by Gerri Hill
"Nice to meet you. You had a good game," she said.
Kelly released her hand slowly and smiled. "Thanks, but those were lucky hits. My softball days ended years ago."
"Oh, please," Christy groaned. "I had to practically beg her to play and look what she does."
9
Kelly grinned, showing off even, white teeth. "It's been a lot of years, Christy."
"You're far from the oldest one on this team."
"I think you hold that honor, don't you?" Betsy asked, and they all laughed.
"And you're not too far behind me, cousin," Christy shot back.
Jo smiled and raised her eyes again, only to find Kelly Sambino looking at her. She met her eyes briefly, and then looked away, back toward the field where another team was warming up.
"I've got to get something to drink," Kelly said, and to Johanna, "Listen, it was nice to meet you. I hope you hang around for the next game."
"I will," she said and smiled.
"Good.” Kelly turned to the others. "See you later," she said and left them.
"She's good, Christy," Janis commented, when Kelly had walked off. "Where did you find her?"
"She teaches at St. Peter's. Well, for the last year anyway.
She's from California originally and used to play for Stanford when she was in college."
"So where did you meet her?" Betsy asked.
"Out at a party awhile back. She's very nice. I really like her."
Jo listened to the conversation, her eyes following Kelly Sambino as she walked toward the parking lot. She was intrigued with her, to say the least. Actually, infatuated would be a better word.
They stood in the shade, visiting, and Jo was glad she had come. Kay came over to catch up, as they had not seen each other in a couple of months. She also got reacquainted with the other players she hadn’t seen in awhile, but she 10
couldn’t keep herself from scanning the parking lot for Kelly, waiting for her return.
“Jo?”
Jo turned around and smiled at Deb, giving her a quick hug in greeting.
“It’s been so long, Deb. How are you?”
“I’m good. You?”
“Fine,” she said. “We haven’t seen each other in ages.
Why did we let that happen?”
“Well, we just sort of lost touch when you started dating Nancy,” Deb said, “and never seemed to connect again after you two broke up.”
“It was my fault,” Jo agreed. “Why don’t we have dinner some night? Or is that not a good idea?” Jo looked around to see if someone were watching them. “Are you seeing someone?”
“No, no. You know me, always single,” Deb reassured her. “Dinner sounds good.”
“Terrific. We’ll get together and catch up,” Jo said.
Deb left her and Jo turned around, looking for Betsy, but aware that she was searching for Kelly Sambino, as well.
Oh, she was acting like a teenager with a huge crush. She purposefully strode back to her lawn chair, thinking she really did need to get out more.
Kelly did not reappear until just before the start of the next game. The others were already warming up when she hurried on to the field, carrying her bat and glove and a bottle of water.
Despite telling herself how foolish she was being, Jo watched closely. She stared as Kelly picked up a ball and began throwing with Christy, her lean body angling into every throw. She smiled often and chatted with the player next to her as she absently tossed the softball back and forth.
Jo was mesmerized. She couldn't tear her eyes away.
11
"Hey," Betsy said to her, bringing her around.
"Yeah?"
"What are you looking at?" she asked with a smile.
Jo blushed and cursed silently to herself. "Nothing."
"Yeah," she said, punching her arm. "Nice to know something's still alive in there."
Jo ignored her and took another beer from her cooler.
Their team was in the third base dugout this time and although she had a perfect view of the bench, she purposely refrained from staring. Instead, she pretended interest in the other team as they warmed up, trying to find someone to hold her attention as Kelly Sambino had done. No one did.
The game started, and her eyes never traveled far from third base. Kelly played her position expertly, grabbing every ground ball that came her way and throwing a bullet to first base each time. Jo was impressed, to say the least. But it was Kelly’s hitting that won the game. Her first time up, with two runners on, she smashed the ball to center field, and Jo smiled as it sailed to the fence. Then she watched as Kelly ran the bases, her long legs gracefully touching each one as she hurried to home before the ball ever made it back to the infield.
