Game of Love (18 page)

When the song ended, Gemma came out of her trance and saw everyone hugging Linda. Red, swollen eyes and wet cheeks reshaped the faces of the clan. She wiped her own tears. Maybe she didn’t belong, but she wanted to.

Minutes later, after Dan retired the guitar, Gemma watched Dina playing with Haley. Dina was maybe a few years older than Gemma, yet she was married and had a child already. She wondered when she would be able to plan for a family.

“Hey you, what’s on your mind?” Andre asked.

She snapped out of it. “Nothing. A bit overwhelmed, I suppose. Also, I think I’ve fallen in love with Haley.”

“She became more adorable after I became her godfather. This is documented fact.”

“I’m sure it is. How long have you known Dina?”

“Since second grade. My first love.”

Gemma spun to him. “Dina? She’s the one?”

“Yup, until I was fifteen,” he said, smiling in reflection.

“What happened?”

“She and my best friend Dan fell in love.”

“No, I mean what happened with you two? Did you separate when you went to MIT?”

Andre turned to Gemma. “Oh no, you misunderstand me. I was in love with her, but she had no clue.”

Gemma stared at Andre. “Why didn’t you tell her?”

He shrugged. “Too young, too dumb. Then my world turned upside down.”

Silence. “Sorry for diggin’ up old memories,” Gemma said.

“Don’t be. All those memories make me who I am and give me what I have today. It may not be a perfect tapestry, but it’s mine. I continue to believe–I have to believe–things will turn out in the end.” He faced her. “It’ll all turn out in the end, right?”

“Yes.” She put her hand on his. “It always does.”

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.”
~John Wooden

y noon, the heavy crowds had confined Gemma beneath the canopy. She watched the gang clear their possessions, and as the items were hauled to the cars, Gemma’s heartbeat raced. She didn’t want to be harassed, but she also didn’t want the day to end. It was ending, though, and little could be done. Probably for the best. Time to go back home and find out why her team had been calling and texting her all day.

She held Andre’s hand. “I better leave also. I had a great–”

“Leave? We’re heading over to Dan and Dina’s for a BBQ. Come with us.”

That sounded nice, so different. She had never been to a proper BBQ. Joining them was like petting a tiger.

“It’s a brilliant idea,” Dan said in a pitiful British accent. “Admit you want to be with us. The sooner you admit it, the sooner the healing begins.”

Gemma laughed. “Are all your friends like you?” she asked Andre.

“How so?”

“Smartasses.”

“Sadly, yes. But they’re trying to behave–this being the first time and all.”

She wondered if this would also be the last.

“I tell you what, I challenge you to a tennis match,” Andre said.

“Ooh,” Linda cooed.

“That’s right. And I guarantee I’ll win. If I lose, I’ll take you back home. But if I win, you stay with us the rest of the day.”

“And am I allowed to use my arms and legs?” Gemma asked.

“All of them.”

“The gauntlet has been dropped,” Dina said.

“This is going to get ugly,” Chris added.

“Five bucks Gemma creams him,” Sandy said.

“Well?” Andre asked, and crossed his arms.

She studied him, wondering what he was up to. She’d have to find out. “Challenge accepted.”

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Xavi asked Gemma.

“Yes. It’s a brilliant idea,” she said, using Dan’s earlier line. “They’ll never see me.” She was in Xavi’s truck, lying flat in the rear king cab section, so when he drove through the crowd outside her home, no one would see her.

“No, I mean going with these people you just met.”

“Stop talking. People will see your mouth moving and know someone’s back here.” A few moments passed. “And yes, they are good people.”

He mumbled something in Spanish. She could hear the crowd now. He must have been passing through them. She remained frozen solid. Then the truck picked up speed. She sat up.

“There, that’s his car,” she said, pointing to Andre’s car some one-hundred yards away.

Xavi pulled ahead of Andre’s, then stepped out. “I am not crazy about this,” he said as he opened the rear door. “That is a fast car.”

“I’ll tell him to drive slowly. He’ll listen to me. He’s a good bloke.”

“I have memorized his license plate, just in case.”

She leapt out, gave him a kiss, then ran to Andre’s car. He was waiting, passenger door open. “I told you it would work,” she said.

“Very cloak and dagger of you.”

She hopped into the car. “We have to get creative sometimes.” He shut the door and jogged around to his side.

“The guy who drove you is giving me the eye,” he said as they drove off.

“Xavi? He’s a puppy. Then again, you could be a mass murderer.”

“True.”

“Bugger. I forgot my racquet.”

“Fret not, m’dear. Racquets will be provided.”

“Does my racquet include the strings?”

“Your racquet will be as good as mine.”

“How in God’s name do you plan to beat me at tennis?”

“You forget, I’m a genius.”

“An arrogant one at that.” Her phone rang. She studied it.

“What do you say if for one day we leave that other world behind?”

She turned off her phone then dropped it in her bag. “What other world?” She fiddled with the radio, hoping to find some decent music. They came to a red light.

“I love this song,” he said. The station was playing a Muse song. The same one had been blaring in Johnny’s car when they had the accident in Australia. All those dark memories came at her.

“Do you mind if I change it?” she asked. She could feel his eyes on her.

“No, of course not. Something wrong?” he asked.

She turned off the radio. “That song brought back bad memories from an incident in Australia. It’s sad how a song I used to love now reminds me of bad memories.”

“It can go the other way too,” he said. “From now on, each time I hear
Black Bird
, I will remember how you spent the day with me at the beach.”

He lifted her hand then kissed the inside of her wrist. Butterflies, millions of them, flapped through her fingers and arm. His lips lingered for a moment before placing another peck on her. He laid her hand on his leg, squeezing it. He glanced at her.

She was trying to focus, trying to control the urge. “That was lovely,” she whispered.

He slid his hand through her hair to the back of her neck and brought her lips into his. She was addicted to his taste, his scent, his warmth. She could do this forever.

A car horn blared.

He pulled back. She wobbled.

“Damn green light,” he said then accelerated away. He gazed at her. “Are you okay?”

“Shh,” she said, “give me a moment to control my heart rate.”

Fifteen minutes later, they reached Venice Beach, thick with crowds.

“We’re going to play tennis here? I can’t play in a public–”

“Patience,” he said as they got out of the car.

“Did you say Dan and Dina live here? This must be expensive.” She slid on a beanie and raised her jacket’s collar.

“They rent here, and you’re looking at the landlord.”

“This is yours?”

“Bought it a year ago and rented it to them. I am robbing them blind though. I make them pay for their own groceries.”

“Helping the girl who broke your heart? How noble.”

“Just giving my friends a helping hand. We all could use a little help.” He put his arm around her shoulder and brought her close.

She breathed in his scent. She felt drunk on how good he smelled and how complete she felt in his arms.

“Come on,” he said. “I need to whoop your British arse.”

Gemma was immediately taken by Dina and Dan’s vibrant home. Through the large, vertical windows, sunlight drenched the living area. Mosaic-adorned Spanish tiles paved the floors. Black and white photographs accented the walls. The house was simple, pure, perfect.

“I got you something,” Linda said to Andre. She handed him a plastic bag.

He dug in quickly. Gemma could imagine that same look of excitement on a young Andre come Christmas Day.