by Radclyffe
“I think it’s something only Gina can fix,” Carrie murmured. “I’m just not sure she believes she can.”
*****
When Carrie got to the ball field, Gina’s truck wasn’t in the parking lot. By the time she finished her warm-up pitches with Harper, Gina was on the field running batting practice with her team. Carrie set the disappointment aside. She had a game to pitch.
The Hammers had come to play after dropping a game the afternoon before. Their hitters were hitting and their fielders seemed to be everywhere at once, scooping up ground balls and making impossible throws, snagging fly balls that ought to have been out of the park and generally shutting down the Rivers’s lineup. Carrie pitched all nine innings, going a dozen pitches more than she probably should have, but she’d given up three runs and was one run down. She held them at that but needed a miracle to get the win. Chana Clark, their left fielder, finally saved her when she hit a triple with two runners on base and drove in the winning runs for them. At the end of four games, they were all tied up, two games each.
The teams lined up for the postgame shake before they took a break between games.
“Good luck next game,” Carrie said when she reached Gina.
“You too,” Gina said. Her gaze lingered on Carrie’s, the weight of the words unspoken between them hanging in the air.
No invitation for the winner to buy dinner this time.
Carrie felt the press of the rest of the team moving along the line behind her. She stepped out of the way and backtracked to where Gina stood by her bench.
“Gina,” Carrie said.
Gina turned, a quick smile lighting her eyes. “Hey.”
“Dinner later?” Carrie paused. “No strings.”
“Is that really what you want?” Gina asked.
Carrie didn’t care who was listening. “No. Not even a little bit, but if that’s what works for now, I’m good with it.”
“I’m not so sure I am.” Gina shrugged. “The strings part, that is.”
“Is that a yes, then?” Carrie grinned when Gina nodded, and just like that, the cloud she’d been wrapped in disappeared. “See you later, then.”
Carrie sprinted back to her bench, and Harper tossed her an ice pack. “You’re done.”
“Maybe—”
“No way. I was counting pitches, and you’re over your limit.” Harper laughed. “But we needed that win.”
“I know. They’re on fire today.”
“You’re sitting out this one and the next couple of games.” Harper held up a finger when Carrie started to protest. “No arguing.”
“Yes, Coach,” Carrie said with a sigh.
“Good.” Harper frowned as Abby jumped down from the bleachers and hurried their way with a worried frown creasing her face. “Hey, Abs. Something wrong?”
“Where’s Joe? I need to talk to him right away.”
“I think he went to fill the water cooler,” Carrie said.
“I’ll get him,” Harper said and jogged away.
“Thanks. I’ll be over at the other bench.”
Stomach roiling, Carrie watched as Abby signaled to Gina, and Joe sprinted across the field to join them. Seconds later, all three of them ran toward the parking lot. Instinctively, Carrie followed. Something was wrong if Gina was leaving. When she reached the lot, Gina’s truck flew past in a cloud of dust. Watching her go, Carrie’s heart sank.
She started back to the ball field when the sound of an engine braking hard pulled her around. Gina’s truck reversed with a screech and slammed to a halt a few feet away. Carrie ran through the swirling dust and bits of shredded grass and yanked open the passenger door.
“Gina?”
Gina held out a shaking hand. “Can you come? It’s my dad.”
Chapter Twenty-seven
As soon as Carrie slammed the door, Gina floored the gas and fishtailed the truck across the dirt track toward the highway. Carrie grabbed for her seat belt.
“Do you want me to drive?” Carrie asked quietly.
Gina shot her a look, glanced down at the speedometer and, bracing both hands on the wheel, sucked in a long breath. “Sorry. No.” She eased off on the gas, staring straight ahead. “Sorry. You must think I’m crazy.”
“No, of course not. I’m glad I’m here.” Carrie leaned as close as she could and settled her hand on Gina’s thigh. “What happened?”
Gina briefly covered Carrie’s hand before gripping the wheel with white-knuckled hands.