Kelly’s grin was huge and contagious as she crossed home plate and hit hands with the others who had crossed in front of her. Jo watched her with awe all the way to the dugout.
"Wow!" Janis exclaimed.
"Yeah," Betsy agreed.
After it was over, Johanna stood with the others as they talked about the game, going over each play again. Kelly seemed embarrassed at the attention she was getting and once again attributed her hits to sheer luck. Jo was secretly pleased that someone with her obvious talent wasn't conceited or arrogant about it. Then again, maybe if she was 12
a little more stuck-up, it would quell this attraction Jo was feeling for Kelly Sambino.
Everyone was deciding to go for Mexican food, and Jo found herself agreeing to dinner before she even realized it.
"Don't be late this time, Jo," Betsy admonished as they were leaving.
"I won't.” She closed her trunk with a bang and settled inside her car, turning the air conditioning on high as she drove home. She refused to acknowledge that she had agreed to dinner simply because Kelly Sambino was going to be there. It was high time she went out. Like Betsy keeps saying. Right! With that, she shoved a CD in and listened to Elton John on her way home.
13
Chapter Two
Of course she was late. After her shower, she couldn't decide what to wear. It was still so hot out, she couldn't see putting on jeans, but then shorts seemed too casual. After ironing both and laying them on the bed, she decided on the jeans anyway. Tucking in a crisp cotton shirt, refusing to speculate on the extra effort she was making with her appearance, she carefully applied the minimal amount of makeup she normally wore and sprayed perfume lightly on her neck and wrists. Her blonde hair was cut short for the summer and she brushed it away from her face with a few quick strokes.
She stared in the mirror longer than usual. She had been in the sun too long and her cheeks showed it. Peering closer, 14
she rubbed a finger lightly under one eye. Wrinkles! They were starting to show and she stepped back. They were not nearly as evident from this distance. Laughing at herself, she put her hands on her hips and threw back her shoulders, hoping it made her look taller. It didn’t. She wasn’t really short. She just wasn’t tall. She had spent her high school years wishing she were short and petite so that the guys would notice her more. Then she had spent her college years wishing she were taller, especially after she had developed her first crush on a woman, a basketball player, no less! But she was the same average, boring, and middle-of-the-pack size she had been since she turned seventeen. She gave her hair one last brush with her fingers and hurried out.
They had agreed to meet at Bonita’s Cafe on Congress Avenue at seven o'clock, and it was already fifteen past when Johanna drove by slowly, looking for a parking spot. After cruising by twice, she finally parked two blocks away and hurried along the sidewalk, spotting Betsy's car only a few spaces from the front door. Some people have all the luck, she thought.
She heard them before she actually saw them. Before the hostess could ask her, she simply smiled, pointed and made her way through the crowd waiting for tables.
"Jo, I thought maybe you had decided not to come,"
Betsy said. She had saved a plac
e next to her and motioned for her to sit. Johanna thankfully sat down, saying hello to those around her.
"Running late, as usual," she murmured.
"Well, I ordered you a margarita. I hope that's okay."
"That's fine," she said, smiling her thanks. Only then did she look around the table. Most of the players and their girlfriends were there, and Jo knew most of them. Her eyes stopped when they met the glittering dark ones of Kelly Sambino. Kelly smiled at her from across the table, holding 15
her gaze, and Jo felt the heat she thought she had left outside. She flushed and looked away, grabbing the glass of water in front of her. She took a long swallow, avoiding the gaze from across the table.
Her margarita came, and Jo sipped gratefully, feeling the coolness of it slide down her throat. It was just hot out, she told herself. She had been in the sun too long! She ordered her usual enchilada dinner, then munched on the warm tortilla chips and salsa that were placed within her reach.
The conversation around the table centered on the games, and as they enthusiastically rehashed every play and every hit, Jo listened, all the while conscious of the woman sitting across from her. As Kelly told about her hits, how she had just lucked into the home runs, Jo was able to observe her.
