by Gerri Hill
“At Jennifer’s swim party.”
“Yes.” Ashleigh laughed. “They were trying to set you up with Brian. He thought you were hot.”
Gina turned to face her. “I thought you were hot.” She was surprised at the quick blush that lit up Ashleigh’s face.
“I never, ever, felt any kind of a spark with someone,” Ashleigh said. “Until that day. I got out of the pool in my bikini and you were watching me. The look in your eyes...well, it gave me chills. I knew then I was attracted to you.”
Gina stared at her, meeting her gaze without flinching. “Why are we talking about this?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe just trying to make sense of it all.”
Sense of their attraction? Or sense of their breakup? Gina decided it didn’t matter. They’d spent twenty years apart. But that old attraction was still there. What sense did that make? And what about Faith? Did she exist or not? Again, right now, it didn’t matter.
“Dance with me,” Gina said, her voice quiet. She couldn’t place the song and had no idea if it was a current favorite or an oldie, but it was slow enough for them to dance. The look in Ashleigh’s eyes took her breath away.
“I’d love to.”
Gina ignored the curious stares of the others, blocking out everyone but Ashleigh. When she pulled her close, she felt a slight tremor in Ashleigh’s body.
“Nervous? Or embarrassed?”
Ashleigh smiled. “I was never embarrassed to be with you, Gina. I’m certainly not about to start now.”
It was Gina’s turn to tremble as Ashleigh’s arms circled her neck. Gina gave in, pulling Ashleigh against her, letting in memories from so long ago. Their feet shuffled aimlessly as they moved and Gina felt Ashleigh’s rapid heartbeat against her breasts. She closed her eyes, pretending, just for a second, that this was how it would have been, had they stayed together.
“You do realize we’re the best looking couple out here,” Ashleigh said as she whispered into her ear.
“Must be the dress.” Gina pulled back slightly, seeing the flirty look in Ashleigh’s eyes. Ah, so she wanted to play. No harm in flirting when there was a roomful of people to keep them in line. “You always did like to go braless,” she said, her eyes lowering to the swell of breast that was exposed. “It used to drive me crazy.”
Ashleigh arched an eyebrow. “Used to?”
Gina pulled her tight, their breasts smashing together. “Still does,” she whispered, surprised at how daring she had become. She nearly stumbled as Ashleigh moaned into her ear.
“We should stop,” Ashleigh said.
“You started it.”
“I never could control myself in your arms.”
Gina turned them around slowly, her hands keeping Ashleigh pressed close. “Did you wear the dress for me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
The song ended and Ashleigh pulled away, her grin wicked. “Why would you think?” She tugged Gina’s hand, leading her off the floor and toward the table where Crissy and Brian sat.
“Oh, God, you are so busted,” Crissy said.
“What do you mean?”
She held out her camera, showing it to them. Gina’s breath caught, seeing the two of them in each other’s arms, their bodies molded together. There was no doubt they’d been lovers. Their bodies were too familiar with each other.
Ashleigh turned, meeting Gina’s gaze. “Maybe dancing wasn’t such a good idea.”
Ashleigh made her way back from the ladies’ room having to stop no less than four times to say, yes, she and Gina had been an item way back when. All that from one dance. Yet a dance she would never forget. God, how wonderful had it been to be in Gina’s arms again? But how crazy was it? How could she still be attracted to her after all these years? How could she have dreaded the reunion, dreaded seeing Gina again then end up flirting with her—shamelessly.
And why was Gina flirting back? Surely they both knew how dangerous it was. There was a time when only a look between them would send them into each other’s arms, into bed, making love. It only took a look. No words needed to be spoken. Then why did she think it would be different now? Because they were twenty years older? Because she’d made up a phantom lover in Faith? Did she think she could flirt with Gina and nothing would happen because there was Faith?
What have I done?
Indeed. She was now embarrassed for the way she’d acted, the way she’d flirted. What must Gina think of her? Here she supposedly had a lover, yet she was flirting with another woman. Did Gina doubt her now? Did she think that perhaps yes, Ashleigh had been cheating on her in college?
