Chapter 4
April
April loved nights out like this with Dani.
They’re what she missed most when she was out on tour.
When she stayed in a different hotel every few weeks, wore new outfits that were shipped to her for each tournament, and had her dad constantly watching over every little thing she did.
Being on tour made her miss her mom’s cooking, spending time with Dani and her family, and getting some sort of normality in her life.
Nights like these were a rare moment of freedom in her life, and she loved them. Usually.
Tonight though, she was just tired. She loved this bar, but she’d love it even more if the table she was standing at with her best friend was one of the few that had stools.
Having spent months in sneakers meant needing to stand for over an hour in heels was seriously starting to take its toll on her body.
“I don’t know how you can pull off a look like that,” April said to Dani, taking in her friend’s deep pink slinky spaghetti strap cocktail dress and matching stiletto heels.
Which now put her at a towering six feet tall.
“I can’t pull off anything like that with my top-heavy muscly shape, not to mention I’d most definitely break an ankle in those heels. Three inches is my limit for comfort.”
Dani stood back from their table and looked at herself.
“Well, I spend the day in comfortable clothes and like to dress up for nights out. Especially when I’m out with you and would like to receive a small bit of attention myself, so I’m not the dowdy friend of the stunning April Walker.
” The size of Dani’s grin said that even she didn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth.
Dani always got the majority of attention on their nights out together.
Even since meeting Matt, Dani still drew the looks from the masses like bees to honey.
Tonight was no different. Between her height, the pink dress, and her ice grey hair styled in a severe high ponytail that hung perfectly straight down her back, there was no way she was being overlooked in the crowd.
“You mentioned earlier about the last few things on your wedding list being ready to complete this week? Does that mean you’ll be ready ahead of schedule?” April asked her friend, as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, distracting herself from the discomfort of her heels.
“Yeah, I can’t believe it’s happening so soon! Plus,” Dani took a sip of her Cosmo, “you’re going to be there after being in Paris for the Grand Slam. Perfect timing, almost like it was planned that way.” Dani added with a smirk.
“I can’t get over the fact that you’re going to be married!
” Dani was four years older than April, but they’d been best friends for so long that neither of them noticed it most of the time.
“Did you decide whether you were going to take Matt’s last name or keep your own?
Last we spoke you still weren’t sure.” April took a drink of her soda water and lime, the drink that made her look like she was drinking alcohol in a bar, without actually drinking alcohol in a bar. Such fun.
“I honestly don’t know what to do. I mean, Dani Harris is what I’m known as in the sports world, and Dani Doran just doesn’t sound right to me.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure there are other women out there in the world with that name and they suit it perfectly well.
I just don’t think it’s right for me.” Dani said.
“What does Matt think about it all?” April asked.
“He doesn’t care one way or the other.” Dani paused, “He just wants to marry me,” she added with a sigh and a smile.
April shook her head with a laugh at her best friend’s soppy moment.
She sipped her drink as she took another look around the bar to see if any of those highly sought-after tables with stools had become available.
A few tables over from her she noticed a pair of women enjoying a night out like herself and Dani.
One wearing a green dress which hugged her curves perfectly and went well with her intricate dark hair.
The other, well, she wore low fitting trousers with brogues and a racer-back waistcoat that displayed what looked like tattoos, but April couldn’t be sure at this distance as they weren’t solid black lines on the woman’s body.
And her hair? It was like fire. Which seemed apt, given the way April felt heat spread throughout her body at the thought of running her fingers through the fiery tangle of hair that was worn in a top knot.
“That’s nice,” April said distractedly.
“Glad of your input April, great help in my decision-making process as always,” Dani laughed. “Who’s caught your eye?” Dani spun around looking to see if she could identify whoever April was looking at.
“No problem, wait, what?” April spun around to face her friend. “I wasn’t looking at anyone, I was just trying to see if there were any stools available, my feet are killing me.” She snuck another glance over in the direction of the fire haired woman. She was stunning.
Dani turned, somewhat convinced, “well, we can give it another hour and if we haven’t gotten stools by then we can head back to mine for the night. Matt is crashing at his parents' house. He’s got an early tee-off with his dad in the morning, so it made sense for him just to stay there tonight.”
“Yeah, that sounds like a plan. Speaking of plans, now that I’m off for a few weeks, I’ll have some time to help with the wedding ones if I can?
I mean, you probably have most of it done, but let me know, yeah?
” April said, trying desperately to keep her focus on her friend.
She couldn’t help but look back over at the striking woman to her left.
There was just something about her that was drawing April in.
“Actually, there’s not too much left to do, but could you help me arrange the seating chart? I’m only waiting on a few people to get back to us, but most already have and Matt is beyond useless at this sort of thing. If he even remembers to turn up on the right day, I’ll be shocked.” Dani replied.
“I can help with that, I won’t run the risk of pulling a muscle doing that, so Dad can’t complain,” April said to Dani, then glanced over at the attractive woman again and caught her looking at April at the same time.
A flush quickly crept up April’s cheeks as she tried to recover from being caught.
“You’d swear he’s not happy unless I’m either training, recovering or sleeping.
Everything else seems to have a reason attached, detailing why I can’t do it.
I’m surprised he hasn’t hired a personal risk assessment manager to ensure all the fun is completely sucked from my life other than tennis. He’s driving me mad.”
“Is that why you’re suddenly so hot in the face?” Dani looked around the bar again, “What am I missing? You keep looking around and I know it’s not for a stool!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Dani, I told you, my feet are killing me and I’m just tired.
I think I’m getting a headache.” April said, raising her glass to her cheeks and temple to hide the blush that wouldn’t move, while she glided her cold glass against her skin for relief from the warm bar.
“Oh no, really? We can head back to mine now if you want, it’s no trouble.
” Dani said, the concern in her voice and features making April feel a little guilty at not telling her best friend about the really hot woman to April’s left that she just couldn’t help but keep looking at.
Because if she told Dani, she’d be coming out to her very first person.
While Dani’s sister was gay and she fully accepted her, April couldn’t help but feel that tiny flicker of uncertainty about how her best friend would react to her coming out.
“It’s ok, honestly. I might just go to the bathroom really quickly, then grab some air for a minute.
Keep an eye out for a table with stools, ok?
” April made her way over to the back of the bar where she joined the line to the ladies’ bathroom, giving herself the perfect opportunity to escape Dani’s gaze.
..but enjoy a look at the woman who had most definitely caught her eye. But she was gone.
The line moved closer to the door to the bathroom and April was aware that the woman behind her was standing a little closer than she’d typically be comfortable with.
Yet the smell of her cologne was drawing April in.
She’d never come across a woman wearing anything other than perfume before.
She decided to take a chance and have a quick peek over her shoulder to see whom that scent belonged to, only to be met with a pair of emerald eyes. And hair like fire.
She quickly turned back to face the line again but was aware of the gentle chuckle coming from the woman behind her.
April couldn’t decide what she wanted more: for the ground to open up and swallow her whole, or to be brave enough to turn back around and properly engage with the woman who was currently making her heart race a little too fast for comfort.