Risky Investment Part 11

"No problem, now get out of here!" Chris said as she pushed him from the room and closed the door behind him. The truth was that she wasn't feeling hungry at all. Her stomach was upset with confusion.

"Hey, can I come in?" Lynn knocked on the door. Receiving no reply, she guessed that Chris was still in the shower. She edged the door open. "I'm coming in!"

"Okay!" Chris yelled from the bathroom.

Lynn glanced at the direction of the bathroom, the door ajar to let the steam out. She felt flushed, knowing that on the other side of the door Chris was probably nude. Just then, Chris opened the door wider. Lynn saw that she was not nude, but clad in a towel. Walking over to the dresser, Lynn proceeded to change.

Looking in the mirror, Chris caught herself concentrating on what was going on behind her. She saw Lynn drop her towel and pull on her underwear. Then, Lynn turned and Chris could see Lynn's b.r.e.a.s.t.s as she pulled on her sports bra. Embarra.s.sed for watching, Chris pushed the bathroom door closed behind her. She turned on the hair dryer to camouflage the moment she was taking to understand her confusion. Leaning on the counter, she told herself that she was under too much stress. That had to be the problem, way too much stress.

They arrived at the picnic just in time to hear the club president's annual speech. Walking through the crowd, they located Matt's parents at the sign-up table.

"Matt! It's about time you guys got here!" Charles said as he put his arm around his son. "Margaret, you remember my son, Matt," Charles said to the woman behind the table, who nodded. "And this is his fiancee, Chris, and of course our niece, Lynn."

Chris looked at Matt with confusion. Matt whispered, "She has to be a member of the family to compete."

"Isn't that cheating?" Chris whispered back.

"Not really," Matt explained, pointing first at a muscular young man to the right, and another to the left. "See him? He's supposedly a cousin. And he's supposedly an illegitimate son."

"Supposedly?" Chris asked.

Matt smiled and shrugged. "Yeah, but we know differently. My dad says aeAll's fair in love and war.'"

Chris laughed and thought, when first we practice to deceive*

Lynn nudged Matt. "Hey, I need food!"

"Okay, okay. Dad, we're going to grab some breakfast."

"Don't eat too much, we're on for the three-legged race in forty-five minutes," Charles responded with excitement. "First one is the couples race, that's Matt and Chris, and you and me, Lynn."

Matt whispered in Chris's ear, "My mom doesn't partic.i.p.ate, she gets overheated really easy."

Charles continued, "Then the second race is for men only, and the third, for women only." He paused to look at Chris and Lynn. "You're up for two in a row, right?"

The women smiled and nodded, as if they had a choice. Suddenly Chris felt that twinge again. She was going to have to run the three-legged race with Lynn. She was going to have to get over this feeling.

Lynn was having the same thought. Great. Tied together, arms around each other, bodies moving together. She was having hot flashes just thinking about it.

"Just juice for me," Lynn said to the buffet attendant, who handed her a gla.s.s of orange juice.

"Yeah, me too," Chris said, and she reached for the gla.s.s.

"What's wrong with you guys? I thought that you were starving?" Matt exclaimed as he reached for his third croissant.

Lynn shrugged, trying to come up with an explanation for her sudden change of heart.

Chris looked at her curiously, then answered, "I don't want to be running on a full stomach."

"Yeah, that's what it is." Lynn followed her lead.

The three were lounging at a table after finis.h.i.+ng what breakfast they had when Charles approached the table.

"Come on, come on! It's time for the first race!" he called out.

The group jogged over to the event. After partic.i.p.ating in this event last year with Matt, Lynn knew the drill and proceeded to strap her and Charles's legs together. She laughed at the other couple; they were having difficulty just getting their legs joined together. She smiled as she remembered that Matt, as athletic as he looked, was a little uncoordinated. The race began, and Charles and Lynn quickly left the other couple behind. Although they ran a good race, neither couple came in first, second, or third. The men's race was next, Charles and Matt finis.h.i.+ng sixth out of a group often. The next race was to start in five minutes.

