When Dreams Change, page 18
“Time out,” Lennox called from the opening of the dugout. She waited for the umpire to acknowledge the call and give her the signal that it was okay to approach the mound.
Ava jogged out to meet them, pulling off her catcher’s helmet and tucking it under her arm.
“You okay, Slim?” Ava asked, swiping her forehead with part of her glove.
“Slim?” Lennox asked, even though they didn’t have much time.
“I was eating a Slim Jim in math class one day, and Ava’s been calling me that ever since.” Zayla gave a warm look to her catcher, who shrugged. “Wren needs to come in. I just don’t have it today.”
“Wren’s ready, I just wanted to double-check. If you think you can shake this off, I’ll let you continue.” Lennox wanted to let her player decide on her limit. It tended to bode better later if the pitcher was willing to stop on their own.
“I’m done, Coach. I can’t concentrate.” Zayla huffed, her side bangs flying from her eyes and flopping back down. “Sorry you had to chase my loose balls everywhere, Ava.” She bent down to pull one of her socks up before walking to the sideline.
“Shake it off, Slim. Get them next time.” Ava jogged back to settle in front of the umpire.
While switching off the field, Wren and Zayla exchanged a quick secret handshake that flew too fast for Lennox to pick up, but she was glad to see a smile hidden behind Zayla’s tough exterior.
The rest of the game passed without much fanfare. They were able to rally, and the team’s spirits were high at the end of the game congratulations.
Tyler, Lennox, and Hazel stayed to pick everything up before Hazel kicked pebbles as she walked with Lennox toward their cars. “So, are you still okay with a beer?”
“Yeah, let’s unwind at the brewery.” Lennox clicked her key to open the trunk.
“Hey Tyler, you never answered. Want to grab a beer with us?” Hazel called out to the figure crouching to pick up something near his truck.
Tyler stood and leaned in to talk to his wife, who was sitting in the car. Lennox watched her turn, smile through the small window in the back of the truck, and give them a thumbs up.
“We’ll be there. See you,” Tyler called out before slamming the tailgate shut.
“Hey, good game.” Jenna popped out near their cars with a squirming puppy on a leash.
Lennox immediately dropped her bag and squatted down to reach for Little Chef, who was tugging on the leash to get to her. “How did he do?” She craned her neck to look up at Jenna.
Hazel left them to it, waving and saying she’d see her soon. Lennox barely saw her leave. She was so focused on the loose jeans and comfy-looking sweatshirt Jenna was wearing.
“He lunged to chase a few softballs and peed on my shoe, but all in all was a huge hit in our section. He didn’t seem to mind the noise and whined once when he saw you but couldn’t get to you.”
Lennox was now only half listening since she was trying to stop an assault of a puppy tongue on her face. “He really should show more enthusiasm. Maybe something’s wrong?” Lennox joked, finally standing and grabbing her bag. “We’re going for some beers. Want to come with us?”
Jenna looked away. “Just you and Hazel?”
“No, Tyler and his wife are coming. I’m sure there might be other parents as well.” Lennox took a step closer, putting her hand on Jenna’s upper arm.
Lennox felt Jenna’s shudder vibrate up her arm. She tried to pull her arm back, worried her touch was making Jenna uncomfortable, when Jenna leaned in and captured her mouth. The kiss was tentative at first, but quickly took her breath away. She’d imagined the moment for so long that now that it was finally happening, she wondered if she had slipped into a coma. The tug on her ponytail as Jenna wrapped her fingers through her strands wiped away any thoughts that it wasn’t real. Her dream had manifested into reality. Lennox felt Jenna’s moan vibrating on her lips, further proof that it was real. She didn’t have that good of an imagination.
Pulling back, Jenna looked sheepish, which was something Lennox wanted to help soothe.
“I’ve been wanting to do that forever,” Jenna said, breaking the silence and killing any questions Lennox had in her mind.
She held out her arm. “Can you do me a favor and pinch me? This can’t be real. Can it? Am I dreaming?” Lennox leaned against a car, not even caring it wasn’t hers. Little Chef was on two paws with the front of his muddy feet ruining her good sweats, but none of that registered to her. Jenna was still looking at her like she was a meal.
