Page 90 of Double Play

Ripley nods. “She’s right. You’re so happy all the time again. I have the real you back.” She pauses as if choosing her words carefully. “There’s something more to it than what you had with Marc. Maybe it’s friendship. You and Layton love spending time together and talking. You’re best friends in addition to lovers. And with Marc, I always felt like you were walking on eggshells. You didn’t enjoy each other. I’m not even sure if you liked each other. It’s not like that at all with Layton. It’s effortless. He’s obsessed with you just as you are. Even in this relatively brief amount of time, he deeply cares about you in a way I never saw from Marc. Does that make sense?”

I nod, getting a little choked up. “I feel like my old self, and I feel very supported by Layton. He pushes to bring out the best in me and truly revels in my success. I think the right word is cherished. That’s how I feel with him. I know his past, but, as he likes to say, it’s simply because he never met the right person,until now. I don’t even feel insecure around his groupies like I would have assumed. He pays them no attention and has never once disrespected me. I’m not sure I realized how much I needed that until I found a man that gives it to me in spades.”

Ripley nods. “He only has eyes for you. That’s more than clear. Even before you were…officially together, his attention never strayed. I think he was love bitten from the moment he met you. It just took you a little while to give in to what I know you were feeling.”

“I agree, but everything has been perfect and easy with us. That’s not real life. I tend to worry about what it will look like when things aren’t perfect, but for now, we’re happy.”

Mom shrugs her shoulders in excitement. “Your trip with him sounds like it will be amazing.”

“I’m so excited. Layton is busting at the seams for it.”

“You’re incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to travel. It’s a dream come true. I would give anything to do that.”

My heart breaks for her. “You could travel too, Mom. Hire a manager and see the world.”

She gives me a small smile. “Baby steps. I’ve gotten him to stop working at a decent hour. We’ll work our way up to a real vacation.” She winks. “Maybe we’ll go back to Arizona.” She turns to Ripley. “What about you? Are you seeing anyone?”

“No…”

I interrupt, “Yes. She has a secret boyfriend that she won’t tell me about.”

Mom scrunches her nose. “Damn, I always held out hope that you’d end up with Quincy.”

I make a gagging face. “Gross, Mom. They’re like brother and sister. Right, Rip?”

“Umm…we’re friends. And I’m not seeing anyone. There’s no secret boyfriend.”

“Why are you being elusive? I don’t get it.”

“I’m not. I’m simply not dating anyone.”

I sigh in frustration, but the saleslady returns, and we both manage to find shoes that work. We’re heading back to the apartment to grab our jerseys when we hear Kam and Bailey shouting in their apartment.

I let Mom into our apartment to use the restroom, and we head toward Kam and Bailey’s to see what’s going on. We walk in and I place my hands on my hips. “What are you two screaming about? We can hear you down the hallway.”

Bailey rolls her eyes. “Kam would like to have a party tonight to celebrate it being two years since I lost my anal virginity.”

Ripley and I start laughing. I shake my head. “I don’t think people celebrate that, Kam.”

She crosses her arm. “If that’s true, how did I find this?”

She turns the mylar balloon she’s holding to show us that it reads, “Happy Analversary.”

Ripley falls on the ground laughing so hard. I can’t help but join her. Bailey shakes her head. “Please don’t encourage her.”

Kam smiles. “Why are you embarrassed? Everyone does anal now.”

I raise my hand. “Ripley and I don’t.”

Ripley bites her lip. “Actually, I have.”

I gasp in shock. “What? When? With whom?”

“Years ago. After college, when I lived in Houston.”

“Another secret?”

“Umm…I forgot to mention it.”

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