Chapter 7 #2
Tania laughed. “Just checking. ’Kay, I’m heading over to watch the matches. See you there?”
“See you there.”
Jess gave up on the coffee and dragged herself into the shower.
She smiled at the tiled wall, shivering in the steaming water, remembering Skye’s legs and gentle hands and the noises she made.
… She imagined the shy smile Skye might give her when she saw her watching, imagined their sweet goodbye kiss in the parking lot before she got on the bus.
… Jess spent longer than normal drying her hair and applying a bit of makeup that, to be honest, she normally wouldn’t have bothered with.
After collecting an iced coffee and some egg bites from the café, Jess found Tania and the Sunside crew watching the one o’clock match already underway. Skye and her partner were playing … Vivienne and Lee.
Vivienne showed no signs of being smashed last night … but for all Jess knew, she could have cut herself off early and drank several gallons of electrolytes before bed. They were up against Skye’s team 3–1.
“Who won the first set?” Jess asked, settling into her seat with her breakfast.
“Viv and Lee—21–17.”
“Crap.”
Tania raised her eyebrow. “Switched alliances already? One night of sweet, sweet—”
“Girl!” Jess protested, trying not to laugh. “There’re no alliances. I don’t have to cheer for the Sunside team.”
Tania snickered. “Horny Beach, it is.”
Jess crossed her legs and ignored her, taking a pointed sip of iced coffee.
Skye dropped in a roll shot for a point. Jess made a point of cheering. She realized it was a mistake, though, when Chrissy swiveled her head around. “You’re cheering against Viv and Lee?” she asked.
“It’s not that I’m cheering against Vivienne and Lee.… I’m just cheering for Skye.”
Chrissy pinched her eyebrows together. “Why are you cheering for Skye?”
“Yes, why are you cheering for Skye?” Tania said, propping her chin on her hands in mock fascination.
Jess glared at Tania. “I just … met her last night … and she’s … very nice.”
Then the confusion lifted from Chrissy’s face. “Ohhh, right! I saw you dancing with her at Bernie’s.”
“Yes, they did a lot of dancing,” Tania said helpfully.
Chrissy continued to chatter, oblivious to Tania’s innuendo. “Well, I won’t tell Viv and Lee that you aren’t cheering for them. I don’t think they’d like that.”
Jess gave Chrissy a noncommittal half smile and turned her attention to her egg bites. As if Vivienne would give a fuck, she thought to herself.
At that point the set was tied 5–5. Jess continued to root for Skye … but silently.
When they were down 8–10, Vivienne and Lee called a time-out.
They had a lightning-quick chat and were ready to go again, all business, before Skye and her partner had even had a chance to grab their water bottles. Jess had to admire the subtle mind game. And it worked. Skye missed her next serve, then Vivienne scored three points in a row off hers.
They took charge after that. Vivienne and Lee won 21–14. They exchanged high-fives and easy grins after the final point. Jess frowned. She now owed Vivienne two loaves of banana bread for her wins. She definitely didn’t have enough bananas in her freezer for that.
Skye looked pretty upset about the loss, tossing her water bottle into her bag with more force than necessary and not making eye contact with anyone.
Jess sat glued to her seat. Probably not the time to go talk to her. But she watched Skye collect her stuff from the bench, just in case she looked her way.
She didn’t, though, and vanished into the locker room, still scowling. Okay, yes, she would wait until after.
“You gonna go talk to her?” Tania asked, reading her mind.
“Er … yeah. I think so.”
“You think so?”
“Kind of awkward, hanging around, waiting for her to come out of the locker room.”
Tania shook her head. “It’s not awkward.”
“I’ll make it awkward.”
“Well … it’s certainly a possibility with you”—she dodged a swat from Jess—“but I have faith in your ability to say hi in a normal way.”
“We’ll see.”
“I’m going to go grab a snack before we leave. You want anything?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“I’ll see you on the bus?”
The stands thinned out as Jess waited, most Sunside players trickling toward the parking lot. They’d leave as soon as the girls who had just played were ready.
Vivienne and Lee emerged from the locker room before Skye did …
and Vivienne was in a ridiculously stunning strapless sky-blue dress and shiny silver heels.
… Jess blinked, confused. Why on earth was she so—Oh, she was heading to her aunt and uncle’s ritzy house.
There was probably a dress code for dinner, with five different kinds of forks and waiters in tuxedos and all that.
Jess watched her strut out, all Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality. She even tossed her hair and put on sunglasses.
Still no Skye. When the other Sunside players emerged and made their way to the parking lot, Jess stood. She was the only one left in the stands. The bus would be leaving any minute.
She made her way to the parking lot with one last, lingering glance at the locker room door.
The Sunside players were loading the bus—minus Vivienne, of course, who was leaning on her Mercedes again like a fashion model.
Why didn’t she just hop in her fancy car and drive off to Veronica Doyle’s fancy house?
No, she had to put on a show in the parking lot first. Jess consoled herself with the fact that at least she didn’t have to get back in that car.
