Racquetball (closed)

[StFornicate]

I was all packed, and ready to go. The three-day long business trip I was taking with my coworker Natasha wasn't our first, by any stretch of the imagination, but it was the first we would be taking together. In this business, travelling was fairly common. I was usually out of town for a few days or a week about once a month, to other corporate offices around the country.

My lovely wife Sydney drove me to the airport. She was a stunner, and I knew I was a very lucky man to have her. We kissed our goodbyes as I saw my coworker, Natasha, arrive nearby. Sydney saw her as well, and smirked. We exchanged a knowing smile as my wife looked over at Natasha, then back at me.

"Remember your racquetball equipment?" she asked me with a wink.

"Of course. I never leave home without it," I said, returning the wink. We kissed goodbye once more and I grabbed my carryon bag and waved to Natasha, and then headed towards her to help with her bags, waving at her husband as he pulled away in the car.

"Hey there Natasha. Ready to go?" I asked her, smiling. Natasha was, by far, my favorite co-worker to travel and work with. We got along well and were both very good at our jobs.

 

[Angeleyz]

I was reminding my husband about David's math test the next day and the need to find and return Bree's library book when I noticed John getting out of a nearby car. Grabbing my laptop bag, I started getting out, when I realized I hadn't kissed Mike goodbye. Leaning over, I gave him a perfunctory kiss on the cheek while murmuring, "Thanks for the ride, honey." Sliding out of the car, I grabbed my carry-on from the backseat and muttered something about calling before the kids' bedtime that evening. Shutting the door quickly, I stepped out of the kiss and ride lane.

Spotting John and his wife, I tried not smirk at their extended good-bye. It was good to see that some things never changed. The entire team enjoyed kidding John repeatedly over the last few months at their newlywed-like behavior, even though they had been married for almost 10 years. Actually if I were honest with myself, I'd admit that I was pretty envious of their relationship. John always called and texted numerous times a day when the team had gone on our various trips, and they still acted like they couldn't get enough of each other.

I felt a little guilty about how much I was looking forward to this trip. Sure we were going to have a lot of things to do, but I wouldn't have to worry about negotiating who was going to pick the kids up from day care, make dinner, review homework, shuttle the kids to their various afternoon and evening activities and then deal with laundry and other household chores once the kids went to bed. I loved my kids, but three three whole days of real evening free time... It would almost be like being on vacation.

Heels ringing out sharply against the pavement, I walked towards John and barely had time to give a little wave to his wife before she too was able to pull away from the sidewalk. A sudden gust of wind lifted my knee length dress halfway up my thighs. Struggling to smooth the fabric back down and not drop my bags, I smiled as John greeted me.

"Yup, ready to go brave the security lines," I said impishly, "Bet you a Diet Coke one of us gets tagged for the body scan." I was pretty confident I'd win that bet given the number of times someone from our group was singled out. It seemed that Kaitlin or I typically got that honor as the lone females on the team, so I was pretty confident I'd be getting that Diet Coke.

 

[StFornicate]

I had to smirk at her words. "Yeah, I'll take that bet," I replied, as we entered the terminal. This trip was just the two of us; a small job needed to be done at the Chicago office. It was unusual that the whole team wasn't going, but the rest of them were tied up with a rapidly approaching deadline. The deal we were brokering in Chicago was integral to the whole process.

I quickly surveyed the metal-detector lanes ahead of us, and guided Natasha along. They were moving along pretty well, and in no time we were placing our bags on the conveyor to get X-rayed. I walked right through without a hitch, but behind me, Natasha set off the metal-detector. I raised an eyebrow and looked back at her as I collected my bags and sat down to slip my shoes back on.

Yep, I owed her a diet coke.

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha sighed when the metal detector went off and the burly TSA agent motioned her over. She offered him a polite smile while he waved the wand up and down her sides. "I swear the only metal I have on is either the zipper of my dress or the underwire in my bra," she said trying to coax a smile from the man. He just grunted and waved her through when the wand stayed silent.

Natasha grabbed her shoes, laptop bag and carry on and passed over to where John was waiting. "So nice to see my record is unbroken," she grinned as she slipped her heels back on. "I think you might just need to add some rum in that Diet Coke you owe me."

 

[StFornicate]

John smiled, grabbing his own bag, and nodded. "I think that can be arranged," he said as they made their way through the terminal. As they neared the gate, an announcement came over the PA system.

"Flight 3301, 126, and 7730 to Chicago have all been delayed due to inclement weather..."

"Shit," John muttered. "That's us." He pulled out his iPhone and loaded up a weather app, and groaned. "Yeah, probably gonna be a couple hours," he said. He raised an eyebrow at Natasha, and then noticed the airport restaurant/bar down the terminal.

