Stevie Wonder played on the tape deck. Lin was driving and Kya half napped with her head leaning against the window sill staring off into the horizon that, no matter far you drove, would be there forevermore. Bolin snored loudly; poor kid was tired from hitchhiking all this way from New York, an impressive feat.
Which is why Kya thought she was dreaming when she heard a squeaky chattering sound rise above the music. A black footed ferret emerged from Bolin's shirt, its little head and black paws scurrying about the van and having a look around.
"Ahh!" Lin yelled, swerving the van before regaining course. "What in Sam Hill is that?"
Kya jolted awake. "I don't know, but it's cute!"
"Bolin, wake your ass up. Now!"
Bolin was still drooling and snoring; didn't rouse. Kya splashed water on his face, and he popped up.
"What the? What's going on?" He yawned.
"You tell me?" Kya said, motioning to the tiny creature that resembled something between a cat and weasel, except it was bright red. It had posted up on the dash board and was enjoying the ride.
Bolin blushed. "Oh, hehe. That's just my best friend – Pabu."
"Were you gonna tell us about your best friend before or after the hike?" Lin interrogated.
"Sometime in the middle?"
"Not good enough," Lin said.
"OK. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just really wanted a ride, and you ladies were gonna take me all the way, you know – I don't know." He slumped. "I was afraid you'd change your mind. You can let me off, if you like. Can you please just drop me next to some civilization so I can have a fighting chance?"
Lin and Kya exchanged glances.
"So the next gas station then?" Lin said.
"What? No way. The little thing's harmless... right?" Kya looked back at Bolin.
"Yes! He's a great companion. Good in a pinch for all sorts of things – mostly just company. Would never hurt a fly, though uh, yeah, he does like to hunt small things. So if there's a mouse or rat problem – tah dah, we have Pabu to help us!"
"Oh brother!" Lin said, and Kya rubbed her arm.
"Oh c'mon, you have to admit, he's cute." Kya said.
"The ferret or the Kid?"
"I mean we both are, let's be honest." Bolin interjected. "But we're a duo – without my brother anyway. Then we were a trio. But he's waiting for me in LA."
Kya smiled. "Don't worry about it. We'll get you there. That is - unless you turn out to be a creep, then it's –" She made a slicing motion with her thumb across her neck.
Bolin hoped she didn't mean literally and nodded his head emphatically.
"Yes ma'am! I won't keep any more secrets from you."
"Good," Lin said.
They touched down in Austin but not before stopping for fireworks. Driving through Texas, they had spotted several large signs on the side of the freeway touting firecrackers and finally caved in.
"We'll stay here for the night, although we'll camp out in the van to conserve funds. Bolin, I have a tent for you and extra sleeping bags. It's sort of tight in here – sorry."
"None taken. Plus, I know y'all prolly want some alone time. Wink wink."
"Please don't say wink wink to me," Lin said.
"OK, I won't." Bolin winked exaggeratedly at Kya; she winked back and high fived him. That's when Bolin got a bright idea: "Say, if I'm gonna go to Hollywood, I need a look."
"A look?" Kya said.
"Yeah, like, you know how James Dean had the jacket and the hair – a look!"
Kya gave him a once over, rubbing her chin. "OK, OK. I see what you're stepping in. A look."
"I need a cool jacket or something, but where I come from everything is so expensive. Maybe it'll be cheaper here."
"Ooh, we should go thrifting!" Kya said.
"Yes! I like the way you think, kindred Kya."
"Yippee skippy," Lin added unenthusiastically.
They parked somewhere downtown and walked three abreast down Congress toward the Capitol building. The area was quaint with cute little shops lining the streets. They found a mom and pop coffee shop and re-upped on caffeine.
"What'll be sweetie?" The barista-tender, a youngish man wearing a fedora hat with a feather tipped at a jaunty angle, asked Lin who growled back:
"I ain't your sweetie!"
The barista-tender recoiled.
"What she means to say is three house brews, small, black," Kya said. She took Lin's hand and rubbed her back. "By the way, is there a thrift shop around here?"
"Oh, plenty. Just keep walking and you're sure to run into something."
They paid for the coffees and sat a minute to collect themselves. When Bolin ran to the bathroom, Kya took the opportunity to check in with Lin.
"Hey, Love. You OK? You seem grumpy... er than usual."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure? I mean, I'm here, if you wanna talk."
