Trust in Me

by Lydia Rose

  The room was dimly lit, but Jules eyes opened wide when she saw the far end of the wall. “You have a golf simulator in your garage.”

  Paige giggled. “Yeah, I do.”

  “This must have cost a fortune, but it’s wonderful.” Jules turned to look at Paige. “Why were we practicing at the club instead of here?”

  “This is good as an extra practice place, but you need to be on the course to feel what the wind does to your shot.” Paige pulled her driver out of her bag. “Do you want to take a shot before we eat?”

  “Hell yes,” Jules said walking over to the green pad on the floor. “So I just swing hard.”

  “Do what you would normally do on the course.” Paige stood back and let Jules take her shot.

  Jules hit the ball and watched as it flew over the simulator’s course. “This is unbelievable.” She hit two more balls before Paige interrupted.

  “Jules, let’s go have lunch and then I promise you that you can hit as many balls as you want to,” she said giggling, seeing the disappointment on Jules’s face. “I promise.”

  “Okay. Let’s go eat.” Jules followed Paige into the house and watched as she took two subs out of the refrigerator. Paige gathered plates, chips and something to drink before she took her place at the table. “This looks great.” Her stomach began to grumble as she pulled the sandwich from the bag. “I guess my stomach agrees.”

  Paige laughed and took her seat. “Eat up so you can get back to the simulator.” After taking a bite of the sandwich, she said, “We do have to work on your putting. I want you to practice the long putts. Karen is very good when it comes to the long putts, but she can get over confident too.”

  “What about the rest of the players? Do you know anything about them?” Jules asked in between bites.

  “I know you are better than any of the other players.”

  “You said I had to come in at least third place. So I’m ready.”

  Paige frowned and tilted her head. “You sound a little too confident. Many players have lost because they thought they had no competition.”

  “Did you ever do that?”

  “Of course. Everyone has done that at one time or another.” Paige sighed. “That’s why I don’t want you to make that mistake.” She looked at Jules’s mouth and wondered why they hadn’t kissed when they saw each other. It was as if Jules could read her mind because she watched as she swallowed and cleaned her mouth with the napkin.

  “I forgot to give you this,” she said, standing up and walking over to Paige. Her lips pressed down on the surprised woman and when they broke apart, they were both smiling. “That’s better,” Jules said taking her seat again.

  The two women spent the rest of the afternoon using the simulator and putting green before Jules held up her hands in defeat. “Paige, I can’t move my arms anymore.” Her right hand dropped the putter onto the ground.

  Paige giggled and picked up Jules’s club. “Come on. Let me get you something to drink and a couple of aspirins.”

  Jules followed Paige into the house and took the pills offered. “Are you sure you don’t want to share your prescription drugs with me?”

  “Not on your life. Come on, let’s go sit in the living room.”

  “Can I use the bathroom first?” Paige pointed out where she could find the guest bathroom. When she returned to the living room, she sat heavily onto the sofa. “I don’t think I’m going to survive your golf lessons. Let’s just let Karen win.”

  “Not a chance, Sommers.” Paige moved closer to her. “Maybe you just need some motivation.”

  “Yeah and what kind of motivation can you offer me?” Jules asked chuckling as she watched Paige stare at her intently.

  “How about this?” Paige asked touching her lips to Jules’s mouth softly. “Or maybe this.” Her kiss deepened and their tongues met in a frenzied dance. Paige’s hands caressed Jules’s back pulling their bodies closer together. After a heated make out session, Paige pulled away. “Will that do?” Jules’s head went up and down unable to formulate words. She giggled at the look on Jules’s face.

  When Jules could speak again she asked, “What will you give me if I qualify?”

  “Qualify? You have to win this thing.”

  “What do I get?” Jules asked with a devilish look on her face.

  Paige couldn’t help but laugh. “Anything you want.”

  At Paige’s words, Jules’s eyes opened wide with the evocative connotation she was offering. “Okay.”

  “Good. Now that’s settled.” She patted Jules’s leg. “I’ll schedule us a tee off at five on Wednesday.”