She let out a heavy sigh, then avoided the others, making her way to the bar instead. She obviously couldn’t be trusted to act like an adult in Gina’s presence.
She smiled quickly at the bartender. “Make it a double. High school reunions are brutal.”
“So they say.”
She turned her back to him, not wanting to make small talk. He seemed to get the hint as he left her drink on the bar and walked away.
She spent the next few hours nursing two drinks, avoiding Gina, avoiding Crissy but dancing with Brian, and finally dancing with James again and admitting to him that yes, she and Gina had been lovers in high school and that’s the real reason she wouldn’t date him. He said he always suspected there was something between her and Gina but still didn’t believe it, even when word got out that Ashleigh was gay.
It was a crazy way to end the reunion, she knew. But thankfully, end it did. And tomorrow, they would all go their separate ways. She’d already decided she’d skip the brunch. She would head over to her mother’s and spend the day by the pool. Gina would head back to Corpus and that would be that.
She turned, feeling Gina watching her. For all the avoiding she’d done, Gina hadn’t been exactly searching her out. But she walked toward her now, her eyes intense as they peered at her.
“Share an elevator?”
Ashleigh nodded. It would be rude to refuse the offer. She walked beside Gina, the effects of her double bourbons catching up with her. She leaned against the wall, waiting for the elevator.
“You did an effective job of avoiding me,” Gina said.
“Yes.”
“Something I did?”
Ashleigh shook her head. “Not you. Me.”
The doors opened and Ashleigh went inside, again leaning against the wall, watching Gina. Gina looked at her questioningly.
“Third floor,” Ashleigh said.
Gina pushed both buttons for the second and third floors. “I’m on two,” she explained.
“Are you heading back to Corpus early?” Ashleigh asked.
Gina shook her head. “Actually, I’m staying in town for the week. I promised Aunt Lou I’d spend some time with her.”
Ashleigh sighed. “Imagine that.”
“Why? What time are you leaving?”
“I’m staying for a few days too. Courtney is coming down from San Antonio Monday. We’re going to catch up.”
Gina took a step toward her and Ashleigh braced herself against the wall. The bell chimed, signaling the stop on the second floor.
“Maybe we’ll run into each other then,” Gina said, her voice quiet.
Ashleigh nodded, unable to take her gaze away from Gina.
“Goodnight,” Gina said. She turned to go, then paused, looking back at Ashleigh, her eyes lowering to Ashleigh’s lips. Unconsciously, Ashleigh wetted them, waiting. She was breathing fast, she knew, as Gina lowered her head. To her embarrassment, she moaned even before Gina’s lips touched hers. The kiss was very light, but enough to conjure up delicious memories and leave Ashleigh wanting more. Her eyes must have said as much because Gina’s mouth found hers again, this time harder, their quiet moans echoing together in the empty elevator. Ashleigh’s hands gripped Gina’s waist, holding her close as the kiss deepened. She felt her legs grow weak as Gina’s tongue brushed against her lower lip before pulling away.
Th
en she was gone, slipping away before Ashleigh could make a total fool of herself and beg Gina for more. Beg her for much, much more. The doors slid closed, leaving Ashleigh leaning against the wall, her fingers touching her lips where only seconds before, Gina’s mouth had been.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Present Day
Ashleigh splashed water on her heated skin as she lazily floated in her parents’ pool. Her father, while at retirement age, couldn’t seem to give up his job at Foster’s Natural Gas, saying the place would fall apart without him. Actually, he was one of those people who had to have a job in order to feel productive. That, and driving around the area inspecting natural gas wells gave him the freedom he still needed. She suspected he would go crazy—and take her mother with him—if he was stuck in the house all day.
Her mother was off to the grocery store to stock up for Courtney’s visit. Her mother loved to cook and no doubt they would have all of their childhood favorites while they were here.