"I just don't like random guys calling me sweetie is all."
"Honey, this is Texas. People here say that by default."
"I didn't see him calling Bolin sweetie."
"He is though, isn't he?"
"I guess. Alright I know why. It's just – that guy, this place reminds me of someone I'd rather not think about."
"Who?"
Before Lin could answer, Bolin returned from the bathroom and Lin took that as an opportunity for them to press on with their mission of finding him a look.
They came upon a thrift shop with a row of used cowboy boots lining the front display. A fringe leather jacket adorned a mannequin outside the shop, and Kya tried it on, grabbing a cowboy hat and tilting it forward toward Lin.
"How do I look, partner?"
"Honestly, you look beautiful in just about anything," Lin said.
Kya blushed and felt heat in her body rising with want for the other woman. "Fun but not my style."
Bolin had wandered off toward the jacket section and was trying on different fits.
Kyalin was about to join him when they noticed a cute young woman with sparking green eyes a bob helping him out. She was flipping through the rack and pulling out jackets, while Bolin tried them on. They were flirting big time, so the couple left them well enough alone.
They wandered to an area lined with food trucks and settled on some delicious Tex Mex.
Eventually Bolin came strolling up wearing a black leather bomber jacket.
"Nice! Looks like that girl helping you had good taste," Kya teased him.
Bolin's face was bright read, his eyes glazed over in reverie of a girl.
He sighed. "Yeahhhh. Opal's her name. Pretty name. Smells purdy too."
"Someone's sprung," Lin said.
"Who me? Nah. Just happy to meet new people." He joined them at the bench and twiddled his thumbs.
Kya shared one of her tacos with him and he scarfed it down, sharing bites with Pabu.
"So did you get her number?"
Bolin held a piece of paper up with nice handwriting on it.
"Way to go Bolin!" Kya said. "Well that settles it; we're staying here tonight."
"I thought we already settled it," Lin said.
"It's extra settled now."
But Bolin was no longer present. It was clear his mind was elsewhere.
"Why don't we see if there's any local music playing," Kya said.
"There's gotta be. This is Austin." Lin added.
Bolin and Kya gave her a look. "Something you wanna share? Been here before?"
Lin crossed her arms and shrugged. "Once or twice."
"I see. Either way – Bolin you should invite your lady friend to join us."
They managed to find a lowdown dive bar playing live blues music, and Bolin used the pay phone to invite Opal.
The bar was dark and narrow and warm from sweaty bodies rubbing up against one another. Kya offered to be team and remain sober for the night, which left the other two knuckleheads to let loosey-goosey.
Of course Bolin was broke, but he had enough for a few of the cheapest beers – it was between Pabst Blue Ribbon and Tecate, which were two dollars a tall can.
"Tecate, why not-tay?" Bolin said to the bartender, who rolled her eyes and grabbed a can, placing a lime wedge on top as if that would magically make it taste good.
But Bolin wasn't complaining, he was looking about the room and constantly checking the door for his lady friend.
Lin placed her hand on his shoulder. "Relax, Kid. She'll turn up. And if she doesn't, screw it."
She lifted up her gin and tonic, a mature lady's drink. "Cheers."
They clanked, drank.
Kya was already on the dance floor waving her arms about all hippy-style to the blues band, which was comprised of middle-aged local cats and led by an elderly Black man with a case of harmonicas he kept at his side as he wailed into the mic.
Though the lead singer-harmonica player looked to be in his seventies or so, he was a lively fellow, just as energetic than some the youngins' letting loose and dancing wild as white unicorn. In fact, he set the tone of the room.
Lin had finished her second gin and tonic and was feeling mighty fine. She watched Kya dancing there shamelessly and felt the invisible pull of the music and pretty lady. Next thing she knew, she was sidling up behind Kya and wrapping her arms around the other woman's waist, pulling her close and leaning her head into the back of Kya's sweaty nape. The smell was intoxicating. They swayed their hips like that, dancing hip to hip.
Maybe it was the drinks talking but Lin didn't give a rat's ass about looking awkward. All she cared was that Kya was there with her and smiling.
Kya turned around and draped her arms over Lin's shoulders, Lin reciprocating once again about the waist.
"Oooh wee, your breath - you been drinkin'!" Kya drawled, trying out her best Texan accent but sounding more generic than anything.