“This is real. I can’t believe I’ve missed out on your lips all this time.” Jenna leaned in for another kiss which Lennox gladly reciprocated. All too soon, Jenna pulled away.
“I don’t know how to say this delicately, and I know we have a ton to talk about, but I have feelings for you, Lennox. I still think Hazel has a crush, which makes perfect sense; you’re easy to like. I hope we can figure out where we stand because I don’t want someone to scoop you up.”
Lennox unlocked the door and opened it for Little Chef to jump in before closing it and turning to Jenna with a smile. “The rambling is cute. I’ve already talked with Hazel. Told her there was someone else, and that I only wanted to be friends.” She stepped closer. “I’ve harbored a tiny”—she held her hands wide apart—“crush on you for what feels like eons. I can’t believe you are on the same page. Seriously, pinch me please. This can’t be real.” Lennox held out her arm again and tucked a strand of hair behind Jenna’s ear with the other hand, relishing the feel of the silky strand and how Jenna leaned in for more contact.
Jenna twisted her arm around and pinched her ass. “Does that clear things up?” Jenna asked. Her tone implied so much more to come, which sent a shiver up Lennox’s back.
“For now.” Lennox murmured before clearing her throat and turning to her car. “Will I see you at the brewery?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Jenna answered, her eyes dark and hooded.
They were barreling towards something, and Lennox was sure she didn’t want to get off the track, even if her heart might crash and burn.
A few days later, Jenna passed out some sodas as Wren and Zayla goofed around with Little Chef in her living room.
At the table, Lennox was playing a card game with Jenna’s niece, Nyla. Jenna had offered to watch her while James was out running errands since Opal was camping with some friends. She observed the separate groups with a smile.
“Aunt Jenna, can I have a sandwich?” Nyla looked up from the cards splayed in her small hands, her elbows resting on the table.
“Sure, let me go make you one. Girls, do you want sandwiches?” Jenna wiped her palms on her pants as she headed to the kitchen. On the way past she ran her hands along Lennox’s neck. A quick and subtle connection in the chaotic house.
“Yes, thanks,” came twin responses from the living room.
A loud slap from the table made Jenna startle.
“Damn, you’re too fast.” Lennox shook off her hand, pushing the pile of cards towards Nyla. “Got to get it warmed up. That’s the problem.” She wiggled it in the air. Nyla started giggling, copying what Lennox was doing.
“Peanut butter and jelly okay?” Jenna asked, pulling open the bread.
“Yummy.” Nyla licked her lips.
“Does that work for you, Wren and Zayla?” Jenna called to the girls who had their heads together, whispering on the coach. They pulled back and smiled before nodding at the same time. Bursting into a fit of giggles, the girls scooted closer.
“Thanks, Mom,” Wren supplied over her shoulder before returning her full attention back to Zayla. LC was lying on the floor, his eyes tracking the two.
Jenna mindlessly opened her fridge for the supplies.
“Need any help?” Lennox asked, having quietly settled next to her. It would have startled Jenna if she hadn’t found her presence comforting. Instead, she leaned into Lennox’s form.
Anybody looking their way would see two people standing nearby. However, in her experience, people tended to see what they wanted to see, and Jenna ached to pull her down for a kiss. “No, I’ve got it. Thanks.” She turned and squeezed her arm before turning back to spread on a thick layer of jam, just like they all liked.
“Mom?” Wren came to the kitchen.
Jenna hated that she jumped back a little from Lennox, especially when she saw the flash of hurt before a shadow of doubt shuttered around Lennox’s eyes. That wouldn’t do and it was something she’d have to try to correct if she wanted to pursue a relationship. Shaking off her mini faux pas, she walked to the table to pass out the sandwiches.
“What do you need, Wren?” She was surprised she hadn’t just started talking. Distracted by the sandwiches, she’d missed her daughter looking around, subtly searching for more privacy.