So, alone, Ashleigh donned her bikini and got in the pool, swimming laps before pulling one of the floats into the water. She had done a remarkable job of keeping Gina Granbury out of her mind. Yesterday, Sunday, she’d shared both lunch and dinner with her parents, talking for hours as they caught up. She’d slept soundly, the quiet of Calloway lulling her into a blissful sleep. Now, today, with no distractions, she found her thoughts going to her former lover. Wonder what the odds were that they would both stay over in Calloway after the reunion? She’d suspected Gina would be on the road back home as soon as it was over. But no. She was here the week. Maybe we’ll run into each other. And maybe they wouldn’t. Because if the scene in the elevator didn’t tell them they still had an attraction between them, nothing would. She had been ready to shed her clothes right then and there and make love.
Make love?
She closed her eyes, letting the gentle rocking motion of the water take her back twenty years, seeing them, not as adults, but as teenagers. There had been nothing awkward about them being lovers. The most awkward thing was finding time to be alone—and not getting caught. But their lovemaking? No, it had none of the clumsiness—or ineptness—that comes with being teenagers. They always had a connection between them, a sixth sense that guided them. Even the first time, the first time for either of them, they just knew.
She opened her eyes, looking across the water, seeing Gina splashing in the pool, her long dark hair slicked back. She remembered the torture she endured, Gina walking around shamelessly in her tiny bikini, teasing and flirting, and Ashleigh could do nothing about it as her mother or siblings would undoubtedly be about. All Ashleigh could do was stare—and wait. Wait for nighttime, when they could be alone in her room. She got her revenge then, her mouth and tongue teasing Gina mercilessly, making her beg for the release she sought. Even then, as teens, they were playing adult games.
What would it be like now? What if Ashleigh hadn’t invented Faith? They would both be single. The old attraction was obviously still there. That was evident from the dance, from the kiss in the elevator, from the looks between them. Both single, was there then any reason they shouldn’t explore the adult attraction they had?
No.
She flipped off the float and into the water, sinking below the surface. No, the only thing stopping them was Faith, her imaginary girlfriend. In the elevator, she could tell by the hesitation in Gina that she was considering the fact that Ashleigh was involved with someone. But still, they couldn’t resist a kiss.
Gina paced aimlessly in Aunt Lou’s living room, waiting while her aunt dressed for lunch. Gina was taking her to one of the new restaurants that had opened on the north side of town. It was Tuesday and she’d decided that she had been over-ambitious when she said she would stay the week in Calloway. She realized that she and Aunt Lou communicated much better over the phone than in person. And why wouldn’t they? That had been their relationship since she’d left Calloway twenty years ago, except for a handful of times, the last being her father’s funeral. After two days, the effort—for both of them—to keep each other entertained had reached new heights when Gina had suggested lunch out, anything to get them away from the house. Thankfully, she’d kept the hotel room for the week and not accepted Aunt Lou’s invitation to bunk with her.
It didn’t help that she couldn’t get her mind off of Ashleigh, either. Ashleigh and the kiss. She knew she owed Ashleigh an apology for that. How arrogant of her to assume Ashleigh wanted her kiss in the first place. But the dance, the intimacy of it all, begged for them to kiss. Whether Ashleigh was involved with someone or not—and according to Crissy, she was not—that didn’t matter. Ashleigh told her she was in a relationship. That should have been enough to deter any thoughts of kissing. And it nearly was. But in the end, Gina couldn’t resist. The pull was too strong. In all fairness, it wasn’t she who prolonged the kiss, it wasn’t she who gripped Ashleigh’s waist, holding her in place.
No, Ashleigh turned her brief kiss into more. Ashleigh was the one who held tight to Gina when she tried to pull away. All of which only confused her more. Instinct told her to get the hell out of Calloway...and fast. Leave. Go back to Corpus, back to her life. There were too many memories here, too many luscious memories of the two of them. She closed her eyes, remembering the countless times they’d touched, kissed and pleasured each other. Two teenagers in love, sneaking off any chance they got, hiding in shadows, stealing kisses, throwing caution aside as they made love, unable to stop, unable to wait even a second longer.
