Gerri Hill - One Summer Night

"Oh, I hated that class," Kelly groaned.

"Well, now that you're a writer, I bet you're glad you had to take it," Jo shot back.

"No, not really.” Kelly shook her head. "I loved creative writing, though."

"They're practically the same thing."

"Far from it."

Jo glared at her with piercing eyes, and Kelly walked out, the mocking smile unchanged.

"Infuriating woman," she muttered, noting the door again standing open. Jo rubbed her forehead, trying to ward off a headache.

Her phone rang suddenly, and Johanna stared at it as if it were a foreign object. After the third ring, she heard Kelly yell from down the hall.

"Pick up the damn phone!"

Jo did and held it to her ear, not missing the amused chuckle on the other end.

"Do you want to go out to lunch later?" Kelly asked.

"No!"

"Okay. Your loss.” She hung up, and Jo held the receiver to her ear a little longer, then put it back. The woman was going to drive her insane!

At ten minutes to twelve, Jo heard the radio shut off and a door close. Whistling began in the hall, then stopped.

"See ya later," Kelly called loudly and continued whistling.

"Thank God. Maybe now I can get some work done."

But she found she couldn't. The quiet mocked her, and 65

after a few more minutes she left her lecture unfinished and snapped off the computer. It was going to be a very long semester indeed.

She picked up Chinese food that evening and drove to Harry's, stopping on the way for a bottle of wine. He greeted her with his usual hug, but she thought he looked tired.

"Hi. Are you okay?" she asked gently.

"Yeah. Just missing my Beth today."

"I'm sorry, Harry," she said and held him close.

"Two years, you'd think I'd be used to it by now," he sighed.

"We'll never be used to it, I guess.” She kissed his cheek.

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Jo-Jo.” He pulled away, wiping a tear from his cheek. "That smells good," he said with forced cheerfulness.

She peered at him searchingly. "You're not planning on leaving me, are you?" she demanded.

"No, honey. Not just yet," he said quietly. Then he gave her a crooked grin. "I've got to find you someone first."

"I'm fine.”

"I just want you to have someone to take care of you."

"I don't need anyone, Harry," she insisted, busying herself with dinner.

"We all need someone, Jo-Jo.” He carried their plates to the table as she brought the wine. "Don't let that fool Nancy turn you off love."

"You never liked her, did you?"

"I liked her because you did. Now, I don't have to like her anymore."

"Well, Harry, don't worry. I'm fine. I'm happy."

"Are you, honey?"

She met his eyes and forced a smile. "Yes," she said quietly.

66

That night, as she lay in bed, waiting for sleep to come, she realized that she was far from happy. Something was missing in her life. She had her career, but that suddenly wasn't enough. Maybe it was her age catching up to her. Or Harry's. He wouldn't be around forever, she thought sadly.

And then who would she have? No one. Just her friends, who she rarely saw as it was. And most of them had partners. Why was it so difficult for her to find someone? Before Nancy, there had not been anyone special, and they had dated for years before Jo had finally allowed her to move in. Look where that had gotten her!

She felt very old suddenly. It seemed like forever since her huge crush on the basketball player, her first kiss from the cute little blonde in her chemistry class, her night with Jill Stanton, the first woman she had fallen in love with.

Her thoughts went to Kelly Sambino, and she tried to push them away, but Kelly’s image remained. She didn't even like the woman. But that wasn't entirely true. There seemed to be two sides to Kelly. One, teasing and infuriating. The other, intense and passionate. Jo had seen them both. Kelly was refreshing, she realized. She smiled a lot and seemed happy. It was one of the things that had drawn Jo to her.

She remembered that first time she had seen her, laughing and talking with the opposing team, with her own teammates. Then that night, much later, when they were alone and intimate, there was no teasing about her. She was serious and passionate. They had spoken little during the night.

Actually, Jo remembered, they hadn’t spoken at all. At least not with words.

She rolled over, staring at the clock as it ticked to midnight. She didn't want to remember her night with Kelly Sambino. She closed her eyes and thought of Adam’s Ribs, of Kelly talking to Sherry, of Christy reminding them that Kelly had lots of girlfriends, that Kelly went out a lot. She 67

thought of Deb’s words at dinner that night, how Kelly had a reputation of dating several women at once. Jo certainly didn't need that in her life again. Nancy had had a reputation as a runaround and Jo had gotten involved with her anyway.

She had been seduced, and then abandoned. Four years down the drain. Another three feeling sorry for herself.

Where had the time gone?

68

Chapter Eight

The first faculty meeting took place the week before registration, and Johanna was nervous. She had not seen or spoken to Kelly since that day in her office. Betsy had not said anything about their softball games, and Jo had not asked.

Now, as she walked in and took a seat, she looked for her. Her eyes scanned the room, seeing familiar faces, smiling at those who were her friends. She spotted Kelly across the room, talking to a couple of coaches, listening intently as they spoke. Her easy smile appeared often, and she launched into conversation, her hands moving, and Jo imagined her talking about softball or some other sport.

69

People took to her, she realized. She was easygoing and friendly and not at all hard on the eyes! Kelly brushed her hair out of her face and caught Jo staring at her although Jo tried to look away quickly. Damn her!

The president opened the meeting, as he always did, commenting favorably about the last year and urging them toward another successful semester. He announced the recent retirements, then introduced the newest members of the faculty, and Jo watched as Kelly stood up when her name was mentioned. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt and didn't seem in the least out of place among the dresses and suits surrounding her. It figures, Jo thought, as she squirmed in her pantyhose and tried to spread her toes in her too-tight shoes.

After endless speeches, they broke for lunch, and Susan grabbed her on her way to her office.

"Let's walk to Ralph's," she suggested.

"I've got work to do," Jo insisted.

"Nonsense. Classes are two weeks away and knowing you, you've already got your first month planned."

Jo couldn't help but laugh. It was true. She was boring and predictable. "Okay. A quick lunch," she agreed.

"Great. I've asked Kelly Sambino, too. You know, she doesn't know a lot of people in Austin yet."

Right, Jo thought. Just the entire softball team and probably half the gay women in town by now!

Kelly was waiting for them at the back door, and she greeted Jo with a genuine smile, then quickly replaced it with the mocking one that Jo had come to recognize. Jo ignored both of them.

During lunch, Jo learned that Kelly was staying in an apartment not far from where Jo lived and that the softball team was undefeated so far. Jo pretended not to be interested, but she took in every word. Each time those dark eyes 70

flashed her way, she looked away quickly, feigning interest in the other tables around her. Kelly wasn't fooled.

That afternoon, as Jo was making notes on her computer, Kelly stuck her head in.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Working," Jo said, without looking up.