by Syd Parker
“I think she misses you.”
“Huh?” Bellamy glanced up, her face reddening at the look of scrutiny on her son’s face.
“I said Coach has been missing you.”
“Oh.” Bellamy turned her attention to the sealed can of cranberry sauce on the counter. She grabbed a can opener and started opening the lid to hide the rush of excitement she felt at hearing those words. “She said that?”
“Every time we talk.” Kevin crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “You should talk to her. She doesn’t call here to talk to me, Mom. But it seems like I’m the only one who picks up the phone.”
Bellamy wanted to. She wanted to hear her voice, but she didn’t dare. “Tell her I’m just too busy to talk.”
“I did. That excuse will only go so far. Mom, what happened? Why are you avoiding her?”
Bellamy sighed softly. Even her son could see the truth. She had been hiding; more from herself than Sawyer. She didn’t trust herself. Sawyer challenged every belief Bellamy held dear. She forced her to question the Bible and everything the church had taught her. There were times Bellamy thought about losing her place in Heaven. When she did, her body always argued that being in Sawyer’s arms was like Heaven. Shouldn’t that be enough? Couldn’t she have both? The answer always defaulted to no. She didn’t believe she was allowed to have Sawyer and not be counted a sinner. “It’s not that simple, honey.”
“It’s a conversation. What’s complicated about that? I feel bad making excuses all the time.”
Bellamy rolled her eyes at her son’s exaggeration. “I can’t imagine that your coach wants to speak to me all that often.”
“She does.” Kevin pushed off the wall and pinned his mother with a hard gaze. “You’re hiding. I’m not sure why, but it’s childish. Next time she asks, I’m just going to tell her the truth. You don’t want to talk to her.”
“Good Lord, boy. I will not talk to you about this anymore. Go take a shower.”
“But…”
Bellamy held up a hand, stopping Kevin immediately. “This is not up for discussion, young man.”
“Fine.” Kevin stomped away, huffing loudly.
Bellamy could hear him muttering under his breath as he walked away. Her body began to tremble, and she braced her hands on the island for support. She closed her eyes, immediately seeing Sawyer’s face. Her eyes were dark with desire, and they held hers, daring her to make a move. Bellamy forced her eyes open, taking several deep breaths as she fought for control. “Damn you, Sawyer. Damn you for making me want what I can’t have.”
The shrill ring of the phone made Bellamy jump. She eyed her dirty hands and hoped Kevin would answer it upstairs. She cocked her head, heard the water start, and knew he would miss it. She quickly washed and dried her hands and ran to the phone, seeing a Mississippi number on the caller ID. “Shoot.” She couldn’t not answer it. It was a holiday. Sawyer would know she wasn’t at work. But maybe they were with relatives. No, Kevin would have already shared their holiday plans as much as they spoke. Reluctantly, she picked up. “Hello.”
Sawyer sucked in a breath and held it a beat before replying. She was surprised at how good it felt to hear Bellamy on the other end. “Hi.”
Bellamy waited awkwardly on the other end. When Sawyer didn’t speak again, she rushed to fill the uncomfortable silence. “Kevin is in the shower. I can let him know you called.”
“Bellamy.”
The single word, spoken in earnest, tugged at Bellamy’s heart. Bellamy closed her eyes and let warmth effuse her body. One word, one single word, and her cruel body tormented her.
“I didn’t call to talk to Kevin. I want you. You know that.”
Desire pulsed through Bellamy’s body, and she swallowed nervously. “What do you want, Sawyer?”
“You know what I want.” Sawyer paused, letting her words sink in. She knew by Bellamy’s breathing they had the desired effect. “I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.”
Bellamy frowned. The holiday, that was what Sawyer wanted to talk about. A crappy holiday. What about them? Why didn’t she ask about them? Oh, yes, Bellamy knew. It was because Bellamy had issued a blistering edict the morning after that she never wanted to speak about what happened. Still, despite her desire to avoid the feelings she had for Sawyer, the disappointment that she hadn’t pushed stung somewhat.
“Bellamy?”
“You too, Sawyer. I hope you have a good holiday.”