“It was incredible,” she murmured quietly. Yes, it had been. Twenty years ago. And no one had touched her that way since. It was rather distressing to realize that probably no one would ever touch her like that again.
“Sorry that took so long. I couldn’t decide what to wear.”
Gina pushed her thoughts away, turning with a smile to Aunt Lou, seeing her in a pretty summer dress. “A dress?” She pointed at her own shorts and sandals. “Too casual?”
“Oh, don’t be silly. I just haven’t had a lunch date before. In case someone from church sees me, I wanted to be dressed appropriately.”
Gina bit her tongue, knowing her words would fall on deaf ears. This was Aunt Lou’s town, these were her people. If she wanted to put on airs and play a part, that was her business.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Present Day
“This is heaven,” Courtney said as she lazily drifted on her float in their parents’ pool.
“And judging by your pasty skin, you don’t get to experience it much.”
“And judging by your obnoxiously tan skin, you don’t work for a living.”
Ashleigh laughed. “I work plenty. I just choose to spend my free time outdoors.”
“And I prefer to spend my free time indoors with my husband,” Courtney shot back. “Something you would know nothing about.”
Ashleigh splashed water on her. “You spend your free time with your nose stuck in a book. Your husband would be the first to tell us that.”
Courtney returned her splash. “So, what’s with your love life?”
“What love life?”
“Mom says you’re seeing someone. Faith.”
“Oh God,” Ashleigh groaned. “She told you?”
“Of course. You dating anyone is big news.”
Ashleigh debated telling her the truth, deciding it would do no good to keep pretending Faith existed.
“You’re going to think I’m crazy.”
“Probably, yes.”
“You remember Gina Granbury?”
“I should. She spent nearly every weekend here with us.”
Ashleigh leaned her head back into the water. “Oh, great,” she muttered.
“Great what?”
Ashleigh stared at her. If she told about why she made up Faith, she’d be confessing to her affair with Gina during high school. That was something she wasn’t sure she wanted Courtney or her mother to know.
“What?” Courtney asked again.
“Look, promise me what I’m about to tell you, you will never tell Mom.”
“Ashleigh, you’re nearly forty. Is it necessary to still keep secrets from Mom?”
“Telling someone they’re nearly forty is not a compliment. You know that, right?”
“Will you just tell me already.”
Ashleigh sighed. “Well, it’s the reunion. And the fact that Gina was coming.”
“What about the reunion?”
“I assumed Gina would be involved with someone, be in a relationship, and I didn’t want to be single. So I made up Faith.”
Courtney stared at her, eyebrows raised. “You made up a girlfriend? Because of Gina?”
“Yes.”
“You made up a girlfriend and you told Mom about her? Yeah, you’re crazy.”
“I only had to tell Mom because Gina came over to the house.”
“And what does Gina having a boyfriend have to do with you needing a girlfriend?”
Ashleigh rolled her eyes. “I swear, for someone as smart as you are, you are clueless.”
“I’m pretty sure that wasn’t a compliment.”
“Gina wouldn’t have a boyfriend, Courtney.”
“She’s married then?”
“No, she’s not married.” Ashleigh waited, still seeing a blank look in Courtney’s eyes. “Hello? She’s gay.”
“Gina?”
“Yes, Gina.”
Finally, a glimmer of light, then her eyes widened. “Gina’s gay? Then...oh my God,” she whispered. “You and Gina?”
Ashleigh nodded. “Yes.”
“Oh my God!” she shrieked. “Are you serious?”
Ashleigh glanced quickly to the house, hoping her mother wouldn’t come to investigate Courtney’s antics. “Keep your voice down.”
“In high school?”
“Yes, in high school.”
“All those times she—”
“Yes.”
“Oh my God. I cannot believe it.” She tipped over her float and swam to Ashleigh’s, holding on to the side. “That’s so cool.”