Her long, slim fingers held her glass lightly, and she absently rubbed the frost from the side as she spoke. She seemed almost embarrassed about the attention she was getting. Jo noticed how she quickly turned the conversation to Sharon, who had pitched two shutout games.
"Oh, like I didn't have help behind me," Sharon said.
She was sitting next to Mattie, who Jo had only met once before.
"Let's face it, we've got a good team," Deb said, and they all agreed.
Johanna was silent through most of the meal, but she missed little, least of all Kelly Sambino. She watched her constantly when she wasn't looking, lowering her eyes quickly whenever Kelly glanced her way. She spoke quietly to Betsy and Janis, but didn't take part in the conversation around the table. She wasn't quite certain what to make of her attraction to Kelly. It was so out of character for her that she attributed it to the heat of summer. Why else would she be staring at a virtual stranger, wondering if brown eyes could really be that dark?
16
After dinner, they stood on the street, the air having cooled to a tolerable seventy-five degrees. No one was ready to end the evening, and as they stood around talking, Sharon suggested they go dancing.
"Lakers has country music or we could go to Uptown,"
she said.
She was met with groans from the older ones. "Uptown is filled with college students," Janis said.
"Okay, then Lakers. It's still early. Our game isn't until nine tomorrow."
They agreed, and before Johanna could offer a protest, they were splitting up, each hurrying to their cars. She paused beside Betsy's car, watching as Kelly got into Christy's van.
"I won't stay long," she told Betsy pointedly.
"Of course not," Betsy agreed with a smile.
"Really. I'm only going for one drink."
"Okay. Sure.” Betsy and Janis both grinned at her.
"You can wipe those smiles off your faces, too," she called over her shoulder as she walked toward her car. So, she was infatuated with the woman. Big deal! After three years, she was happy to know that that part of her was apparently coming back to life. It wasn’t as if she was going to do anything about it. But still, she wondered if Kelly might ask her to dance. Then she wondered if she would allow herself to accept.
She slammed her door and locked it, then turned the AC
on high. Sitting there for a moment, she caught a glimpse of her bright eyes in the mirror and attributed it to the margarita, nothing else. Hell, for all she knew, Christy and Kelly could be seeing each other. But she doubted it. Christy had been living with the same woman for years now and was very happy. But then again, Johanna would have said the same thing about herself only three years ago.
17
She drove the few blocks to the downtown bar and found a parking space easily, as it was barely nine and the regular Saturday night crowd had not yet arrived. Betsy and Janis were waiting for her at the entrance. Each paid the cover charge and walked into the dark bar. It was already smoky, but thankfully cool. Loud country music blared from the speakers. They had pulled several tables together, and once again, Jo found herself sitting across from Kelly, who already was sipping a drink.
"What'll you have?" Betsy asked.
"Rum and coke, please," Jo answered, and Betsy left to get their drinks.
"Betsy says you rarely come out with them," Christy said from across the table.
"Rarely," Jo said and smiled. "I'm too busy during the regular terms."
"Kelly teaches also," Christy said. "Though this may be her last year. She's got a novel published and it's due out this fall."
"Really? What do you teach?" Jo asked, looking at Kelly directly for the first time but avoiding the dark eyes that tried to capture hers.
Kelly gave her an amused smile. "Journalism."
"Giving that up to write books? God, who could blame you," Johanna said and grinned.
"I really enjoy teaching, but it leaves me little time to write."
"What kind of book?"
"It's a murder mystery. Takes place on a college campus.
What else?" she laughed.
"I can think of several professors at my own campus who would be candidates for either the victim or the villain," Jo said and smiled at her.
18
"Really? Maybe you should try your own. It's great therapy," Kelly said. “Especially if your dean won’t cooperate with you.” She leaned forward, placed elbows on the table, and Jo did the same. "What do you teach?"
"English," Jo admitted, suddenly feeling like the frumpy old professor that Betsy claimed she was evolving into. “And composition,” she added, as if that sounded a little more glamorous.