Chris paced as the women couples began buckling the straps. Lynn was feeling just as uneasy.

"Come on, girls! You're our last hope!" Charles said as he pulled the two together and began fastening the straps. Lynn, being taller, threw her arm around Chris's shoulder as Chris put her arm around Lynn's waist.

"You can do it!" Charles called as he backed away from the starting line.

Lynn looked down at Chris, who smiled up at her. "You know, we probably could win, if we really try."

The two walked a few steps, discussing their strategy, then backed up to the starting line. They prepared for the starting gun. "Pow!" The gun rang out. The two got a good start and continued down the gra.s.sy area. They were moving as one, both of their compet.i.tiveness showing on their faces. The women around them dropped like flies, except for one couple who ran neck and neck with them.

"We've got to lose them!" Chris shouted. They sped up, and pa.s.sed the finish line one step ahead of the opposing team. They were so elated, they lost their footing, immediately falling on top of each other. Falling, laughing, then all of a sudden realizing how close they were, they stopped. Breathing heavily, Lynn reached out to pick out the gra.s.s that had lodged itself in Chris's hair. Chris looked up into Lynn's eyes and suddenly time seemed to stop. For a moment it was just the two of them, locked in each other's eyes, "Hey! I knew you guys could do it!" Charles broke into their world. He leaned down and removed the straps.

"Way to go, guys!" Matt chimed in. He reached out to help Chris up. Then turning, Chris reached her hand out to Lynn, who was still sitting on the gra.s.s. Lynn accepted and leapt to her feet.

"Well, I had to carry her half the way, but we did it!" Lynn teased.

Chris pushed Lynn's shoulder. "Ha! I was dragging your b.u.t.t!" she joked back. "So what's next?" Chris asked.

"Four-man volleyball!" Charles said, looking at his watch. "We have half an hour. Shall we go take a look at the compet.i.tion?"

The four wandered over to the court and sat down on the gra.s.s. Chris eyed the table of water bottles across the way. "Want some water?" she asked Lynn. Lynn nodded.

Matt, tired of waiting for the same question to be posed to him, said, "Yes, I would like some too, how aebout you, Dad?"

Charles, who was busy watching the action on the court, did not respond. Matt nodded to Chris to grab an extra bottle. The group sipped their water and sat on the sidelines until the game in play ended. The winners would play the next team, the McKinley family.

"Andersons and McKinleys," their game was announced, and the four scrambled onto the court. There was a slow start, their team members uncertain of their coverage areas. After the first few minutes, their game started clicking. The opposing team fell apart. The game ended, the score 15-6. Charles was elated and showed it by hugging each of his team members. Their next game was to start immediately.

"Is there anything that you're bad at?" Chris asked Lynn while they waited for the other team to take the court.

"I haven't had any complaints!" Lynn teased.

Matt, overhearing Chris's question, jumped in. "It's sickening, isn't it? She can't even let me look good in front of my dad!"

"Is it my fault that you arrange flowers better than you hit a volleyball?" Lynn kidded.

The team took their positions as the opposing team served. The ball was. .h.i.t directly to Chris, who b.u.mped it to Lynn. Lynn took it high and spiked it over the net, the ball hitting hard against the chest of a member of the opposing team. This style of play continued for the rest of the game. After the tenth point, the other team basically gave up. The four had prevailed again, Chris. .h.i.tting the winning point.

Lynn approached her with a high five. "Now, is there anything that you're bad at?"

"I haven't had any complaints," Chris said with a teasing smile and gave Lynn a wink.

Matt caught the wink out of the corner of his eye. He was glad to see the two women in his life getting along so well.

After the third victory, Charles called the group over and admitted, "I'm sorry guys, I can't play another one. I'm just not in the shape that I used to be."