“We don’t really have one. J-Dubs don’t celebrate, and Dad, well, he doesn’t really care. We usually spend the day watching the games and eating carry-out from Panda Garden.”
“Wait? You eat Chinese on Thanksgiving? Isn’t that sacrilege?”
Sawyer’s easy laugh came through the phone. “I don’t think the Pilgrims will mind too much.”
“That’s just unacceptable.” Bellamy flicked her eyes to the giant turkey sitting on the counter. She loved this time of the year, but after a few days of leftovers, even she had her fill. One extra mouth would help make a dent in the meal. Against her better judgment, she spoke again. “Would you like to join us?”
Sawyer paused, seriously considering the idea. She knew the meal would be fantastic. Admittedly, seeing Bellamy was the reason she wanted to go. But Sawyer knew she shouldn’t have contact with them during the quiet period, so she felt the need to decline the invitation. “No, but thank you. I don’t want to intrude.”
Bellamy’s shoulders sagged. As much as she knew she should avoid Sawyer, she longed to see her again. It was a dangerous precipice she was walking on. One step too far, and she would be lost forever. “There’s plenty. You’re almost family anyway.”
“Am I?” Sawyer replied hopefully. She wanted to be. Bellamy made her want the things that came with a relationship. All of the things she’d carefully avoided before called to her now. And that’s how she justified going. This was personal, it wasn’t business. It didn’t count, at least she didn’t think it should. “I would like that.”
Bellamy let out a relieved breath. She remembered Sawyer’s parents lived just a few miles away. “Can you be here in ten minutes?”
“As you wish.” Sawyer paused. “Bellamy?”
“Yes.”
“Thank you.” Sawyer waited until she heard the click of the phone before she ended the call. She held the phone to her mouth and smiled, as though it was a connection to Bellamy. The unexpected invitation was more welcome than Sawyer anticipated. She didn’t realize how much she actually missed Bellamy until she heard her voice. It was as though the disappointment of the last few months were all but forgotten, replaced by the sweet anticipation of her dreams fulfilled. Not allowing her thoughts to take over, Sawyer chucked the phone on her bed and gave herself a once over. Cut-off sweats would not cut it. Sawyer stripped quickly, toyed with showering, but a quick glance at her watch nixed that idea. She pulled a pair of worn-out cargo shorts and collared shirt from her overnight bag and threw them on. She grabbed her keys off the dresser and slid her wallet into her pocket.
“Mom, Dad.” Sawyer took the steps two at a time. “I’m going out for a bit. Need anything?” Sawyer waited for a reply, but the sound of the football game was the only response she got. Six minutes later, she pulled up in front of Bellamy’s house, the anxiousness finally getting to her. Sawyer pulled the visor down and frowned. Her hair was still pulled back in a less than tidy ponytail, but in her haste, she’d left her ball cap at home. She bit her lip in concentration before reaching up and pulling the tie from her hair, letting her hair cascade around her shoulders. She slipped the band around her wrist and ran her hands through her hair, fluffing it slightly, or as much as second-day hair would allow. She flipped the visor closed with a disgusted huff. Ten minutes didn’t leave much time for making herself presentable.
Bellamy hurried to answer the quiet knock. “You’re here.”
Sawyer held her empty palms out, a deeply chagrined look on her face. “I didn’t have time to w
hip up my usual Thanksgiving pie.”
Bellamy started to smirk then pinned Sawyer with a very serious glare. “You didn’t bring me any pie? I’m not sure I can let you in.”
Sawyer held up a finger and returned Bellamy’s smirk. “I didn’t say no pie. I just said not my usual Thanksgiving pie. No worries though, they are both sweet and both go much better with extra cream.”
“Good Lord.” Bellamy pulled Sawyer into the house and shut the door. The two women regarded each other a few more seconds before Bellamy attempted an awkward hug. “I’m glad you came.”
“Me too.” Sawyer sauntered into the kitchen behind Bellamy, cursing herself for checking Bellamy out the entire time.
“Your hair is down again. I like it like that.”
Sawyer toyed with her hair nervously. “Thanks. I forgot my hat.”