"How about that rum and diet?" he said, nodding towards the bar...

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha sighed at the announcement, wondering if the trip would end up being cancelled outright. It would be just her luck... probably for getting so excited about the mini vacation in the first place.

How about that rum and diet?​

Glancing at the time on her own phone, Natasha debated for all of 15 seconds before responding, "What the hell... Why not?! I haven't had a liquid lunch since the farewell luncheon for Jennings two years ago." Flashing an impish smile, she continued, "Just help me remember to sip it since I had a pretty small breakfast and I don't want to end up slumped over whomever I'm sitting next to later... assuming the flights don't get cancelled outright."

 

[StFornicate]

John smiled at her, his free hand casually finding the small of her back, leading her along to the restaurant. "Let's get some appetizers too," he suggested as they took a seat at the bar. The bartender came over to them, and John happily ordered for them.

"A big Budweiser for me, a diet coke and rum for my lovely traveling companion, and an order of boneless hot wings and mozzarella sticks," John said.

He turned back to Natasha. "And don't worry. I believe it's just one of those summer thunderstorms in Chicago. It'll blow through pretty quick, I'm sure."

He gave her a little nudge with his elbow. "Besides, flying is much better when you pre-party," he said, giving her a wink. "Kinda reminds me of college," he chuckled.

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha smiled to herself at John's casual maneuvering. He was such a hands on kinda guy. It had taken her a bit to get used to as Mike was almost the exact opposite, but he did it to everyone so now it rarely registered when he did it. Placing her bags in the chair to her right, Natasha slid onto the bar stool and casually crossed her legs.

A big Budweiser for me, a diet coke and rum for my lovely traveling companion, and an order of boneless hot wings and mozzarella sticks.

Planning on snagging a mozzarella stick or two, Natasha figured she could always order a salad if the drink was too strong. She hoped he was correct in his assessment of the duration of the storm - he was more familiar with that area after all.

Besides, flying is much better when you pre-party. Kinda reminds me of college.

Natasha shook her a little at his words. "You might have been able to pre-flight as we called it, but since my nickname was 'the one wine cooler woman'... I could never do it, or it would end up as a really short outing for me."

Her smile dared him to contradict her as she went on, "Of course, I can handle my liquor so much better now."

 

[StFornicate]

John had to chuckle at her tale, and raised an eyebrow at her declaration of having an improved tolerance for alcohol. He smirked as their drinks were delivered.

"Perhaps we'll have an opportunity to find out if that's true," John said, picking up his beer and taking a drink. Damn, that was good, he thought. Just what he needed.

Their appetizers were being delivered when an announcement came over the PA regarding their flight being delayed... for another two hours.

"God, well, at least we don't have a connecting flight we're going to miss, right?" Johm said. "Bartender, another round over here please!"

 

[Angeleyz]

Knowing she had a habit of gulping her soda... you'd think she was dying of thirst the way she downed her drinks, but it was a subconscious thing... Natasha forced herself to measure out her sips. Even so, she had still managed to drink most of it before she spotted the bartender heading their way with the appetizers.

Natasha groaned when the announcement came on about the additional hour delay. She raised an eyebrow at John's call for another round, wondering if she should wave off a second drink for a bit. The alcohol hadn't seem to hit her yet, but she knew from past experience how fast rum could sneak up on her.

Just as she was getting ready to counter John's order, her phone chirped with a text message from Kaitlin asking her where some files were stored. By the time she finished answering the text, a fresh drink sat in front of her. Habit had her tossing the first drink back, and she almost had a coughing fit as she realized that most of the rum had settled to the bottom.

Snagging a mozzarella stick, Natasha purposefully pushed the second drink slightly out of the way to give her time to get food in her stomach. "I guess we're going to have to reschedule our afternoon meetings now, thanks to the delays," she said.

 

[StFornicate]

John already had his smart phone out. "Yeah, I'm sending them an email now," he explained, his fingers darting across the screen as he typed out the message. Moments later, he snapped up a mozzarella stick. "Sent," he said, chewing off a bite and washing it down with what remained of his first beer.

A bell on his phone rang a minute later. "Perfect. Meeting will be first thing in the morning. Which means..." he said, taking another gulp of his beer, "that we don't have to restrain ourselves," he told her with a wink.

He knew from prior experience that Natasha was a bit of a lightweight when it came to drinking... but he also knew that she had a tendency to open up quite a bit once she had a few drinks in her. His hand trailed across her back again, as he recalled what his wife had told him when she dropped him off. Racquetball...

Racquetball had a special meaning for them; unique, probably. He smiled at the thought.