“Mari was on call,” Gina said, her voice flat and, if Carrie hadn’t known better, emotionless. Nothing could be less true. She was nothing but emotion—her body vibrated with pent-up tension. “He collapsed at the office. Thankfully, one of our crew was right there picking up his check, and he called 9-1-1.” She grimaced. “That’s all I know.”
“He’s got the best people taking care of him now.” Carrie swallowed back the platitudes and other reassurances she knew wouldn’t help, as much as she craved some way to comfort her.
“That’s what I keep telling myself.” Gina’s jaw tightened. She took the corner onto the main road into town on two wheels and instantly slowed again. “Damn it. This is our fault.”
“Whose fault?”
“Mine, Joe’s.” Gina bit off the words as if they had a bitter taste. “My dad told us he had to go in for tests. Some kind of irregularity with his heart. We didn’t push him and now this happens.”
“He couldn’t be in a better place right now.” Carrie didn’t argue. Even trying to rationalize with her was pointless and, more importantly, not what Gina needed. Right now, Gina just needed help holding her fear at bay. Carrie rubbed her palm up and down Gina’s thigh, fighting her own sense of helplessness. She wanted to do more than comfort her—she wanted to stand between Gina and anything that threatened to hurt her. She’d never felt like much of a warrior, but she was ready to go to battle now. “Let’s trust Abby and Mari and the others, okay?”
Gina turned onto the road up to the hospital and glanced quickly at Carrie. “I trust you.”
Carrie smiled and forced a calm she didn’t feel. “Then trust me on this one. Absolutely everything that needs to be done will be done.”
Gina pulled in to the ER lot and braked so quickly, Carrie rocked forward against her seat belt. Gina grabbed her hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, fine. Where do you want me to wait?” Carrie said.
Gina met her gaze, and nothing shielded the pain and uncertainty riding her. “I want you to come with me. Can you?”
Carrie released her seat belt. “Absolutely.”
Gina jumped out and Carrie hurried to join her. Gina grasped her hand again, and they ran across the lot to the double doors of the ER. When they hurried inside, Joe, standing in the hall outside the waiting room where he could watch the entrance and corridor to the main treatment area, was the first person Carrie saw.
“Anything?” Gina called.
Joe shook his head, his gaze taking them both in, lingering for a second on their joined hands. His grim expression lightened a little. “Abby’s back there now. They wouldn’t let me go back.” He ran a hand through his hair, making the sweat-dampened locks curl along the back of his neck in an unintentionally attractive fashion. “I understand why they’re keeping me out, but it’s making me crazy.”
Gina released Carrie’s hand and squeezed Joe’s arm. His distress seemed to have the opposite effect on hers, and the rigid set of her shoulders softened. “Abby and Mari are back there. They’ll handle it.”
“Yeah, I know.”
A tall woman in a pale blue shirt and casual dark pants appeared beside Joe. Carrie didn’t need an introduction to know who she was. Carrie’s stomach fluttered. Gina’s mother was nearly Joe’s height, her dark shoulder-length hair shot through with silver and worn loose, her face strong featured, her eyes sharp and penetrating. Her focus landed on Gina and Carrie and stayed there, as commanding as if she’d laid a hand on Carrie’s shoulder.
/> Gina said, “Mom, this is Carrie.”
Gina’s mother nodded. “The picnic girl.”
Carrie stepped forward and held out her hand. She’d faced worse appraisals and had every reason to be sure of herself now. She was there for Gina. “Yes, among other things. I’m Carrie Longmire. I’m very happy to meet you, although I wish it wasn’t under these circumstances.”
“We can’t always pick our times, can we?” Gina’s mother’s hand was firm and steady. “I’m Jeanne Antonelli. Gina should have brought you to dinner before this.”
“Thank you,” Carrie said softly, “I definitely enjoyed the chicken.”
“We’ll talk about that,” Jeanne said.
“Mom!” A nearly identical version of Gina with longer hair and a fuller body came charging through the ER entrance toward them. “What’s happening?”
