I went to River Roasters, a small café I’d noticed but hadn’t tried yet.

  Inside, brick walls and hanging plants created a cozy atmosphere. The place was busy, most tables occupied by people working on laptops or chatting quietly.

  Scanning for an empty table, I spotted a familiar blonde ponytail.

  Amber sat in the corner, intensely focused on her laptop screen, a half-eaten muffin pushed to the side.

  I wandered over. “Morning, Amber.”

  Her head snapped up, eyes widening in alarm. I caught a glimpse of her screen as she frantically clicked to close tabs.

  A heading said: “IVF Fertility Specialists: Freeze Your Eggs and Plan Your Future - Your Clock is Ticking!”

  It disappeared, along with a colorful graphic showing age brackets and success rates for egg freezing.

  She spoke sharply, her face flushing. “Ryan, what are you doing here?”

  “Um, having a coffee? As one generally does in a cafe.”

  A notification popped up on her screen: “Your fertility assessment quiz results are ready!” She slammed the laptop closed, nearly knocking over her coffee.

  I smiled like nothing happened and sat at the empty table beside hers, putting my book down.

  The waitress came, and I ordered an omelet and coffee. Meanwhile, Amber slowly opened her laptop again, giving me a sidelong look.

  “Sorry,” I said. “Didn’t mean to be nosy. And I don’t judge—”

  “Judge! Humph!” She started typing aggressively. “I wouldn’t think so, the way you go around collecting older women. Even Kate.”

  “I’m not collecting anyone,” I said calmly. “We’re building something together. And Kate is… a friend. You probably heard rumors, but they’re not true.”

  She nodded humorously. “Oh, I’m sure.” She tried to focus on her computer but stopped after two seconds and looked at me. “Building something? Like, a relationship? With three women? How does that even work? I’m curious.”

  “Two women, for now. And we haven’t really defined it. We just know we like it. It works, so far, because we want it to.”

  Her cheeks were getting red, but she just couldn’t stop herself. “So they just, like, share you? And they’re okay with that?”

  She uncrossed her legs, then crossed them the other way. I saw that she was wearing a grey office skirt with stockings.

  “We’re adults,” I said. “We communicate.”

  “Fascinating.” Her tone was deliberately dismissive even as her eyes stayed fixed on mine. “But…the age gap. You must have—never mind. Forget I said anything.”

  She threw up her hands and returned her attention to her laptop.

  “I must have what?”

  She let out a giggle. “Mommy issues? But whatever. None of my business. You do you.”

  I smiled. “No, you might be right. I really love my two special mommies.”

  Amber snorted, but her cheeks were blazing red. “Special mommies? Come on, their uteruses probably don’t even work anymore.”

  She immediately regretted that statement— I could tell from her panicked expression.

  I murmured, “That’s a topic you’ve been thinking about, apparently. Fertility. I wasn’t going to mention it, but since we’re being blunt here—”

  Amber laughed nervously, gesturing towards her laptop. “What I was looking at earlier? That was… er…”

  She became flustered and looked painfully embarrassed, even horrified. I gathered she worried I might go blabbering about what I saw.

  “Look, Amber. Like I said, I’m not judging.”

  She drummed her fingers on the table and sighed heavily. “Look, can we just…”

  “Change the subject? Sure.” I opened my book and started reading.

  Amber returned to her laptop.

  My coffee and breakfast arrived a moment later.

  I ate in silence for several minutes, trying to read my book. I could feel Amber watching me when I turned the page. Looking up, I found her gazing at me.

  She didn’t look away. “Why do you have to be so damn smooth? It’s really annoying.”

  I shrugged, smirking. “Can’t help it, I guess?”

  “If we weren’t frenemies…” She gave an exaggerated sigh, then undid her hair, elaborately gathering it all up again and putting in a fresh ponytail.

  Her phone buzzed, and she started packing up her things.

