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“I played in junior high. Softball,” she clarified. “Did you play any sports?”
I shook my head. “My father tried to get me involved in football, but I wasn’t any good. I tried out for the junior high team, but I didn’t make it. Thankfully, he gave up after that.”
She reached for her soda. “It sounds like you have a turbulent relationship with your parents.”
I nodded. “I told my mom about you.”
“What did she say?”
“She said ‘be careful.’” I narrowed my eyes as if relaying a terrible message.
Tammy giggled. “Be careful about what?”
I shrugged. “She didn’t say, and I didn’t ask.”
“I suppose she thinks we’re going to have sex.”
I let that statement be. If I was lucky, the night would end up that way, but I didn’t want to jinx it.
“My parents died in a car crash two years ago,” she said.
“I’m sorry. That must have been so horrible.” I reached across the blanket to take her hand.
“Thanks,” she sniffed. “Even if your mom is annoying, try to cherish every moment you have with her.”
I nodded. “I do. I’ve been making a better effort. Were you with your ex at the time?”
She cast her eyes toward the sky that was rapidly growing dark. “Yes.”
“Was he any help?”
“He was not, unfortunately,” she said.
“He’s the guy who cheated on you?” I asked.
She nodded. “Actually, I was the person he was cheating with. He had another girlfriend the whole time, and I didn’t know. I don’t know which side feels more awful.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah.” She rubbed her nose.
“I know that’s not something you get over. Your parents, I mean.” I scooted closer, putting an arm around her.
“It’s not, but it gets easier with time.” She leaned back against my chest. “Look, you can see the stars.”
I looked up, though what I really wanted to focus on was her face. The moon was out, and I could see almost as clearly as day. There were a few stars strong enough to break through with their light, but it was nothing like what you could see on a moonless night. Then, the stars would have gone on forever. Sometimes you could even see the entire galaxy, spinning away from the Earth with gossamer fingers.
“You can’t really see the stars in Austin,” Tammy continued, mesmerized.
I looked back down at her, much more alluring than the moon. “We should come back when there isn’t a full moon.”
She met my eyes and smiled. “But I think it’s lovely.”
“Without a doubt.”
I kissed her, and she opened her mouth to me, her tongue soft. I licked deep, tasting the sour cream and the salt of the beef she had just eaten. Threading one hand beneath her neck, I lifted her head up so that I could plunge even deeper. She followed my lead, arching up to allow me access.
Suddenly, the twang of a taut line caught my ear, and I cursed. Leaping up, I grabbed her fishing rod and wound it in without a care for the integrity of the pole. A thrashing fish broke through the surface of the water, and I yanked it from the hook, tossing it back into the lake. I dropped the rod to the ground and, as a precaution, removed my own rod from its stand and reeled it in. When I had finished, I turned, expecting to find Tammy laughing, still seated on the blanket.
