by Gerri Hill
She went back out, but not before plastering a sickly, pathetic look on her face. Mrs. Ashmore was waiting.
“My parents aren’t home. I forgot they were going out to dinner. I called Gina instead. She’s going to take me home.”
“Okay, dear. It’s a shame Gina didn’t come tonight. She’s such a pretty girl. I heard that several of the boys asked her.”
Ashleigh shrugged. “Gina plays basketball. I don’t think she owns a dress.”
Mrs. Ashmore laughed appropriately, then patted her arm. “Would you like me to wait with you?”
“No. She just lives about five minutes from here.”
“Okay, dear. I hope you feel better.” She looked around them conspiratorially before leaning closer. “I just wanted you to know that you won. Crissy was runner-up, so she’ll get the traditional dance.”
“Thank you. And if I felt any better, I’d stay for it, but I feel like I could throw up at any moment.” She covered her mouth as if to prevent just that and Mrs. Ashmore turned away with a hasty hope you feel better.
Ashleigh left through the side door of the gym, hoping to call as little attention to herself as possible. No one appeared to notice her departure and she let out a relieved breath as she escaped outside into the cool spring air. She was walking back toward the front of the gym when she spotted Gina’s car. She waited and watched as it crawled past the entrance then around to the side. As always, Gina seemed to know exactly where she was.
She pulled closer, then stopped. Gina got out and leaned across the top, her gaze raking over Ashleigh’s body, sending chills down her spine.
“You look beautiful,” Gina whispered. “Like a princess.”
“Thank you.”
“You would have done the prom queen proud. Sure you don’t want to stay?”
Ashleigh shook her head. “I’d rather be with you.”
Gina nodded and walked around the car, holding the door open for her. “Your chariot, my queen,” she said with a bow.
Ashleigh laughed quietly as she got inside the old Toyota that Gina hated. As soon as they were out of the parking lot, Gina’s hand found hers.
“You really do look lovely, Ashleigh. As beautiful as I’ve ever seen you.”
Ashleigh squeezed her hand. “I wanted to look beautiful for you, not for them, not for James.” She shivered when Gina brought her hand to her lips and kissed it, her tongue darting out for a brief touch, letting Ashleigh know what was to come. She shivered again as she imagined all that tongue would do to her.
Ashleigh’s house was dark and quiet, as she expected. As soon as the door was closed, she was in Gina’s arms, her mouth opening to her kiss.
“God, I love you,” Gina whispered.
“I’ll always love you.” Ashleigh’s hands found Gina’s breasts, loving the way Gina moaned when she touched them. But she pulled away. “Let me leave my mom a note so she won’t come into my room when they get home.”
“Okay. Hurry.”
Ashleigh did, scribbling out her lie before leading Gina upstairs to her bedroom. Once there, Gina turned on the lamp, her gaze again lingering on Ashleigh.
“May I have this dance?”
Ashleigh smiled. “You can have every dance.”
There was no music except what they heard in their hearts—their souls—but they moved slowly together, their bodies pressing close, their feet shuffling on the carpet without rhyme or reason as they had their prom dance. And as if on cue, Ashleigh lifted her head, finding Gina’s mouth waiting. Their dance ended as their passion ignited and Ashleigh’s beautiful prom dress was tossed on the floor as an afterthought, her only concern at the moment was Gina...and all she was about to do to her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Present Day
Gina felt a bit self-conscious as she made her way to the ballroom. Most of the other women were dressed in near formal attire, none in slacks. But she reminded herself she was what she was, and she was who she was. And formal attire and Gina Granbury did not mix.
“Screw it,” she murmured as she entered, no longer caring. She glanced around, instinctively knowing Ashleigh wasn’t there yet. She found it amazing—and a little disconcerting—that she could still feel Ashleigh’s presence, still find her in a crowded room. All this after twenty years.
She spotted Crissy and made her way over to her. While she and Crissy had never really been friends, only tolerating each other because of Ashleigh, she found Crissy’s personality had grown on her. No longer the airheaded cheerleader, yet every bit as gregarious, she was the perfect hostess for the reunion. She smiled and waved Gina over.