  Before leaving, she hesitated a moment, then turned to me, speaking in a small voice. “Hey… um, about what you saw on my computer…”

  She swallowed hard, and she looked more vulnerable than I’d ever seen her.

  “It’s really personal, okay? I’d appreciate it if you didn’t share that with anyone. People in this town talk, and I don’t need them speculating about my... private decisions.”

  “Of course not, Amber.” I said, meeting her eyes. “That’s nobody’s business but yours.”

  She searched my eyes for a moment, almost pleadingly, and then relief softened her features. “Thank you.”

  As she walked down the street outside, I noticed her gazing at me through the café window. She quickly looked forward again when I looked up.

  Chapter nine

  Saturday morning dawned clear and warm. Kate’s adventure park looked more alive than when I’d visited before. The easy side of the climbing wall was already finished, and a group of teenagers was scaling it.

  Kate spotted us from where she was instructing a staff member. She wore short cargo shorts and a company polo that somehow stretched to accommodate her bust.

  “You made it!” she strode over, professional, in charge of her domain.

  Her confidence had completely returned, at least on the surface. When her gaze met mine, a hint of vulnerability and need flashed in her eyes. But she looked away, resuming her practiced smile.

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Caroline said, sliding her arm through mine. “We’ve been looking forward to this.”

  Sofia nodded eagerly. “I never tried ziplining before!”

  Kate’s eyes flickered to where Caroline’s hand rested on my arm, her jaw tightening almost imperceptibly. “Well, you’re in for a treat. Come on, I’ll take you to the tower.”

  We followed her down a short trail into a clearing with a main building and zipline tower rising from its roof.

  There was also an area with beams and huge blue mats underneath. Kate saw me looking at it. “That’s our gladiator challenge. You stand on the beams with padded poles and try to knock each other off.”

  “That is awesome,” I said, grinning.

  “You guys can try it after the zipline,” Kate said, leading us into a back door of the main building.

  We passed an office, where I paused at the door, peeking in. The space was neat and orderly, with a metal desk and a large window looking into the woods.

  “Your office?” I asked.

  Kate nodded briefly. “Nothing fancy, but it works.”

  A framed photo on the wall caught my eye. It showed a stern-faced military officer in full dress uniform. He seemed to glare at me disapprovingly.

  Next to that photo was a smaller one of a much younger Kate in army fatigues, standing at attention.

  “Is that your father?” I asked.

  Kate nodded and continued down the hallway. “Yup. Thirty one years of service.”

  “Runs in the family,” I said.

  Her shoulders straightened automatically. “Well, I only did eight years. Not like my father. He was in it for the long haul.”

  “I remember your dad came to speak at the elementary school when I was in fifth grade,” Caroline said. “Nobody misbehaved on that day, I can tell you that!”

  We came into the public part of the building—rustic but well-designed, with high ceilings and large windows.

  At the reception desk, a cheerful fat woman was checking in a high school group, sending them up the stairs to the zipline tower.

  “Morning, Lisa,” Kate said. “These are my friends.”

  Lisa waved before returning to her computer.

  Kate gestured across to an area where construction was underway. “We’re converting that side into a café.”

  The space was framed out but still unfinished, with exposed beams and electrical wiring.

  “Anybody want a coffee before we head up to the zipline?”

  “I’d love one,” I said.

  Kate led us towards the kitchen, passing through the soon-to-be cafe. There was a balcony under construction outside, and I stopped to poke my head out.

  A couple workmen sat on the edge eating sandwiches. Their backs were towards me.

  A few more must have been on the ground below, because I could hear them talking and joking.

  None of them noticed me.

  As I returned inside and entered the kitchen, I realized I could still hear the workmen. They must have been sitting beneath the kitchen windows.

  Kate was pouring fresh coffee grind into the machine as Sofia and Caroline waited politely.

  One of the men’s voices floated up from outside, gravelly with vape smoke: “You see the ice queen today?”

