The Game Changer - Chapter Eighteen (Patreon)

And our weekend at the tournament continues...

---------The Game Changer ---------

Chapter Eighteen

Rose was buzzing with awareness the second she opened her eyes in the morning. Even though she and Abbie hadn’t slept in the same bed, that didn’t matter.

Admittedly, that reality truly was painful for her, but she was resolutely going to make her point… which was admittedly a little hazy even for her, but she was fairly certain it involved making Abbie be the one to come to her since she’d made herself and her wants clear as hell.

What mattered was this proximity, this closeness.

Even though she’d shared a bed with Abbie twice in her life, once at their “sleepover” in high school and that night in college, Rose had never slept in Abbie’s presence. She’d always been far too keyed up, anxious, exhilarated to fall asleep for anything deeper than a doze.

Last night had been so different.

Likely for a multitude of reasons, but at the top of the list: she was in a far better place in her life, finally able to be at peace with who she was.

That, and Abbie wanted her, now.

She woke with Abbie’s comments from before they’d gone to sleep playing in her mind. She really had been single-mindedly focused on the fact that Abbie was even a remote possibility for her, that had been all she’d been able to see.

But Abbie telling her that – that she wanted Rose more than she’d wanted to be with anyone else?

Rose would snap at anyone that tried to sell her on blissful cliches. Life was messy and chaotic and unfair.

… yet, today, she felt that the sun was streaming in through the windows a little bit brighter. Dare she say, the autumn air was the perfect temperature and felt delightfully crisp. Today, the world was a little more beautiful than it normally was.

Aaaand then she turned to look over at Abbie’s bed.

Which was empty.

She frowned, deeply, sitting straight up and leaning over to peer into their bathroom. The door was open, the light was off. Also empty.

And the room wasn’t that large. Unless Abbie was lurking on the floor hiding behind a bed, she wasn’t in here.

Rose took a deep, steadying breath to quell her kneejerk negative reaction. What if Abbie regretted saying those things to Rose last night? What if –

As she’d gone to push herself out of bed, her hand landed on a small slip of paper embossed with the hotel logo that she hadn’t noticed when she’d been so caught up in her thoughts.

Good morning!!

If you’re free tonight, I’d love to take you on a date?

Check yes or no, and give this note back to me when you see me.

- A

P.S. I’ll have a coffee for you downstairs.

P.P.S. You’re a really cute sleeper.

Well, okay then. Apparently Abbie hadn’t slipped out in the cover of night with any doubts and regrets about what they were embarking on.

She hurried to get ready because their bus was taking them to the park the tournament would be held at in only thirty minutes, but also because she was in a hurry to see Abbie.

It was a little disconcerting, she had to admit. To feel so… fluttery over someone for the first time, at thirty years old. And yet, here she was.

Putting on her coaching ensemble, she went downstairs to find the team – and several others who were also staying at the hotel – milling around. But it took her only seconds to see Abbie standing on the other side of the room like a beacon for Rose’s attention.

Admittedly, she was one of the taller women in the room full of mostly teenagers, and she was wearing Elliston colors – dark red – and she simply had a… a presence.

It was something Rose used to detest about her because she couldn’t help but notice every time Abbie entered a room.

Now… well, now, Rose was allowed to find it sexy.

Several other coaches were standing around Abbie, who was casually leaning back against the wall next to the coffee station, which was also a dead-giveaway to her location.

God, she used to loathe that, too.

First – how Abbie was able to truly look so at-ease wherever she was.

Second – how Abbie’s presence could attract people to her like flies to honey. Being so friendly and approachable and blonde and beautiful… yeah, Rose had hated it.

In fairness, she still kind of hated that aspect.

She walked right over to the small group, her shoulders rolled back like she was walking into war. For all she knew, she might be.

Many of the other coaches were women, and if Rose was a gambler, she’d bet that several of them were queer.

Pointedly, she took her place right next to Abbie, forcing her way into the group. “Sorry to interrupt. I have a few matters to discuss with my co-coach this morning.” Wordlessly, she arched them all a look as she gave them a chilly, dismissive smile. “Can’t wait to see you all later.”

She received a few taken aback looks – one of the women in particular seemed a little disgruntled, the one standing in the middle directly across from Abbie – but from Abbie, she only received a smile, and that was all she cared about.

Abbie’s smile as she turned back to the group was unsurprisingly far friendlier than Rose’s. “It was so nice to meet you all. Thanks for coming over to chat!”

Also unsurprisingly, their goodbyes to Abbie were all very pointedly to Abbie as they dispersed back to their own teams.

Abbie turned to face her, the grin on her face only growing in amusement. “You sure know how to make an entrance.”

Rose merely shrugged. “And they sure know how to spot the most talented, attractive woman in the room first thing in the morning.”

That gorgeous smile didn’t dim in the slightest as Abbie slowly arched her a look. “You’re kind of a jealous person, you know.”

Pursing her lips, Rose could only shrug. How could she deny that when she still felt those echoes of jealousy? But she searched Abbie’s gaze with her own. “Yes,” she admitted, and it was both freeing and galling to say aloud, because she’d never been jealous before. Not romantically, anyway. “With you, yes, I am.”

Back in high school, she’d been unable to do anything about it. But now, she could. Now, she could assert herself having this romantic status in Abbie’s life.

Still, she’d also worked for a long time not to be an asshole. “Is that something that is going to upset you? Something I should work on?”

