkness.

  “No, I guess not.” Laura chuckled. “Is there any way we can, maybe, start over? I’d still like to get to know you and have you get to know me, if you’re up for it.”

  “I’d like to get to know you, but I think I’d like to do that as a friend, if that’s okay.”

  “I really did put you off, huh?” the woman asked playfully.

  “It really isn’t you. That’s not a line or my way of trying to get you to back down. I’m just not in a place where I want to date.”

  “Because?” the woman asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

  “Because there is something very wrong with me,” Morgan answered.

  “How so?”

  “I’m in love with a straight girl,” Morgan said.

  CHAPTER 9

  “We’re both young and single,” Paxton said.

  “Well, we’re youngish and single,” Adler replied, clinking their wine glasses together.

  “Better than old spinsters.”

  “That’s true, I guess.” Adler looked down at her phone, which hadn’t rung or buzzed with a text in more than a day. “Want another?” she asked her sister.

  “Two is my limit tonight. I’m driving,” Paxton replied. “Why do you keep checking your phone?”

  “I don’t.”

  “Yes, you do. It’s Sunday. I know you work a lot, but who’s emailing you on a Sunday night?”

  “No one. Morgan’s just been on a camping trip. I’m used to hearing from her.”

  “Morgan, huh?”

  “I’ve mentioned Morgan to you,” Adler replied, taking the last sip from her wine. “I’m getting the check.”

  She waved over the bartender, who quickly printed their receipt, dropped it on the bar, and moved onto the next customer.

  “You’ve only mentioned Morgan to me,” Paxton said. “I don’t think I’ve heard you talk about Brad for weeks. You don’t seem broken up at all about you guys ending things.”

  “It was a long time coming.” Adler turned to her sister, dropping her credit card on top of the check. “And what do you mean I only talk about Morgan?”

  “I mean that if I didn’t know you were straight, big sis, I would think you were totally into this Morgan girl.”

  “She’s my friend. She’s one of my only friends.”

  “Because you’re too busy to make them,” Paxton replied.

  “Yes. But now that Brad and I are done, I’ll have more time.” Adler signed the returned credit card receipt. “Are you ready?”

  “I’m ready.” Paxton stood from the tall bar stool. “I’m just saying… You spent more time on the phone and texting with Morgan than you probably did in person with your boyfriend, Adler.”

  “Brad and I weren’t working.” Adler stood up next to her sister. “And work is going really well lately. I was able to hire those two additional directors I wanted, which means I’ll have less I have to do every day.”

  “And now that you have extra time, since you’re single and you have less work to do, what are you going to do with it?” Paxton asked as they walked out of their favorite bar.

  “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll pick up a hobby.”

  Paxton laughed loudly and replied, “You are not a hobby kind of girl.”

  “I could be a hobby kind of a girl,” Adler argued as she held open the door for her sister and followed her out.

  “Okay. Give me an example of a hobby you could take up,” Paxton replied.

  Adler considered for a moment before she replied, “I’m starting to think I could get into the outdoors.”

  ***

  Adler had just pulled the blanket up to cover herself when her phone buzzed on her bedside table. Before it had even finished its notification, she’d picked it up to see that it was a text from Morgan. She didn’t want to appear too eager, so she waited a full minute before she dialed Morgan’s number and put the phone to her ear.

  “Hey, camper.” She smacked her own forehead immediately.

  “Camper, huh?” Morgan asked. “Sorry, I know it’s kind of late. We just got back. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  “No. I went out with my sister tonight. I just got home a few minutes ago.” It wasn’t a total lie. She’d gotten home about an hour before. She’d taken a long bath, had another glass of wine, and climbed into bed. “How was your trip?”

  “It was awkward. Then, it was good. Then, I was ready to come home. I have a ton of unpacking and some laundry to do, but that can wait until tomorrow when I get home from work.”

  “Why was it awkward?” Adler asked, settling into her pillow.

  “Oh, Riley and Kinsley thought it would be fun to set me up with that friend they invited.”

  “Set you up? Like, a date?”

  “A camping blind date, to be exact,” Morgan replied.

  “Oh.” Adler thought for a moment about what to say next. “You said it was awkward and then it was good. What happened?”

  “Laura really is a badass rock climber. When we got to the place she wanted to climb on Saturday, she rocked it. She actually climbed back down and helped the rest of us make it to the top. Well, it was an easier part of the climb, but we all made it up. Then, we had lunch at the top. There was this amazing view. It was peaceful. We had a lot of fun. There was a trail down the back. We hiked for a few hours until we got back to the car.”

  “And what about the blind date part?” Adler asked.

  “My friends are idiots. I mean, Reese and Kellan, obviously, shared a tent. Riley and Kinsley did, too. That left the other two-person tent for the total strangers they thought would make a good couple. It was awkward that first night, but Saturday was so much fun. After dinner, Laura and I just talked in the tent. I’m pretty sure we heard Riles and James having sex, but I’m pretending it was bears mating in the woods, because I don’t want to bleach my ears.”

  Adler laughed and replied, “God, I heard my sister and one of her exes have sex once, when we all went on spring break. Never get an adjoining hotel room with your sister when there’s a chance the bed will share a wall.”

  “That’s a good piece of advice, I guess.” Morgan sighed. “My body is screaming. I think I need to take a bath and go to bed. I have payroll tomorrow morning and inventory after that.”

