On the Fly Read online

  “I was having the same problem,” Lana admitted with a sigh. “It wasn’t the same listening to your games on the radio knowing I wouldn’t be seeing you afterward.”

  “I’m glad I took the chance to see you tonight.”

  “Me too,” Lana said, and she couldn’t help herself. She leaned closer and pressed her lips to Court’s. She resisted deepening the kiss, but when she pulled back, she saw her own desire reflected in Court’s beautiful blue eyes. There was a storm brewing there, and it was all Lana could do to keep from ripping her clothes off right there on the couch. “I really missed this too.”

  “I should go,” Court said, trying to extricate herself from Lana, but Lana held tight to her. “Unless you want your son to walk in on us here on the couch.”

  “No, that would be bad.” Lana stood and pulled Court with her. “So I think we should go to my room.”

  “Are you sure?” Court looked nervous as she glanced down the hall where Eric’s room was. Lana thought she looked adorable.

  “He’s not a child,” Lana told her. She began walking toward the other end of the house pulling Court along with her. “And he already knows we’ve spent the night together before, so yeah, I’m sure. Unless you don’t want to stay.”

  Court stopped walking and pulled on Lana’s hand until she turned and Court pressed her body against hers. Lana’s arms went around Court’s neck.

  “Do you doubt I want to be here with you?”

  “No, I can see in your eyes how much you do want to be here.” Lana smiled when she felt Court’s hands move across her hips and down to cup her ass. “Not here, exactly, but maybe in my bed. Naked.”

  “You never told me you were a mind reader,” Court said. She picked her up and Lana wrapped her legs around her waist.

  “I need to have some secrets, don’t I?”

  “I suppose a little bit of mystery can be a good thing.”

  Lana held onto her like she never wanted to let her go as Court carried her into the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them.

  * * *

  Court slowly came awake when the aroma of cooking bacon reached her nose. She smiled and stretched, surprised to find Lana was still in bed with her, curled up along her side. She rolled over to face her, brushing the hair away from her eyes before pressing her lips to Lana’s forehead. Lana stirred and moaned as she threw an arm over Court and opened her eyes.

  “I like waking up with you,” she mumbled.

  “I thought you were already awake.”

  “What?” Lana raised up on an elbow and squinted down at her.

  “You didn’t start breakfast?” Court started to panic. She’d fully intended to be up and gone before Eric was awake, but it looked now like she’d missed her opportunity.

  “Oh, shit,” Lana said, looking wide-awake now. She threw the covers back and jumped out of bed, searching frantically for something to put on. “Shit, shit, shit.”

  “I knew I should have gone home last night,” Court said, following suit. She pulled her jeans on and reached for the T-shirt she’d tossed on the floor the night before. “He’s going to be pissed, isn’t he?”

  “Wait, what?” Lana asked, grabbing Court’s arm and pulling her around to face her. “Eric is going to be fine with you still being here, I’m sure. My parents, on the other hand…”

  “What?” Court said, her voice cracking. “Your parents? Here?”

  “They’ll be here soon,” Lana said with a quick glance at the clock on her bedside table. “I can’t believe I forgot they were coming for breakfast this morning.”

  “I should get out of here before they arrive,” Court said, trying to put her shirt on, which was a little difficult since Lana wasn’t letting go of her arm.

  “No, it would look so much worse if you were doing the walk of shame.” Lana stared at her, looking as though she were a deer caught in the headlights. Court pulled her into an embrace. “If you’re already here, it will just seem like you came over for breakfast.”

  “You said you came out to them years ago, right?” Court asked, trying to rack her brain to remember what Lana had told her.

  “Yes, and they’ve never been happy about it. I’ve never introduced them to anyone before.” Lana pulled away so they could both finish getting dressed.

  “Don’t worry,” Court said, attempting to lighten the mood. “Parents love me.”

  “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but for them, you’re just a friend, okay?” Lana’s look pleaded with Court, and all Court could do was nod. She’d do anything for Lana.

  “Yeah, okay,” she said.

  “Thank you.” Lana gave her a quick kiss on the lips before rushing to the bathroom to try to tame her hair. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

  Court grinned, thinking of all the ways she could accomplish that. After a moment, she hurried to follow Lana, knowing she had sex hair as well. There was no way anyone would believe she just dropped in for breakfast with her hair looking like it did.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Court watched in amusement as Lana listened at the door and finally determined her parents weren’t there yet. She shoved Court out of the bedroom and told her she’d be right behind her. Court started walking down the hall, but then found herself wondering how she was going to face Eric on her own. She stopped and turned back toward the bedroom, but Lana had closed the door again.

  “You can do this,” she whispered to herself. She took a deep breath and walked the remaining distance to the kitchen. Eric had his back to her, and she watched him for a moment as he cooked. “Good morning.”

  “Hey,” he said, turning to face her. He grinned at her, and she felt her face heat up, knowing he knew exactly why she was still there this morning. “I take it you slept well?”

  “You don’t seem surprised to see me.”

  “I’m not,” he said with a shrug. He turned back to the stove and removed the pan with the bacon in it. “Your car is still in the driveway, and you weren’t on the couch, so I assumed you were with my mom.”

