Fear

Ginny sat on the kitchen island. Jordan leaned against the sink. They stayed there in silence. They both knew they had to talk about it, but neither knew how to begin. Ginny swung her legs up and down kicking the island from time to time. Her hands pressed against the cool white marble top. Her shoulders raised high from tension. She wore a white silk button blouse with black running shorts. Her hair in a loose high pony. Jordan in light blue ripped jeans, also wore a white tank top with no shoes. His feet crossed at the ankles.

"Jordan." She began.

"Yeah?"

She said nothing.

"Jordan?"

"Yeah?"

Again nothing.

"Okay, I take it back," he said.

"You take it back?"

"Yes, I take it back. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have.."

"You can't take it back! And you're right! You shouldn't have…."

"Oh no? Only Lawson can huh?! Ok. There's my answer!"

"What?"

"Did you shut down on him? Because from where I was standing, you definitely didn't look shut down for him."

"Jordan! You're supposed to be my best friend! I wasn't looking at you like that."

"Well now how are you looking at me?" He was close to her now. Each hand resting at the sides of where she sat.

"Jordan! Tears began streaming down her face."

"Hey. If thinking of me that way makes you ball your eyes out I get it." He took two steps away.

"Jordan. I'm sorry. I just don't want to lose you. You're too important to me." She placed her palm against her chest. "I need you."

"Need me? No. You need Mike Lawson apparently!" He threw his hands up in the air.

Before he knew it, Ginny was kissing him. Reaching on her tippy toes her soft lush mouth assaulted his with a wet eager needy kiss. Confused and Shocked he slowly began to join in her lip lock. Tears ran down her face as he pulled her close in his embrace. He pulled her close to the length of his body from the small of her back. Her hands tangled into his hair and he lifted her onto the counter. Her legs wrapped around his hips and he pulled her closer. His hand gentle and tender on her face as his other hand unbuttoned her blouse expertly with his fingers. As his fingers slid down her bra strap and grazed her nipple, he felt her slightly pull away.

His eyes opened and he pulled away enough to look into her eyes. "This isn't right. Ginny. You're…"

He quickly turned to face something moving in the corner of his eye. Lawson stood in the doorway. The expression on his face was undeniably one of fury.

"Coach! He quickly pulled away from Ginny and with tears still rolling down her cheeks she jumped off the counter and pulled her blouse together.

"Coach. Hey, it's not what it looks like. She…I…"

"Hey, What, would it matter to me. This is private." He turned to exit and was halfway to opening his car door when Ginny pushed it shut and stood between him and his car.

"Mike!" she nearly squealed. Her voice high pitched and desperate.

"Stop! He's gonna figure it out if you don't…"

"Mike, he knows!"

"The fuck?!"

"He knows!"

"How the hell does he know Ginny!" He yelled angrily.

"He saw us! He saw us at the beach house."

Mike paced up and down the length of his car with his hands in his hair. "What the hell Ginny! This could cost me my career!"

"I know!" she cried, "but…"

"And how does him knowing lead to what I just walked into?!"

"He, it's a long story. I…"

"Oh I've got time. I need to hear this. I mean… God dammit Ginny! How long has this been going on?" The old familiar hurt overcame him all too quickly. He'd been here before. When Rachel cheated on him. Losing his wife of 15 years to another guy nearly destroyed him. In fact, he never really recovered. His hands shook.

"Mike! No! It hasn't. This just happen. He saw us. So, this morning he…he"

"He what?..." Mikes voice was low.

"I told her I'm interested." Jordan stood behind Mike who was now turning around but swinging.

"Mike! Stop!" Ginny screamed.

Jordan dodged Mike's punch, but he wasn't so lucky with the next swing. Jordan fell to the ground holding his face.

"Mike!"

Mike sipped a beer on the balcony as he waited for Ginny to return from nursing Jordan's bruised face. The thought of it boiling his blood.

Ginny returned with a frozen bag of peas. "Here, put this on your hand."

"I'm fine."

"Put it on your hand before every player puts two and two together tomorrow."

"Ginny…"

"No! It's time for you to listen. He saw us. He came to my locker and…. he told me he's interested if I'm dating ball players. He broke my heart. I love him." Mike scoffed. "No. I love him, like a brother."

"You kiss your brother?"

"No. But I didn't want to lose him. I got scared. I didn't want to lose him. So, I tried. I tried to want him the way he wants me." Her lips stretched and quivered as she tried to hold back her tears. "Because… I guess that's how afraid I am of losing my best friend." She started crying again. "I've already lost him once. I don't want to feel like that again." Mike sighed and put his arms around her. She cried into his chest. "Please tell me he's not like the other guys. They see me with someone, and they think they can convince me that I should be with them. I love Jordan. I don't want to lose him."

"Shhhh." Mike was beginning to understand. Nonetheless, it was really making him even more angry with Collins.

She lifted her head and looked into Mikes eyes. "I didn't say it back."

He knew what she was talking about. He shook his head. "No, you don't need to…."

"I love you. I have always loved you."

He looked in her beautiful brown eyes and kissed her. Slow and soft. He walked her to her bed and laid next to her. He held her close until she fell asleep.