 

[Angeleyz]

Shivering ever so slightly at John's touch, Natasha picked up her second glass and toasted him, "I'll drink to that!" She took a small sip and then carefully placed the glass slightly out of casual reach once more. She giggled a little at the smile on John's face, figuring his thoughts were centered around his wife like always. Actually that reminded her, she and Kaitlin had failed to make their wager on how many times John would end up smirking while texting Sydney. One of these days, one of them was going to get daring enough to ask him what they were talking about, but for now... They contented themselves on their wagers. Kaitlin was more accurate, so perhaps it was better that they hadn't made the bet after all.

Recrossing her legs, Natasha wasn't all that surprised to realize that her toes were feeling a little tingly. 'Gah, already?' she thought even as she called out to the bartender for a glass of water. It was fine being a lightweight in college, but it was embarrassing to feel effects of alcohol after a single drink now.

 

[StFornicate]

"Cheers!" John replied, clinking his glass against Natasha's. He took a drink, and then his phone buzzed with a newly arrived text message. Casually sliding a finger across the screen, he had a chuckle ever so slightly at his wife's query.

"How goes things with our unicorn?" read the message. John just shook his head, chuckling, as he replied: "Still not sure she exists " He set his phone aside and took another drink, and grabbed the last of wing out of the basket and popped it in his mouth.

"So, Natasha, random question: do you play racquetball at all?"

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha struggled not to roll her eyes as John chuckled over whatever was on his phone. 'And so it begins,' she thought. She casually checked her watch and snickered softly. '40 minutes... I think that's a record.' The dimples in her cheeks appeared as she tried to not to laugh louder.

So, Natasha, random question: do you play racquetball at all?"

Cocking her head to one side at the odd question, Natasha gave John a look that screamed "Okayyyyyy..." even as she answered, "I played it off and on in college when the courts were available. Why?" She took another sip of her drink, making a face at how much stronger the second drink seemed to be.

 

[StFornicate]

"My wife, Sydney, and I recently picked up the game again. There's an athletic club in the basement of the hotel we're staying at in Chicago, and they apparently have racquetball courts," John explained. "And while we very much enjoy playing together, sometimes the best way to improve your game is to play with other people," he said, watching as she sipped on her drink.

"And you seem like a fairly athletic woman, maybe there's a thing or two I could learn from you."

The bartender came by and picked up their empty plates.

"Do you and your husband have anything like that you do together?" he asked her. He didn't want to pry too much, too quickly, into too many personal details with her. But, he had a feeling that she was beginning to see him as a confidant of sorts. Perhaps she would open up to him? He had a feeling that she found him attractive, but he also knew that she saw him as a man who was happily married, and therefore out-of-bounds sexually. He smirked at the thought. Little did she know...

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha always packed work out clothes when she went on travel, although she tended to be a cardio rat or use free weights if they were available. She couldn't recall a time when racquetball courts were available at a hotel, but she was excited about the thought of playing with John. Okay, if she were honest with herself, she was just excited about getting to spend free time with him. She had had a work crush on him forever and was afraid other people might have started to figure it out.

She agreed with concept of playing with different partners. That way you didn't settle into complacency - it definitely kept you on your toes if you didn't know what your partner was going to do.

And you seem like a fairly athletic woman, maybe there's a thing or two I could learn from you.

Natasha barely contained her snort at his words. She knew he kept in shape with various disciplines of martial arts, and he was always talking about the different marathons and what not that he did on the weekends. The thought that she could teach Mr "I once tried out for American Gladiator" anything was laughable, but it sounded fun.

Do you and your husband have anything like that you do together?

The dimples in Natasha's cheeks disappeared and she began tracing the rim of her glass with a French manicure tipped index finger. She struggled with finding the right response to his question. She tried hard to keep the different parts of her life compartmentalized - there was work Natasha and the trapped Natasha.

 

[StFornicate]

John saw Natasha grow distant at his question. Damn. That wasn't his intention at all. He placed the flat of his palm on the small of her back, applying just a bit of supportive pressure there.

"Hey, sorry, I don't mean to pry," he said. He took his hand off her back and grasped his beer glass, and took a drink.

"But, hey, we're gonna be stuck together for a few days," he continued. "If you need someone to talk to, just know you can trust me. Or, at the very least, I can recommend a good therapist," he chuckled, and finished his beer, eyeing her half-full drink.

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha smiled ruefully at John's words. Taking a large gulp of her drink, she waited a moment, letting the heat from the liquor hit her stomach before she replied, carefully avoiding his eyes, "It's okay... I suppose you've guessed things could be... better... between Mike and I." She took another swig and then ended softly with, "we've sorta drifted apart over the years."