  Kate paused mid-pour and rolled her eyes. “That’s the charming nickname they have for me when they think I can’t hear them.”

  “Nah, I don’t think she’s here today,” another one answered.

  “She is! I seen her a minute ago. She was with that guy again.”

  “What guy?” another voice chimed in, heavy with boredom and sarcasm.

  Sofia and Caroline gave Kate apologetic looks, and yet all of us couldn’t help listening for what would come next.

  “What guy d’you think? Same one she was makin’ out with the other day.”

  “That programmer guy.”

  “Yeah, but today he’s here with two other milfs! Some guys just have everything.”

  Caroline met my eyes, and she covered her mouth to suppress a laugh. But her smile faded quickly when she saw the embarrassment in Kate’s face.

  “Milfs? Which milfs?”

  “Caroline Summers. You know that lady who works at the department store?”

  “Yeah, I heard about that!” another gravelly voice said. “Dude’s bangin’ Miss Summers and the Latina lady that works in the restaurant.”

  “The one with the ass,” another clarified.

  “Yeah. And now he’s got the Ice Queen on all fours waitin’ for her turn.”

  Another one chuckled. “Stickin’ that ol’ big ass in the air, just beggin’ for it.”

  “No wonder she’s been less bitchy lately.”

  Boisterous laughter broke out.

  A small, strangled sound escaped Kate’s throat. Her breathing quickened, her chest rising and falling fast.

  She was clearly humiliated—cheeks blazing, jaw tight. But at the same time, a flicker of heat flashed in her eyes, stirred up by the crude image of her submitting to me.

  When her gaze collided with mine, her anger flared even hotter. Her lips pressed thin, and a tremor ran through her, partly fury, partly something else, her frame rigid as she fought it.

  I stepped closer. “Come on, Kate. Let’s go. You don’t have to hear this crap.”

  Caroline and Sofia moved in.

  “This is stupid machismo,” Sofia said indignantly. “Those pigs have no education.”

  “Come on, Kate,” I said again, standing close.

  She trembled, her eyes locked on my chin.

  The gruff voices continued:

  “I just can’t believe he’s parading them around like a king with his harem.”

  “Bro’s rich. It’s always about money.”

  “Yeah, but I mean…He’s got the Ice Queen eating out of his hand. I can’t believe it.”

  “She’s just like the rest of them. Just hadn’t met the right guy yet.”

  Kate’s expression twisted suddenly, her eyes narrowing as humiliation rattled her. Something dark flashed across her face—raw and unyielding.

  The woman who commanded respect, who ran businesses, who’d served in the military— reduced to crude locker room talk by her own employees.

  Her muscles tightened. Ice-cold fury took over.

  She pushed past us and marched out of the room with her chin high.

  Chapter ten

  We found Kate at the stairwell leading up the tower. She stood gripping the railing, surveying the place with that big-bosomed, schoolmarm authority.

  I realized it was like protective armor for her.

  Lisa busied herself behind the desk. I got the feeling she knew not to disturb Kate when she had that look.

  “Kate, are you okay?” I asked, reaching toward her.

  She flinched away slightly. “I’m fine. Aren’t you having coffee?”

  “Nah, I don’t need it. But—”

  “I can handle locker room talk. I was in the army.” Her voice was clipped, tightly controlled.

  Sofia moved closer. “You shouldn’t have to put up with that. Is no right, what they say. You want me to go tell them something?”

  Kate laughed despite herself. “What are you going to tell them? I appreciate it, but I can handle my employees.”

  “Well, I hope you fire them all,” Caroline said. “I would never tolerate that at the department store.”

  Kate put a foot on the first step. “Well, these are construction workers. I don’t think they’re going to be applying for a job in the beauty section. Come on. We’re wasting time.”

  Caroline put a hand on her shoulder. “Kate, really, if you want to take a minute—”

  “Look, I said I’m fine,” she snapped. “Are you guys coming or not?” She turned abruptly and started up the stairs.