Abbie didn’t answer immediately, as she clearly thought on it for a few seconds. Then she shook her head. “No. I mean, I’ll admit, I’ve never been with someone who’s been jealous before.”

Rose scoffed, louder than she meant to. “I find that hard to believe.”

After all, Abbie was a public figure! She was well-known, well-regarded, well-respected, talented, gorgeous. And Abbie was trying to tell Rose none of her past partners had ever been jealous over the attention from other women she had to receive?

Sure.

But Abbie shook her head, looking so guileless, as she affirmed, “No, really. I mean, Daniele was never a jealous person. We did long-distance for most of our relationship in college; jealousy really doesn’t fly long-distance.”

Again, Rose scoffed. Yet another reason she and Abbie wouldn’t have been great together in college.

Abbie shrugged, continuing, “And I think I’ve mentioned to you that I didn’t have many relationships over the years. A few here and there. But jealousy never really played a factor.” Suddenly, that lighter look in Abbie’s eyes was replaced with something a lot more intense. “It is going to be an issue if that jealousy stems because you don’t trust me.”

“That’s not it,” Rose immediately refuted, staunchly and with certainty. She angled her jaw up, staring Abbie right in those baby blues, hoping Abbie could see that she meant every word as she explained, “Abbie, you held a grudge against me for almost a decade because you believed I made you a cheater by omission.”

And Abbie believed that Rose was the stubborn one…

She softened a bit, murmuring, “And, even more than that, I know you. Anyone who knows you could never doubt you.”

Abbie’s own smile melted into something beautifully soft and sweet.

Rose cut her gaze around the room, landing on several of the coaches as she muttered sharply, “It’s all of these other women I don’t trust.”

If any other woman felt an inkling of what she felt for Abbie, Rose couldn’t trust her. Because she would – and did, as soon as she’d realized the door was open to her – pursue Abbie with determination. And she was a lot less trusting of the human condition than Abbie was.

Abbie breathed out a laugh, pulling her attention back to her. “Okay, let those hackles down. Everyone that came to chat this morning kept it all very professional… and I didn’t give the woman who gave a vibe that wasn’t professional any opening to make things personal.”

Triumphant and heatedly jealous, she hummed under her breath. She knew exactly which woman it had been, too.

Abbie brought her hand down and very discreetly brushed it against Rose’s. Her touch was gentle and warm, and far too brief.

Unfortunately, it would have to do while they were surrounded by everyone here, including their team.

“You got it wrong, though. I am not the most attractive woman in this room.” Abbie aimed a pointed look at her.

Rose’s heart skipped a beat, her emotions doing a little dance at the fact that she knew Abbie truly meant that. Even so, she aimed a dubious stare right back. “Lemon, I’m not going to get into a you’re-prettier no-you’re-prettier competition with you. Let’s face it: in this particular room, surrounded by people who love soccer? You’re the catch, and everyone knows it.”

She took a lot of enjoyment in the cute way Abbie’s cheeks flushed, as she ducked her head with an accepting nod.

“Oh, here,” Abbie turned to the coffee stand behind her and grabbed a large iced coffee that was clearly from a coffee shop and not the hotel’s continental breakfast. “Some of the girls knocked on our door at like five-forty-five this morning. More like tapped, I guess, it was super quiet. But I woke up. They wanted to come downstairs.”

And a part of the road-rules they’d all agreed to was that no one was to leave their floor without Abbie or Rose’s knowledge and permission. One of the agreements in particular they’d signed with the hotel was that the girls couldn’t come down to breakfast unaccompanied.

So, even though it had robbed her of seeing Abbie first thing in the morning, she supposed she could appreciate the team abiding by the rules.

“I gave Anya and Casey permission and some cash to go across the parking lot to that café and get some good coffee for the road,” Abbie finished, nodding at the coffee – that was, indeed, good – in Rose’s hand.

“For the record,” she kept her voice down low, quieter than before, “Your note was absolutely ridiculous.”

Abbie’s eyebrows lifted high on her forehead, a small smile playing on her lips. “Does that mean you aren’t going on the date with me?” She breathed back.

“I–” Before she could keep going, Abbie cut her off with a quiet tsk.

“I’ll need to see the checked yes or no box from the note I passed you this morning.”

Exasperated, she looked directly at Abbie instead of the furtive, casual way she’d turned to scan across the room. “Really?”

“Mhmm,” Abbie hummed as she sipped her coffee.

The morning sunlight from the large windows next to them streamed over her face and through her hair, making her seem truly golden. The way it hit her eyes was – she looked like some sort of painting, something people should pay to see.

And Rose handed her the note that she’d put in her pocket. Not Abbie’s original note; Rose found it silly and juvenile and sweet and adorable, and she wouldn’t be getting rid of that.

She’d written Abbie one in return.

✔ Yes

Rose

Abbie looked down at the note, before a loud, boisterous laugh escaped her. She immediately dialed it down when some of the girls looked over to see what she was laughing at, sobering slightly, but she was still grinning that wide, beautifully bright smile. “Wow, I can feel your enthusiasm here.”

“What could you possibly think I have going on tonight?” She pushed. “Also, you are aware we aren’t going home until tomorrow?”

“It’s still polite to ask someone on a date, Rose. Even if I know you don’t have plans, I’m not just going to assume you’re going out with me. I’m not a megalomaniac.”