“You should leave it down more often. It suits you. Relaxed and casual.” And sexy as hell. Bellamy kept the last part to herself. If God didn’t want her to be attracted to a woman, the least he could have done was made Sawyer with less perfect features. Bellamy busied herself with last-minute preparations in an effort to distract herself. “Are you here the whole weekend?”
“Nah, I’ll head back Saturday. A lot of the guys and a few of the teachers don’t make it home for the holiday because the break is so short. I have a non-Thanksgiving barbeque every year, so they feel a little less homesick during the holiday. Thank goodness, I left the pool open. This year will be warm enough to swim.”
“That’s nice of you.” Bellamy scooped mashed potatoes into a serving dish. “Tina, too?”
Sawyer smothered a smile. “Not this year. She’s still dating one of the other coaches. She is meeting her family this weekend, breaking a long-standing Delta tradition.”
“Of not dating at work?”
“No, my famous turkey made of hotdogs and hamburgers. It’s a site everyone has to see at least once in his or her life."
Bellamy eyed Sawyer suspiciously, trying to decide if she were serious. When Sawyer’s face didn’t show the least bit of teasing, Bellamy continued. “You recommend eating that?”
“I figure if folks around here can stomach a turducken, they can deal with a hamturdog.”
“Just made that up, huh?” Bellamy rolled her eyes. “That sounds absolutely horrid. I think you should make it a tradition to spend Thanksgiving at our house going forward.”
“If that’s an invitation, I’ll take it.” Sawyer reached over, grabbed an appetizer and popped it in her mouth. “Says the woman serving pigs in a blanket on Thanksgiving.”
“That invitation can just as easily be revoked, my dear.”
“Oh yeah?” Sawyer came around the island and dared Bellamy to retract it.
Bellamy inhaled, her hand gripping the wooden spoon in a tight fist. She stepped backward, trying to create a comfortable distance between herself and Sawyer.
Sawyer held her ground, giving Bellamy space, but her eyes rooted Bellamy to the floor. She waited; her gaze fixed on the small vein at the base of her neck. She didn’t need to hear Bellamy breathing to know that the nearness affected her as much as it did Sawyer. No matter how much time passed or what unofficial ground rules had been laid, there was no denying the chemistry between them. Sawyer believed it went beyond the physical connection. She’d never been so completely drawn into someone before Bellamy, which made the fact that she couldn’t have her sting even more.
Bellamy felt the invisible pull between them. It captivated her, haunted her, made her feel other-worldly. She could try to deny Sawyer, but she knew that she did not possess the power to say no to her. Bellamy could only pray that Sawyer never asked her again for the one thing she couldn’t give her. She exhaled finally and licked her lips nervously. “I could never tell you no. Don’t make me have to.”
Sawyer nodded. She knew what Bellamy was asking from her and wondered if she had the strength to live in the circle of light that surrounded her without touching the glowing orb. Sawyer couldn’t exist outside it now. She preferred to live just outside it, rather than exist in the darkness that waited beyond. “You have my word.” Sawyer did her best to hide the pain that pierced her heart. She turned away dutifully. When her heartbeat settled, she shot Bellamy a hopeful glance. “Am I still invited?”
“Yes, Sawyer.” Bellamy sighed softly. As much as she wanted to let go, there was a lifetime of stern looks and wagging fingers to stop her. Bellamy set the spoon down and looked up confused.
“What’s wrong?”
“The shower is still running. I told Kevin to make it quick.”
“Bell, he’s a teenager. Sometimes…well, sometimes, they take long showers.”
Bellamy paused, processing the new moniker Sawyer had given her. Bell. She liked it. She loved the way her name slid off Sawyer’s tongue like warm honey, but the new endearment suited her even more. It made her feel special, wanted, as though she was tucked inside Sawyer’s heart. She didn’t stop to worry about the repercussions of that, just tucked it away for a sleepless night somewhere in the future. “He knows it’s time to eat. I’ll check on him.”
Sawyer watched her leave, a sense of purpose in her stride. She chuckled to herself as she reflected on the look Bellamy gave her at the mere thought of teenage boys and long showers. In all fairness, Sawyer had no right giving an opinion, but she remembered her own frantic showers, and nights lying awake in bed touching herself when she thought everyone else was asleep. Hell, she had plenty of those lately. Every time she thought about the kiss, she got turned on. In her head, the kiss was just the beginning. Bellamy, trapped beneath her mouth as she came, ratcheted up the heat level, which led to many nights that Sawyer had to assuage the ache between her legs with her own hand.
