Chapter 2

“Well, I am!” Ann said, in an offended tone that Alex didn’t believe for a moment. “What about you?”

Alex picked up an axe, took aim, and threw it at the wooden target. It stuck, though far from the center. She pointed to the target. “If that’s Jackson, I just sliced his ear off?”

“For a while,” Alex said. “We were okay? We seemed on the same wavelength. The sex was never what it was with a woman, but he tried? He even improved. Until he stopped trying.” She threw another axe. Jackson lost an eye. “It wasn’t all on him? Where we are, taking women’s issues seriously makes you less of a man. He resisted being drawn into that mindset for a while, but it’s everywhere. Especially the last few months.”

“Aww, sweety, I’m sorry,” said Ann.

“I live on my own now,” said Alex, “but fuck that place.” She flung her axe, which landed flat on the target and fell to the floor. “I want to come back, but the jobs aren’t here.”

Before moving to collect the axes, Ann gave her another hug. This one was warmer. Her body pressed into Alex’s. When she backed away, her hand brushed across Alex’s waist for a moment. “I’m sure you’ll land on your feet eventually.” Then she walked to the target and picked up the axes. Returning, she glanced around, leaning close to Alex, her hand touching her back. Her fingers curled, allowing her nails to drag against Alex’s skin. “I have something that will help you feel better,” she murmured.

Alex gave her friend a puzzled look until Ann discreetly tapped her purse. “Come on,” she said, then left the lane, heading toward the women’s restroom. Alex followed in her wake.

In the restroom, Ann took a pair of gummy candies out of her purse, handing one to Alex, who examined it thoughtfully. “We’ve had these before, right?”

“We took them before a party post-fall finals,” said Ann. “I lost track of you, so I don’t know what your reactions were.”

“Oh, man, I was so turned on that night,” Alex said. “I hooked up with the party organizer’s girlfriend. Drama ensued. I think it was mostly getting out from under the pressure, but… I think the gummy made me horny?”

“Weed always tweaks my libido,” Ann replied, “but I don’t think these will be a problem. It’s more like a pleasant background side-effect. I’m sure you were turned on at the party because it was a party, and you were turned on.”

“Weed is the reason you got me making out with Kayla,” objected Alex, “and we all know how that turned out.”

“Yeah, but that was a joint,” Ann argued. “That’s always a bigger boost. These aren’t so intense. Long lasting mellow. Are you gonna join me? I don’t want to vibe alone.”

Alex shrugged and popped the gummy into her mouth. “I could use a relaxing afternoon,” she said.

They returned to find that two more women were sharing their lane. Allison was Anita’s maid of honor. Alex had only met her a few times before leaving. When the engagement had been announced, she’d already been out of the area.

The other woman was Natalia, a friend Allison had made at the bridal spa day. Alex hadn’t been able to justify the time and cost to make that trip, unfortunately. The two seemed close, and maybe a little stand-offish at first, but as they threw axes and friendly insults they became much more open. Or maybe, the edible was beginning to lower Alex’s own reserve.

She leaned close to Ann, who rested her hand on the small of Alex’s back again. “Are they or aren’t they?” she asked her. “Together, I mean? I got confused by their history. I was sure Allison just said they weren’t really together, but the way they’re looking at each other? I think they are.” She frowned. “Or is that the gummy kicking in?”

“It shouldn’t be yet,” Ann said. Alex wasn’t convinced. Ann’s hand on her back felt better than it should. She seemed to have adopted it as a habit. Alex didn’t mind that at all.

The sounds of merriment had been growing around them. Others had joined the party, though Fi hadn’t added anyone else to their lane. There was laughter from the bar, but the gummy was definitely taking effect, and she was too relaxed to care what was going on. Ann’s fingertips were drawing circles on her skin. Wearing a crop top had been a good move.

They’d waved away their last few turns to throw, watching Allison and Natalia, who were slowly improving, but whose throws would sometimes splat against the target and fall to the floor, which caused Alex to giggle. The edible was definitely affecting her. Alex didn’t giggle. Resting her chin on Ann’s shoulder, she whispered into her ear. “I wish we could get weed where I live.”

Ann drew more shapes on her back. “Not available at all?” she asked.

Alex shook her head. “Not even for medical reasons. You know, you’re kinda hot.” Ann drew her head back to give her a curious look, her eyebrows raised.

“I think the gummy is talking,” Ann murmured.

Alex sat up. “Maybe,” she said. “I’m definitely feeling laid back. Except for Jackson. He can die in a fire.” She knew she’d said this last with perfect calm, and Ann grinned.

“I know what I’m saying, though,” she said. “I think you look better now than you did when we were roomies, but I’ve always thought you were hot. It’s just that…”

“You were straight?” Ann suggested.

“That, yeah,” Alex agreed. “And then, when I wasn’t, well, you were kind of an asshole, you know? So I never wanted to tell you that I got turned on when you put on that white tee shirt after a shower, and it stuck to everything.” She frowned. “Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that one.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have told me that I’m an asshole,” said Ann, drily. “But if we’re being honest, I thought you had the sexiest hair. I still do. I always wanted to run my fingers through it.”

“I think that is the gummy talking,” said Alex.

“Hey, I always thought you were sexy. But maybe I thought that because I’m an asshole.” A moment later, she sighed, “Madison doesn’t touch weed.”

“Is it legal?” Alex asked.

“Very,” Ann said. “But she won’t, so I can’t.”

The bar’s music system exploded with sound for a moment. Voices around them went silent before beginning to build again. A couple of minutes later, she heard shushing sounds. Then a raised voice called for everyone’s attention.

“Oh, God, that’s Tiff,” said Allison. “Mischief is afoot.”