Natasha fiddled with her glass, swirling it so that the ice cubes made a tiny tinkling sound as they hit the walls of the glass. Pasting on a smile, she looked up and said, "Perhaps I'll ask him if he wants to take up racquetball too if I prove I'm not too rusty."

 

[StFornicate]

"Sometimes it just takes one common interest to reignite a relationship," John offered by way of advice. He was about to elaborate when an announcement came over the PA: "Flight 7730 to Chicago is now boarding."

He raised an eyebrow. "That's us," he said. He pulled out his wallet and opened it up, pulled out a fifty and dropped it on the bar. "Drink up," he told Natasha with a wink. He had been about to order another round, but there would be drinks on the plane.

He picked up his bags. "Ready?"

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha shrugged her shoulder slightly in acknowledgment of his words, but she wasn't convinced there was much to rekindle her relationship with Mike. They were in a rut... Had been for at least two years... And she was tired of being envious of other people's relationships.

Drink up

She flung back the contents of her glass and placed it down with a thunk. Probably not the smartest move, but the tingly feeling in her feet was starting to pervade her whole body and she just didn't care.

Ready?

Natasha slid off the bar stool and promptly started to lose her balance. Grabbing onto the first thing she could hold, which happened to be John's arm, she blushed as she giggled "Whoops, guess the drinks were stronger than I thought." Taking a second to make sure she had her balance, she reluctantly let go of his arm and picked up her bags.

"Let's roll."

 

[StFornicate]

John chuckled and smirked as Natasha caught herself on his arm. The two big beers had given him a slight buzz, but he was solid as a rock as he helped the smaller woman find her balance, and then picked up one of her bags and carried it for her to the plane. They were ushered onto the plane in short order, and John helped Natasha to her seat and placed her carry-on with his in the overhead compartment before slipping into the seat next to her.

"Guess that storm blew through faster than expected, huh?" he said. "You alright?" he asked her.

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha felt unsteady for the entire walk to her seat. All she could do was pray she didn't stumble or something foolish like that, and was grateful when she could plop into her assigned seat. Thanking her lucky stars that John was her seat mate and not some random stranger that would decide she was too petite to need leg room... or armrest room, Natasha tucked her laptop bag under the seat in front of her.

Guess that storm blew through faster than expected, huh? You alright?"

Natasha answered breezily, "Sure... Never felt better," even as she shook her head slightly trying to clear it. "Help me remember to ask for some water though, will you?"

 

[StFornicate]

"Absolutely," John said, strapping himself in with the safety belt. He leaned back in his seat, trying to relax. He had a gentle buzz on, from the beer, and was quite content. The scent of this woman next to him filled his nostrils subtly, and that was even more intoxicating.

Minutes later, the plane was moving down the runway, and shortly therafter taking off into the sky. For all of John's strengths, he was a nervous flyer; the rush of take-off felt unnatural to him, and frayed his nerves. His knuckles went white as he gripped the armrests on either side of him.

Taking off was pretty bad, but landing was always worse. He was thankful they served alcohol!

 

[Angeleyz]

Natasha busied herself by looking out the window as John settled himself in. She got a kick out of watching the crew scramble around, taking care of all the last minute 'whatevers'. She often imagined it was a similar scene to what seafarers would have observed back in the day.

As the plane pushed back from the gate, Natasha leaned her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes. This was the part that she detested about traveling... Well, besides her bad luck with seat mates invading her personal space... For whatever reason, she was always nervous the first 5 minutes in the air. 'Like something bad can only happen in that time,' she scoffed at herself. Even so, she performed her typical routine of 'Our Fathers' and 'Hail Mary's' until she decided it was safe to open her eyes.

Thinking that perhaps John had fallen asleep, Natasha turned her head and was surprised to see him staring straight ahead, lips tight. Looking down, she noticed his grip on the armrests. It took her several beats to realize that John seemed to be more nervous than she had been.

Without thinking, she reached over and stroked his hand. "It's okay, John... We're good after the first 5 minutes," she said in a low voice, not wanting to embarrass him.

 

[StFornicate]

Her voice snapped him out of his nervous trance. He blinked, shaking his head a bit, and chuckled, although not at anything funny. His hand turned over, and clenched hers as he looked at her.

"Thank you," he said, softly. The plane was ascending, and almost as soon as their eyes locked, and John felt an irresistible urge to lean over and kiss her, the plane leveled off and the pilot made an announcement:

"We are now flying at thirty-seven thousand feet..."

John chuckled again. "You know, after all this traveling for work, you'd think I'd get used to this," he said, his hand still holding onto Natasha's. "It's not like it's really that bad, right? It's way more dangerous to drive," he said. The flight attendant came by, and John stopped her.

"Ah, yes, we need a water, a rum and diet coke, and a beer. Uhm, Budweiser is fine."