Page 95 of November

Maisie swung, grunting as she connected with another ball, and it was hot. India cleared her throat and squeezed her thighs together. When Maisie turned around to answer her question, she caught where India’s eyes had gone.

“Are you looking at my ass?”

“Yes,” she replied. “And I believe checkingoutyour ass would be the right turn of phrase.”

“And did you just say, ‘Turn of phrase?’” Maisie asked.

“I did. Problem?”

“Nope,” Maisie replied, shaking her head. “I kind of like you checking out my ass and that you say stuff like, ‘Turn of phrase.’”

“Are you done showing off yet?” India laughed.

“I’m not showing off. I’m legitimately practicing. I have a game tomorrow.”

“You have a softball game tomorrow?!”

“Yeah, tomorrow night,” Maisie said. “First game back in a few months. I’m out of practice.”

“You don’tlookout of practice.”

“You get back into it pretty quickly, but I’ve only taken ten pitches. Can I go another couple of rounds, or are you starving?”

“Can I keep checking out your ass?”

Maisie considered and said, “I’ll allow it.”

“Then, I’m in,” India replied. “So, softballin college?”

“Yeah, I played shortstop. It was real softball, though. This is slow-pitch with a bunch of lesbians, and they mostly drink and hang out. I play for keeps.”

Maisie pressed the button on the box and went back, getting ready for the first pitch.

“For keeps?”

“To win,” Maisie explained and swung, connecting with the ball and launching it well beyond the machine until it hit the wall and bounced down to be collected later. “I’m not a crazy competitive person most of the time.” She swung and connected again before resetting. “This election has brought it back out in me, but outside of that, it’s just softball. I really like it when we win.”

“Do you have uniforms?” India asked.

“Yeah. Why?”

“I’ve seen baseball uniforms. Are they like that?”

Maisie hit another ball and then turned to her and walked away from the plate as the next pitch hit the fence separating India from Maisie and the other hitting balls.

“Why?”

“No reason.” India shook her head.

“Do you like the pants?”

“They looked tight, so yes, I was thinking about you in them.”

Maisie smiled and said, “I don’t wear the pants, but I do have sliding shorts.”

“What are those?”

“Basically, spandex with a little padding on the sides to protect you when you slide.”