“Gina, do you remember Sarah Reed?”
Gina smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, no.” She shook Sarah’s hand. “It feels like I left here the day after graduation and just forgot everyone I’d ever known.”
“That’s okay. This is my first time back too. I joined the military,” she explained.
“I see. Been around the world, huh?”
“A few times. Well, I should go find Mark. Good to see you again, Crissy.”
Gina raised her eyebrows.
“Well, you didn’t remember her. Should she have said ‘nice to meet you’?” Crissy stood back and appraised her. “Wow. I never really could picture you in a gown, anyway.”
“So you wouldn’t be shocked if I told you I didn’t own a dress?”
“Not in the least. You were always the jock. In fact, I used to think you were gay. It never occurred to me Ashleigh was.”
Gina just smiled and shrugged.
“But wait.” Crissy frowned. “You never married.”
“A lot of people don’t marry,” Gina said easily. Then she tilted her head, feeling Ashleigh’s presence in the room.
“Oh, my God,” Crissy whispered.
Gina turned, following Crissy’s gaze. Oh, my God, indeed. Ashleigh stood in the entryway, looking like a vision from heaven. Gina felt that old familiar tug at her heart when Ashleigh smiled at her. Gina stared, her eyes greedily traveling over Ashleigh’s body, the tiny black strapless clinging deliciously to every curve... every curve that Gina once knew intimately.
She finally looked up, meeting Ashleigh’s eyes. She couldn’t believe the nervousness she felt as Ashleigh came toward her. It was like she was in high school all over again when Ashleigh’s mere presence sent her into a tailspin. But she wasn’t in high school and Ashleigh was no schoolgirl. She was a beautiful woman. A woman who still took her breath away.
“You look...stunning,” Gina said softly.
“Thank you.” Ashleigh moved closer. “You look quite handsome yourself.”
Gina felt a blush cross her face and was thankful for the muted lighting in the room.
“Ashleigh Pence, good grief, woman,” Crissy said. “You now have all the married men drooling and the women thankful you’re a lesbian.”
Ashleigh laughed. “Thanks a lot, Crissy. I’m sure you meant that as a compliment.”
“You look gorgeous in that dress.” She leaned closer. “Are you sure you’re gay?”
Ashleigh met Gina’s gaze. “Very.”
“Pity. I see James Simpson making his way over. Apparently, he’s got that crush going again.”
“He never could take a hint,” Ashleigh said.
“Maybe it’s the dress,” Gina said, unable to stop herself from staring, her eyes glued to the plunging neckline, the swell of Ashleigh’s breasts visible when she turned.
“Glad you like it,” Ashleigh said as she caught Gina staring.
Gina blushed immediately. “Sorry. I...I’m—”
“Gosh, Ashleigh, you look fabulous,” James said, saving Gina from further embarrassment.
“Thank you, James.”
“I came by to claim a dance,” he said. “The only opportunity we had was the prom, and you got sick. Remember?”
“I remember,” Ashleigh said, chancing a glance Gina’s way.
“So is that a yes?”
“Of course. Come find me,” she said, albeit a bit awkwardly. When he finally moved away, Ashleigh turned to her. “I swear, it’s like we’re back in high school and he’s got that look in his eyes again.”
“Which look is that?”
“The I’m-so-horny teenager look. When I first talked with him, I got the feeling that he was gay, just closeted. But maybe not. Maybe—”
“Maybe he’s carried a torch for you all these years?”
Ashleigh smiled. “Yeah, that would be crazy, wouldn’t it.”
“Very crazy.”
Ashleigh moved closer. “Will you dance with me?”
“Determined to get tongues wagging, aren’t you?”
“I don’t care what any of these people say or think, Gina. They’re not a part of my life.”
