Free In My Skin by Cassidy Ryan

riding the ferris wheel, eating cotton candy and corn dogs, and taking turns on the shooting gallery—I won a huge stuffed penguin, but we laughed at the idea of trying to get it home on the bike, so we presented it to a delighted little girl.
    As afternoon turned into evening, we ate dinner at a small inn where we decided to stay the night, so we were able to share a bottle of wine.
    Our room was small and intimate, most of it taken up with a huge, carved wooden bed. It had a tiny little balcony overlooking the ocean, with French windows and filmy voile panels that fluttered in the warm evening breeze. We made love to the sound of the waves on the beach, as the evening sun sank behind the horizon, and long into the night. Exhausted and completely spent, we fell asleep and didn't wake until after ten in the morning—necessitating a hasty call to the office to let them know that I would be taking another personal day. We lounged around for another hour before finally going downstairs to have brunch and pay the bill.
    It was late afternoon when we arrived back in the city and headed straight to Chaise's—in the last few weeks I had spent far more time there than my own place, and it was fast coming to feel like home; I even had my own key.
    I was feeling considerably more relaxed, my body pleasantly achy as I dismounted the bike and removed my helmet.
    "I should go and check in with Sophie before I go upstairs.” She raised my hand to her lips and kissed my knuckles. “Why don't you go ahead? I won't be long.” She had that look in her eyes that, in spite of a night of unrestrained passion, still made me feel all tingly.
    "Okay, but don't be too long. I have to go back to work tomorrow, so I'm going to need an early night.” I watched as her pupils flared and her tongue came out to lick her bottom lip.
    "I'll be five minutes. Tops."
    I laughed as she strode into the coffee shop, and went up to the apartment. Shedding my jacket and boots, I headed for the kitchen and began preparing a dinner of pasta and salad. I had barely put the pasta in the pot and taken the vegetables from the fridge when I heard the door open and Chaise's footsteps on the stairs.
    "That was quick, can't bear to be parted from me, huh?” I crossed to the stairs and leaned over the banister. The smile froze on my face when I saw that Chaise was not alone, but had my mother in tow.
    I felt anxiety suddenly invade my body, wiping away all the good that the last day had done. I moved to stand behind the kitchen counter, putting some distance as well as a physical barrier between us.
    Chaise looked distinctly uncomfortable as she gestured for my mother to enter the apartment. “Uh, your mom was waiting in the coffee shop to speak to you."
    Mom smiled and looked every bit as uncomfortable as Chaise. “I called your office and your assistant said you had taken a couple of personal days, then I went to your apartment. I came here because, well, I couldn't think of where else I might find you.” She was doing that thing with the fingers of her right hand, sort of rubbing the tips together, that I had come to associate with her being nervous or feeling out of her element. It caused my stance to soften a little.
    "I have to admit that this is quite a surprise. I wasn't expecting to see you.” The air in the room seemed to throb with tension.
    "I-I thought that maybe we should talk.” She sounded so unsure, so ill at ease that my heart twisted in my chest.
    I nodded. “Yes, I think we should.” I came out from behind the counter and looked at Chaise. “If you'd prefer, we could take this elsewhere?” The last thing I wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable in her own home.
    But Chaise immediately shook her head. “No, please, stay.” She turned to mom. “Mrs. Stuart, why don't you have a seat and I'll make some tea?"
    Mom came slowly further into the room and smiled rather awkwardly at Chaise. “That would be very nice. Thank you ... Chaise."
    It