“Well, if I want to take you out and I know for certain that you don’t have any other plans, something you should know about me is that I do anticipate that you’re going to go with me on that date.”

Rose was exacting, and she did have high expectations, and she could be pushy and presumptive. All of those were true facts about her, and – frankly – she hadn’t had to be concerned about how they would play out in her romantic life because she’d always been with Nathan, who knew and accepted all of those things.

… if there was one person she would put in the work for, though, it was Abbie.

Abbie’s mouth fell open in faux surprise, and she lifted her hand to her chest. “What?! You are telling me brand new information that I could have never, ever guessed about you.”

Rose rolled her eyes, even as she couldn’t help but smile around the straw of her iced coffee, that warmth working through her. It was fucking insane, really. Abbie did know her, just like Nathan did. She’d known Rose at her worst and now knew her at her best, and she wanted to date her, as one whole package.

“Coach Abbie? Coach Elliston?” Anya’s voice drifted to them.

It was a jarring – but good – reminder that Rose couldn’t just stand here and stare into Abbie’s eyes like they were in their own world. Because they were very much not.

God, she had the board meeting next week hanging over her head to prove it.

With a deep breath, Rose shook her hair back and turned to face Anya, who was looking between them expectantly. “Yes, Anya?”

She offered both of them a small smile, looking back and forth between them.

Which Rose did not enjoy, and made the back of her neck prickle in defensive awareness. Anyone at Elliston knowing about them at this juncture made her feel far too uncertain, but she supposed if there was a single person on their team that would be the most harmless to have a suspicion, it was Anya Beckett given her own family.

Still, though.

“Um, we were just wondering if we should head out to the bus? Some of the other teams are starting to leave. And… well, a lot of us were talking about it, and we know that the tournament doesn’t really matter, but we really want to get there as early as possible to warm-up, because we really want to do well in it.”

If nothing else, Rose appreciated her initiative. And, really, as she looked past Anya at their team, all of whom were cleaning up where they’d been sitting and getting ready go head out, she appreciated all of them. She appreciated that they all wanted to come here and do well, even if it wouldn’t end in a state title.

She took a quick glimpse at Abbie, whose own smile was predictably bigger and warmer than hers was.

Abbie nodded, enthusiastically. “I love the spirit. Let’s do this!”

***

By the time they returned back to the hotel and got the girls all herded back to their assigned rooms and settled in, it was already after eight that night.

It was honestly a lot easier to get the girls calm and willing to settle into their respective rooms than Rose had expected.

Then again, they’d played three games today – spread over eight hours – which had absolutely tired them out.

But they’d also won, which meant that they’d need to be back on the field tomorrow morning just as bright and early, ready to play their final matches. One in the morning to determine if they were the winners of their division, and then one in the afternoon to determine the winner of the whole tournament.

And they’d all played like they wanted it. They’d played hard. They’d played like winners.

Hell, Rose hadn’t played, but she felt that same live-wire, adrenaline rush that she’d always had back then.

It had been difficult at first for her to settle in and focus on the team, admittedly, because the thought circling her mind had been a date with Abbie.

Eventually, she’d managed to compartmentalize, because she had to… but it hadn’t truly left her mind all day.

She’d volunteered – after Abbie had heavily hinted that she’d appreciate it – to go to the vending machine and get some snacks for their room. Though Rose was extremely dubious about eating vending machine snacks and she had voiced as much to Abbie, she’d obliged.

As she used her key card to enter the room, she had to wonder what Abbie’s date plans were for them.

Her eyebrows were furrowed in thought as she walked in, asking, “Are you still planning on a–” She looked over her shoulder to make sure the door shut, “So-called date night? With vending machine food? And we have to be back out on the field early tomorrow–”

She cut herself off when she looked around the room and realized that, much like this morning, she was alone in their room.

Narrowing her eyes, she muttered, “For someone who was so excited to share a room together, you sure like to disappear from it,” as she fished out her phone to get some answers.

Abbie had already texted her a minute ago.

Abbie Parker – 8:07P.M.I’ll be picking you up at your door for your date soon. Be ready by… 8:15?

Rose frowned, incredulously, down at her phone, even as excitement shot through her veins.

She and Abbie had spent a lot of time together in the last few months, but nothing that Rose would technically qualify as a date. Even after the other night when they’d agreed they were dating – they’d had dinner at her house and they’d kissed, but… was that a date?

She paused, working that over in her mind. What counted as a date?

What she’d said to Abbie the night she’d babysat Cassie so Rose could go out on a traditional date night with Jennifer still remained true: she had essentially no real dating experience.

And Rose deeply disliked not being knowledgeable about things or good at them. Throwing Abbie into the mix…

For the first time, she felt a sliver of uncertainty.

And now the time was already 8:09, and Abbie was going to “pick her up” – ludicrous – at their hotel room in six minutes?!

She shook her head, thumbs flying over her screen as she responded.

What are you possibly thinking for our “date?” We can’t leave the hotel.

And what is appropriate dress code? You should probably be aware that I didn’t anticipate this, so I didn’t pack anything for the occasion

Which was something else she hadn’t thought of until this moment, now that the “date” was barreling toward her.

She wasn’t ready!