“He fell asleep before he even got in the shower.” Bellamy’s face reflected consternation. “I know he is busy from sun-up to sundown, but it’s not like him to just fall asleep.”
“I guess his soon-to-be coach is expecting too much. I’ll tell her to back off a bit.”
Bellamy shot Sawyer a ‘whatever’ eye roll before grabbing a stack of plates. “Will you put these on the table?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sawyer sidestepped Bellamy’s arm, dancing away from her reach and into the dining room. She placed the plates on three empty placemats, a smile touching at the corners of her mouth. It had been a long time since she attended a holiday supper. Sawyer wasn’t surprised to see the table set very formally, but still inviting enough to make her feel at home.
“Can you grab the gravy?” Bellamy set a dish of mashed potatoes down then eyed the table, arms akimbo. “It will be nice to have more than just Kevin and me.”
“What about your family? Do you ever get together with them?” Sawyer followed Bellamy into the kitchen and grabbed the gravy boat. “Anything else?”
Bellamy pointed at the plate of appetizers. “The, um, pigs in a blanket.”
“Got it. So, family?”
“Not anymore. Mom and Dad divorced years ago. We tried to blend the families a few times, but it wasn’t worth the stress that came with putting the two of them in a room together. Eventually, we decided that we would rotate Christmases, and we would just do Thanksgiving separately. It works out better. My mom is a horrible cook, and my stepmom wouldn’t know a kitchen if she fell into one.”
“That’s too bad.” Sawyer set the plate and gravy boat down, leaving space for the tray Bellamy had the turkey on.
“It’s no different than you, I imagine.”
“No, I guess not.” Sawyer eyed the turkey and with Bellamy’s nod, she grabbed it. “I assumed everyone else had a normal family and normal holidays. I figured we were the only weird ones.”
“Oh, you’re still weird.”
“Funny.” Sawyer set the turkey down and eyed their work appreciatively. She turned at the sound of footsteps. “Hey, Kevin.”
“Coach?” Kevin’s eyes flicked between his mom and Sawyer. “What are you doing here?”
“No, I just didn’t want to eat leftovers for the next three days. I’m taking advantage of your appetite.”
“Duly noted.” Sawyer gave Kevin a quick hug, noting the slight pallor of his skin. He seemed to have lost some weight as well. “You doing okay? Your mom said your new coach has been working you really hard. I can talk to her if you want.”
“Nah, Coach, I’m good. It’s just the heat. I’ve been working on my change-up, though. I want to be ready next year.”
Sawyer patted Kevin’s arm. “I’m sure you will be more than ready. If I had doubts, I wouldn’t have pushed so hard to get you.”
Kevin bowed his head shyly. “Thanks, Coach. I want to be perfect.”
“Perfection is a matter of opinion. Doing your best is what is important to me. Anything else keeping you up at night?”
“No, Coach. I’m sleeping alright. I’m just tired. I’m pretty sure it’s the heat.”
“I hope so. Promise you won’t push too hard.”
“I will. I’m glad you’re here.”
Sawyer smiled from ear-to-ear. “Me too. Bell, what can we do?”
Bellamy handed Sawyer a carving fork and knife. “Would you do the honors?”
The smile disappeared from Sawyer’s face, replaced by a look of panic. “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. Me and knives don’t mix so well.”
“Just use your hamturdog skills.”
Sawyer shot Bellamy an evil glare. “Don’t knock what you haven’t tried.” Determined to prove her self-worth in this small thing, Sawyer pierced the turkey with the fork and watched as the tender juice rolled down the side of the bird. She figured she couldn’t mess it up too badly.
“Well, this is one way to eat turkey.” Ten minutes later, Bellamy held up a small shred of meat. “I can wipe turkey sandwiches off the leftover list.”
“I told you.” Sawyer eyed the pile of pieces on her own plate and grimaced. “I think I’ll let you handle this part next year.”
“Next year?” Kevin’s head went between the two women like a fan at a tennis match. “What next year?”
