Cowgirls

Adriana Chechik and Shyla Jennings have been dating a year, utterly happy. Shyla, country born and nail hard, brings her slick city girl home at last. Adriana arrives full of love and bad ideas. She attacks a log with acrylic nails. She drives the plow in heels that sink like stakes. Every chore turns into performance art. Water sprays from a hose she hasn’t learned to hold. It drenches silk blouse and linen pants, everything glued transparent against her skin. Shyla watches, then laughs low in her throat. She reaches for Adriana’s wet hand and pulls her indoors. Inside, a towel moves over Adriana’s arms, her ribs, the slope of each breast. “I ruined everything,” Adriana murmurs. Shyla answers with her mouth pressed to damp hair. “We already have one country girl. Don’t need another. Just stay this adorable.” She kisses her again, slower, and Adriana’s pout dissolves into the promise she can keep.