She’d wanted a date with Abbie for essentially her entire life, but she wasn’t prepared. When she imagined a date with Abbie, she imagined something similar to what she’d done with Jennifer. She wanted to be able to put on a little black dress – or something similar. Something form-fitting, something that would ideally make Abbie have incredibly dirty, lustful thoughts about her – and do her hair and makeup so that she could stop Abbie dead in her tracks.

Fine, Rose didn’t have much dating experience. But she didn’t need experience to know how to play to her assets, or to want to wow Abbie when they went out.

Abbie Parker – 8:10P.M.What you’re wearing now is great

And yes, I am well aware that we can’t abandon our team of teenagers, Rose

Rose stared down at the texts, reminded in this moment that Abbie was still… Abbie – vexing.

What she was wearing now? She couldn’t help but glance down at herself as if she’d imagined that she’d worn something different all day than what she had on.

Alas, she really was wearing the outfit she thought she’d put on this morning. Sneakers, black leggings, and one of her quarter-zip coaching jackets, with a tank top underneath.

It didn’t exactly scream I’m finally going on a date with the woman I’ve wanted for half of my life.

Rose – 8:10P.M.That’s absurd. I can’t wear this

Abbie Parker – 8:11P.M.Well… you CAN…

You saw me all day, so I can confirm that I didn’t secretly pack something dressy. You won’t be underdressed

Promise

You are perfectly fitting the date night theme for the record

Unless you want to cancel the date. Which you also can

Her stomach churned with revolt, which let her know immediately that she wasn’t not going to go on whatever date Abbie had concocted for them.

Rose – 8:12P.M.No, I’m not going to cancel, Lemon.

What is the “theme” for date night, then?

Abbie Parker – 8:12P.M.You’ll find out imminently

“Ridiculous,” she muttered, locking her phone as she tucked it into the pocket of her jacket.

Pursing her lips, she hastily walked to the bathroom, swiftly combing her hands through her hair. It was a little messier than she’d prefer, a little windblown from being outside all day. And with only a couple of minutes left, she made the game-time decision to scoop it up into a high ponytail; she had no idea what Abbie was envisioning, but she might as well be ready.

After all, her hair up like this matched her outfit, she supposed.

She moved to turn the light switch off, but then caught her own eye in the mirror.

No, she didn’t look like she was about to go on a date at all.

She looked… absolutely normal. In fact, if she took into account the care she put into her hair and makeup for an average work day, she looked a little worse than she typically did.

But when she looked a little closer, she could see the small differences in her own face.

There was color on her cheeks – not a blush, but something decidedly alive – and right there, in her eyes…

She’d seen her own eyes in the mirror daily.

And right now, she could see that she looked… happier. That was it. She looked excited.

So, if this was the version of her that Abbie seemed to like so much, then she was getting it.

At the sound of the tapping on the door, she felt her heart lurch in her chest, feeling ridiculously like a teenager, as she switched off the light and opened it without a pause.

Even if she had no idea what to expect, even if it didn’t look like any date she’d ever experienced in her life, she was so ready.

True to her word, Abbie looked exactly the way she had when Rose had last seen her.

Her blonde hair was down around her shoulders, also a little wavy and windblown from the day but Abbie’s hair being a little messy like that just made Rose’s fingers ache to tunnel into it. To take a fistful.

She presented Rose with a bouquet of roses with a flourish, which were already in a makeshift vase.

“For you. I know they’re the obvious choice, but I hope the eyerolling will be minimal,” Abbie joked.

“They are the obvious choice,” she agreed, taking them carefully, even as she wryly murmured, “And I adore this… vase.”

“Well, Gaby from the front desk and I have become very good friends as of today, and she was able to nab that container from the kitchen so the flowers didn’t die.”

Yeah, that fluttering in her stomach only continued to get stronger, and she allowed herself to indulge and smell the roses for a moment, before she gently set them down on the desk behind her. The thing was, she believed Abbie last night when she’d informed Rose that she took romance very seriously.

Abbie was simply a thoughtful person. She was a thoughtful friend. It wasn’t a difficult leap to imagine she would be an incredibly thoughtful romantic partner, as well.

She turned back to face Abbie, arching her a look. “So… what is the date theme?”

Abbie slightly shook her head, a small, secretive grin playing on her lips. Rather than answer, she asked, “Do you have the stuff from the vending machine?”

Rose quickly walked to grab the bag where she’d placed it on one of the bureaus, holding it up as proof. “Silly me, I forgot that we would need our vending machine snacks for our first date.”

“Don’t beat yourself up too hard,” Abbie’s eyes glinted at her as she “consoled” her.

As soon as she was close enough, Abbie reached out and took the bag from her. Their fingertips brushed and Rose’s instinct told her to hold on.

But… they were standing half in the hallway, and she still needed to be conscientious of that. So, she lingered for as long as she felt was appropriate, before dropping back to her side.

“Are you the kind of woman who feels the need to carry everything when we go out?” Rose asked, tilting her head. And she was sort-of teasing… but also not.

She’d never been in a lesbian relationship before, so…

Abbie shrugged. “Only if you need or want me to. And right now, because I’m escorting you to our date. So… let’s get to it.”

Abbie bounced onto her tiptoes briefly, like she was genuinely so excited she couldn’t hold herself still.

And Rose found that to be ludicrously adorable.

She let their door swing closed behind her, walking side by side with Abbie down the hallway. Close enough that their shoulders brushed as they walked by all of the closed doors belonging to their team, but not really touching. Teasing both of them.