She climbed onto the bus and flopped into a seat near the front.
Normally, she’d go sit by Tania, but she wasn’t up for a bunch more questions.
Jess dug through her tote for her phone and found the red lollipop first. She unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth, then grabbed her phone.
It made sense to send Skye a goodbye text, didn’t it? Or should she wait?
The cherry flavor dissolved over her tongue, tingling her taste buds.
The heated look Beth gave her flashed behind her eyes.
Jess pushed the lollipop to the side of her mouth and sat up straighter.
Enough with these stupid games. It wasn’t high school anymore, even if the league drama occasionally felt like it.
Hey, sorry I missed you after the game. That was a close one.
I was rooting for you! It was so nice to meet you, and hopefully we can talk soon.
Send. Then she read it again and panicked—way too dorky, much too needy.
This would scare off Skye for sure. Should she edit the text?
No, Skye would be able to see it had been edited, and then Jess would look even more desperate.
And dorky slash needy, etc. It was too late now.
All she could do was wait. She stared at her phone in vain for a while until her lollipop was gone, then she drifted off to sleep, rattling along the California coast.
Fleming was thrilled to see her. The wiener threw himself at Jess’s legs until she scooped him up and peppered him with kisses. He wiggled with ecstasy, little pink tongue searching for her face. “I missed you, too,” Jess said.
Nelson leaned on the doorframe. “How was Horny Beach?”
“Great.” Jess put Fleming down and stroked his head a few times while his tail motored. “We won our match.”
“And?”
“And what?” She tried to keep a neutral face as she looked up at him, but failed.
Nelson hooted. “Yeah, you did! Come on in for a drink and tell me all about it.”
“There’s not much to tell.… We met, we danced, we went back to her place.…”
“Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, are you going to see her again soon?”
“I don’t know … we didn’t make any plans or anything.”
Nelson sighed at her hopelessness. “You got her number, right?”
“Yeah.” Jess’s fingers twitched with the urge to check her phone.
He raised his eyebrow. “Do not overthink this.”
“I’m not overthinking anything! I already texted her.”
“And?”
“And she hasn’t replied yet.”
Nelson held out his palm. “Let me see what you sent her.”
“No!”
“Why not?”
“Because then I’ll definitely overthink! You’ll just tell me why it was wrong.”
“Jess. Help me help you.”
“Nelson. I’m good. Just let me handle it.”
He made a skeptical noise.
“I’ll let you know what happens, okay? I promise.”
Nelson sighed and rubbed his head. “Girl, you do you. But when you want my help…”
She kissed his cheek. “I know where to find you.”
“Have a good night, Jess.”
“Oh, wait … do you have any overripe bananas?”
Bananas in hand, Jess took Fleming home and checked her phone the second she closed the door. Still nothing. She read her message to Skye again.
Hey, sorry I missed you after the game. Did it sound like she was annoyed at Skye for not coming to find her?
That was a close one. She shouldn’t have brought up their loss.
I was rooting for you! God, who said “rooting”?
It was so nice to meet you. Sounded like she was talking to someone’s grandparents.
And hopefully we can talk soon. Desperate. Whiny. Putting too much pressure on her.
Why did she have to be such a loser? Why did she always have to be so awkward and look like she was trying so hard?
Her phone buzzed.
She nearly dropped it, heart in her throat. But it wasn’t Skye. It was … Vivienne?
“What the fuck?” she said out loud, swiping to read the message.
My aunt wants your banana bread recipe.
Then, Please, as an afterthought.
Jess sat on her couch, trying to slow her heartbeat. What? Why does Veronica Doyle want my banana bread recipe?
I told her how good it was. Shit, it’s not like a family secret, is it? Are you going to be all weird about it? Because it’s a sacred sewing circle recipe passed down from your great-great-great-grandmother that can only be known by your very tall offspring?
A laugh bubbled up in Jess’s throat before she could stop it. It’s not a secret. One sec. She sent Vivienne the link to the recipe she used.
Thanks. Aunt Veronica will be very happy. And she says she’d love to meet us for lunch after a game. I’m supposed to check with her assistant, so I’ll get back to you with some dates.
Jess squeed to herself and forgave Vivienne for being an asshole the night before. Mostly. I am available any time! And, I’ll have your banana bread for you on Saturday.
Sweet, thanks. Also … I won ten bucks on my scratcher. Told you I was feeling lucky!
Jess pursed her lips. No one had ever slept with Vivienne then ghosted her, that was for sure. Everything always went her way. I will accept cash for my half, Jess replied.
No way, this is my win.
My lawyers will be in touch.
Vivienne sent a laughing emoji, which Jess was not expecting. Then, See you Saturday.
See you then. Have fun with your family.
Jess stared at her phone. “See you then.” That was strange enough on its own, then Jess had gone and added “Have fun.” It wasn’t like she and Vivienne ever talked or hung out, and she certainly had no interest in starting.
But it was nice to know Vivienne liked her banana bread.