It didn't matter though because next thing she knew, Lin's mouth met hers and her chest was heaving at the gentle, electrifying touch. They were making out right there on the dance floor, not caring a lick who was watching.
Eventually Bolin joined them.
"Any sign of her?" Kya said.
"Not yet. Maybe she's not coming after all."
Bolin looked a little blue at the prospect of being stood up, and Kyalin took pity, inviting him to dance with them.
Kya winked. "C'mon, you'll be our date."
The three danced like that a long time, and it seemed Bolin had begun to forget about Opal when he felt a finger tap on his shoulder.
"Excuse me, may I cut in?"
He flipped around and almost fell over with happiness at the sight of her.
"Opal! You made it!"
He introduced her to Kya and Lin who smiled and let the two young lovebirds to their own devices. They posted up at the bar, talking, looking each other steady in the eyes and smiling wide.
"That boy's got it bad," Lin said, watching them from afar. She turned to Kya. "I do too."
"Are you trying to get into my pants?"
"Um, no, but I def—"
"Because it's working." Kya leaned in and whispered in Lin's ear. "I want you to fuck me."
Lin turned beat red. "Yes, ma'am. When? Where? Now? But the bathroom's dirty, I mean I would though. OK, let's go -"
Kya laughed, running her fingers through Lin's hair. "You are adorable. Soon. Very."
Meantime, Bolin came up and said he was taking off with Opal. Gonna go walk around and get some fresh air, find somewhere quiet where they can get to know each other. He said don't worry about him and that they'll meet at the same coffee shop in the morning.
Lin and Kya gave each other a knowing look and nodded.
"Be safe, Kid," Kya said.
And just like that the two young lovebirds disappeared into the night.
They stayed until last call, and Lin was good and sloppy drunk.
"Don't tell the guys on the force I'm druuuuuunk!" Lin called out into the cool night as they left.
Kya was positioning her upward and trying and failing to keep her gait steady.
"Alright, Tiger. Let's get you to bed. We just gotta walk a couple of blocks to the van."
"Hotel? Making love? Fucking all the livelong night?" Lin slurred. "I got good goo-goo eyes for that."
"Hmm, maybe. Let's see what happens when we get all tucked in. In fact, I'm plum-tuckered. Aren't you?"
"Hell no! I feel alive again thanks to you!"
"Glad I could help. I think those gin and tonics did too."
Lin giggled. "Yeah."
They somehow made it back to Congress Ave. where the van was parked, and Lin turned toward the state Capitol and put two middle fingers up.
"Whoa, why are we fucking the man tonight?"
"I'm done fucking men," Lin chirped. "Shh, keep it a secret OK?"
"What?" Kya whispered.
"My ex is the governor."
Kya's eyes widened but she needed to stay focused on her mission of getting Lin back to the van. "Remind me to ask you about it in the morning."
Back at the van, Kya laid Lin down in the back and wrapped her up in ample blankets. She parked somewhere that seemed safe enough to camp for the night. It was cold and she couldn't wait to exchange body heat with Lin.
When she climbed in the back, Lin was snoring loudly, already fast asleep. Kya smiled and tucked herself in, fell asleep with her leg draped around the other woman.
When they awoke the next morning, Lin's head pounded.
"Water," she rasped. "And coffee." At this age, a recklness night out drinking meant dire morning consequences. But it was worth it.
Kya had a water ready for her and a bucket just in case but the coffee would have to wait until they got to the shop.
Bolin was already waiting for them at the cafe with Opal sitting opposite of him wearing his jacket, Pabu sitting snugly in her lap.
"Well well, fancy see you two here all bright and early," Kya said. "Opal right?"
"Yeahhhhh," Bolin replied. "I mean, she can answer herself."
Opal chuckled. "That's me. And you're Kya and Lin – Bolin told me so much about you."
Lin was positively wretched and could only grunt short terse replies. "Coffee."
They grabbed coffees and sat there enjoying the quiet morning awhile before their next adventure.
"So what did you two get into last night?" Kya continued.
"Oh, we just walked around all night, talking," Bolin said. He couldn't keep his eyes off Opal, even as he answered Kya.
What a darling couple they make, she thought.
Lin grunted quietly as she sipped her coffee.
A/N: I wanted to note that when researching American black-footed ferrets, I discovered that they're sadly endangered. In my story they aren't, but I think I should note this for awareness' sake.