Page 44 of Lines We Cross
My statement hung in the air, Rae eyeing me like she wasn’t quite sure what to say.
“No pressure in any way. I can take one of the guest bedrooms and you can have my room. Just wanted to spend as much time with you as possible on your day off.” I put my hands up in the air and tried out my most innocent expression.
A laugh escaped and Rae slapped a hand over her mouth. Then she burst into giggles. I led her into the house and grabbed her bag and walked her to my bedroom to change.
“I’ll meet you out back when you’re dressed.”
My phone dinged as I stripped my T-shirt off and toed off my tennis shoes.
Coach A:Give me a call when you have time.
I took my phone out to the patio, but put it on silent. I didn’t need to talk about the details of my retirement when I had Rae over. All that could wait. Baseball was my past; Rae was my present and my future. I stepped into the spa and lowered myself down slowly, the hot water giving me goose bumps. Man, I’d already forgotten how good it felt to soak off a hard game. I tipped my head back and stared up at the dark blank of the night sky, dotted with shining stars. I’d forgotten about that too. What it was like to see constellations in a town with so few lights competing for your eye’s attention. To look up and remember how small I really was.
The sliding glass door opened on a whisper. I lifted my head and nearly slid under the water when I caught sight of Rae in a tiny slip of black material meant to be a bathing suit. She didn’t look at all like the girl who built sandcastles with Emerson and me on those long summer days that never seemed to end.
She was all woman now.
Rae crossed the deck, her gaze never leaving mine. I prayed for patience and restraint. Maybe inviting her to spend the night hadn’t been such a good idea after all. I could barely keep my eyes on her face, the pull to drop down and take in all the curves she’d gained over the years.
As she stepped into the spa, I held out a hand to help her in, keeping the other in a tight fist by my side. We were here to talk and connect, not for me to attack her. There’d be plenty of time later for that, as in the rest of our lives, but first I wanted her to know I respected her. That I cherished her. She wasn’t some easy conquest I’d forget about the next day as I traveled to a new city to play a game of baseball where the fans thought I was some sort of hero. The only person I wanted to impress now was Rae.
“Ahh,” she moaned, sliding down into the water and resting her head back as I had earlier. I joined her, focusing on the stars.
“I could see us just like this in twenty years, talking about our day, telling the kids to leave us alone and to figure out their own homework. We’d have parties out here, invite our friends and family over. We could build a life, Rae.”
The water sloshed as she sat back up, her face dead serious. “I’d like that.”
I fished around for her arm and floated her over to me, settling her on my lap, my arms tight around her waist. She kissed my cheek and worked her way around to the other cheek, then pulled back, a hand stroking my face.
“I love you, Max.”
I kissed her then, my heart beating wildly, the crickets serenading us as we showed each other our love with soft sighs, nibbling lips, and deep explorations.
I didn’t need anything but this.
18
Skylar
I couldn’t believe I’d slept in so late. The long run, the hot tub, and talking with Max must have really put me out last night. I’d woken to a stream of sunlight coming through the blinds and then realized the bedside clock read a little past eight. I didn’t have anything planned for the day, but I was hoping to spend every waking moment with Max. Thinking back to last night, I found myself blushing, not unlike how I’d felt as a young girl when Max spared me any attention.
I walked into the master bathroom and splashed some water on my face. My hair was a disaster, the ends of which had dipped into the spa and dried slightly wavy. Opening the top drawer, I found Max’s toothpaste and put a dollop on my finger to rub about and get rid of the cobwebs residing in my mouth. I hoped for more kisses this morning, but not with that morning breath. I looked at myself in the mirror and realized love looked good on me. I had color to my cheeks and my eyes positively sparkled back to me.
Even though I was still in my pajama shorts and tank top, I opened Max’s bedroom door and crept out into the hall. I didn’t want to wake him if he was enjoying sleeping in too. I thought I heard his voice downstairs, so I headed down the stairs, wishing I would have put on a sweatshirt or wrapped a blanket around me. The mornings in Nickel Bay were quite chilly in the spring. I didn’t like wearing a ton of layers to bed, but it made for a cold morning once I ripped the covers off.
“Wow. I’m sorry to hear that. Is he going to be okay?”
Max had his back to me, standing in the kitchen with one hand on top of his head, gripping the blond strands like they personally offended him. Then he began to pace and a buzzing sensation took up in my stomach. Something wasn’t right. I crossed the floor quickly and quietly, sliding in next to him. He wound his arm around my waist and winked, mouthing “good morning.”
He looked good half-asleep, pillow marks tracking across his cheek, but even his unfair amount of attractiveness couldn’t wipe away the anxious feeling growing in my gut. He frowned and pressed his cell phone tighter to his ear.
“What? For the Sliders?”
He slid away from me to pace the kitchen floor. I wrapped my arms around my waist to hold in the shiver from his body heat leaving. I waited, barely breathing, trying to understand a one-sided conversation.
“For the team who took me out of playing baseball? Really?” Max nearly spat the words, not at all happy at whatever the person on the other end was telling him. “Yeah, okay, call me back.”
He hung up the phone and nearly threw it on the granite countertop. I shivered uncontrollably, something in my gut telling me this was going to be bad. Very bad.