Tiff had decided that war was called for. Anita’s team versus Kayla’s. As MOH, she was Anita’s captain, and Allison needed to step up for her side. They would throw axes in pairs of opponents, and each loss would earn their bride one penalty point.

“I wanted the losing bride to take off an item of clothing for a loss,” Tiff said.

“Tiff…” Alison groaned.

“But Fi thinks we could get the bar in trouble,” Tiff continued, “even though we’d have stopped at underwear.” She pouted. “So instead, the bride who would have been the first to get all the way naked will pretend to be naked and will dance for us all.”

“Have you cleared this with the brides?” Allison asked.

“It was the least terrible suggestion,” said Kayla, with a sigh.

Anita shrugged beside her, then said, “It could be fun. If Kayla loses, it could.”

It took ten minutes just to establish the teams. Tiff, together with Tara and Alex were team Kayla, where Allison, Heather and Margot were Anita’s bridesmaids, but that left Tiff’s girlfriend, Emma, out. Emma would be standing with Anita at the wedding, so she had to be added to her crew, which meant finding another for Kayla. Tiff tried to take Kate, because she was independent, but that led to jeers from Anita’s team, since Kate was a pro. Tara suggested Grace, but she refused. Allison’s friend Natalia volunteered, saying she was also not part of either faction, and would be facing off against her friend’s team, and that was accepted by all.

Tiff announced that the losing penalty included the bride of the losing team naming what article of clothing she was removing, and miming taking it off. Then she immediately lost the first duel to Allison.

“If I didn’t know you better,” said Kayla, “I’d suspect you’re deliberately trying to get me naked. Wait, I do know you better, and I do think that.” She raised her fingers to the buttons at her chest, pretending to unfasten them, then moving as though she were pulling off the super-tight top, tugging the sleeves down her arms with difficulty. Tara covered her eyes and looked away.

“Lies,” said Tiff. “You know I’d prefer to see Anita naked. I think that applies to your whole team.” Tara nodded and raised her hand in agreement.

It didn’t apply to Alex, who was on Kayla’s team, and had already seen her naked twice, and was finding that her gummy-enhanced libido was bringing the memories to mind in salacious detail.

Alex was up next. She lost to Heather, leading to Kayla acting out stripping further, but Tara beat Margot, costing Anita an item. Tara skipped around singing, “I won for you, Auntie Kay!”

Natalia defeated Emma, evening the score.

There were the usual arguments over what counted as an item of clothing, and at one point Kayla stage-whispered to Anita, “Bet you wish you’d worn your garter belt,” which led to cheers and pink-cheeked Anita telling her to shut up.

The miming rule may have been frivolous, but Alex found it titillating. She wondered if other former partners of either woman were having a similar experience, or if it was only a side effect of her state.

“Maybe the gummy wasn’t a great idea,” she whispered to Ann.

“I disagree,” her friend whispered back. “I think it’s helping my imagination.” Her fingers continued to casually brush against the bare skin of Alex’s waist or back when her turn was through.

Ann’s touch felt intimate. It fed the tingle that she felt from the game. Of course Ann knew that. Alex was certain that keeping a girl turned on excited her, but that was okay, because Alex enjoyed the feeling too, in spite of her words about the gummy. It might not be a good idea, but bad ideas could be hot.

Alex’s next throw beat Heather, but Tara lost the next duel, and their team’s advantage. Soon Kayla was down to bra and panties. Heather beat Alex, and Kayla was forced to mime taking off her bra to loud cheers and catcalls, and a further spike in Alex’s mild arousal. She could still visualize Kayla topless. Fortunately, a string of good luck had Anita lose her bra, to what might have been an even louder uproar, then at another winning throw from Tara, stepping out of her panties.

At that point, Tiff had Fi connect the bar’s music system to her phone. That was probably what had caused the sound system problems earlier. They had it working now, and virtually-naked Anita had to give the assembled group a dance to Rihanna’s S&M.

“Inspired choice,” said Kayla.

“Hush, you,” grunted Anita, moving to the music.

She was good, posing rigidly at times, and sensuously at others, tilting her hips to the side, enhancing the effect by flipping and stroking her long hair. At one point she ground against a wall as if bound there.

“Oh, fuck,” Alex whispered to Ann.

“I know,” Ann replied, with a chuckle, her nails lightly scratching Alex.

After the game, Fi had food delivered. As Alex ate her cheeseburger she heard Fi talking to Tiff about ideas for reusing her game for private parties.

When she’d eaten, Ann coaxed Alex back to the restroom for a recharge. The effects of the last edible should be wearing off within the next hour or two, and another dose would extend the euphoric effects. She was still sure it was a bad idea, especially after Tiff’s game, but she liked the thrill, so she did it anyway.

Kate and Fi arranged Uber rides to Gabby’s. Their vehicle could technically hold six, but with Emma, Tiff, Margot and Heather, it was very cramped. Alex wrapped her arm around Ann’s shoulder to be able to squeeze against her, while Ann’s was around Alex, fingers on her waist.

Gabby’s was crowded, and the evening soon became a blur. Alex felt Ann’s hand on her back again. The boost to her high was building, with no signs of it dropping away, and Ann’s fingers and nails were keeping the horny feeling that had grown with Tiff’s absurd game from diminishing. If she objected, she knew Ann would back away, but she didn’t want to lose the contact. Instead, she decided she wanted to touch bare skin, too. Curling her arm around the other girl, she slipped her hand into her tee to caress her waist.

Fi showed up later, after closing up the bar, with her partner.

“Oh my God, Fi wasn’t wrong,” Alex said to Ann, leaning close to her ear. “That girl is beautiful.”