  We followed Kate up the winding staircase. The higher we climbed, the more I could feel the tower swaying slightly in the breeze.

  Kate was already at the top, securing harnesses to a rack on the wall. Two staff members stood near a doorway, keeping well out of her way.

  Her movements were sharp and efficient, but I could see the tension in her shoulders.

  “Okay,” she said without looking at us. “Who wants to go first?”

  The platform was open to the elements, with stunning views of the surrounding forest. A thick cable stretched from where we stood to a distant landing area.

  “I will!” Sofia chirped.

  Kate helped Sofia into a harness, her professional demeanor firmly back in place. “Just lean back and let gravity do the work.”

  As Kate clipped Sofia to the zipline, I moved closer to Caroline.

  “Go easy,” I whispered. “She looks like she’s dealing with some stuff.”

  Sofia took off with a scream of excitement. We watched her shoot down the line, flying over the trees.

  Kate turned to us. “Who’s next?”

  Caroline stepped forward. “I’ll go.”

  As Kate helped her into the harness, there was an awkward silence between them.

  I watched Kate’s hands working, checking straps and clips.

  Then she guided Caroline to the edge. With a deep breath, Caroline pushed off, her excited shout fading as she zoomed down the line.

  Now it was just me and Kate on the platform.

  “Your turn,” she said, holding a harness for me.

  As she helped me buckle in, I could feel her fingers trembling slightly against my chest. Her face was inches from mine as she checked the straps.

  “Kate,” I said softly. “Those guys are idiots.”

  She looked up, meeting my eyes for the first time since we’d heard the workers.

  “I know. It doesn’t matter what they think,” she said, but her voice lacked conviction.

  “Does it bother you?” I murmured. “The idea of people thinking you’re with me?”

  She returned my gaze, a small smile appearing on her lips. “No… It’s just…” Her voice softened to barely a whisper. “I’ve always thought of myself as being strong and in control.”

  I searched her eyes, not sure if I understood. “Well, you still can be…Generally speaking.”

  She stepped back, slapping my shoulder. “You’re good to go.”

  I pushed off, feeling the rush of air as the zipline carried me away. I sailed under the blue sky, the wind rushing past my face.

  At the landing platform, Caroline and Sofia were waiting, their earlier excitement subdued. A staff member unclipped me from the line.

  We watched as Kate launched herself from the distant tower, her body cutting a clean line through the air.

  She looked completely in control, graceful even.

  When she landed, whatever doubts had plagued her appeared to be replaced by a knife-sharp focus. Her jaw was tight, cheeks hot.

  She seemed to have reached some kind of decision on the way down.

  Unclicking the ziplining gear, she moved with a new determination, as if she was on a mission.

  She locked eyes with mine and jabbed her finger at me. “Gladiator challenge. You and me—let’s see how long it takes me to knock you down.”

  Her voice rang with competitive fervor, but it also simmered with heat.

  My pulse quickened. I could sense the raw emotion behind her challenge. A nerve had been rubbed, and Kate was reacting, but I couldn’t tell if her challenge was flirtation or actual hostility.

  Maybe a bit of both.

  “Alright,” I murmured, excitement rising in my throat. “Let’s do it.”

  Chapter eleven

  “The rules are simple,” Kate explained, as we stood in front of a gladiator beam. “Two people face off on the beam. You each get a padded pole, and the goal is to knock your opponent off.”

  She pulled out padded helmets from a storage bin. “Safety first. These are mandatory.”

  Sofia wrinkled her nose. “Is no cute! Makes me look like a mushroom head.”

  “Put it on anyway,” Kate instructed, her authoritative tone returning.

  I watched as the girls strapped on the comically oversized helmets, Sofia grumbling in Spanish while Caroline posed in a boxing stance.

  Kate handed each of them a padded pole, and they climbed onto the beam.

  “Remember, no head shots, no grabbing the beam,” Kate called out. “On my count: three, two, one... begin!”