When they got into the elevator to go down to the lobby, she turned to stare intently at Abbie. Who met her gaze, and it was very clear that she was enjoying knowing what they were going to do while Rose didn’t.

So, she huffed out a breath and didn’t ask again.

She followed Abbie past the reception desk, where Abbie waved at the young woman working.

Gaby, Rose presumed.

Who waved brightly, exuberantly, back at Abbie. She’d been the same young woman that had checked them in last night, and had excitedly informed them that she loved soccer. So, Abbie bonding with her had made her day, Rose was sure.

“I’ll call you, like we agreed!” Gaby called out, giving Abbie a thumbs up.

Which Abbie returned. “Thanks!” Before she led Rose not out toward the main entrance and parking area, but across the other side of the lobby, and down the hall, toward the side door.

“Where are we going?” She relented and asked again. She couldn’t help it. Especially thinking as the administrator on this trip, with the girls – of course, she’d love to abscond somewhere with Abbie, but –

“Just out here,” Abbie assured her. “We aren’t leaving the premises. And Gaby, as she said, has my phone number, so if any of the girls come down looking for us, we’ll come right back in.”

Mollified but even more curious, Rose followed Abbie across the small stretch of pavement, and over to the grassy knoll on the other side.

Where Abbie stopped, bent down to place the bag on the ground on top of a blanket, and turned to face her. “Here we are.”

Rose glanced around as well.

It was completely dark out, and a little chilly. There was a makeshift goal – something they, and other teams, brought to set up as a small practice net – and a couple of soccer balls on the ground. Over here on the side of the hotel there weren’t any streetlights illuminating them the way they did in the parking lot, but there were lanterns strategically positioned so give them enough light.

“The theme is: high school,” Abbie informed her. “I thought it was very fitting, you know, because of us, specifically. Hence the junk food snacks and the lack of needing to dress up like real adults, and also addresses the fact that we can’t really drink while we’re here, either. And that we had dinner at a diner tonight with the team, a place that has certainly never heard of the word tapas.”

Abbie’s cadence grew a little faster, seemingly both excited and hopeful? Like she was hoping Rose would see the vision, as she took a couple steps to the right and placed her foot on top of one of the balls.

“I know it isn’t something you’d likely imagined for any real dates. But I didn’t want to wait any more for us to have a first date. And…” Abbie trailed off sightly, some of her smile fading into a look that was so serious, so meaningful. Abbie kicked the ball very gently toward her, so it rolled to a perfectly timed stop right in front of Rose. “I think it might be good, for both of us. To have a night the way we might have, if this happened thirteen years ago.”

Rose looked around again, and her breath caught in her throat as Abbie’s words played in her ears. Yes. She could see the vision, very clearly.

If her circumstances had been entirely different, she could see it playing out.

She’d have still felt that rush with Abbie on the field, wanting them both to be the best. She could imagine that, given Abbie hadn’t lived on campus, that it could be very easy for them both to stay out on the field once everyone else had left to play together, to have junk snacks, and just be together.

She had Cassie. She’d had so much growth. She’d needed to have spent her twenties the way they’d played out, and she wouldn’t change them.

But this… indulging in a fantasy for this first date in the what-if about what could have happened for them in another world… it hit at something inside of Rose, something she’d never known existed. It made the backs of her eyes burn with the strength of an emotion that took her by surprise, and she had to blink them back.

“Oh, shit. I didn’t mean for this to stir up anything negative. I just, I’d thought…” Abbie trailed off, her eyes wide and concerned. “Let’s chalk this up to a mistake and plan to go on a date later this week. A normal date.”

“No,” the word fell from Rose’s lips, passionately.

God, no. She wasn’t going to give this up.

She lifted her foot and placed it on top of the ball, managing to take in a deep breath through the constriction of her throat. “We’re going to play. Like we would have back then.”

And right now, like this, as they stood to the side in a makeshift little field, illuminated by cheap lanterns, both of them wearing their coaching clothes, with a bag of vending machine snacks on the ground at their feet – 

Rose had never felt more romanced in her life.

Abbie’s hair blew around her jaw a bit in the breeze, and a tremulous smile slid over her face, and Rose had never seen someone look as enticing.

No, she’d certainly never had a date like this.

No, she didn’t actually know what she was doing, dating Abbie like this.

And right now, she wasn’t going to overthink anything else.  

She let it all go, and dribbled right past Abbie, easily shooting into the empty net.

Abbie whirled around, clearly aghast. “Cheater!”

“It’s not cheating; it’s strategy,” she defended, equally affronted. “You’re a literal Olympian,” she pointed out, jogging over to take another one of the balls. “And I’m not an idiot. I’m going to take my advantages where I can get them.”

She turned, already thinking of where Abbie would likely position herself near the goal – difficult, because this net was so much smaller than she’d ever played with against Abbie, but she’d figure it out.

Only to breathe out yelp in surprise, when Abbie was right there.

And that yelp turned into an offended gasp when Abbie stole the ball she’d just brought into their little game, kicking it through Rose’s feet and then brushing against Rose as she bypassed her.

She shivered at the feeling of Abbie’s body against hers, even as she dropped her hands to her hips and turned to face her. “What are you doing? Get in the goal, Lemon,” she demanded.

Abbie aimed a cheeky smile at her as she stood in place, doing bell taps. “It’s not a shootout, Rose. It’s a full-on one-on-one game.”

