Finally (3 page)

Heat bloomed on my cheeks when she waved at me. The memory of that hug drifted around me again as I raised a hand briefl y in reply.

Nykos bumped harder against me, jarring loose the caressing feeling of Quinn’s hug. “Did you just wave at Quinn Lysander?”

His dark green eyes fl ashed in incredulity. The thinning tuft of black hair that clung defi antly to the crown of his head stood askew from the attempt at smoothing after he’d exerted himself walking up from our free parking space. When Nykos began to sweat, not even a 12-step program could make it cease.

No one knew about our friendship yet. I’d wanted to avoid the certain teasing I’d receive about stalking my favorite player.

At least that’s what I told myself. Really, it was much more than that. Something I wasn’t ready to label yet.

“I kinda met her a few months ago. She’s really nice.” And beautiful and so out of my league, the uninvited thought slipped in. Not that I was looking in any league. I hadn’t felt like dating in years, hadn’t even felt like dating when I was dating. What made me think that dating out of my league in a completely different conference would go any better?

Nykos leaned back, his jersey pulled taut over his bulky torso. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you met her. Didn’t you yammer on about driving past one of the players last year? You don’t pick up the phone when you meet your idol?”

Pushing at his shoulder, I tried to shut him down. “Knock it 17

Lynn Galli

off. She’s not my idol. She’s just a great player.” This was exactly why I hadn’t told any of my friends. Well, that and this friendship felt private to me for some reason.

“How’d you meet? It must’ve been a pretty amazing meeting if she’s waving at you all the way up here?” Nykos liked to give me a hard time about the fact that my seats were seventeen rows up, far worse than my priority number would allow but what I could afford on my less than impressive salary.

“We’ve sort of become friends.”

“What?” The rest of his sure rant got interrupted by one of the regulars who sat in front of us. “You’re friends with Quinn Lysander?” Debra, the one who came early to every game, asked in awe. Her girlfriend, Jenny, and their seatmates, Ruth and Jo, all twisted their bodies to stare up at me, waiting for a response.

Normally, I liked exchanging pregame banter with them, but tonight I wished they’d shown up late. Especially since Ruth was on her second beer already, and when Ruth got tipsy, everyone learned a little too much about her.

“We hang out occasionally,” I admitted.

“Oh man, I’m so in love with her!” Ruth announced easily, like she did at least once a game for several of the players, or women she recognized from a lesbian bar, or nearly any woman in the crowd for that matter. Apparently, Ruth had a lot of love.

“Hook me up with her, will ya?”

Despite being used to Ruth’s constant declarations of love, I scoffed at her brashness, causing Jo to smack her friend’s leather-clad shoulder. While Ruth was occasionally obnoxious, I had grown to like her fervor about basketball and all manner of things. Usually, I found her funny. Tonight, I was rethinking that.

“I’m not her pimp.” I’d meant it as a joke, but a swirl of what could only be jealousy swam through me, causing an involuntary shiver.

“Tell me where you hang out then, and I’ll bag her myself.”

18

Finally

Ruth brushed a hand through her short black hair and blew on her fi ngertips.

“You are so arrogant,” Debra remarked. “C’mon, you’re buying this round. Let’s leave Will alone.” She pulled Ruth up with her and into the aisle. The J’s went with them, winking at me on their way out.

“Why didn’t you mention it to me?” Nykos asked, startling me. I’d almost forgotten he was there. When the foursome turned their attention on me, I became easily intimidated. Nykos looked honestly hurt, and he didn’t get hurt easily.

“I don’t know, Kos. I guess I thought you might think it was a little odd.” Not to mention how likely it was that the friendship would be over if Quinn every fi gured out how I was starting to feel.

He looked like he was deciding whether or not to press me further. We’d known each other since college and more than half of our communication happened without words now. “I can’t believe you actually know her. If she’s waving at you before a game, she must like you.”

I sighed, thankful that he let me off the hook. Usually he took every opportunity to give me a hard time. “She’s as nice as she is talented. You’d really like her. We’re a lot alike.”

“But you’re assuming I actually like you.” Classic Nykos.

Some of his best material came from discounting our friendship.