“Your father had an episode at the office,” Jeanne said to Gina’s sister. “We don’t know yet exactly what it is.” She looked sharply from Joe to Gina. “Do we?”
Joe straightened, but Gina spoke first. “He didn’t say anything to you, did he?”
Gina’s mother’s eyes narrowed. “No, but I knew there was something. He told you?”
Carrie backed up a little bit, separating herself to give them privacy, although none of them appeared to care that she was there. Gina had brought her, and apparently, that was enough.
“He said he had to go in for some tests soon,” Gina said. “He didn’t let on how serious it was, or maybe he didn’t know.”
Joe finally found his voice. “And he said he was going to tell you.”
Jeanne drew in a breath and nodded once. “Well, I’ll take that up with him a little bit later.”
The Gina look-alike finally noticed Carrie and smiled, a question in her eyes. “Hi, I’m Angie.”
“Carrie,” Carrie said, holding out her hand. “I’m—”
“She’s with me,” Gina said.
She’s with me.
Those seemed to be the magic words, as Angie immediately turned to Joe and peppered him with questions. Gina swayed and braced her arm against the wall. Carrie quickly moved to her side and stroked her back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gina’s mother and sister watching her. She didn’t move her hand.
“Hey,” she said quietly, “you could use something to eat and drink. Probably everyone else can too.”
Gina, dark circles already forming under her eyes, shook her head. “I don’t think I could eat anything.”
“Then at least have something to drink. Why don’t you get your mother to sit awhile, and I’ll go to the cafeteria and find some sandwiches and drinks.”
“You’re not leaving yet, are you?”
“No. Not as long as you need me.”
Gina’s smile was grim. “I don’t think you have any idea what that might mean.”
“Oh, I think I do.” Carrie gestured toward the waiting room. “Go ahead. I’ll be right back.”
Joe, standing nearby, must’ve overheard, because he said quickly, “I’ll go with you.” He glanced at Gina. “Text me if Abby comes back.”
“Okay.”
When they were out of earshot of the family, Carrie said, “How serious is it, do you think?”
Joe grimaced. “I don’t have any idea. When my father told me and Gina he needed some tests, he pretty much downplayed the situation, and we didn’t push.”
Carrie squeezed his arm. “Hey, parents are adults, remember. And they never listen to their kids, even when we’re adults too.”
He sighed. “Oh yeah, I know. But it’s hard not to beat yourself up.”
“Believe me, I understand. I would probably do the same thing in your place.”
“It’s probably none of my business—no, as a matter of fact, it’s definitely none of my business—but I’m glad you’re here with Gina.”
“I am too.”
“She told you, didn’t she.”
“Joe,” Carrie said gently, mindful of protecting Gina’s privacy, “you can trust your sister. She’s a lot stronger than you might think.”
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I’m meddling, and I shouldn’t be, but I love her, you know.”
“Yes, well, she’s very special.”
He shot her a look and a little of the tension left his face. “That’s real good, then.”
Yes, Carrie thought, it is.
When Carrie and Joe got back with the sandwiches, Abby still hadn’t come out with a progress report. Carrie finally coaxed Gina to have something to eat, even if she insisted she wasn’t hungry. She could tell from Gina’s mother’s expression that had won her some points. She wasn’t sure if she needed them, but she’d take then anyhow. Just as they were all finishing, Abby walked in and everyone leapt to their feet.
“He’s stable,” Abby said instantly, addressing Gina’s mother but including everyone who gathered around in her gaze. “He most likely had a brief period of cardiac arrhythmia—irregular heartbeat—that triggered an episode of angina. Not a full heart attack, but the next step to it. The cardiologist is with him now, and we’re going to admit him for observation. He’s probably going to need further treatment, most likely the placement of cardiac stents.”
Gina’s mother stood tall and straight, her eyes laser sharp on Abby’s. “And he’ll be all right after that?”
“The procedure has a very high success rate, but I’ll leave that to the cardiologist to discuss with you.” She glanced at Joe for the first time. “It’s Warren Chu. I think you know him, and he’s one of the best.”