Jenna led them to the informal dining room, an offshoot of the kitchen that allowed them to talk quietly. “I was wondering if Zayla could spend the night?” Wren clasped her hands in front of her and held eye contact.
Jenna stiffened at the question, although she probably shouldn’t have been surprised. If she’d put any thought into it at all, she should have known this might be on the horizon. On one hand she was glad Wren decided to talk to her first, and if they were here, they were safe. “I might be okay with it, if we set a few ground rules first.”
Wren nodded enthusiastically. “We can. Totally. And just so you know, we’re not ready for anything more physical than cuddles. We just want to be around each other longer than either of our curfews allow.”
Jenna felt she’d just witnessed a shadow of what her daughter would be as an adult, assertive and articulate. The vision brought goosebumps. She had never been more proud of her kid, knowing she raised someone who was willing to communicate with her even when the topic was uncomfortable.
“Maybe the three of us should talk. I can leave Lennox here with Nyla for a moment,” Jenna said, walking back towards the kitchen.
“Yeah, that would be good. Thanks, Mom.” Wren jogged back to Zayla.
“Hey Nyla, want to go outside and play some catch? I want to see if I can switch you to third base when you get to high school. That’s where all the strongest players play.” Lennox threw a wink over her shoulder to Jenna before walking out with an excited kid. The wink traveled across the room and smacked Jenna right in the lower belly.
“Do you need help finding anything?” Jenna asked, walking them to the back porch.
“No, I remember from the last time we played. Drag out the girls once you’re done with your talk.” Lennox turned her attention to her new personal shadow. “All right, slugger, let’s go work on some drills.” Lennox threw her arm around Nyla; the previous shutters were gone from her eyes.
Turning back to the living room, she sat down on the loveseat and called LC over. “All right, girls, I want to first say I appreciate you talking with me. I know that couldn’t have been easy. With that said, I’ll be okay having Zayla spend the night as long as it’s okay with her parents as well. Do you have any questions?” Jenna clasped her hands in front of her.
“No. Do you?” Wren scooted closer to Zayla.
“No. Thank you for listening first. Not everyone would do that. I’ll call my parents right now. Do you want to talk to them?” Zayla leaned forward to get her phone from her pocket.
“Yes, I would like to talk to them. Not that I don’t trust you, but I would prefer to be on the same page with them.” Jenna let out a shaky breath.
Jenna dealt with the phone call, finding Zayla’s parents had no problem with her staying over. The girls were ecstatic as they bounced around the house.
They’d been outside the rest of the day, where Wren and Zayla played with Lennox and Nyla, much to Nyla’s delight, who loved throwing the ball with her older cousin.
Occasionally they would watch the fishing boats littering the ocean just off the coast of the backyard. The water shimmered in the sun. Herring season was opening, and the boats were preparing for the tight window to cast nets. They were all mesmerized by the large poles stuck off the sides. They dipped and bobbed with the current—the calm before the storm.
Jenna rested her hand on Nyla’s shoulder. “Your dad’s coming to get you soon. Let’s get you inside and ready.” Everyone else used it as an excuse to stop.
Lennox leaned against the far wall of the living room, watching the flurry of activity as the girls split off in different directions. LC was at her feet, panting from playing outside.
“What are your plans for the rest of the night?” Jenna asked, stepping up to Lennox’s space. They hadn’t had much time alone, and needed to remedy that quickly, but tonight wouldn’t be great for it.
“I’ll probably just chill with Little Chef. Maybe read, we’ll see. What about you?” Lennox tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
They hadn’t shared much after their first kiss, but it felt right being near her, and that wasn’t something you could communicate with words since it happened in a deep part of someone.
“Hey Mom, would you come to watch us play in Juneau next week?” Wren asked. “Since it’s my last regular tournament, and Zalya used to live there, I thought it would be a fun one for you to come to, if you can of course.” Wren tucked her head on Zayla’s shoulder, seemingly her favorite position.
“Of course.” Jenna’s response flew out of her mouth. “That would be fun. Op—I mean Nyla, it sounds like your dad’s here.” She held out her hand to her niece, who swung a large backpack around her shoulders.