“Yeah? And you’re so confident about your skills one-on-one? Goalie?” She drawled, arching Abbie a look that was exaggeratedly skeptical. Designed to make Abbie start to doubt herself. A look that would have incensed Abbie, she knew, back in high school, because she’d aimed it at Abbie many times back then.

Now, Abbie only scoffed out a laugh, something low and rasping and competitive, and it lit Rose up inside. “I think I can handle my own.”

“Yeah?” Abbie breathed back, a gloriously teasing smile on her lips.

Rose’s own tingled in response, as she hummed her affirmation back.

And then she jumped into action – strategically – to get the drop on Abbie, whose eyes widened, and she managed to secure the ball as she dribbled around Rose.

As they played, time passed in the way that time had always passed during soccer for Rose. Unless they were in a game and she was on the clock, this had always been the time where everything else became background.

Where her parents didn’t matter. Her classes didn’t matter. The pressure of life didn’t matter.

All that mattered was what was right in front of her, and she was fucking good at it. That feeling thrummed through her veins, coming to life in a way she hadn’t felt in so long.

In… years.

Not since the last time she’d actually played. Even when she’d tried to score against Abbie during practices, it wasn’t the same as this. Not only because the team was there, but also because it was so structured. Literally goal-oriented.

This – this wasn’t.

This was ducking around Abbie and stealing the ball from between her feet. This was being proud as hell when she outmaneuvered her.

This was being frustrated – motivated to push herself harder – when Abbie managed to block many of her shots even when she wasn’t dedicatedly playing at the goal, but also so awed by Abbie. By her skill and her talent and her dedication.

This was feeling her heart race with both exertion as she ran from Abbie and also chased her, feeling herself shiver not from the chill in the air but because of all of their close-encounters.

She felt – wildly – like a version of herself she’d once had the potential to be. Before real life bore down on her.

And when she slid because of the dew on the grass and her lack of cleats, landing on her back and staring up at the night sky, she found that she couldn’t care.

She laid there, catching her breath, feeling so peaceful. In a way that she knew wouldn’t last – real life always had a way of making itself known – but… she found that, for once, she wasn’t braced for the end of this moment.

Especially not when Abbie appeared above her, concern etched into her expression.

Her cheeks were flushed with exertion much like Rose’s own and she’d pulled her shirt off as they’d been playing, leaving herself in just a sports bra so her literally perfect physique was on display. “Are you okay?” She asked, offering Rose a hand.

Rose reached up and grabbed it, feeling that buzzing sensation she always had when they touched… and before Abbie could haul her up, she tugged her down.

She knew, logically, that Abbie could have stopped herself from tumbling down next to her. Abbie’s strength and balance were impeccable. But she deeply appreciated that Abbie didn’t put up any opposition, and laid in the grass at Rose’s side. Shoulder to shoulder.

Abbie tsked. “Pulling me down like that? What a cheap shot,” she teased.

Rose turned her head, her breath catching in her throat when she realized Abbie was already looking at her. So closely, so intensely.

And she couldn’t help herself, even though she knew they were in public and their team was just inside the building, with windows that faced out at them. Even though she knew she’d made a promise to herself not to be the one making any moves this weekend.

She couldn’t help it because Abbie was right here, brushing against her, and it was – technically – their first date.

She reached up the arm she’d had laying between them, her fingers trembling slightly with anticipation, as she skated her fingertips ever so lightly over Abbie’s bare, toned stomach.

The heat that sparked through her, lacing through her veins like molten lava, was instantaneous.

“And… you think this wasn’t a cheap shot?” She managed to rasp out.

She felt Abbie’s stomach flex under her hand on a strangled laugh. “No,” Abbie defended, weakly. “I was hot.”

“Mhmm,” Rose hummed in agreement, pushing herself up onto her elbows so she could have a clear view down at Abbie’s body. “I can see that.”

So fucking hot.

Like, mind-meltingly hot.

The long, deep breath that she took in through her nose and breathed slowly out through her mouth did absolutely nothing to stem the tide of desire inside of her.

They were out in public laying in the grass.

They were taking things slowly.

And Rose…

She was about thirty seconds away from not being able to have any of the self-control she’d painstakingly cultivated over her life. Especially not as she felt Abbie’s stomach under her hand – when had she pressed her entire palm down against Abbie like this? She had no memory of doing so, but it wasn’t just her fingertips touching Abbie anymore – expand with her own long, deep inhale.

Abbie swiftly sat up, her breathing a little heavier as well, as she blindly reached out toward the bag of vending machine goods, and retrieved a bottle of Gatorade.

Rose – god, all she could do was stare at the long line of Abbie’s throat as she tilted her head back to drink.

And then when Abbie handed her the bottle, she deliberately drank from the same spot, teasing herself.

The liquid wasn’t really chilled the same way it had been when she’d gotten it from the machine, but compared to how hot she felt from inside out, it was something. Kind of.

Right about now, she needed to take that and run with it.

“So,” Abbie started, bracing her hands behind herself as she leaned back, looking at Rose. “Give me some first-date conversation.”

Rose paused as she lowered the Gatorade bottle to her side, frowning at her. “What does that even mean?”

It really was only in this moment that she thought about her genuine lack of dating experience, in relation to Abbie. Yes, she’d had some nerves when it had come to that date with Jennifer, but… Jennifer was largely inconsequential. Rose had known that wasn’t going to be serious. If she made a major faux pas, then – so be it.

