Page 72 of Unfiltered
Abby’s laughter echoed off the walls.
“The acoustics are all wrong for a conversation,” Ricki yelled.
At least Blythe thought she’d yelled since the sound reverberated inside the enclosed space, making it difficult to understand.
Abby laughed again. Her legs moved like pistons, putting her half a flight ahead of Blythe.
“No fair. You two are runners.” Blythe picked up her pace, though she knew she’d never catch them.
“Abby, I’ll race you,” Ricki called.
Blythe didn’t hear Abby’s response, but the sound of pounding feet above said Abby accepted the challenge. As their footsteps grew fainter, Blythe smiled. It was good to see Ricki out of her funk. Despite Blythe’s protests, she’d had a wonderful time tonight and enjoyed the play. It wasn’t something she planned on admitting to Ricki, but she’d tell Abby later.
Blythe meandered up the stairs, taking her time, just to annoy Ricki and Abby. When she pushed open the door to level six, she found Ricki and Abby leaning against Ricki’s car. Ricki drummed her fingers on the hood and whistled as if they’d been waiting a long time.
Blythe let her tongue drop from her mouth as if she was panting, though at the snail’s pace she went up the stairs, she wasn’t winded.
“I’m gonna need a nap after all that exercise,” Blythe said as she sauntered toward the pair. “Who won?”
“She cheated.” Ricki pointed at Abby over the roof of the car.
“I’m taking it that means you lost?”
Abby raised her hands over her head and danced. “Victory!”
Ricki laughed. “Cheater!”
“That’s my girl.” Blythe sidled up to Abby. “I forgot to warn you, she’s a sore loser.”
“Bullshit,” Ricki said. “She cheated.” Ricki crossed her arms over her chest for emphasis.
“Let me be the judge.” Blythe shifted her gaze between the two.
“I fell,” Abby said.
“Are you all right?” Blythe stepped back and looked Abby up and down.
“She faked a fall,” Ricki said.
“I did not.”
“Okay, kids.” Blythe held one hand out to each of them as if to keep them apart, which was only for show since the car sat between them. “Let me be the judge of that.”
“Well, even if it was a legit fall, she still cheated.”
“It’s not my fault your chivalry got the best of you,” Abby said.
“Did you try to carry her up the steps?” Blythe looked at Ricki in mock surprise.
“No!” Ricki said.
“Damn.” Abby chuckled. “That would have been fun. Why didn’t I think of it?”
“Because you were too busy thinking of ways to cheat.” Ricki’s eyes danced.
Abby stuck her tongue out at Ricki and then turned her head. “Anyway, I tripped on the stair and—”
“Like a good sport, I stopped to make sure she was okay. And as soon as I kneeled beside her, she leaped up and sprinted up the stairs. Once I got over the shock, she had a half-floor lead on me.”