  “She’s a mind reader, and you’re a detective,” Court said, amused.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” She pulled a chair out from the table and took a seat to watch him. “Do you cook a lot?”

  “Just breakfast on Sundays,” he answered, coming to sit with her. She noticed he appeared to be a little nervous now too. “Listen, you know my grandparents are coming, right?”

  “Yeah, your mother told me.”

  “And she’s okay with you being here?”

  Court was wondering how to answer when Lana walked into the kitchen and saved her.

  “I figured it was better for her to be here than for them to pull in while she’s walking out of the house,” Lana said. She went to the coffee pot and poured herself a cup. Court watched her as she grabbed a second cup and filled it too before coming and sitting with them.

  “Ah,” Eric said with a nod and a knowing smile. “The walk of shame.”

  “Excuse me?” Lana asked, her mouth dropping open. “What do you know about it?”

  “I don’t know, movies maybe?” he laughed. “Relax, Mom. I don’t know about it from experience.”

  “Good.”

  Court jumped when the doorbell rang. Lana grabbed her hand and gave it a quick squeeze and a reassuring smile when Court looked at her. Court didn’t move as Lana went to answer the door, wondering briefly if she had the time to sneak out the back door.

  “Whose car is in the driveway, dear?” Lana’s mother asked.

  “Yeah, sis, whose car is out there?” Joey gave her a grin and a wink as she hung up everyone’s coats.

  Lana was still shocked every time she saw how frail her father looked. He’d been a strong man while she was growing up, and to see him sick and gaunt like this was a little heartbreaking to her. She backhanded Joey in the gut as she led them all into the kitchen.

  “Mom, Dad, this is a friend of mine, Courtney Abbott,” L
ana said, noticing the look of distaste on her mother’s face. Her father however, surprised her.

  “Courtney Abbott? The hockey player?” he asked. He walked over to her and held his hand out, which Court took without hesitation. He looked at Joey. “Isn’t she the one you wanted to do our commercial?”

  “It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Court said with what looked to Lana to be an uncomfortable smile. Court looked at her mother and nodded once. “And you too, ma’am.”

  “You follow hockey?” Lana asked her father, a little surprised he knew who Court was.

  “Who in this town doesn’t know Courtney Abbott?” he asked with a shrug. He turned to Court then. “Call me Tony, please.”

  “Okay, Tony,” Court said, sounding amused. “You can call me Court. And I’m sorry, but what was that you mentioned about a commercial?”

  Lana went to help Eric finish with the breakfast while Joey and her mother went to join Court and her father at the table.

  “Your friend?” Eric asked, nudging her in the ribs.

  “Don’t judge me,” she said as she cracked open an egg.

  “Grandpa seems taken with her.”

  Lana looked over her shoulder toward the table and was happy to see Court laughing at something her father said. One of his jokes, no doubt. She shook her head.

  “Yeah, he does.”

  “Grandma seems wary, though.”

  “Because she doesn’t believe Court’s just a friend. She’s suspicious by nature.”

  “I’m happy you and Court worked things out,” he said after a few moments of silence. “I really like her.”

  “So do I,” Lana said with a sigh. Maybe too much.

  * * *

  After breakfast, Court insisted on helping Eric with the dishes, so Lana went to the living room with her parents and Joey. Now that they were away from Court, her mother apparently couldn’t wait to get right to it.

  “She’s a friend, you said?”

  “Yes, Mother,” Lana answered, knowing this was coming but having hoped it would be another day rather than right this minute.

  “How good a friend?” The look her mother gave her let her know she already knew the answer to the question, but she was challenging Lana to lie to her about it. Luckily, her father saved her from having to, much to Lana’s surprise.

  “Maria, stop,” he said, a hand waving in the air. “What Lana does in the privacy of her own home is none of your business.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing,” he said. “Does she ask us about our sex life?”

  Lana watched in horror as her mother’s face turned an alarming shade of red. She almost burst out laughing when Joey snickered next to her. Instead she slapped his thigh and gave him her best dirty look.

  “Tony,” her mother said in admonishment.

  “What?” he asked. He turned his attention to Lana and smiled as he reached for her hand. “I like her, Lana. You could do a lot worse.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” she managed to say around the lump in her throat. She hadn’t called him that since she’d been about ten years old. The tear he wiped from his eye let her know he was well aware of the fact also.

  “I’m proud of the woman you’ve become,” he said quietly. “And you’ve raised a good son. Or should I say a good young man. You should be proud of him.”

  “I am, thank you,” she said, not trusting herself to say any more. Joey took her hand and smiled at her. It wasn’t lost on Lana that Joey had been right when he told her their father seemed to be coming around. She smiled at Joey too. “And thank you.”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  April came fast. The Warriors were in the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year, and Court was playing better than she had during her Olympic years. Jen Hilton stayed out of her way, and Court had to admit Hilton’s game play had improved, as had her attitude.

  Eric was excited for the draft and had talked of little else for the three weeks leading up to it. Lana’s entire family was gathered at her house for the event, which took place over the internet. Nothing flashy like the NHL or NFL drafts held every year, but it didn’t seem to bother anyone.