Betsy came back with their drinks, then pulled Janis up to dance. Jo sipped hers, then looked back at Kelly. "You're from California?"
"Yes. San Francisco."
"What brought you here?" Jo asked.
"The teaching position. It was something different. But mostly, I wanted to see what a real summer was like."
"And what do you think?"
She laughed. "I'm wondering how I’ve survived two of them. No wonder the lakes are so popular around here."
Betsy and Janis came back as a very old Anne Murray song came on and Kelly looked at Jo and smiled. "I’m not much for country music but I think I can manage this song.
Would you like to dance?"
Johanna hesitated, her drink halfway to her mouth. She set it back down. "Okay."
Jo walked around the table and Kelly took her hand, leading her to the dance floor. Their eyes met before Jo lightly laid her hand on Kelly's shoulder. Though they danced with nearly a foot of space between them, they moved together gracefully, as if they had done this hundreds of times before. They didn't speak, and Jo avoided looking at her. Instead, she watched the other couples around them, all dancing much closer than they were. When the song ended, they pulled apart and again their eyes met.
19
"Thanks," Kelly said quietly, and led her back to the table.
She met Betsy's amused glance with a scowl and ignored her as best she could. Kelly then danced with Christy, and Jo watched as they moved on the floor, noting that Kelly held her with the same distance between them as she had with Jo. That pleased her, though she didn't speculate as to why.
Conversation was sparse around the table. They were too many to talk comfortably, and the music was too loud to hear anything from the other end of the table. She was very aware of Kelly sitting across from her, daring to meet her eyes from time to time, answering her soft smile with one of her own. Kelly did not ask her to dance again until another slow song came on. Jo accepted with a smile, laid her hand in Kelly's outstretched one and followed her to the dance
floor.
Kelly held her closer this time, but still there was a space between them, and Jo found herself wishing she would hold her tighter. Jo closed her eyes, letting her palm lay flat on Kelly’s strong shoulder. They danced slowly, their feet moving together effortlessly, and Jo took a breath, smelling the light, fresh perfume that Kelly wore. When the song ended, they moved apart slowly, their eyes holding for a long moment before Kelly smiled.
"We dance pretty well together, don't you think?"
Smiling, Jo nodded and followed her back to the table.
Johanna accepted the new drink Betsy had bought for her. "Are you trying to prove a point?" she asked, still smiling, well aware she was past the one drink she had said she would stay for.
"You just looked thirsty from all that dancing," Betsy said pointedly.
20
Jo ignored her and turned away. So much for best friends. She looked up and found Kelly watching her. Their eyes held again. Jo finally looked away, flushed. She was not used to this, this sexual attraction for a stranger. Giving herself a little mental shake, she silently scolded, “Summer nights! It’s just the summer heat.”
She felt a tap on her shoulder, roused herself and looked up at Christy.
"How about a dance?"
"Sure."
It was a fast two-step, and they moved together well, spinning around the floor. Winded and thirsty when they returned to the table, she downed her drink.
"Another?" Betsy asked.
"No, thank you," she said. "I'll wait."
Betsy laughed and patted her shoulder. "You're such fun to tease, Jo."
"Obviously," she said dryly.
But she was having fun. Maybe Betsy was right. Maybe she did need to get out more.
When another slow love song came on, Jo bravely raised her eyes across the table, and Kelly was there, silently asking her to dance with an arch of one dark brow. Jo nodded and stood. She was aware of Betsy watching them, but no longer cared. She was having fun. She was feeling again.
This time, when they moved together, Kelly held her close, their bodies brushing, touching. She let her hand move behind Kelly’s neck, ignoring the pounding of her heart. Her breath caught when Kelly's hand moved lower on her back, turning her expertly around the floor. The song ended all too soon, and they stood there, still in each other’s arms, neither wanting to move away. Kelly's brown eyes were very dark as they looked into Jo's, and she continued to hold her hand as they made their way back.