  “Hey, Morgan?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I was thinking about maybe coming to Tahoe.”

  “You were?” Morgan asked, sounding a little more awake suddenly.

  Adler smiled and replied, “My last vacation was kind of a bust.”

  “How are you? It’s been a few days since the Brad thing.”

  “I’m doing well. Thanks for worrying about me.”

  “Always,” Morgan replied thoughtfully. “Are you really thinking of visiting?”

  “Is there a chance I could see you if I do?”

  “You’re staying with me, Adler. I’d hope you see me.”

  “I don’t have–”

  “Yes, you do.” Morgan paused for a moment. “You know I’ve only lived in this house for, like, three months. It’s not anywhere near how I want it to be, but Kinsley was able to find it for me. It’s got two extra bedrooms. One of them is actually ready for a guest. It belongs to you whenever you want it.”

  “Do you have any more camping trips coming up I should keep in mind?”

  “Only if you’re going, Addie.”

  “Okay,” Adler replied with a shy smile and a slight blush she was glad Morgan couldn’t see. “Can you take me somewhere in Tahoe that’s special to you?”

  “I’ll take you wherever you want, Addie,” Morgan said softly. “When can you come?”

  “Let me look at my calendar and see when I can get away. Can I text you tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow, yes. That’s fine,” Morgan replied.

  “I’ll let you get some sleep. Good night, Morgan,” Adler said.

  “Night, Addie.”

  ***

  Adler checked her calendar the following morning while sitting at her desk in her abnormally large office. The other furniture around her only made the space appear more desolate. There was a round table that fit four chairs. Next to that was a small, two-person sofa. On the other wall were a bookshelf and a window that had a beautiful view she never took in. Her desk was modern, but still just as large as those old wood desks. She had two guest chairs in front of it. There was one plant resting atop a small table below the window. The only reason the plant was still alive was because her assistant watered it for her.

  She stared at the sometimes overlapping appointments on her calendar, wondering how she’d be able to pull off leaving for even a few days. Then, she thought back to how excited Morgan had sounded at the prospect of her visiting and made a decision.

  “Matt, can you come in here for a minute?” she asked through the intercom on her phone.

  Her assistant, Matt, walked into her office and said, “Want me to order lunch?”

  “No. Can you put a meeting on my calendar for all the directors for sometime today?”

  “What’s the priority?”

  “Have them move whatever they need to,” she replied.

  “And the topic?”

  “Delegation,” she said.

  ***

  “Why are you obsessing?” James asked her.

  “I am not obsessing,” Morgan replied. “I’m cleaning. There’s a difference.”

  Morgan wiped at the dresser she’d already dusted at least three times since Adler had confirmed the dates she’d be visiting. She’d also washed the bed linens twice, just to be sure they still had that freshly laundered scent. She’d placed candles around the room to give it a comfortable vibe. She’d also turned the guest bathroom into a hotel by ensuring she had tiny shampoo and conditioner bottles, bath wash, lotion, toothpaste, and even a travel toothbrush. Of course, Adler would bring all those things with her. Morgan just wanted her to feel as at home as possible.

  “Morgan, you’ve laid out three layers of guest towels. Layers,” she emphasized the word. “You have a huge towel and a medium towel and then a smaller towel above it.”

  “That’s how you do guest towels,” Morgan replied, grabbing her dust rag and heading out of the guest room.

  “Morgan, you’re not getting your hopes up, are you?” James asked as she followed her out and down the stairs.

  “Hopes about what?”

  “Has she at all expressed any inclination toward the female form?”

  “Are you asking me if she’s told me she finds a woman hot?” Morgan asked from the bottom of the steps.

  “I’m just trying to figure out if you’re head over heels for a woman you spent a few days in person with. As far as you know, she’s straight and not interested in dating any woman.”

  “Your concern, my dear friend Kinsley, is noted,” she replied.

  “What are you guys going to do when she gets here?”

  “Hang out,” Morgan answered with a shrug.

  They entered her kitchen, which she’d also cleaned from top to bottom and then top to bottom again. Morgan wiped a rogue stain on the kitchen island. Kinsley sat at the kitchen table.

  “Hang out doing what?”

  “I don’t know, James. We’ll do whatever we want. Now, will you go home so I can pick her up at the airport? Her flight arrives in an hour. Don’t you have a girlfriend to annoy?”

  “My girlfriend is busy,” Kinsley replied. “But I will leave you alone. You’re always like this when you have a crush.”

  “No, I’m not.” Morgan squinted her eyes at her friend. “And I don’t have a crush.”

  CHAPTER 10

  When Adler walked out of the airport, dragging her roller bag behind her with her overly large backpack over both shoulders, she wondered for a moment if she was crazy for doing this. She’d just taken another two weeks off from her COO job. Granted, her previous vacation ended up only being a few days. She’d delegated everything she could to her team. She also knew she’d check emails and would be fairly responsive whenever she could. She’d just traveled to a place she’d never been, to visit someone she’d spent only a few days with nearly two months ago. As she stood on the sidewalk, looking around for Morgan’s red SUV, she considered her sister’s comment at the bar that night. Was there something more happening between them than just friendship? Would she even be interested in that if Morgan wanted to pursue it?