It stemmed from a fear that he’d become too reliant on me as a friend, which made me smile all the more.

19

FOUR

Kiss her!

The order screamed so loudly in my head I had to look around to make sure no one had spoken it aloud. All I could see was a bustle of deplaning passengers jostling each other while they moved in a slow herd toward baggage claim. I’d been slaloming through these passengers, wasting time before my fl ight boarded.

All movement stopped when I spotted Quinn emerging from the jet way. My step left to avoid a businessperson halted suddenly as the plea to kiss her activated paralysis. Not even the painful knock of his briefcase against my shin could make me move.

This crush of mine was getting ridiculous. And yes, I’d started to admit that it was a crush not just friendship. It was so unfair to Quinn. I’d hoped by now that these feelings would have subsided. The euphoria of a new friendship usually wore off within a month, but after four, I felt all the telltale signs of romantic feelings for someone.

Not knowing anything about Quinn’s personal preferences seemed to egg these emotions on. As many women as men came on to her whenever we went out. She declined all the offers, but she never let on as to which gender she’d prefer. The foursome at the Storm games all thought Quinn was a lesbian, but they thought that about every woman.

I pressed back against a railing to fi ght the impulse to push 20

Finally

through the passengers. I clenched my teeth, attempting to bite down on the need to be next to her. I’d never felt like this before.

Sure, I’d felt affection for the men I’d dated, but feelings of desire were rare. And for Quinn, the desire was fi erce.

Locking my hands behind me through the rail, I managed to keep from knocking people down. We hadn’t made defi nite plans to meet up, just that I’d stop by the gate if I got to the airport early enough. Right now, those indefi nite plans were the only thing saving me. Quinn could walk by with her teammates and never have to know that I was losing my mind, ready to cross boundaries that we’d set long ago.

The team walked briskly, but their shoulders hunched in fatigue. Another long road trip with fi ve games, only two wins.

The small gathering of fans helped to lighten their steps. Each player made time to sign autographs and pose for pictures.

As a clump, they progressed past my spot. I stared at Quinn, seeing her again for the fi rst time. Long, chestnut brown hair harnessed into a single braid. Crisp, alert, blue eyes shining at her fans. Strong bone structure shaped her oval face. At least she had those fi t arms and legs covered this morning in jeans and a sweatshirt. I’d nearly fainted when she showed up last time in a skirt and sleeveless shirt that screamed for me to run my fi ngers over her muscular arms. If she hadn’t been wearing smoky grey eye shadow that electrifi ed her ocean blue eyes, I would have stared at those incredible arms and sexy legs all night. I had to stop this. Quinn is a friend. Quinn is a friend. Quinn is just a friend. A mantra, that would solve it for sure.

Just then, Quinn twisted her head back as if someone had called out her name. Almost immediately, she locked eyes with me and hurried to fi nish signing a few more autographs before extricating herself from the group.

“You made it! I’m so glad to see you.” Her voice overfl owed with joy, and my heart soared at the sound. She pulled me into a 21

Lynn Galli

hug. The command to kiss her pounded away inside my head like a throbbing headache.

“Same here.” I kept my response clipped for fear that my crazy thoughts might subliminally make their way into my speech. I couldn’t manage anything else until she released me.

“Long trip? I watched the New York game and listened in on the radio to the others. You played great, as always.”

The comment elicited a modest smile. “Thanks. When’s your fl ight?”

“In about an hour. I was just walking to my gate when I saw you coming down the hallway,” I lied. I’d been there for thirty minutes.

“What luck. I get to hang out with you till you board the plane.” Quinn turned us toward the gates with a hand on my back.

Reaching back, I found her arm and stopped us from advancing. Heat seared my fi ngertips and threatened to send the fl ush to my cheeks. I pulled her hand away as casually as I could manage without letting my friend know how certifi able I was.

“That’s all right. You’ve got to be tired. Grab your bags with the rest of the team and go home. Rest a little before practice this afternoon.”

“But I haven’t seen you for almost two weeks, and you’re gone for four days. Even if it’s only an hour, I want to hear about what I’ve missed and what you’ll be doing for work in Baltimore.” Her eyes showed hurt, even if her face held a hopeful smile.