"That's okay, Charles, I'm pretty worn out, too," Lynn said as she patted him on the back.

"Come on guys, we can't quit now! I'll go see if we can play with only three players." Matt jogged over to the judges' table and came back. "They said it was okay."

Charles nodded, went over to the sideline, and sat on the gra.s.s with Marie, who had finally decided to join them.

"You know, Matt, I don't think that we should continue. It may look to your dad as if we didn't really need him," Chris suggested.

Lynn followed Chris's lead. "I agree, Matt, you could really score some points if we decided we couldn't do it without him."

Matt shook his head. "No. I want to show him that we can do it." He motioned for the opposing team to take their positions.

But Chris and Lynn had other plans, and slowly but surely, they intentionally missed enough shots to lose the game. Matt hadn't noticed their less than average play. The threesome walked to the sidelines after admitting defeat.

"I guess we just couldn't pull it off without you, Charles," Chris admitted.

Charles shrugged. "Well, it's tough without a fourth player."

Marie smiled and winked at both women, who returned the wink. It would be their little secret.

"You had some good moves out there for such a little thing!" Charles said as he put his arm around Chris, then looked over at Matt. "Matt, she's definitely a keeper!"

"I think so!" Matt agreed, happy to be in favor with his dad.

"Me, too," Lynn mumbled under her breath. Chris was just within hearing range of that comment, but chose to keep the comment all to herself.

The group sat on a blanket and proceeded to watch the next few games. At four o'clock, Lynn's stomach began to rumble. Realizing that she hadn't really eaten anything all day, she suggested that they return to the buffet area, knowing that it was still fully stocked. Charles stood and helped Marie up. Matt and Chris stood and joined hands. Lynn followed behind, feeling a sudden twinge of jealousy. She wondered what it would be like to hold Chris's soft hand in hers.

"Look at all this food!" Marie exclaimed.

"Dig in, everybody," Charles said, handing plates to Lynn, Chris, and Matt. The group went down the buffet table, each filling their plate with its offerings. Just as they were nearing the end, Matt's buddy Jeff approached. Knowing that Jeff had a big mouth, Lynn thought the charade was over. She immediately went to Matt's side for damage control.

Matt, seeing the panic in her eyes, whispered, "It's okay, Lynn, I filled Jeff in since I knew that he would be here." Then, seeing his father approaching, Matt pulled Chris to his side. "Jeff, you remember Chris, don't you?"

Jeff played along. "Of course. I was watching you guys in some of the events here today, too bad about the volleyball loss."

"Yeah, well, we were just about to sit down, would you like to join us?" Chris asked politely.

"No thank you. I've had enough food today to last me the rest of the summer!" Jeff laughed. "Maybe I'll catch up to you later." He turned and left them to their meal.

"Ohhh, I believe that I've overeaten again!" Charles exclaimed as his stood rubbing his stomach. "Why do you let me do that, Marie?"

Marie looked at the other three and said sarcastically, "Like I have anything to say about it! Chris, I hope Matt listens to you more than his father listens to me!"

Chris smiled. "He doesn't listen to a word I say." Turning, she smiled at Matt. "Like father, like son, huh?"

"Well, I'm going to go for a litde stroll, try to settle my stomach a little bit. How about it, Marie?" Charles asked his wife as he slid her chair out for her. They joined hands and strolled away.

"Excuse me, I think I'll go to the little boys' room." Matt stood and went off to locate the restroom.

Chris and Lynn were left: alone at the table, both still nibbling at their desserts.

"Umm* you have got to try this!" Chris said to Lynn, offering her a forkful of lemon-filled cake.

"I don't think so, it looks too rich for me," Lynn answered.

"Oh, come on, it's so moist and creamy*" Chris teased, circling her fork toward Lynn's mouth. Lynn blushed, she couldn't refuse such a description, and put her mouth over the fork. Chris, caught up in the s.e.xual overtones, withdrew the fork and slowly licked the remains off of the utensil.