But she really couldn’t do that with Abbie. Couldn’t.

She’d been a woman married and divorced, but the stakes for her had never been higher than they were on this first date, where Abbie was opening a bag of chips from the vending machine, as they sat in a patch of grass, still a little sweaty from having been chasing one another.

Abbie shrugged, chewing thoughtfully before answering, “Anything you’d like to tell me about yourself.”

Rose frowned, deeply. What could she share with Abbie that she didn’t already know? “You know me, though,” she pointed out, exasperatedly.

Abbie offered her the bag of chips. “Yes, I do. I know all of the big things, I know Nathan, I know Cassie. I know the heavy things, I know your past.” She focused on Rose, and that was the thing about Abbie, wasn’t it? Her tone was light, but her gaze was deep and probing. “Tell me something fun. Tell me where you want to travel in the future. Or about your favorite place you’ve traveled to in the past. Tell me what your ideal Saturday would be. Tell me what your stance is on pets.”

Was that normal first-date conversation? Interesting. Considering she’d only ever had one – with Jennifer, and that had centered around a lot… blander conversation topics, discussing in vague detail about their careers and how they’d gotten to where they were now. Nathan didn’t really count; they’d never done “traditional” first dates – she was fascinated.

But Abbie had a hell of a lot more dating experience than she did.

“I want to travel… anywhere,” she murmured, looking around them, before centering back on Abbie, feeling that strange anxious/exhilaration that came with being vulnerable filter through her. “I’ve been to most of Europe when I was young, but – if you can imagine – they weren’t fun-filled times.”

Abbie scoffed out an understanding laugh at Rose’s wry tone.

“And, with Nathan – well, we were both getting master’s degrees, and then I was pregnant with Cassie, and…” She trailed off with a shrug, and a light sigh. Feeling – she didn’t even know, really. She couldn’t tell what this was. Regret? Guilt? Guilt for not having been able to enjoy her life, like really enjoy it, with her husband and child? She’d wrestled with this for a very long time, and even though it was over now, that feeling didn’t go away easily.

Abbie’s hand came to rest on hers, her fingertips gently stroking over the back of her hand, and it worked like a salve, soothing over those disquieting feelings.

She cleared her throat. “An ideal Saturday…” She turned to look at Abbie, head-on. “Would probably be with you. At my house. Not going out anywhere.”

Heat filtered through her, imagining the many ways they could pass the time.

She shook her head slightly, even as her lips curled into a knowing smile at the flush on Abbie’s cheeks.

“Or going out everywhere.” Because, frankly, both of those options sounded very appealing to her, in a way it never had before. She’d always liked her privacy, and she still did.

But – god – picturing herself out with Abbie felt so much more appealing than any other outing ever had.

“Taking Cassie to a game,” she continued, another, softer smile tugging at her lips. “You, joining us in our art studio time.”

“All really good options,” Abbie’s genuine excitement filtered through her voice, was evident in her expression.

Rose arched a look at her. “Yeah? Is that normal to say to someone on a first date?”

Rose didn’t have much dating experience, but she knew that if someone said that to her – someone that wasn’t Abbie – she’d have alarm bells ringing.

Abbie’s laugh was full-bodied, echoing through the air around them, as she interlaced their fingers together. “You make a great point.” She sobered slightly, running her eyes over Rose’s face. “Now, pets?” She prompted.

Shaking her head, Rose tilted her head in consideration. “I don’t really know; I’ve never had any. Cassie really wants a dog or a cat.”

“Me, too,” Abbie immediately affirmed.

She arched her a look. “No way,” she drawled. “You? I can’t believe it.”

Abbie squeezed her hand in retribution. “Assuming you’re not a hard no on it, Cassie and I might have to gang up on you one day.”

One day. Wasn’t that insane? Her heart skipped a beat at the latent hopeful promise in those words.

“One day, maybe you will.”

***

Rose, honestly, could have stayed out there all night.

Unfortunately, they did have another early morning in which they’d be in charge of their team, and would hopefully be coaching them toward a tournament win.

So by the time her watch informed her that it was ten-thirty, they’d cleaned up and were making their way back to their room.

And Rose felt ridiculous because she and Abbie were literally sharing a room, but the closer they came to their door, the closer they came to the official end of their “first date.”

With that in mind, she took a deep breath, and said something that had been on her mind for months, now. “Lemon?”

“Hmm?” Abbie hummed back, leaning in to brush their shoulders together. They’d stopped holding hands when they’d gotten into the elevator, and Rose missed the contact.

“I know that you came back to Boston because of your mom’s health, and I am not happy about that,” she swore.

“I’m very intrigued as to where this is going,” Abbie mused, her gait slowing as they walked closer and closer to their door.

“But I have to tell you that I… I am so grateful. I’m sorry that it comes at the expense of your early retirement and your life getting thrown into disarray. I just…” She trailed off, not even sure of where she was going with this.

Just knowing it had been something that had occurred to her multiple times since Abbie had come back into her life. It was the best thing that could have ever happened to Rose, but she was very conscientious that Abbie was only here because of – as she’d mentioned last night – circumstances that had been so very out of her control.

