CHAPTER 12 #2
“I’m Lida, it’s nice to meet you,” she stuck her hand out and shook Jette’s firmly. Jette noticed Lida’s quick glance down at her hand still held in Reese’s. Jette swallowed nervously but made no effort to let go. “I’ve heard a lot about you,” Lida added with a smile.
“Oh really?” Jette’s mind began to wander. “All bad, I hope,” she dropped her voice and flirted shamelessly. Lida let out a warm laugh and glanced back at Reese with a twinkle in her eye. Reese had the cutest flush of pink across her cheeks and nose. “You’re Reese’s derby wife, right?” she asked.
Lida nodded and reached for Reese’s chin.
“Damn right. Six wonderful years,” her voice was sweet and thick as honey as she pulled Reese’s face close and planted a quick kiss on her cheek.
Reese giggled and blushed even harder. The butterflies in Jette’s stomach went wild at the sight.
The pair of them flopped to the ground before Reese patted the blanket next to her.
Jette settled in and brought her attention to the team of skaters moving around the track.
“Okay,” she started, “I know the basics, but I’m gonna need you to help explain this to me,” she said into Reese’s ear.
The crowd was getting louder as the clock counted down the minutes until halftime ended.
Reese smiled and leaned in closer, quickly explaining the rules.
Jette felt Reese’s leg resting against hers, and she fought hard to keep her eyes trained on the players.
The energy in the arena was electric. Jette could feel her own heart rate climbing as the first whistle blew, resuming the action.
Jette’s head spun as she tried to follow the fast paced game.
Skaters seemed to swirl on and off the track at random, intermittently racing to and from the penalty box on the far side of the track.
Reese cheered along with the crowd, though Jette couldn’t figure out what was entirely happening.
She stole a glance at Reese and felt a warm feeling in her chest. Reese’s cheeks were the softest shade of pink and soft red waves fell just past her shoulders.
Her voice cut through the din of the crowd.
Jette glanced at the crowd around them when her eyes met Lida’s.
Jette’s cheeks burned as Lida shot her a knowing smirk. Apparently, she’d been caught staring.
Jette pulled her attention back to the track, her dark eyes scanning over each player.
Their taut muscles strained and flexed under layers of spandex as they collided and Jette couldn’t help but wonder what Reese looked like when she played.
The game managed to fly by in a blur. Reese continuously leaned in to explain strategies or penalties as the game unfolded and Jette let her shoulders lean back against Reese’s arm propped up behind her.
Reese never shifted away, instead she tipped forward, keeping their bodies linked.
Reese’s breath on her ear sent shivers down her neck.
She smelled of beer and salt and something dark, warm, and earthy.
It was a welcome change from the stale smell of popcorn and sweat that lingered in the arena.
Jette watched a skater sent flying out of bounds by a massive hip check and gasped in surprise as she tensed her own muscles instinctively.
Reese chuckled as Jette’s brow furrowed.
“Holy shit, that was like, a huge hit…” her voice was hoarse with surprise. “And you guys didn’t even flinch!”
Reese shook her head confidently and answered, “We’ve all been there. It’s not as bad as it looks.” Her eyes were focused on the track.
“Damn, okay. I’m too soft for this shit. I definitely couldn’t pass for a skater,” Jette joked, toying with the lanyard around her neck.
“Oh please,” Reese blurted. “You’ve got great legs and a great ass, you could one hundred percent pass for a derby player.” Jette’s eyes flashed as Reese blushed deeper and scrambled to find the right words. She tried again, “Not that I’ve checked out your legs—”
Jette’s wit was too fast. She interrupted, “But you’ve checked out my ass?” The crowd behind them cheered loudly as a penalty was called, though Jette couldn’t tell on which team. She grinned as Reese looked back at her apologetically with an open mouth.
“Not intentionally,” she teased. “Maybe once or twice.” Her voice faltered.
“Really?”
Reese playfully rolled her eyes and snapped, “C’mon, don’t pretend like you don’t know you’re hot.
” Her eyes held Jette’s and her tongue briefly swept over her own bottom lip.
Jette froze as the rest of the crowded arena faded away.