  Jules knew she would agree to anything Paige asked at this point, but she made light of their conversation by saying, “Whatever you say boss.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Over the last three weeks, Paige kicked the training into high gear. She even had Jules lifting weights to strengthen her arms. Jules was exhausted, but their hard training at Paige’s house always ended with a long kissing session. Each time they were on the couch together, the kissing moved to touching, but never going any further than that. Paige was good at dangling that carrot at the end of the stick for Jules. They were both frustrated and cold showers would be in their future for at least the next week.

  The day of the tournament, Paige presented Jules with a new outfit. She gave her a royal blue golf tee shirt. The pocket was monogrammed with Jules’s name in gold. The white shorts came to just above Jules’s knees and the royal blue visor finished off her outfit. Paige had told her that she almost bought her a skirt, but now seeing the look on Jules’s face told her that would have been a mistake. A big mistake.

  In the locker room, Paige was trying to keep Jules calm. “Did you put enough sunscreen on? We don’t want you getting burned out there.”

  “I’m swimming in it,” Jules answered and pulled at her shorts.

  “Are the shorts too tight?” Paige asked moving closer to Jules. She reached for the legs on the shorts. “They don’t feel tight.”

  “No. I’m just starting to sweat.” Her comment brought out laughter in Paige. “It’s not funny.”

  “Honey, calm down. You will do fine.”

  “And if I don’t?” Jules asked narrowing her eyes.

  “You don’t. It’s just a game, Jules.”

  “You really mean that? You won’t be disappointed if I don’t qualify?” Jules asked with hopeful eyes.

  Paige walked over to her and placed her hands on Jules’s shoulder. “Look at me, Jules.” She looked up into the hazel eyes. “All I ask is that you do your best.” Paige shrugged. “If you don’t qualify, there’s always next year.”

  “Thank you, Paige, but I’m going to kick ass today,” she said with a grin.

  “Do you feel better now?” Paige asked, knowing she received the reaction she thought she would.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, then let’s get out there.”

  They came out of the clubhouse and joined the rest of women who had entered the competition. Karen made a beeline for Jules. “Hi, Jules. How are you?”

  “Good. You?” she asked watching Paige walk over to her family members who were standing on the sidelines. Jules could hear Karen speaking, but she wasn’t really paying attention because she was waving to Paige’s family. They all shouted their good lucks. Jules now felt a hand on her arm and looked down into Karen’s face. “I’m sorry.”

  “I said you promised to go out with me after the tournament.”

  “If you recall, I didn’t promise you. I said I would let you know after the tournament.”

  “Oh, that’s right. You said it depended on how badly I beat you today,” she said with a loud laugh. She moved closer to Jules. “I’ll try not to beat you by too much.”

  Jules shrugged. “Give it your best shot Karen, because I will,” she said before walking away from her. Jules walked over to the crowd that contained Paige’s family. She winked at Paige before greeting her family. Her eyes opened wid
e when she saw her sister standing. “Eileen.”

  “Did you think I’d miss this, Jules?” she asked smiling brightly.

  “Where’s Alice?”

  “With some friends from school.” Eileen touched Jules’s arm. “How do you feel?”

  “Nervous,” she said whispering in Eileen’s ear.

  “Relax, sweetie. You are going to do just fine.”

  Jules turned when she heard the announcements being made and the crowd was being introduced to tournament players. The twelve players were introduced to the crowd and then broken up into foursomes. Jules was in the last group though she didn’t mind. She’d rather know what she had to do to make it to tomorrow’s final. The top four players would play in the finals with the top three able to qualify for the pro/am tournament. Jules tried to keep herself calm while her group got ready to tee off.

  After an hour of waiting, her group walked over to the first tee which was a par three. Jules was the last one in her group to go and she nailed her shot. She had not hit the green, but she was close enough to make her smile. When she turned around after making the shot, her eyes searched for the one person that mattered. Paige wore a matching smile and she gave her a thumbs up as she walked toward her caddy. One woman in Jules’s group had a fantastic swing and she knew she would have to keep an eye on her during the day. As the game went on, Jules was given updates on the group ahead. Of course, Karen Holloway was in the lead, but Jules put her out of her mind and played her own game.