“You know, something I’ve been thinking about a lot – especially today – is that… if I’d ended up coming back here in a couple of years, if nothing had gone off-course for me, and then we’d found ourselves in this situation – both at Elliston,” Abbie clarified. “And you were already fully divorced, and you were living as an out lesbian, and in a relationship with another woman–”

Rose couldn’t help but snort, incredulously, at the picture Abbie was painting.

Abbie shot her a look that was entirely serious. “You definitely would have been, by that point. Because as soon as you’d be ready for something serious, you’d find yourself no longer single.”

Abbie sounded very certain of that fact, which made a little pleased thrill shoot through her.

It seemed Abbie could see her skepticism, because she nodded even without Rose saying anything to refute it. “You would. You’re gorgeous, you’re incredibly intelligent, you’re passionate, you’re funny – I could go on, but the whole point is: you’re a catch, Rose Elliston. And we both know that.”

Her heart beat faster in her chest, even as she shook her head. “I’m not arguing with those points. But I also come with a child and… a bit of an attitude.”

“Lesbians love that,” Abbie waved away immediately.

Another laugh burst out from Rose’s lips, this time of sheer delight.

“Anyway, as I was saying,” Abbie re-directed. “If that were the case… as soon as all of our past misconceptions were cleared up, I would be so fucking jealous. I, seriously, don’t know how I would make peace with the fact that you’ve become this – this incredible person. And that I wouldn’t get to experience it with you.”

That raw, genuine vulnerability in her voice made Rose’s breath leave her lungs in a rush.

Now, their hotel door couldn’t be in front of them fast enough.

She grabbed the key card from Abbie’s hand and hastily walked to the door, unlocking it, as she shot an expectant stare at Abbie.

Who was giving her a confused look in return.

“There’s a flaw in this imaginary future plan you have,” she stated, firmly, as Abbie reached her.

“Oh yeah?” Abbie challenged.

And for the first time in days, it was Rose who took Abbie by surprise.

Grabbing her by the hand, she shoved their door open and pulled Abbie in, before firmly closing it. Using her hold on Abbie, she pushed her back up against the door so Abbie’s back was pressed against it.

She wasted no time in pressing herself firmly against Abbie, tilting her jaw up so she could feel Abbie’s hot breath on her lips, her jaw. “Even if everything you said was true – if you walked back into my life and expressed an interest, I’d break up with that woman.”

With that, she pushed up onto her tiptoes and brought her mouth to Abbie’s.

It had been such a long day without this.

She’d only had Abbie, romantically, for a few days, but she was already accustomed to this. No, she wasn’t completely used to this reality or the sensation of Abbie’s mouth on hers, but – she’d been given access to what she’d wanted more than anything in the fucking world. There was no shutting that door, anymore.

She groaned, a sound she couldn’t control if she’d tried, into Abbie’s mouth, tunneling one of her hands into her soft hair, rolling her hips into Abbie’s.

That, too, was uncontrollable.

She knew she’d made her whole plan or promise or whatever – that Abbie had to be the one to come to her to decide it was time to have sex. And she still stood by that. She did.

But hell if she couldn’t stop herself from doing this, either.

And Abbie wasn’t stopping her.

She kissed Rose back with the same fierce passion, the same wanting heat, like she couldn’t get enough, either. She breathed out these little sounds that Rose felt vibrate against her lips as she swallowed them.

She used that hand she had fisted in Abbie’s hair to tug – hard – tilting Abbie’s head back, so she could place greedy, hot, open-mouthed kisses down her skin, teasingly dragging her teeth against her, and she throbbed with need.

“Even if I’d been happy with this mysterious woman,” she muttered darkly against Abbie, before nipping a bite into the side of her throat, eliciting a gasp. “I could never pass this up, Abbie.”

Didn’t Abbie know by now? Didn’t she understand?

Could she – could anyone – understand?

Abbie’s hands tightened on her, the strength in her grasp making Rose arch even harder into her.

“It wouldn’t be right to be with someone else when I would always wonder,” she growled out, laving her tongue over Abbie’s pulse point. Feeling the way her heartbeat was hammering, being able to literally feel this effect she had on Abbie… it was the headiest, most arousing experience in the fucking world.

And then she bit her again, feeling Abbie’s hips jerk against hers.

“And don’t even get me started on how I’d feel when you met someone,” she finished, releasing Abbie, placing a lingering kiss to that spot she’d dug her teeth into.

She could vaguely see this alternate universe that Abbie had created in the back of her mind. And it would be messy, it wouldn’t be healthy in the least. But why would she pretend it would happen any other way?

She would never, in any scenario, turn Abbie down. Assuming she wasn’t married to that woman, she’d break up with her pretty much the day Abbie would have walked back into her life.

Rose didn’t think of herself as a bad person. But the truth was, she didn’t have the same morals and ethics that Abbie did, and when it came to Abbie… well, all bets were off.

“Oh my god,” Abbie moaned out, in a sound that was so desperate, it made Rose’s clit throb.

Gathering every single ounce of control she had, Rose slapped both of her hands against the door. And pushed herself off of Abbie so they weren’t touching.

She felt completely wrecked. Her nipples were hard, she’d completely soaked through her underwear.

Abbie looked the same way. Her eyes looked heavily lidded and her cheeks were pink and her lips were wet, and she was still leaned back against the door like she couldn’t move.

Rose might forsake just about any other romantic partner for Abbie, in some other universe. But she would respect Abbie and her boundaries.

She ground her teeth together, closing her eyes. “I… am going to take a shower.”

A very cold shower.

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