“Professor, is this a bad time?”
“No, Robert. Professor Stone was just leaving.”
Jackie quickly transformed her face from angry to professional, and she left the office.
“Come on in, Robert. What can I help you with?”
Celeste was able to slow her heart rate while Robert was talking to her about an assignment. What was it going to take to get Jackie to leave her alone?
Later that afternoon, when she’d dismissed her class, Celeste called Emily up to her desk. She felt bad that Emily looked like she was about to face a firing squad. Celeste smothered a smile because what she had to show Emily would certainly turn that frown upside down.
“Emily, I have something for you.” She handed over Emily’s last paper she had turned in. Emily’s smile could’ve lit the entire room when she saw the grade at the top of her paper.
“A-minus? That’s so awesome. Thanks, Professor.”
“No need to thank me. You handed in a well thought out paper that hit all the points. Nice job.”
Emily turned to leave but stopped when Celeste called her back over.
“I also wanted to tell you I went to your game the other night, and I was very impressed. You and your team played an exciting game. I have just one question. Why aren’t you as outgoing in the classroom as you are on the court?”
Emily scuffed her sneaker on the floor and looked at her feet before lifting her head and meeting Celeste’s gaze. “I grew up in a conservative family in a conservative town, and I was never encouraged to be outgoing or speak my mind. It took a lot of work on Coach Tobias’s part to get me to step into a leadership role on the team. I’m still not all that comfortable with being outspoken when I think about it, but when I’m playing, I don’t have time to think. I just act and react.”
Celeste nodded. “I see how speaking up in class or asking for help would be difficult for you then. But, Emily, remember this. Your opinion matters. Your thoughts matter. You matter. What you have to offer might help someone else who might be afraid to speak up. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes, ma’am. Thank you. I’ll keep working on it.”
“And what about the other matter we talked about? How are you doing?”
“I’m doing okay. I’m thinking about telling Coach, but I’m so nervous. I don’t want to disappoint her.”
“I don’t think that will happen if you tell her you’re a lesbian. If it would help, I can go with you.”
“Thanks, Professor. I’ll think about that.”
“Very well, then. Have a great day and I’ll see you next time.” Celeste smiled as she watched Emily walk out of her classroom with her head held high and a bounce in her step.
The following day, Celeste was in her office grading exams when she heard a clearing of a throat. She looked up to see Lisa standing in her doorway, looking all kinds of yummy in her khaki shorts and black polo shirt with the GU mascot over the left chest. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail and her sunglasses perched on top of her head. Judging from the smirk on Lisa’s face Celeste guessed that Lisa caught her actually cruising her. Lisa had a bit of swagger to her step as she walked toward Celeste. Yep. Lisa caught her. Celeste could feel the heat rise in her cheeks. For goodness sake. She was a sophisticated college professor. Cruising? Really? She just hoped that Lisa didn’t call her out on it.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“No, no. Not at all. Come in, Coach Tobias.”
Lisa smiled at Celeste and once again, Celeste felt warm. “I thought I told you to call me Lisa.”
Celeste again felt herself blush and quickly wondered why she behaved like a schoolgirl in Lisa’s presence.
“Anyways, I wanted to thank you for supporting our team last week. I hope you had a good time and you liked what you saw.”
Celeste flashed back to that evening, the intensity of Lisa’s actions and how damn good she looked in her slacks. The double entendre didn’t go unnoticed. Yes, indeed, she really liked what she saw.
“I was very impressed with what I saw.” Stop flirting with her. “It was my first live college basketball game, and your team looked really good.”
Lisa looked pretty pleased with herself, and Celeste found that extremely sexy.
“Well, I hope you’ll come to more games. Also, Logan gave me the good news on the grade she received. I really want to thank you for helping her out. We realize you’re busy with your classes and other students, so it means a lot to all of us that you took the time to help her.”
Celeste could feel her facial features soften. “It was my pleasure. I want all of my students to succeed, and if I can help, I will.”
