Alexus -- Nude day early morning
"You're going to pace a rut into the concrete floor if I let you stay here, Alexus." Alejandro shook his head. "It won't do you any good to be here while the construction crew is. You'll just get in the way."
"I know, I know. But why does it have to be today?" Alex flopped onto the stool in the taproom. It was perhaps too dramatic for the occasion. Today's memorable holiday didn't bother her as much as she was letting on, but she wouldn't go along without at least arguing. Losing a long weekend during the busy tourist season wasn't her favorite, but extra deliveries had been made to all the local stores to get them through the hastily planned repairs.
A big window showed off the working brewery's gleaming copper and stainless steel. The only thing askance was the missing third tank. Forty years of loyal service finally proved too long to continue without replacing the oldest and smallest one.
We needed to upgrade anyway. Pretty sure Uncle Finn got it secondhand.
"It's the first year. It may be a one-time thing, and some of our friends have a life outside work. Will it really be any different once we get up there? At least you won't worry about how things are going at the competition." AJ joked with his typical, nearly smarmy smile. Once you got to know the man, it didn't take long to realize that there wasn't a hint of insincerity in his roguish grin. "I've never known you to be prudish, X."
Growing up together and being named Alex, they had to do something to differentiate themselves from one another. He was Alejandro Junior, so she called him AJ. If they just called her Alex, they both had the tendency to answer. AJ decided to remedy that by calling her X, not Lex, Alexus, or Lexi, X. It used to irritate her, which is probably why he kept at it. Over the years, she had started enjoying it, at least coming from AJ. Everyone else called her Lex or Lexi.
"Damn right, I'm not prudish..." Alexus groaned. "It's not like you haven't seen all of this." She pointed up and down her body. Even if she was wearing grubby overalls currently, he likely got the point. Her friend group would probably be all over celebrating the holiday. "They've seen it all too." She sighed performatively. "What's the plan?"
"We thought we'd hike up to the little swimming hole we used to hang out at back in college. The one off the main trail. I'll carry the cooler with us." Another toothy grin covered his face. He didn't need to take any time explaining; AJ could only be talking about a single spot outside their hometown. One that the pair had discovered in college and one that became a popular destination for their friends.
"Where we used to go skinny dipping?" She couldn't help a smile forming on her face. There were a lot of good times up at that swimming hole. Many personal first occurred there.
Most of the water in the region was either ice-cold snow melt or hot springs. Neither of those environments led to good swimming. A soak in the hot springs was nice, but it wasn't refreshing on a warm summer day. Even in the mountains, the sun could get oppressive, especially under the heat dome bearing down on them for the last month.
"Would it be an informal college reunion if it wasn't? They're demanding that Alex squared makes an appearance. It's been years since we've been up there. Now we don't have to worry about getting busted for skinny dipping or underage drinking."
The Alexes, Alex Squared, the twins, their friends had numerous nicknames for the pair. At one point, everyone was convinced that the couple was destined to be together, perhaps in another timeline. AJ was her outstanding manager, but it was never romantic, at least after high school. X discovered a year after starting college that she was a lesbian. A single kiss out at the swimming hole on a dare, and she learned something about herself. It connected a dot as to why she lost interest in her boyfriends.
Before that epic moment, X had dabbled in hetero-normative romance, but nothing had really stuck. She thought that perhaps she wasn't that into sex, but that wasn't the reason for her lack of reaction. The woman that Alexus had made out with on a dare had experience. They soon snuck off from the group, and Alexus suddenly knew who she was in more profound depth. There hadn't been a ton of romance in that joining, but it was much better than the three boyfriends she had tried before that day.
"Alright. You can't carry that big cooler by yourself to the spot." Lex teased. "Grab some of the good special reserves. Is someone bringing food?"
"I got stuff to make sandwiches at the apartment. Lucy and Salvy divided the rest of the stuff with the crew. I'm sure Luce is bringing her world-famous cookies." AJ had planned ahead; he knew he could get Alexus in on his scheme. The pair living together was the only way AJ wasn't going into significant debt while working on an MBA. It was also the key reason X got him to be her CEO, as the brewery rapidly expanded into new markets. The tank replacement would be just the start when the annex was opened next spring or summer. It would more than double the size of the brewery.
"Good. If we're going out today, I need to shower and do a little cleanup." Alexus circled her crotch to see if she could get a blush out of AJ. He was usually calm and confident, but Lex could make him stumble.
"You never know if some cute single ladies might be at the swimming hole." AJ's smile gleamed. Her ploy hadn't worked. He was a good wingman and even went with her to the LGBTQ-friendly bars around the area. X liked to return the favor to her best friend, though she didn't have the same luck.
"That would be a nice change of pace outside the all-consuming brewery." Before AJ worked here, Lexi probably put in 80-hour weeks all summer. She would at least take the weekends off only when the snowfall got deep.
"I think we should work that into the name of the IPA you're finally going to make." AJ's eyebrows waggled as he grabbed a few of the best six-packs out of the refrigerator in the taproom.
"Why? Am I suddenly going to whack my head on something and get a concussion?" Alexus was adamant that they didn't need an IPA. Maybe it was just the popularity and a stubborn streak, but her uncle always said that the style was popular as it was easy to cover up brewing sins with far too many hops and various add-ins.
"It would sell, X. I'll wear you down someday. Meet you back at home? I'm going to make a stop on the way."
Grace -- That same morning
Her typical unshakeable confidence wavered momentarily as Grace got out of her car.
This is what you wear all the time at home. Celina is used to it.
She told herself to calm her heart rate. She grabbed her purse and threw it over her shoulder as the warming sun and breeze caressed every millimeter of her body.
Did I put on enough sunscreen?
Her skin looked so pale out in the sunlight.
One more lean into the car, and Grace grabbed the two large coffees from the cup holders.
I thought the guy at the coffee shop's eyes would bug out.
Grace nearly chuckled. She couldn't have been the only one who had entered the café naked this morning. Not with their Nude Day two for one special going.
Any attention since Bishop left has felt nice.
She eased her front door open, hoping to not awaken Celina yet. She had gotten in from Denver pretty late last night.
Celina had to get through the late dinner service and pack before she could drive almost an hour outside Denver to Grace's place. Cel didn't get out of Denver that much anymore, but evidently, the restaurant business was highly competitive. Grace could identify with that as the only reason she was taking the week off as she was at the point of using it or losing it four years into her job. Her gung-ho attitude had gotten several promotions since she started, matching her bestie's meteoric rise. Cel was now the sous chef at one of the most famous restaurants in Colorado.
Grace couldn't avoid a little squeak as she pushed in the front door of her cottage home.
Maybe I'll actually grease the hinge now.
