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doubt it was going to be a long night.

“Ready?” Dylan asked as she straightened the collar on Cat’s polo shirt.

“Sure. Am I allowed to have a drink, Coach?”

“One, little one.”

“Is that a short joke?”

“Not unless you want it to be.”

“I need a really good nickname for you. Nothing like Stretch or Stilts…”

“Stilts?”

“Yeah,” Cat’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Way too overused. I’ll find something.”

“I’m sure you will.” Placing her hand gently in the small of the blonde’s back, she guided them toward the party. “Oh did you bring that envelope I asked

you to grab at the house?”

Fishing it out of her back pocket she handed it to Dylan. “What is it?”

“We’re auctioning you off as a love slave.”

“You better plan on bidding high.”

“I don’t know if I can afford you.”

“Thanks.” Cat’s smile beamed as they entered the party and were immediately swallowed up by the crowd.

Dylan turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open for Cat. “Tired?”

“Dead on my feet. God, that was worse than any practice.”

“I’ll have to revamp my practice plan.”

“How about just forgetting I said that.” Cat slumped down on the couch, kicking, off her sneakers and rubbing her feet. “The other guys will kill me if they

think you changed anything because of me.”

Dylan smiled, tossing her keys to the small table by the door. “Tea?”

“Perfect.”

As Dylan wandered off to the kitchen Cat got up and slowly followed, stretching sore tired muscles. “Who knew a pair of season tickets for the team would

go for so much money? I think that’s great.”

“Well, it’s partly because of you. You’ve really helped turn the team around. I still think we would have gotten more if we’d auctioned you off.”

“Please.” Cat dismissed as she took a seat on a stool at the breakfast nook. “I did get hit on tonight.”

“I know.”

“How could you know? You were clear across the room. You got eyes in the back of your head or something?”

A dark brow arched, “How long have we been working together? You have to ask that question?”

“All right, so I’m using up my yearly allotment of stupid in one night. It’s been a long weekend.”

“Yeah it has,” she stepped closer and kissed Cat gently on the lips. “But it’s been one of the best of my life.”

Cat smiled, again, completely charmed. “Really? Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Besides, I kinda figured our little friend Hortensia was a little too busy undressing you with her eyes, mind, teeth, and assorted other bodyparts for you to

even notice my fawning fans.” Cat grinned. “Old flame?”

Dylan snorted. “Hardly, though not for lack of trying.”

Cat shot her a look. “Not on your part, I hope.”

“Are you kidding? I’ve got standards, kiddo.”

“Whew! I hoped as much.” That earned Cat a smack to the belly, which she laughingly absorbed. “So, is it a story I want to hear?”

Dylan shrugged. “Not much of one, I’m afraid. She’s set herself up as the Holy Grail in the circle jerk we call Professional Dyke Drama.”

“Holy Grail?”

“Yup,” Dylan replied, sipping her water. “The ultimate prize to which every up and coming baby dyke in pro-sports wants to attain.”

“Ahh,” Cat said, nodding. “And you failed to show proper obeisance, and therefore committed a grave sin.”

“The gravest,” Dylan deadpanned.

“And your penance is being chased around by a gorgeous woman who wants to make love to you in a variety of ways.”

“Hey, some penances are harsher than others.” Dylan sobered. “Seriously, though, I’m just lucky she doesn’t try to out me. Though it would spell the end

for her if she did. Too many of us are still closeted, and she knows that. It’s what keeps her bread buttered.”

“Damn,” Cat breathed. “I had no idea internal politics were so…so….”

“Incestuous?”

“That’ll do for a start, yeah.”

“Eh,” Dylan shrugged again, “you get used to the drama after awhile. I just try to stay out of it all.”

“I think I’ll take that advice, thank you very much.”

The two shared a quiet laugh.

” Hey weren’t you supposed to call your folks?”

“Right. Can I…”

“Right there,” she pointed to the wall as she began steeping the tea. “Or there’s one in the living room if you want more privacy.”

“Privacy? With my folks, surely you jest.” Cat picked the cordless up and dialed the number, smiling when her mother answered.

“Hello?”

“Hi Mom, I’m making my promised call for the weekend.”

“And how is your weekend going sweetheart.”

Cat grinned like, well, the cat that ate the canary. “Dreamy.”

“That good. Well tell me all about it.”

“Nah, some things should never be said to your mother. Let’s just say that I’m having a great weekend.” She looked at Dylan and smiled. “One of the best

of my life. Of course we still have the three on three to go.”

Dylan sat the tea on the counter for her companion then leaned against the opposite one as she sipped from her own steaming mug.

“The event has been great, we’ve already raised like forty thousand dollars or something.”

“Wonderful, when will you be home?”

“Day after tomorrow. Coach and I are going to kick their butts tomorrow before we head out.”

“Oh,” her mother paused in that ‘motherly’ way. “You’re with Coach Lambert?”