Holly Fever (Mondamin Court #1)

Chapter 28

"Good night, girls." Zoey said as she shooed them toward the stairs and their room.

"Good night, Miss Zoey," Esther said. She leaned in so Zoey could kiss her on the cheek.

"I like those new pajamas," Zoey said as Ruth went by. Ruth was wearing a two- piece flannel set they had found in the lesbian's house. "And they'll keep you warmer."

"Yeah, they will," Ruth said.

Misshasha followed her up the stairs to the girls' room.

Zoey's heart raced. Misshasha usually slept with the girls, but Zoey had worried that tonight would be the one night she'd choose to stay in her own room.

Zoey went into her room. She hesitated for a minute and then opened the upper drawer and slid the nightie out. She stripped down and then slipped into a pair of panties, tucking her male parts back like the drag queens did. Inspecting herself in her mirror she thought she'd done a passable job of it. She pulled the nightie on. She'd found a bottle of estrogen in one of the houses they had raided, but she hadn't taken them long enough to grow breasts. Still, she thought she'd managed a girly sort of charm anyway.

At the top of the stairs, she paused and wondered if this was a good idea or not. She could see a vague glow from an LED lamp they'd pulled from Jack's stash. She knew Darren was still up, drinking beer and probably playing on the PSP.

"What do you think?" she said as she stepped into the main room and spun.

He looked up from his game and snorted. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" he asked, sounding half amused, half irritated. At least there wasn't anger or disgust in his voice. That had been Zoey's biggest fear.

"I got it from the lesbians' house," Zoey said, finding a seat on the couch next to him. "Remember looking at their pictures?" She hoped her voice was flirtatious, but to herself it sounded nervous. "You liked them. I get it. I'm bi myself. Can't say they weren't a cute couple."

"What are you trying to do?" Darren slurred out. There were three empty beers on the end table.

She slid her hand under his arm and pulled his hand onto her knee. She blushed and looked away. "It's just . . ." she stammered. "It's just I know about needs, whatever you think. And besides, flesh is flesh, right?"

For a long time he didn't answer, but he didn't remove his hand either. Instead, he began rubbing her knee in little circles. "Nobody can know." It was barely a whisper.

That was Zoey's turn to snort. "Who am I going to tell?"

His hand slid into hers, and he led her toward his bedroom. As she went, she thought, For Ruth. Darren half turned, and she saw his chest and arms. He had been lean, but weeks of working, chopping wood, had given him a rangy, lanky look. Maybe a bit for myself, she added, surprised by the flush of excitement she felt.

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Holly's shift ended midafternoon. She had enough time to return to her room and have a half hour's privacy before her roommates came home from their shifts. Shannon was first. She stank more than usual and dismissed herself to shower. By the time she was done, Candace and Maria were there. They talked until suppertime and then went down together.

Supper was a beef and barley stew served with heavy bread that Holly had spent most of the afternoon kneading with a huge machine at the back of the kitchen. She took a measure of pride in every positive comment the girls muttered, though she had only been one of several workers who'd contributed.