  By the time the group reached the eighteenth hole, the first two groups stood around watching Jules’s group play the last hole. The caddy leaned toward Jules and spoke quietly in her ear. “You are two strokes back on this hole.” The eighteenth hole was a par five. “You have got to par or eagle to qualify for the finals.”

  Jules looked at him and grinned. “Is that all I have to do?” she asked speaking out of the side of her mouth. Jules caught sight of Karen Holloway as she placed her tee in the ground. Her ball was placed and she took a few practice swings before addressing the ball. Her arm went back and she hit the ball so far that her confidence was quickly returning. Paige was trying to convey her joy with her applause and the smile she wore just melted Jules, seeing how proud she was of her. Jules was now on the green and the only thing that stood in the way of her qualifying was Reagan Simpson. She waited for Reagan to take her shot. The groan from the crowd came when she overshot the ball. Jules swallowed hard as she took a practice stroke. This was a long putt, but she had practiced many of these with Paige. Her arm came back and swung her club. This time the crowd cheered as her ball dropped into the hole. Her caddy was the first to congratulate Jules before her competitors stuck out their hands. Jules ended the first day two strokes behind the leader who was Karen Holloway. She now made her way over to her cheering section. Paige’s family and her sister congratulated her first. Then she looked at Paige and went directly in her arms. “Thank you so much, Paige. I couldn’t have done that without you.”

  “You did all the work, Jules.” They were both laughing holding each other.

  Karen Holloway walked over to them and said to Jules, “Good game.”

  Jules released Paige and turned to her. “Thanks. You played well. I wish I could have watched you.” The group began to walk back to the clubhouse and Jules took her place at Paige’s side and clasped her hand in hers. The look on Karen’s face was total shock.

  When Jules entered the clubhouse to change, Karen followed close behind. “Looks like you won more than a qualifying round today,” she said without a hint of a smile.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Paige Carter. How long have you two been dating?” Karen asked leaning on the closed locker next to Jules’s open one.

  “Not long,” she answered, grabbing the things she needed for a shower.

  “You told me you’d go out with me,” Karen said, getting into Jules’s personal space.

  “No I did not. I told you I would think about it after the tournament.” Jules shrugged. “Paige was an unexpected surprise.” She picked up her towel and moved toward the shower room without looking back. While Jules let the cool water run over her overheated body, she thought about Karen Holloway. Karen was going to make it hard for Jules to qualify tomorrow. Jules met Paige outside the locker room. “Hi.”

  “Hi. We’re going over to my parents’ house to celebrate. Eileen and Alice will be there too.” Paige looked at Jules’s face. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah,” she answered softly.

  Paige now watched as Karen came out of the locker room and glared at her. “Did she say something to you?”

  “Nothing to be concerned with, Paige.” She took her arm and led her to the car.

  *

  The ride back to Jules’s house began quietly. Jules had tried to leave with her sister earlier in the evening, but Paige insisted that she stay. Paige pulled out of her parents’ driveway, but pulled over to the curb a block away. “What’s going on, Jules? You’ve been quiet the whole evening even though you had every right to jump for joy.” She took Jules’s hand and held it gently. “Please tell me. I know this is about Karen Holloway.”

  Jules let out a breath before speaking. “She’s been asking me out several times. I had told her I wouldn’t think about it until after the tournament.”

  “She figured out we are together?” Paige asked and watched Jules’s head nod up and down. “Karen didn’t threaten you, did she?” she asked in a hurried voice.

  “No. Well, I know she is going to try like hell tomorrow to make sure I don’t qualify for the pro/am.” Paige began to laugh and continued laughing. “What’s so funny?”

  “She’s trying to psych you out. You played very well today and she knows it.” Paige leaned over and kissed Jules’s mouth softly. “Karen Holloway is afraid of you.” Jules laughed with a snort. “Really. Her mother is the same way. When they fear their competition, they lash out.”