Lisa sat there staring at Celeste for what felt like forever. It was like Lisa was studying her or was trying to figure her out. Celeste was tempted to break their eye contact until Lisa stood to leave.
“Well, I have to get back to work. Hope to see you at another game. Have a good day.” Lisa didn’t give Celeste a chance to respond, and Celeste didn’t know if she was grateful or perturbed.
Celeste studied Lisa’s backside as she let herself out of Celeste’s office. She shook her head to disengage her stare, and she returned her attention back to grading her exams.
Chapter Nine
Celeste had to up her fitness program. She took two pole classes a week and did her weekly wellness day that the university offered, but she needed a little more in order to firm up her body before the pole competition. She’d decided to swim three mornings a week. The school had a pool that was available to students and faculty when it wasn’t being used by the aquatic sports teams. Celeste figured there’d be little chance in running into one of her students if she went first thing in the morning. She’d gone to a sporting goods store the night before and bought a racing suit, goggles, a cap, and a kickboard. When she got home, she tried everything on and stood in front of a full-length mirror. At first, she thought she looked ridiculous, but then she’d remembered what her therapist had told her when she was having negative body image issues. Her therapist told her there was nothing ridiculous about taking care of her body. Everyone had to start somewhere and at least she was doing her best to live a healthy life.
She had turned to the side to see part of her backside in the mirror. She’d had to admit that her behind was looking pretty good from pole. This week’s subject for the school’s healthy living class was going to be on weightlifting—proper lifting techniques, how to determine weight for one’s goals, and orientation on the weight machines. Celeste was excited about that class because she’d never lifted weights in her life, and she struck a pose to see how big her biceps were. Hmm. Not much there. Yet. There was a little bit of muscle from doing her pole classes, but there was nothing wrong with adding a little more.
So, there she was, walking into the locker room near the pool at five forty-five a.m. She opened her duffel bag and donned her swimsuit, cap, and goggles. She grabbed her kickboard and towel before locking up her bag in a locker. She was tempted to wrap the towel around her body for the walk to the pool but figured she probably wouldn’t see anyone at that time of morning.
Once she reached the pool deck, she spotted only one person in the pool. She placed her kickboard on the side, sat on the edge, and lowered herself into the tepid water. Initially, Celeste lost her breath, then she took a few shuddering breaths before she acclimated to the water temperature. She grabbed her kickboard and off she went. The other swimmer was in the lane next to hers doing the freestyle stroke, and when she reached the end, she did a flip turn. Celeste had her head above water, goggles on her forehead, and she marveled at how graceful the other swimmer was.
Celeste had completed six laps with the kickboard and was sorely tempted to call it a session. It was just her first time, after all. She sighed, disappointed in her lack of discipline, and decided that she needed to continue to reach her fitness goals she set for herself. She knew she wouldn’t reach them in one day
, but she also knew she would never reach them if she didn’t push herself. She placed the kickboard on the side of the pool and was about to pull her goggles down when the other swimmer came to a stop next to her. Celeste wanted to compliment the other person on their swimming style. The swimmer pulled her goggles off and flashed a look of surprise followed by a wide smile.
“Well, good morning, Celeste. Fancy running into you here.”
Was that a jab Lisa made to her regarding her non-athletic looking body? Despite the cool temperature of the pool, Celeste could feel her face get hot. How dare Lisa insult her like that. “Why? Don’t I look like I can swim?” Celeste heard the fire in her words as they escaped her mouth.
Lisa held up her hand. “Whoa. All I meant is that usually I’m the only one here at this time. I didn’t mean anything by it.” Lisa placed both hands on the edge of the pool and pushed herself out of the water and onto the deck. Celeste was shocked, and if she was being honest, a little turned on by the muscle striations in Lisa’s arms, shoulders, and back. Lord, she had a fantastic body.
