Gerri Hill - One Summer Night

Jo ignored her.

76

"I'm sorry if I spoiled your night," Kelly said softly.

Jo looked at her, surprised by her sincerity.

"I shouldn't tease you so."

"No, you shouldn't," Jo agreed.

Kelly leaned forward suddenly and met Jo's eyes.

"Do you think about that night?" she demanded.

Jo drew in a sharp breath but didn't look away. She slowly shook her head, afraid to answer.

"Why are you lying?"

"If I think about that night, it's not in a pleasurable way,"

she admitted.

"No? It was very pleasurable, the way I remember it,"

Kelly said softly. “I can still taste your lips, your skin. I can still remember what you felt like when I. . . . ”

“Stop. Please,” Jo begged.

Jo clenched her jaw and forced herself to look away from those deep brown eyes. Arnie’s return saved her from replying, and Kelly sat back in her chair, her eyes still resting on Jo.

After dinner, they went out to the patio, each with a glass of wine. Jo was hoping that Kelly would leave first, so she wouldn't have to walk out with her, alone, but she didn't.

They chatted about the first few weeks of school, and Jo wondered if Arnie ever got tired of all the college talk. She listened with interest as Kelly discussed her students and her style of teaching, so different from Jo's. Jo realized how boring she must be compared to Kelly. They had several of the same students, and she wondered if they compared the two teachers.

Finally, it was time to leave and they walked out together, saying good-bye to Susan and Arnie inside. Jo walked immediately to her car, but Kelly followed.

77

"How long are we going to keep this up?" Kelly demanded.

"I don't know what you mean," Jo said, as she unlocked her car.

"This pretending that nothing happened between us."

Jo turned on her. "I don't know what you want me to do," she said quietly. "I've tried to put it from my mind, but you show up here, throwing it in my face daily. I want to forget it, don't you see?"

“Well, I can’t forget it,” Kelly stated. “I don’t want to forget it.”

Kelly stepped closer, and Jo took a step back.

“Something happened that night, Jo.”

“No.”

“Yes, it did.”

Jo sighed. “That night proved only one thing. I was temporarily insane.”

“Why do you say that?”

"Because that wasn't me," Jo admitted. "I just don't do that. Not with someone like you.” She wanted to take the words back immediately.

She saw the pain flash across Kelly's face, then she masked it, giving Jo a mocking smile. “Someone like me? Am I that bad?”

“I’ve been told. . . well, that you see a lot of women at the same time.” Jo got angry. “And I hate the fact that I was just one more in a long line of hundreds, probably.”

“Hundreds? Is that what you think?”

Jo didn’t answer.

“Well, no wonder you don’t want to have anything to do with me. I’m a bum, with a hell of a reputation,” she added quietly.

Jo was sorry she had even brought this up. "I didn't mean...”

78

"Yes, you did. I'm sorry, Jo.” Kelly walked away. "I'll leave you alone. Let you forget all about it. Let you plead temporary insanity."

She got in her Explorer and drove off, and Jo sat in her car for a very long time before leaving. She had hurt Kelly.

All this time, she had pretended that Kelly didn't have feelings, but she did. Just as Jo did.

79

Chapter Ten

She didn't see Kelly at all the next week, and, much as she hated to admit it, she missed her. She found herself looking for Kelly to stick her head in the doorway at lunch, asking her to go out when they both knew Jo wouldn't. But she never came. One day, Jo saw her walking down the hall, away from her, arms loaded with books. Jo almost called to her, but at the last moment she didn't. It was better this way.

Betsy called and invited her to the softball game that week. Jo thought about going but declined. Instead, she spent another night alone, watching a meaningless movie on television and wishing she had gone to the stupid game. She couldn't keep avoiding her friends for fear of seeing Kelly.

The next week, when Betsy called, Jo accepted. She had not spoken at all to Kelly since Susan’s dinner party and had 80

only seen her the one time. She had half a mind to ask the dean if Kelly was still teaching there but knew that would only cause questions.

The September evening was cool and pleasant. Jo drove with her sunroof open, the stars twinkling overhead as she sped down MoPac, denying the anticipation she felt. It had nothing to do with seeing Kelly, she insisted.

She walked with her lawn chair to the field and squeezed in beside Betsy and Janis.

"I haven't seen you in ages," Janis complained. "Why don't we go to dinner sometime?"

"Let's do," Jo agreed. She had gotten there early for once. The players were just warming up, and she quickly located Kelly, who was tossing a ball back and forth with Kay.

Kelly was smiling and chatting with Sharon, who was standing next to her, and Jo felt a tightening in her stomach.

Kelly’s pants clung to her thighs and Jo vividly remembered how they looked without pants on, how lean and smooth they were. She closed her eyes and looked away.

"Let's try that Mexican food place out by your house,"

Betsy suggested

"The Palacios Cafe? I've been there with Harry. It's very good," Jo said.

"How about one day next week?"

"Okay, sure.”

The players took the field. Kelly jogged to third, oblivious to Jo sitting there. She smoothed the dirt around the bag, pounded her glove and yelled encouragement to Sharon on the mound. Jo was taken back to that early June day, that hot summer day when she saw Kelly for the first time. The attraction she felt then was nothing compared to what she felt now. Her eyes stayed glued to Kelly, following her every movement as she charged a ground ball and threw to first, long arm whipping the ball ahead of the runner.

81

Kelly’s first time up, she lined a clean single up the middle, then raced to second as the center fielder bobbled the ball. Jo watched as Kelly’s long legs carried her gracefully to the bag. She finally looked away, embarrassed. People might start to notice her staring.

"Want a beer?" Betsy asked.

"Yes, please. I forgot to bring any."

"We've got plenty," she said and handed her one, her eyes missing little.

Jo stood and cheered with the rest when Kelly hit a long fly ball over the center fielder's head that rolled all the way to the fence. Kelly jogged around third and followed Kay to the plate and it was only then that she saw Jo. She paused and their eyes met for an instant before Kelly looked away and slapped hands with her teammates. They won easily.

Of all the things that Jo had wondered about, Kelly's age was not one of them. Now, as she watched her, she tried to guess. She was very fit, which could be misleading. Was she even thirty? The question stayed with her as the spectators mingled with the players after the game. The next two teams took the field, and the fans moved their chairs out of the way, leaning them against a tree as they drank beer and talked about the game.

Kelly didn't come talk to her, and Jo was hurt. But who could blame her? Jo talked to Kay and Deb and covertly watched Kelly chatting with Betsy and Janis. She should go over, she thought, excusing herself from Kay and walking toward them. Kelly watched her, but she didn't smile, not even when Jo smiled first.

"You had a good game," she said.

"Thanks," Kelly replied as she took a beer from Betsy.

"Only one home run tonight, Sambino. You're slipping,"

Betsy teased.

82

She smiled briefly and shrugged apologetically. Sharon joined them and Betsy and Janis turned to her, leaving Kelly and Jo standing alone.