Joe looked relieved. “I do. That’s good.”
“You can see him when he gets upstairs,” Abby said, “probably in about forty-five minutes.”
Gina squeezed Carrie’s hand. “You don’t have to wait.”
“Will you call me after you get home?”
Gina nodded. “I will.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
*****
Carrie’s phone was ringing as she pulled in behind her house. She thought it was Gina and grabbed her phone. “Hello?”
“Hey,” Presley said. “How are things at the hospital?”
“All right, I think.” Carrie filled her in on what had happened.
“How are you?”
“Other than exhausted, I’m okay. I’m worried, but Abby was very positive. And Gina’s okay.”
“That’s great.”
“So?” Carrie said. “What happened at the game?”
“I’ll just give it to you quick. We lost.”
“Oh, well.” The tournament seemed very long ago and not nearly as important as the last few hours. “I lost my bet, and I’ll have to take Gina out to dinner.”
Presley laughed. “And somehow, I don’t think that’s going to be a hardship.”
“You know what?” Carrie laughed. “You’re right.”
Carrie walked through the house as she talked, and by the time she reached the bedroom and said good-bye, all she wanted was a shower and to close her eyes for a few minutes. When the sound of a vehicle pulling into her yard woke her, it was dark. Carrie sat up and checked the time.
Eight thirty. The days were getting shorter, but the little pang of disappointment that always followed the realization summer was ending quickly vanished when she looked out the window. Gina was getting out of her truck. Carrie had fallen asleep in a tank top and boxers after her shower, and right now she didn’t care she wasn’t at her sexiest best. She raced downstairs and out the door to the porch. When Gina saw her, she took the stairs two at a time and pulled Carrie into her arms. When Gina kissed her, Carrie shuddered under the surge of desire that crashed through her. Gina’s mouth was firm and demanding, her hands possessive as they swept beneath her tank to cup her breasts. Carrie clutched her shoulders to steady herself under the onslaught.
When Gina finally pulled back, she said hoarsely, “I thought I’d go completely crazy before I finally got here. I’m sorry I didn’t call. I just needed
to see you so bad.”
Carrie grabbed her hand. “Shut up and come upstairs.”
As soon as she reached the bedroom, Carrie yanked off her tank top and kicked off her bottoms. Gina was right behind her. Naked and panther sleek, Gina grabbed her and tumbled her onto the bed. Gina’s body covered hers, her mouth and her hands everywhere. Carrie wrapped her legs around Gina’s hips.
“Don’t stop touching me,” Carrie urged. “I want you. I want you to take me.”
Gina did, filling her, driving her up and over, hard and fast. When Carrie came, the sharp release was almost a shock and she cried out in surprise.
“Carrie,” Gina murmured, her lips against Carrie’s throat. “Carrie.”
“Don’t worry.” Carrie kissed her neck, slid her thigh between Gina’s, and dragged her as close as she could. “I’m real and I’m right here.”
“Yes.” Gina braced herself on her arms, her mouth on Carrie’s breast, and thrust against Carrie’s leg until she stiffened with a deep groan.
Carrie wrapped her arms around her and kissed her sweat-dampened cheek. “You make me feel like a god when you come.”
Gina laughed weakly. “I think you might be. I can’t even think when you’re touching me. All I can do is feel.”
“I think that’s how it’s supposed to be.”
Gina kissed Carrie’s throat. “So do I.”
“Are you all right?” Carrie said.
“A lot better now.”
“Did you see your dad?”
“Yeah. He’s already complaining.”
Carrie smiled in the dark. “That’s good news, then.”
“Thanks for being there.”
“Of course.”
“You know what you said, this afternoon?” Gina said slowly.
“Which part?”
“About us getting together tonight. With no strings?”
Carrie’s heart pounded. “I remember.”
“That’s not gonna work for me,” Gina said.
The hammering in Carrie’s chest got even harder. “Oh? Why not?”