Tears threatened my perpetual calm, forcing me to blink harshly. Intense emotions accompanied Quinn’s everyday kindness, and I found it almost too much to bear. My mind issued commands to keep my hands from attacking this woman in the middle of the airport. “My colleague should be at the gate by now. He’s going to want to go over our dinner meeting tonight since we’re not sitting together on the plane. So, really, head home. We can catch up when I get back. Thursday night? You 22

Finally

don’t have a game, and I’ll have recovered from my trip to the home offi ce.” I hoped my statement wouldn’t appear as a blow off. Quinn needed the rest, and I needed to still these feelings I’d been having for months.

“Thursday night? It’s a date,” Quinn said casually. Words like that obviously didn’t have the same effect on her. “I’ll go grab my bags then if you’re sure you won’t let me keep you company?”

I felt longing slip into my glance, but I packed it back in and said with a light tone, “No. Enjoy your week, and I’ll see you Thursday.”

With that, she squeezed my arm and nodded her head goodbye. Scooping up her carryon with ease, she walked down the corridor toward baggage claim, her posture unencumbered by the dismissal. I wasn’t as fortunate. My heart felt like a rodeo bull had been set loose inside it, wildly kicking, twisting, and fl ailing to buck the rider trying to control it.

23

FIVE

Idling in her car outside Willa’s house, Quinn couldn’t bring herself to turn off the engine. Moisture developed in the palm that still rested on the steering wheel. She reached for the glove box, releasing the lever. The drawer fell open, half the contents with it. A take-out napkin fl apped precariously over the edge of the opening. She snatched it up before it drifted to the fl oor mat. Pens, maps, a fl ashlight and other assorted items drew her attention from her original purpose of wiping the nervous perspiration from her hand. The urge to organize her glove box consumed her as if she’d instantly developed obsessive-compulsive disorder.

With reluctance she scooped up the whole lot, shoved it back into the compartment, and slammed the door shut with her other hand. Neighbors wandered by with dogs and peered in at her, making her realize that her car was still running. She turned off the engine, understanding that she couldn’t delay this any longer.

Hanging out with Willa had grown more diffi cult by the outing. Not because she got on her nerves. Not because she was self-absorbed. And, not because Willa didn’t care about her. The diffi culty arose in the opposite of those reasons. Fun, thoughtful, smart, and genuine, just to name a few fi tting adjectives. Problems cropped up on the rare occasions when Willa glanced at her unreserved. Then it was clear that Willa did care. That struck her the most.

24

Finally

If they’d met under other circumstances, she’d be confi dent of Willa’s sexuality. Instead, everything about their relationship defi ned friendship. In the months since, they’d become good friends, caring friends, but the frustration of not knowing if Willa would rebuff her advances compelled her to act. Knowing for certain if Willa was straight or gay, even if she wasn’t interested, would erase the smothering tension she felt in her presence lately.

Not knowing ate away at her like a virus.

Once she’d gotten to know Willa’s sister, she’d tried talking to her, but Helen wasn’t much help. A high school boyfriend came up in casual conversation, mentioned specifi cally to point out that Helen discovered more about Willa from other people than from own her sister. She also named Chip, whom Quinn met at the restaurant two months ago. Helen summed up her sister with one word: private. But that made her all the more appealing to Quinn.

That Helen mentioned only boyfriends wasn’t encouraging, but Quinn had two boyfriends in high school and as a freshman herself. Perhaps Willa wasn’t ready to come out yet. Still when those unguarded moments slipped, she could swear that Willa had feelings for her. Especially last week at the airport when Quinn had labeled tonight as a “date.” A momentary spark lit up Willa’s eyes only to be blinked back into polite interest.

Just then, the red door to Willa’s house swung open. Helen and Willa’s friend Zoë ambled down the front steps together.

They ran a part-time gift basket company out of the spare room in Willa’s house, so they were often present before many of Quinn’s visits.

She sucked in a calming breath, wiped the remaining fi lm of dampness from her palm, felt to make sure her face wasn’t hot with color, and stepped out of the car.

“Hey, Quinn,” Helen called out. “Will’s inside. We’ve wrecked her house crafting all day and made her fold some of 25