“And they’re certainly not a part of mine.” Gina was surprised at how badly she wanted that dance. Ashleigh was dressed in next to nothing. To think she’d be in Gina’s arms again after all these years made Gina’s heart race just a bit faster. “Of all the scenarios I played out at the prospect of seeing you again, dancing was not one of them.”
Ashleigh laughed. “God, mine either. I envisioned meeting you with a curt nod and then not speaking to you the entire time.”
The DJ Crissy had hired was all set up and music started. She’d promised he’d do a mix of current favorites and oldies from when they were in high school. She didn’t, however, warn of the reenactment of the prom dance.
“Hello everyone,” Crissy greeted from the microphone. “Let me first say how grateful I am for the large turnout.” She stepped away, leading the applause. “I see so many new faces here, those who didn’t make the ten-year reunion. Thank you for coming,” she said, her glance landing on Gina. “Before we get started on a fun evening of dancing and partying, let me remind you of the brunch scheduled for tomorrow morning, for those of you who don’t have to leave early. Now, as a special treat, let’s go back to our senior prom. Some of you may remember that Ashleigh Pence was voted prom queen, but got sick the night of the prom.”
“Oh my God,” Ashleigh whispered. “I’ll kill her.”
“I had to settle for runner-up,” Crissy said, “and was forced to dance with Brian.” She rolled her eyes dramatically, drawing laughter. “Well, I think Ashleigh needs her due. How about a prom dance?”
The music started and Ashleigh nearly clung to Gina as Brian made his way over. He bowed gallantly, holding out his hand. Ashleigh took it, glancing quickly at Gina before going out to the dance floor.
Crissy joined Gina on the sidelines, her smile contagious. “Oh, I so owed her for that,” she said as she held up her camera and snapped a picture.
“Ashleigh hated the whole prom thing,” Gina said.
“I know. She hated the whole cheerleader thing too.” Crissy clapped as Brian spun Ashleigh around, her black dress flowing out, exposing tan, lean thighs.
Gina’s breath caught at the sight. After twenty years, she still felt that desire she always had for Ashleigh.
“My God, that dress is a killer,” Crissy said. “Is she beautiful or what?”
“Gorgeous,” Gina said.
The dance finally came to an end and relief washed over Ashleigh’s face as she and Brian came over to them, the applause dying down as another song started, prompting the others onto the dance floor.
“You know I’m going to have to kill you for that, right?”
Crissy laughed. “I owed you.” She linked her arm through Brian’s. “And now I’m going to dance with my husband.” She glanced behind Ashleigh. “Word of warning. James is coming over.”
Ashleigh’s eyes found Gina’s and she moved closer, again causing Gina’s pulse to race. “I so wish he’d leave me alone.”
“Tell him.”
“Tell him what? He knows I’m gay.” She stepped away from Gina as James approached.
“Ashleigh, may I have this dance?”
Gina saw the smile Ashleigh forced to her face.
“Of course, James.”
Gina felt a tiny stab of jealously as she watched Ashleigh move into James’s arms. She recognized it as the same jealously she felt in high school when Ashleigh’s mother talked her into accepting a date with James. There was nothing she could do about it then and nothing she could do about it now.
She turned away from the dance floor and went to the bar. As many times as Ashleigh had mentioned them dancing, she didn’t really think they would. Despite Ashleigh’s assertion that she didn’t care what anyone thought, it was still Calloway, a small, conservative south Texas town. Would they really go on the dance floor together—two supposedly best friends from high school? They’d kept their secret then, but surely everyone would put two and two together. Ashleigh’s broken heart in college before coming out, Gina’s “never married” status, the two of them inseparable in high school, both without boyfriends.
And really, was there a reason for them to dance? Ashleigh was involved with someone. She was in a relationship. The fact that they’d somewhat repaired their friendship was one thing. Completely different to fall into old habits and flirt with the attraction they both still had. Yes, Ashleigh felt it too, she could see that. And the dress? Good Lord, it was enough to send her over the edge, as Ashleigh must have known it would. So what would a dance possibly do? What would she do if Ashleigh slipped into her arms? Would she hold her at an appropriately proper distance away, as a friend would? Or would she be tempted to pull her close, to feel Ashleigh’s body against her own, even if for only one last time?