She raked her eyes over Reese’s face, letting her gaze linger on Reese’s lips for a moment too long.
Jette could feel her heartbeat in her throat, but before she could respond, a series of whistles blew and the crowd erupted.
Their heads whipped back to the scoreboard.
The realization that they’d both been too focused on each other to bother paying attention to the game hit Jette in the chest like two electric paddles.
The frenzied movement of the crowd made it impossible for them to stay seated so Jette stood and held out a hand, pulling Reese to her feet.
As she spotted them, Lida threw an arm around Jette’s shoulders.
“You’re coming out with us, right?” Her voice roared over the crowd.
“Of course!” Jette cheered, hoping that the enthusiasm in her voice was at an appropriate level.
Her cheeks were starting to ache from the constant smile on her face.
“Where are we going?” she asked. Lida scanned the group and gestured to the exit, clutching Jette’s shoulders for stability.
She smelled strongly of beer and cheap tequila.
“Follow me,” she announced and led the way. Jette reached for Reese’s hand and followed the mass of people heading for the exits.
. . . .
Jette climbed onto a bar stool with her back against the wall.
Posters and stickers covered every square inch of the darkened dive bar.
She shucked off her outer layer and the tiny hairs on her arms stood on edge as she acclimated to the stale air.
Reese was ordering drinks across the room.
The colored lights overhead highlighted her delicate features and illuminated her dainty gold jewelry.
Jette smirked as Reese leaned over the bar, seemingly flirting with the gruff-looking bartender.
Her gray racerback showed off a muscular back and arms but Jette didn’t feel ashamed to stare this time.
When Lida and the rest of the team filed in, Jette politely hugged everyone that introduced themselves all the while knowing she wouldn't remember half of their names in the morning. They hung on each other’s shoulders and poorly sang along to the music blasting from the speakers.
Nobody in the crowded bar seemed to mind or care.
The sight of everyone teasing, chatting, and laughing like a rowdy group of siblings left Jette grinning from ear to ear.
Reese slid into the seat next to her and handed a glass to Jette. “Hope you like tequila,” she said cheerfully as they toasted. “Their whiskey selection was embarrassing, so I hope you don’t mind that I made an executive decision,” she said with a smile.
The drink didn’t burn Jette’s throat the way she thought it would.
Jette could see the admiration in Reese’s eyes as she pointed out her teammates, giving Jette the basic rundown on each of them.
When the group began arm wrestling on the closest corner of the bar, Lida rolled up her sleeves to show off strong sinewy forearms and rouse the small crowd assembling.
Reese’s head shook with laughter but Jette couldn’t decipher if she looked more proud or embarrassed by the boisterous display.
Reese’s voice only grew louder and more relaxed as the night went on and a slightly damp sheen gathered on her collarbones, a result of the warm and humid atmosphere.
Jette’s eyes drifted down her neck and chest. She had trouble stopping her mind from wandering back to the kiss.
Her hands itched at the memory. Reese noticed Jette’s lingering eyes and raised an eyebrow of her own.
Jette fought a smirk as their eyes met. After a couple drinks, they were both having a hard time pretending that they weren’t flirting.
Jette was engrossed in a conversation about touring and music with Reese’s teammate and captain Sloan—or Wolfy, as everyone seemed to call her—when she felt Reese’s knee bump into hers under the table.
She froze with her back against the wall as she waited for Reese to move away from the casual touch.
Her heart fluttered. Reese looked relaxed, but seemed to make a conscious effort to keep their legs pressed together.
As she turned to explain her touring routine to Sloan, Jette took an elbow off the table and subtly rested a hand on her own knee. It felt like a test.
Jette could still hold onto a shred of plausible deniability if she waited, unwilling to make any sudden movements.
A low warning in the back of her mind hummed as the memory of Reese’s hands on her nearly a month ago came flooding back with a vengeance.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jette watched Reese mirror her.
Her toned forearm now discreetly rested on her own leg, their hands less than an inch apart.
It seemed like Jette’s heartbeat was drowning out the rest of the noisy room.
When Reese’s fingers brushed against her hand, Jette felt the room spin.
Everything and nothing seemed to make sense all at once.