  “But suppose I lose tomorrow?” Jules asked squeezing Paige’s hand tenderly.

  “So you lose.”

  “You won’t care?” Jules couldn’t believe after all that practice and hard work, Paige didn’t care if she won.

  “Honey, if you lose, then you lose.” Paige grinned. “But you are going to kick her ass tomorrow.” She returned her hand to the gear shifter and pulled away from the curb.

  Jules finally began to relax. She wanted to win the tournament tomorrow, but if she didn’t, she knew Paige wouldn’t hold it against her. Jules picked up Paige’s hand and pulled it into her lap. “I can’t wait for tomorrow to end.”

  “So you can win the bet?” Paige asked with a giggle.

  “No. So I can relax, but I’m looking forward to winning that bet.”

  “If you qualify, we will have to begin training for the pro/am tournament.” Jules let out a long groan. “Don’t worry, honey, I won’t work you too hard.”

  “Yeah, I bet. Are you still going to make me lift weights?”

  “Maybe not. I have some ideas for your arms besides lifting weights,” she said with a wicked giggle.

  Jules joined in on the laughter. “I like the way you think, woman.”

  CHAPTER 13

  The four women lined up by the first tee. Karen was first since she was the leader with Jules going next followed by Arleen and Nancy. Karen’s first hit took a slight turn to the right driving her away from the green. Jules placed her ball on the tee and stared at the trees in the distance. The wind was blowing to the right and she knew that she had to adjust her stroke slightly so she didn’t make the same mistake Karen had. Jules’s ball stayed straight, but the wind kept her distance down. Arleen and Nancy’s balls went too far right.

  The group was on the fourth hole and Jules was even with Karen. She could see the determination in Karen’s face as she hit the ball. Every once in a while, Jules would look into the crowd and catch Paige’s eye. Seeing her there seemed to calm her and now Karen and Jules both had a long putt to a
ccomplish on the fifteenth hole. Karen was up first and Jules watched as she took her stroke. The ball caught the edge of the cup and missed. She tapped the ball in and the crowd clapped. Jules was up next and she bent down to study the green. She had watched Karen’s putt and saw that the green was running fast today. She got back up and lined up the shot. The crowd quieted down and she took her swing. At first, Jules thought she had hit the ball short, but it ran across the green and went into the hole. The crowd now roared and Jules put up her hand in acknowledgement. Arleen and Nancy were playing well, but there was no way they were going to catch the two leaders.

  As the group walked toward the next hole, Karen walked near Jules. “I thought I would have no problem beating you, but you are giving me a run for my money.”

  “I’ve been lucky so far,” she said before she increased her step.

  While the crowd walked to the next hole, Irene asked, “Do you and Jules want to go out to celebrate afterwards?”

  “Not tonight, Mom. Jules has work tomorrow and so do I. We both just want to crash when this is over.” Paige felt her face blush as her mother grinned at her. “I mean, we’re both going to be tired from the stress of this tournament.”

  Kelly moved closer to her mother and Paige. “Yeah, we both know what you mean, Paige. You want to get into bed with her early.”

  Even though her sister was right, Paige played innocent. “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said and moved away from them.

  At the next hole, Paige took her position against the rope that held the crowd back from the players. “You coached Jules well, honey,” her dad said standing next to her.

  “Thanks, Dad, but I think Jules’s skill made it easy.”

  The next hole was a par three and Karen’s shot put her close enough to the green that she could take the lead from Jules. She took her shot and put herself just off the rough. Jules shook her head and slammed the driver back into her bag. She didn’t even look at Paige as she walked to where her ball had landed, but she did notice the big smile on Karen’s face. Karen now took her iron and hit the ball perfectly. She ended up four feet from the cup. Jules was up next and she stood there contemplating how she was going to get her ball onto the green to try to stay even with Karen. To the crowd’s surprise, Jules hit the ball and it went into the cup. The crowd went crazy. Jules couldn’t believe her luck, that she had pulled out that shot. The smile that Karen had been wearing disappeared as she sank her putt. This time Jules caught Paige’s eye and she just shrugged with a grin.