Free Take Only Pictures by Laina Villeneuve Page A

few months of travel.”
    “What are you studying?”
    Ocean shrugged. “I’m undecided right now. Taking classes keeps my parents quiet, and then I get to play all summer.”
    Ocean happily described the various kinds of play she enjoyed, requiring very little participation on Gloria’s part to keep the conversation going. Had she ever been this young and self-absorbed? She tried to picture a whole day hiking with this woman. Would she ever run out of things to say? Gloria wondered if she was remotely curious about her job or the things that she enjoyed. As they paid the check, Gloria realized she’d be just as content to return to her camper and lose herself in a romance novel, a pastime that she loved and would have enjoyed chatting about, had she been asked. However she found that she couldn’t say no when Ocean excitedly suggested that Gloria come to her cabin to see the picture of the bear she’d told her about.
    “That’s the Dumpster they get into some nights when the kitchen crew forgets to lock the bar across the top.”
    Gloria resisted the temptation to check the Dumpster to make sure that it was secure. Inside Ocean’s room, she chuckled politely at the snapshot. When Ocean offered her a beer Gloria looked for a way to cut out but didn’t, not wanting to be impolite. As she sipped, she thought about why being in Ocean’s company wasn’t taking away her disquiet. She concentrated on not gulping her beer, so she wouldn’t seem rude. When she finally finished it, she declined a second and stood to leave but didn’t move fast enough to escape Ocean’s moving in for a kiss. Out of instinct, she kissed Ocean back, but she found herself unable to move her hands past her shoulders. Ocean’s hands traveled freely over Gloria’s back, even tucking under her shirt to make contact with her skin. Gloria searched for a reason her kiss and touch did nothing to excite her. It wasn’t that her feelings were hurt over Ocean’s lack of interest in her career or hobbies. She’d fallen into bed with people she’d exchanged fewer words with, yet the entire time Ocean kissed her, her mind continued to search for a polite way to disengage.
    Was she missing Meg? The thought was so foreign to her that she stepped back.
    “Sorry,” Ocean said, though she smiled. “Too forward?”
    Gloria sighed apologetically. “No. It’s not that.”
    “What, then?” Ocean asked, stepping close again and slipping a hand around Gloria’s waist.
    “I…”
    Ocean’s thumb traced a path down Gloria’s jaw and hovered in front of her lips.
    “Did you hear something?” Gloria asked, wondering if the banging she thought she’d heard was only wishful thinking.
    Ocean tipped her head to the side, listening. Her eyes opened wide. “The bear!”
    They rushed out of the room to see a large brown bear pacing by the Dumpster behind the cabin. It stood on its hind legs bawling at the metal container.
    “What’s it doing?” Ocean asked.
    Gloria clapped her hands together and hollered for the bear to get moving. Instead of fleeing, the bear turned to face Gloria. Gloria knew the stance and looked for the cubs mama was protecting. A moment later, two small faces emerged from inside the bin. Their paws scraped at the walls as they attempted to gain enough purchase to get out, but they both failed and fell back into the Dumpster, prompting mama to turn again.
    “We’re going to need a truck,” Gloria said, relieved to have a legitimate escape. “And a ladder.”

Chapter Nine
    On Friday, the entire crew gathered in the meadow next to the Lodge for the demonstration on how to recondition bears. Kristine’s attention was supposed to be on Gloria, but every time Gloria made eye contact with her, she felt awkward. They hadn’t spoken since she’d turned Gloria down, but Kristine knew that she’d have to stop by the camper eventually to retrieve her coat. As Gloria glanced in the direction of the pack crew again, Kristine elbowed