She knew the answer would be the latter.
Gina downed her drink, thankful the reunion was coming to a close. She needed to put some space between them. The last thing she needed was to go back to Corpus, her head and heart full of Ashleigh Pence again. Perhaps she was right to have dreaded the reunion, although for completely different reasons.
“You hiding?”
She turned to find Crissy standing beside her, a questioning look in her eyes.
She held up her empty glass. “Just a quick drink.”
Crissy leaned on the bar beside her. “Forgive me for speculating, but I was watching you when Ashleigh went to dance with James. Well, at first, I was watching Ashleigh and she had that same look she used to get in high school whenever we went out and James thought it was a date. Then I looked at you. And it finally hit me.”
Gina turned to her, not knowing what to say. She raised her eyebrows.
“You and Ashleigh were already seeing each other in high school. You’re the one she called whenever she needed to escape from James. So I’m guessing you’re the one who broke her heart in college. That’s why, after being best friends in high school, you’ve had no contact all these years.” Crissy bumped her shoulder. “Am I right?”
“It’s a little more complicated than that, but yes, you’re right.”
Crissy grinned broadly. “I knew it. And now here you meet up again, you’re both single. You are really single, right?”
“I am, yes. Ashleigh’s not.”
“Of course she is. She’s always been single.”
Gina shook her head. “No. She’s in a relationship. Has been for several years.”
“Ashleigh? No, she’s not.”
“Yes. With Faith.”
“Who? Look, I saw her at Christmas and she was dreading coming to the reunion and still being single. In fact, she said I should shoot her and put her out of her misery if she turns forty and is still single.”
Gina frowned. “But—” Could it be true? Was that why the mention of Faith was such a shock to Ashleigh’s mother? “Why would she tell me she’s in a relationship then?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she—”
“Hey, you two.”
They both turned as Ashleigh walked over to them. Gina’s mind was still racing and she couldn’t meet Ashleigh’s eyes.
“He insisted on two dances. I think that was my quota for him,” Ashleigh said. “
What are you two doing?”
“Just visiting,” Crissy said. “Catching up.” She moved away. “I should find my husband though. Talk to you later.”
Ashleigh turned to Gina. “She’s acting weird.”
“Is she?”
“So are you.”
Gina smiled. “She figured it out.”
“What out?”
“About high school. Us.”
“She did?” Ashleigh stood against the bar and raised her hand to the bartender. “Well, I’m surprised it took her this long.” She looked at Gina. “You want another?”
“Yes, please.”
“Hi. Me again,” she said to the bartender.
“The good stuff?”
“Yes. Gina, what are you having?”
“Bourbon.”
Ashleigh smiled at the bartender. “Two of the good stuff, please.” When he went to make their drinks, Ashleigh said, “I tipped him twenty bucks last night. I’m glad he remembered.”
“A twenty-buck tip in Calloway? How could he forget?”
“Here you go, ladies.”
“Thanks.” Ashleigh again shoved a twenty at him. “Keep the change.”
“Enjoy your drinks.”
They sipped their drinks quietly, standing close, saying nothing. Gina could feel the electricity between them. She wondered if Ashleigh felt it too.
“I still want that dance,” Ashleigh said quietly.
Gina nodded. Yes, she feels it.
“Unless, since Crissy figured it out, you’re afraid others will as well.”
“Doesn’t matter to me,” Gina said truthfully. “I don’t plan on returning to Calloway anytime soon. And you know, these people, they were never really friends.”
“No. You weren’t close with anyone, were you?”
Gina shook her head. “Coming in late, in the ninth grade, everyone had already established friendships. Besides, I had a secret then. I didn’t want anyone to find out.”
Ashleigh smiled and moved closer. “I never told you this before, but I used to feel you watching me. Sometimes I would catch you watching me. It wasn’t something I was afraid of. I think, on another level, I knew what it was. And when we finally got a chance to be around each other—”
