Susanne Novan - Driven

They cleaned up from the game, showering and changing from beach volleyball clothes into relaxed dress for a charity auction party that was being hosted

in honor of the guests of the event.

As they entered into the hotel where the party was being held, they could hear the loud music from the ballroom before they even got close. There was no

doubt it was going to be a long night.

"Ready?" Dylan asked as she straightened the collar on Cat’s polo shirt.

"Sure. Am I allowed to have a drink, Coach?"

"One, little one."

"Is that a short joke?"

"Not unless you want it to be."

"I need a really good nickname for you. Nothing like Stretch or Stilts…"

"Stilts?"

"Yeah," Cat’s eyes narrowed playfully. "Way too overused. I’ll find something."

"I’m sure you will." Placing her hand gently in the small of the blonde’s back, she guided them toward the party. "Oh did you bring that envelope I asked you to grab at the house?"

Fishing it out of her back pocket she handed it to Dylan. "What is it?"

"We’re auctioning you off as a love slave."

"You better plan on bidding high."

"I don’t know if I can afford you."

"Thanks." Cat’s smile beamed as they entered the party and were immediately swallowed up by the crowd.

*******

Dylan turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open for Cat. "Tired?"

"Dead on my feet. God, that was worse than any practice."

"I’ll have to revamp my practice plan."

"How about just forgetting I said that." Cat slumped down on the couch, kicking, off her sneakers and rubbing her feet. "The other guys will kill me if they think you changed anything because of me."

Dylan smiled, tossing her keys to the small table by the door. "Tea?"

"Perfect."

As Dylan wandered off to the kitchen Cat got up and slowly followed, stretching sore tired muscles. "Who knew a pair of season tickets for the team would go for so much money? I think that’s great."

"Well, it’s partly because of you. You’ve really helped turn the team around. I still think we would have gotten more if we’d auctioned you off."

"Please." Cat dismissed as she took a seat on a stool at the breakfast nook. "I did get hit on tonight."

"I know."

"How could you know? You were clear across the room. You got eyes in the back of your head or something?"

A dark brow arched, "How long have we been working together? You have to ask that question?"

"All right, so I’m using up my yearly allotment of stupid in one night. It’s been a long weekend."

"Yeah it has," she stepped closer and kissed Cat gently on the lips. "But it’s been one of the best of my life."

Cat smiled, again, completely charmed. "Really? Thanks."

"You’re welcome."

"Besides, I kinda figured our little friend Hortensia was a little too busy undressing you with her eyes, mind, teeth, and assorted other bodyparts for you to even notice my fawning fans." Cat grinned. "Old flame?"

Dylan snorted. "Hardly, though not for lack of trying."

Cat shot her a look. "Not on your part, I hope."

"Are you kidding? I’ve got standards, kiddo."

"Whew! I hoped as much." That earned Cat a smack to the belly, which she laughingly absorbed. "So, is it a story I want to hear?"

Dylan shrugged. "Not much of one, I’m afraid. She’s set herself up as the Holy Grail in the circle jerk we call Professional Dyke Drama."

"Holy Grail?"

"Yup," Dylan replied, sipping her water. "The ultimate prize to which every up and coming baby dyke in pro-sports wants to attain."

"Ahh," Cat said, nodding. "And you failed to show proper obeisance, and therefore committed a grave sin."

"The gravest," Dylan deadpanned.

"And your penance is being chased around by a gorgeous woman who wants to make love to you in a variety of ways."

"Hey, some penances are harsher than others." Dylan sobered. "Seriously, though, I’m just lucky she doesn’t try to out me. Though it would spell the end for her if she did. Too many of us are still closeted, and she knows that. It’s what keeps her bread buttered."

"Damn," Cat breathed. "I had no idea internal politics were so…so…."

"Incestuous?"

"That’ll do for a start, yeah."

"Eh," Dylan shrugged again, "you get used to the drama after awhile. I just try to stay out of it all."

"I think I’ll take that advice, thank you very much."

The two shared a quiet laugh.

" Hey weren’t you supposed to call your folks?"

"Right. Can I…"

"Right there," she pointed to the wall as she began steeping the tea. "Or there’s one in the living room if you want more privacy."

"Privacy? With my folks, surely you jest." Cat picked the cordless up and dialed the number, smiling when her mother answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi Mom, I’m making my promised call for the weekend."

"And how is your weekend going sweetheart."

Cat grinned like, well, the cat that ate the canary. "Dreamy."

"That good. Well tell me all about it."

"Nah, some things should never be said to your mother. Let’s just say that I’m having a great weekend." She looked at Dylan and smiled. "One of the best of my life. Of course we still have the three on three to go."

Dylan sat the tea on the counter for her companion then leaned against the opposite one as she sipped from her own steaming mug.

"The event has been great, we’ve already raised like forty thousand dollars or something."

"Wonderful, when will you be home?"

"Day after tomorrow. Coach and I are going to kick their butts tomorrow before we head out."

"Oh," her mother paused in that ‘motherly’ way. "You’re with Coach Lambert?"

"Yeah, she had to stand in last minute."

"Well then I’m sure you’re in good hands."

It was all Cat could do to keep from one, choking on her tongue and two, bursting out laughing. "I’m fine Mom. We’re having a great time."

"When are you coming home for a visit?"

"In a couple weeks I hope. I should have a break when I can slip in for a day or two. Listen I need to go, give dad and the heathens my love."

"Love you Catherine, be good."

"Love you too Mom. Bye."

Cat hung up the phone and slowly turned to Dylan. "We’ll she said she’s sure I’m in good hands with you."

"Truer words were never spoken."

"And she told me to be good."

"So much for my plans for the rest of the evening."

"Now wait just a minute. I can still be," she paused and flashed a seductive smile. "Good. She did not define what kind of good."

"Oh I like the way you think."

******

Cat was lying in Dylan’s arms, absolutely, completely, and totally satisfied. She was right on the verge of slipping into a very content sleep when she

realized that Dylan wasn’t relaxing the way she had hoped.

"What’s wrong?"

"Huh? Oh nothing, just thinking."

"About tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

"Nervous?"

"No, I don’t think so."

Cat rose up and looked at her lover. "You don’t think so? What kind of answer is that? Come on, it’s me. Be honest."

"It’s not so much that I’m nervous nervous. I’m just hoping that my knee will hold and I won’t dump myself on my ass in front of ten thousand people."

"Are you having second thoughts?"

"No, definitely not that, though I’ll admit to wondering if I’ll come off as rusty as I feel."

"This from the woman who runs us ragged during practice?"

Dylan chuckled, pulling the blonde back down and kissing the top of her head. "Big difference between running you losers ragged and stepping back out on the court in front of ten thousand screaming maniacs."

"Then just pretend you’re running your losers ragged. Is there anything I can do to help? You know I’ve got your back on this or I wouldn’t have asked you to play with me."