Lynn, surprised at the action but refusing to back down, took a bit of the key lime pie from her plate and offered it to Chris saying, "Then you must try a bite of this, it's so smooth and tangy*"

Chris took the fork with her hand and put the dessert in her mouth, slowly bringing the fork out and chewing slowly while letting out a deep moan.

"G.o.d, you're good at that, too!" Lynn was breathless with excitement.

Chris smiled, glad to have succeeded in yet another compet.i.tion.

Charles and Marie resurfaced with Matt, who was carrying drinks from the bar. Lynn looked at her watch. She really needed to go home and shower before she played tonight.

"I'm sorry, it's been fun, but I'd better get going. If I go to the bar like this, I'd be laughed off the stage!"

"Oh, but you'll miss the awards ceremony, and we actually won one this year!" Marie said with disappointment in her voice.

"I know, but the other half of the winning team will be here to accept the award." She motioned to Chris, refusing to look directly in Chris's eyes. She was afraid that the heat would rise in her face again.

They said their good-byes and Lynn went on her way, disappointed for having to leave Chris but glad to be going home to yet another cold shower.

It was after midnight when Matt steered the El Camino onto the freeway. "G.o.d! I am so glad that you won an event. My dad has been wanting to win something for so long."

Chris blushed. "Well, I didn't do it alone, you know. I couldn't have done it without Lynn. She's in great shape!"

"Yeah. She keeps in shape for the ladies."

Chris turned in her seat in exasperation. "You know, you make it sound like all Lynn cares about in life is s.e.x! She doesn't seem like that to me. She's been really nice this week, helping you out with your little charade, being there when I got sick, giving me her bed."

Matt ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry, you're right. I've been giving you the wrong picture of Lynn. She really is a great person and a great friend. She'd give you the s.h.i.+rt off her back if you needed it." Matt laughed. "Especially since you're a woman!"

Chris slapped Mart's arm. "You're incorrigible!"

"I'm p.o.o.ped, it's straight to bed for me," Matt said. "Yeah, me too," she agreed as she headed for the bedroom. Showering, Chris changed into her bed clothes and stretched out on the bed. She lay there on her back, in the dark, for what seemed like hours, her mind reviewing the last few days. She rolled over onto her stomach, trying to get comfortable, trying to feel comfortable with her surroundings and with herself. Frustrated, she switched on the light. Maybe if she had something to read. She hadn't brought any novels with her, because she hadn't thought that she would have the time. She pulled out Lynn's bedside drawer, looking for a book or a magazine. She a.n.a.lyzed its contents: an address book, an empty notebook, investment magazines (this puzzled her), and a romance novel. Pulling the novel from the drawer, she flipped it over to read the back cover: Mich.e.l.le pulled away her blouse to reveal her bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Trina brushed her hand against Mich.e.l.le's hardened nipple and. their lips met hungrilyae, their desire for each other* Chris dropped the book. The book was describing two women! She never knew books like this existed. Actually, she had never thought about it. Nevertheless, Chris, feeling like she had uncovered a secret, picked up the book and guiltily stuffed it back into the drawer. Maybe there was something on television.

Lynn sat on the edge of the stage watching people file out the door, some coupling up, some leaving alone. She always got melancholy this time of the night, realizing that she would be leaving alone. There were those few occasions where she had hooked up with someone during the night, and then, she knew there would be a few hours of pleasure, just to end being alone again. Tonight she felt even more alone than usual.

"Hey, you all packed up? If you haven't noticed, the bar is closed," Sam called from the seating area as she helped wipe off the remaining dirty tables. Noticing that Lynn wasn't budging, Sam dropped her cloth on a table, sauntered up to the stage, and sat beside her.

"What's wrong? Why aren't you going home?" Sam asked softly, peeking around Lynn's face, which was tilted down.