  Eric was sitting on the couch with the laptop on the coffee table in front of him, looking for all the world like he was going to jump right out of his skin. Court took a seat next to him and put her arm around his shoulders.

  “Have you eaten anything?” she asked.

  “I can’t.” He sat back and placed a hand over his stomach as he grimaced. “I think I’d just throw it up again.”

  Court laughed and clapped him on the back. She knew what he was feeling. Not on the same scale, of course, because while she’d always hoped to someday make it to the pros, she’d always known in the back of her mind it would never happen. But she remembered waiting on the edge of her seat for the call from Team USA to let her know whether or not she’d made the team the first time.

  At Christmas, Eric had been sure he was going to go early in the draft. During the time when she and Lana weren’t seeing each other anymore though, his play had suffered as he’d let his mother’s misery rest squarely on his shoulders. His team didn’t win a single game in the playoffs, and he’d been benched for his poor play. As a result, his stock in the draft dropped sharply.

  “You’ll be fine, Eric,” she told him. “Even if, for some reason, you don’t get drafted today, you’ll still be fine. You know that, right? You’re talented, and you’re only sixteen. You can still sign with a team without being drafted too.”

  “Yeah, I know.” He spared a quick glance her way, obviously not wanting to take his eyes off the computer screen for long even though the draft wouldn’t start for another ten minutes. “Mom already told me all of that. But thanks. It means a lot coming from you.”

  She squeezed his shoulder before standing to go find Lana in the kitchen. She was getting chips and crackers and other snack items for everyone to munch on as they waited for Eric’s name to be called. Or not.

  “Hey,” Court said as she took a seat at the table.

  “Hey.” Lana gave her a genuine smile, and it warmed Court’s heart. She didn’t think she’d ever get tired of having Lana smile at her like that. “Thank you for being here today.”

  “There’s nowhere I’d rather be,” Court assured her. Lana’s family was in the living room, but Court found herself wishing they were alone in the house. In fact, she’d found herself wanting to be alone with Lana quite often lately, and although she knew she should be trying to slow things down in anticipation of Lana’s impending departure, she had no desire to do it.

  Lana pressed a hand to her stomach and shook her head, looking a lot like Eric had a few minutes earlier. “I’m so nervous for him. He’s going to be devastated if he doesn’t get drafted.”

  Court went to her and pulled her into a hug. Lana’s arms went around her waist and she rested her head on Court’s shoulder.

  “He’ll be fine, and so will you,” she said, smoothing her hands along Lana’s back and pressing a kiss to her temple. “It wouldn’t be the end of the world if he doesn’t get picked today, you know.”

  “Easy for you to say.” Lana chuckled but didn’t let go. “You won’t have to deal with him all summer if he doesn’t get drafted.”

  Court tried not to react to her words, but it was obvious Lana had felt something shift in her body language. She leaned back in Court’s arms and searched her eyes.

  “Don’t go quiet on me now, Courtney Court. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

  “I’m thinking I don’t want you to go.” Court swallowed hard and tried to pull away from her, but Lana refused to let go. She looked away, not wanting Lana to see what she knew she couldn’t hide for much longer. Court was in love with her, and she wanted Lana to change her mind about moving back to Chicago. But she knew she could never ask that of her. She shook her head. “Totally selfish of me, I know. Forget I said anything.”

  “Hey,” Lana said, cupping her chin and for
cing Court to look at her. She gave her a sad smile, and Court returned it. “I can’t forget it. I don’t think I’ll ever forget anything about you, Court. You’ve touched a place in me I didn’t know existed. Because of you, I know now that I can make a relationship work.”

  “Just not with me, right?” Court asked, immediately regretting the words and her tone of voice. She sounded like a whiny little bitch, and she hated herself for it. Lana pulled away from her then and leaned against the counter, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

  “I think you did,” Lana said with a nod. “Why are you doing this, Court? We talked about it from the beginning. You knew I’d be leaving. You can’t ask me to stay.”

  “I’m not, Lana, but does that mean I can’t even say I want you to?” Court asked. When Lana simply continued to stare, Court sighed and leaned against the counter too. “I said I knew it was selfish, but I was feeling it, so I said it. I know you’re leaving. Believe me, the thought’s never left my mind. It doesn’t mean I can’t want things to be different.”

  “If I didn’t have a position I worked long and hard for waiting for me back in Chicago, maybe things could be different. But you know, it’s not like there’s another orchestra here I could join.” Lana shook her head, and Court had the distinct feeling she’d had this argument before. Maybe with her brother? Or perhaps her mother? Or maybe just with herself. “I’ll be leaving in a few weeks. Maybe it’s time to put the brakes on here.”

  “That’s not what I want,” Court said, shaking her head. She wasn’t above begging, but she knew instinctually Lana wouldn’t respond well to it, so she refrained.

  “I don’t either, but I don’t want saying good-bye to be any harder than it’s going to be already,” Lana said. Court thought she saw sadness in her eyes, but figured she was only seeing what she wanted to see.