“Enjoy your swim.” Lisa turned and headed toward the locker room, and Celeste was embarrassed when she heard the sarcasm in Lisa’s voice. Just great. Celeste owed Lisa another apology. Why did she keep jumping to conclusions when it came to Lisa? And what did it matter what Lisa thought of Celeste? It’s not like they were friends or anything. They just happened to work at the same school. Celeste wasn’t used to getting compliments from strangers, or they had an agenda like Jackie. Obviously, Celeste still had some work to do on herself, especially when it came to Lisa.
Celeste was tempted to get out of the pool and go apologize, but two things stopped her. First, she really needed to think about what to say to Lisa other than she was sorry, and swimming some laps would allow her to do that. Second, she was more than a little apprehensive to see Lisa in her swimsuit or worse, naked. Up close. By themselves. Nobody else around. Yeah, that would be a very bad idea. The thought of Lisa naked gave Celeste a tingle that developed into a throb. She squeezed her legs together to ease the ache, then she pulled her goggles down and started her laps.
* * *
“What is that woman’s problem? She’s got a serious stick up her ass when it comes to me,” Lisa mumbled to herself as she made her way to the locker room. She opened her locker, and removed her shampoo, conditioner, and body wash before she slammed her locker shut and headed to the showers. She turned the water as hot as she could stand it to ward off the chill from the cool air hitting her wet skin. She angrily scrubbed her head and body while continuing to talk to herself about what a miserable woman that Celeste Bouchard was and that she had some real issues that couldn’t have anything to do with Lisa. She barely knew her for Christ’s sake.
She stood with her face under the water spray and felt her tension finally start to ease away. She turned off the water and toweled herself dry as she walked back to her locker to get dressed and was surprised to see Celeste in the same aisle. She looked up and saw Lisa standing there completely naked. Celeste averted her eyes and looked down. Lisa shook her head and twisted her lock through the combination then pulled her locker door open and threw her towel and swimsuit in a plastic bag. Lisa applied her deodorant, combed her hair, and began applying lotion to her body.
“I didn’t know you’d still be here.”
Celeste’s words didn’t get a response from Lisa, who put one foot on the bench Celeste was sitting on and continued to rub the lotion into her leg. She took her time, and out of the corner of her eye, she could see Celeste struggle to not look her way, failing miserably. It gave Lisa a little perverse satisfaction to make Celeste uncomfortable after the way she spoke to Lisa earlier. It was too early in the morning to deal with Celeste’s surliness. She was about to switch legs when she heard Celeste’s sharp intake of breath and saw her face away from Lisa.
“Would you please put on some clothes?”
“Why? What’s the problem? We’re both women with the same parts.”
Lisa’s lack of modesty had a lot to do with growing up in athletics, showering and being naked along with her teammates in the locker room. To her, it was no big deal. But then she realized that Celeste probably didn’t grow up that way. Lisa thought Celeste had a beautiful curvy body, but she had it covered with a towel so she figured Celeste was shy. Even though Lisa didn’t feel like Celeste deserved it, Lisa decided to give her a break.
“Fine.” Lisa pulled her sports bra over her head and her underwear up her legs. She added khaki shorts and a GU team polo. “You can turn around now.” Celeste turned and Lisa found her blushed cheeks adorable. Lisa sat on the bench and put on her socks and shoes, then gathered her things out of the locker and closed it. She was about to leave when Celeste said her name.
“I’m sorry.”
Lisa tilted her head. “About what?” Lisa wasn’t going to make it easier for Celeste.
“For jumping to conclusions earlier in the pool. It was presumptuous of me to think you were insulting me.”
“Celeste, I would never insult you, or anyone else for that matter. I’m not sure what’s happened in your past to make you so skeptical, but I hope it’s something you can overcome.” Lisa walked out of the locker room leaving Celeste sitting on the bench, wrapped in a towel and her own arms.
