Gerri Hill - One Summer Night

Harry had some fishing buddies over so Jo had politely taken her leave after their earlier-than-usual brunch. She was actually looking forward to Monday. Maybe Kelly would forget about their conversation Friday and come into her office to talk. Maybe Jo could forget about the birthday party. She had been rude to Kelly, and really should apolo-gize. But she never got the chance. Jo did not see Kelly all week.

The following Saturday, Jo decided to accept Kerry and Shea's invitation to their end of summer barbecue. They had 115

insisted she come, or so Betsy said. Jo didn't really know them, but they were friends of Janis's. They had been a couple for fourteen years, and Janis had known them for six of those years. Of course, Jo knew she was only going in hopes of seeing Kelly. At least she could be honest with herself about that.

They lived in an old house in the Hyde Park area, with a huge backyard and a stone patio. A keg of beer was waiting, a barbecue pit was smoking, and the smell of smoking brisket assailed her when she walked up. A volleyball net was strung across the yard, and Betsy and Shea were serving to each other while the others argued over choosing sides. The entire softball team was supposed to be there. Johanna scanned the familiar faces, looking for Kelly.

Kelly finally showed, with Lucy in tow. Shocked, Jo stared at them, then quickly look away and finished filling her cup at the keg. Maybe they really were dating. It was obvious they had come together. Jo was knocked off balance by the pang of jealousy that hit her.

When sides were drawn for volleyball, Jo was thankful that she, Kelly and Lucy were on opposing teams. She played horribly, anyway. She never claimed to be an athlete, and she was, by far, the worst one there, what with all the softball players. To add to her disgust, Lucy turned out to be a fantastic jumper. Whenever she was on the front line, they scored, her spike invariably sailing between two players and smashing to the ground. Once, when Jo was playing opposite her, Lucy spiked the ball directly into Jo's face. Only by the grace of God did it not knock her out cold!

Jo went to the keg and drank two full cups of beer before she felt recovered. Thankfully, someone else showed up who took her place in the game.

She sat on the sideline with Janis, who refused to play.

They watched as the others laughed and argued about out-116

of-bounds calls while Jo tried to keep her eyes off Kelly. But she couldn't and she finally stopped trying. There were more trips to the keg, spurred by the blatant attention Kelly was giving to Lucy. By the time the games were over and everyone else settled down in lawn chairs, Jo was well on her way to getting drunk.

"I've never seen you drink so much," Betsy said.

"Yeah, well, maybe I'm due a good hangover."

"At this rate, you won't be disappointed," she retorted.

"Stop. Please," Jo said.

"Okay. But maybe you need to think about why you're doing this."

Jo just stared at her and said nothing until Betsy shrugged and walked away.

Deb came and sat next to her, and Jo was more attentive than she should have been, but at least someone found her interesting. During dinner, Jo and Deb sat next to each other, and she nodded while Deb talked but she didn't really hear. She was too busy watching Kelly and Lucy sitting close together, talking quietly.

“Jo?”

Jo blinked several times, and brought her attention back to Deb.

“Sorry. What?”

“I said we never made our movie date. If you’re that busy during the week, why don’t we try for Friday or Saturday?”

Jo stared at Deb, who was clearly expecting a response.

Her mind would not cooperate and no excuse miraculously came to her. Instead, she nodded weakly.

“Okay.”

“Great! I’ll call you later in the week and we’ll plan it.

Maybe we can have dinner, too.” Deb was obviously thrilled and Jo cursed herself for being weak. She should just tell 117

Deb the truth, that she didn’t want to go out with her. But she was getting very good at lying. An excuse would come later.

After the plates had been collected and everything cleaned up, they all settled again on the patio and Kerry put on soft music. Jo couldn't stand it. She walked slowly over to the keg to get another beer. She was surprised when Kelly walked up behind her.

"Are you trying to drink enough to pass out or what?"

she asked.

Jo shot her an angry look. "Mind your own damn business."

Kelly ignored her remark and glanced at Deb. "I didn't realize that you and Deb were on such friendly terms."

Jo looked over at Lucy, then back at Kelly. "Yeah, well, same goes for you and Lucy."

"Hey, I figured I better start living up to my reputation,"

she shot back.

"Oh, and you've just now started?" Jo asked sarcastically.

"Actually, no, we've gone out a few times before."

Jo stared at her, her heart squeezing in her chest. "You have?" she whispered.

"Yes. She's fun to be around and she seems to like me as a person. She doesn't seem to believe my terrible reputation."

Jo felt as if she'd just been slapped. She suddenly felt like crying. "Have you slept with her?" she asked, so softly Kelly almost didn't hear.

She laughed harshly. "Why should you care?"

Jo raised her eyes, feeling tears stinging them. "I care,"

she whispered.

Kelly saw her tears and cursed. She looked down, then ran a hand through her hair. "God, what do you think I am?"

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She shook her head, took the beer from Jo, set it down and led her inside the house where they could be alone.

"I haven't slept with her. I know you won’t believe this, but I haven't been with anyone since that night in June," she said.

"You haven't?” Jo stared at her, then squeezed her eyes shut. She shouldn’t care one way or the other. "I'm sorry.

It's not any of my business what you do."

"No. It's not. I tried to make it your business, but you wouldn't let me."

"I know," she said quietly.

"What do you want from me?" Kelly asked softly.

"I want you to come by my office and ask me to lunch."

"So you can turn me down?"

Jo nodded.

Kelly smiled.

Jo felt like crying again.

"You've had too much to drink," Kelly said gently.

"It's your fault. I couldn't stand watching you with her.

Not last Saturday. Not tonight."

"Are you jealous?"

Jo nodded. "But I have no right to be."

Kelly watched her for a long moment. "How are you getting home?"

"Betsy and Janis."

"Let me take you home," Kelly suggested.

Jo laughed. "I thought you were on a date."

"Lucy can find a ride home," she said. “Maybe with Deb.”

"You're incorrigible," Jo said, shaking her head.

"It's not Lucy I want," Kelly said softly.

"Have you kissed her?" Jo asked, searching Kelly's face.

"You have, haven't you?"

"Jo. . . .”

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"Did you?" she whispered.

"Yes."

Jo was filled with such jealousy that it scared her. The thought of Kelly kissing someone else gripped painfully at her heart.

Kelly gathered her in her arms, and Jo wrapped her own around Kelly’s waist, laying her head on her shoulder.

"So much for your reputation," Jo murmured.

"Goddamn it, Jo. It's not Lucy I want," she said again.

Jo pulled out of her arms. "But she wants you."

"And you don't," Kelly said.

Jo turned her back to Kelly and took a deep breath. "I do want you," she whispered.

"Jo?"

She turned back around and met Kelly's eyes. "I do want you," she repeated.

She no longer cared that she would hate herself in the morning. She no longer cared that Kelly was not the one for her. She wanted to make love with her again, and she could no longer deny herself that.