“Thanks for playing with me, Coach Lennox.” Nyla gave hugs all around before skipping out the front door.
“I should get home, but please tell Nyla to work on her footwork and the quick release we were working on. She’ll be a huge asset at third base in a few years.” Lennox bent to pet her dog.
“Always coaching,” Jenna teased. She looked out to the driveway, waving to James who was pulling away. Wren and Zayla were wrapped in each other’s arms, something she wanted to mirror with Lennox.
Stepping to her, Lennox opened her arms, knowing what she needed. Jenna let out a sigh that ruffled the string on Lennox’s hoodie. They stood in each other’s arms until she heard a throat clearing behind her.
“I know at least four teammates, past and present, that would kill for your position, Mom,” Wren joked. “Let’s go to my room,” she said to Zayla, pulling her down the hallway. “Love you, Mom. Night, Lennox.”
Jenna burrowed deeper into Lennox’s arms when the girls disappeared. “Well, they will just have to get in line because I’m not letting go anytime soon.” Jenna’s voice was steady although her heart was fluttering in excitement, especially when she leaned back and saw the liquid green rim around the hazel of Lennox’s eyes. The words seemed simple enough, but the flittering emotions shone through.
Lennox leaned down and placed a delicate kiss on her temple. The move was way more intimate than it had any right being. Jenna absorbed the contact, trying to memorize the shape of her lips and the way they pulsed against her skin. In much too short of a time, the connection was over, and Lennox was scooping up LC, who had fallen asleep on the couch.
Wishing she could call Lennox back, Jenna took comfort in the fact she saw a flush on Lennox’s skin and unbridled lust screaming from her eyes.
Chapter 13
Communication
Lennox watched as the Juneau coach threw his hat down and stomped over to one of his players. Addison was at bat and flicked her ponytail. She touched the tip of the bat to the corner of the plate and swayed, waiting for the next pitch.
Scanning the stands, she saw Jenna chatting with Mary. Their eyes met, and Lennox’s stomach flipped when Jenna sent her a small wave. The crack of Addison’s bat tore her attention back to the field.
“Go, go, go,” Lennox shouted when she saw the ball sail over the left fielder’s head, windmilling her arm to advance Addison to second and jumping up and down a few times when she slid safely into the base. Wren made it home, but she wasn’t celebrating with the team. Instead she was looking towards the parking lot.
Blue and red lights blinded Lennox as a cop car raced into the parking lot. They didn’t have their sirens on but were still effective in stopping the game. Everyone turned to watch the display. Two cops approached a group of people at the other side of the park.
The game screeched to a halt as everyone froze in their spots. Suddenly, the group on the other side of the park scattered and the cops started chasing.
Two people were caught and brought to the cop car. There was something so satisfying at hearing the slam of the door echoing from the parking lot.
“All right everyone, let’s get going again.” The ump called the game to order, bringing everyone’s focus back.
Pacing her designated area along the first base line on adrenaline filled legs, Lennox turned her head when a soft voice called her name.
“That was wild,” Jenna said through the fence.
“Right? What do you think happened?” Lennox kept one eye on the field, lest a foul ball come her way.
“I have no idea.” Jenna angled her head towards the stands. “I’ll ask Mary if she knows anything. Good luck.” Jenna blew a kiss her way.
Lennox stood next to Wren and Zayla, the only two players already done with the players line-up for the high fives with the other team at home plate. The three of them were dissecting the game.
Zayla had been apprehensive about playing her former team, although the only outer show of being uncomfortable was a slight tremor at the start of the game. Able to shake it off, she pitched the best game of the season so far.
“Good game, Coach.” Jenna walked to the fence, waving to the group. “Awesome pitching, Zayla.” Jenna raised her hand for a high five.
“Thanks for everything. I’m glad we were able to move to Sitka. I’d heard good things, but the team has exceeded my expectations. I just wish I could have come a lot sooner.” Zayla tapped Wren’s shoulder with hers, a silent look passing between them. So much could be said with extended eye contact.