* * *
Celeste could feel the tears sting her eyes the moment Lisa walked out the door. Sure, she was angry with herself for speaking to Lisa the way she did, but she was also embarrassed that she got caught looking at Lisa’s amazingly sexy naked body. The moment Lisa came back into the locker room with the towel in her hand, Celeste thought her eyes would actually pop out of her head. Lisa’s skin was still damp and pink, and it made her own body damp and pink. Well, a particular body part. There was a masculine scent that floated by her. Cedar wood? Sage? Whatever it was, it would always bring up the memory of Lisa standing butt-naked, right next to her, slowly rubbing lotion into her beautiful body. Whew! Celeste fanned herself and blew out a long breath. That memory would lead to many, many fantasies, Celeste was sure. Despite the chill in the air, her body was on fire and it needed extinguishing. She headed to the shower and washed the chlorine off her body and out of her hair. Celeste took her time getting ready, partly because her office hours didn’t start for another few hours and partly so she could think about what she’d say to Lisa when she went to apologize.
Once she was dressed and presentable for her day, she went to Lisa’s office. Lisa sat at her desk, apparently in deep thought since she didn’t acknowledge Celeste standing in the doorway until she cleared her throat. Lisa looked directly at Celeste, then dropped the pen she was fiddling with on the desk with a little bit of force.
“What is it, Celeste? I’m kind of busy here.” Lisa sounded tired, maybe a little frustrated or irritated, and Celeste knew she was probably to blame for some, if not all of that. She almost told Lisa that she didn’t look busy, but she was there to apologize, not antagonize her more. And she really needed to figure out what it was about Lisa that had her so off balance to the point that she’d been rude.
“May I buy you breakfast?”
“No, I don’t think so. But thanks anyway.”
Celeste felt like the wind was taken out of her sails, but she tried again. “Please, Lisa. I’d like to apologize to you.”
“We don’t need to go to breakfast for that. You can say what you came to say right here.”
Wow. Lisa was really going to make Celeste work for it. Obviously, she was really upset with Celeste. Okay, if she had to work harder, she would. She stepped farther into Lisa’s office and closed the door behind her to give them some privacy. Celeste noted Lisa’s office smelled like her, that familiar scent from earlier. Celeste took a deep breath and stood before Lisa’s desk.
“I’m sorry.”
“Yes, you mentioned that.”
Celeste sat uninvited in the chair across from Lisa. “Okay, here it is. I’ve never been athletic, an
d as a child, I was really overweight, so I was always picked last and teased for what I looked like and my lack of coordination. I guess I’m still holding on to those insults, and I’m sensitive to things people tell me about how I look or about exercising. I go back in time to the playground in school. I realize now you weren’t insulting me, but it’s just instinct for me to think you were.”
“I wasn’t insulting you, Celeste. On the contrary. I was actually impressed that you were at the pool that early. It takes a lot of discipline to get up that early to work out. The only reason I’m up that early is because it’s the only free time I have to work out.”
That surprised Celeste. She’d thought that Lisa would have plenty of time to spare. She was just a coach, after all. Practices and games were only, what? Two hours?
“Besides, we’re mature adults, not children. The adults I know aren’t petty and insulting.”
Obviously, Lisa hadn’t met Jackie Stone. Jackie gave new meaning to immature and vindictive. There was more to Celeste’s story, but she didn’t know Lisa well enough to give her more. Celeste smoothed her hands down her skirt, which caused Lisa to look in that direction. Lisa bit the inside corner of her mouth before bringing her eyes upward to meet Celeste’s. Hmm. That was interesting.
“Anyways, thank you for your time, Lisa, and again, I’m sorry.”
Lisa stuck her hands in the pockets of her shorts and shrugged. “Thanks for the talk. And for what it’s worth, I think you look great.”
Celeste couldn’t help but cruise Lisa from head to toe, admiring every inch of her. As she made her way back out the door, she added a little extra sway in her hips, hoping Lisa enjoyed the view.
* * *
Athena walked into the office and Lisa didn’t even notice her. It wasn’t until Athena shut her desk drawer a little too loudly that Lisa finally looked up from her computer screen.
Taking a Shot at Love Page 6