Dana angrily loaded another twenty pounds on the leg press. Tina watched her with concern. Dana, youre going to hurt yourself, if you keep on working out like this. Whats got you so pissed off?

NothingI just feel like making it burn today, okay? Dana flipped the release and strained to hold the weight. Her legs trembled, and her face twisted with the effort. Tina stepped in and guided the weights to the rack. Flip itthats enough! She stepped back and glared down at Dana. Now tell me what the ***** is going on with you!

Dana grabbed her towel and jumped up from the bench. Its nothingat least nothing I have any right to get pissed about. She wiped her face and looked at Tina. As the pair walked from the gym, Dana looked at her friend and said, Its Lara. I saw her today with another woman.

Ohhhh. Tina felt a small smile tug at her lips.

What the ***** is that supposed to mean? Are you laughing at me? Dana was furious, and her eyes were serious enough that Tina sobered immediately.

Of course not, Danaits justwell, Id wondered when that would happen. Its been apparent that youve still had Lara on your mind for awhile. Why dont you talk to her? So much has happened since you guys broke up. Dont you think she might be interested in working it out with you? The two of you seemed so good together.

Until I screwed it up. Dana bit her lip in frustration. The vision of Laras hurt face as Dana had walked away from her that awful Saturday morning still haunted her. How could she have done that? Lara had treated her like no one else ever had. And Dana had walked all over that just because of her stupid fears of coming out. Not forty-eight hours later, Dana had found herself the ***** Anna Kournikova. Shed managed to out herself to her family, and had found a new confidence that being herself had given her. Still, she couldnt manage to face Lara. She saw the woman, clad in her chefs uniform almost daily, as she walked by the tennis courts into the clubhouse, but Lara never turned her head in acknowledgement of Danas presence. She hates me! Dana wailed and buried her face in her towel.

Tina shook her headDana tended to be a little melodramatic, but if Lara was with another woman, maybe things were at an impasse. It was too bad, thoughthe redhead had seemed to be a perfect counterbalance to Dana.

-*-*-*

Marina finished the afternoon in a sour mood. She couldnt believe that Sadie and Lara were an item, but the way Sadie had smiled and let her head rest on the redheads shoulder belied an intimacy that was beyond friendship. Marina felt like an idiot.

It serves me right, she said as she gathered the receipts for the breakfast and lunch crowds. She slipped into her office to begin the task of tallying her sales. As she moved about the office gathering her calculator and ledgers, she thought ruefully of her misguided plan of dating Robin to make Jenny jealous. Look where that landed me. She said and looked around the office. Alone!

Well, I guess thats the way it should be. Im not the kind of woman who settles down anyway. Maybe Shane has had it right all along. Maybe Ill find someone to soothe my worries tonight. She began to write checks for her staff, but the sour funk shed fallen into remained almost palpable throughout the evening hours.

-*-*-*

Sadie smiled as she looked through her closet. Shed spent the afternoon pretty much immobile in the shop, tending to customers as they made purchases. Steve had gotten her bike out of the jeep and proclaimed it totally fucked up. Steve and Mike had seemed impressed at the damage, and regarded Sadie with newfound respect.

Lara had called Craig shortly after returning from her walk with Mia, and left her phone number with Sadie before Craig had picked her up. Shed quickly refused when Sadie had asked her to go to The Planet that evening, and strongly suggested that Sadie take her pain medicine and put off socializing for a couple of days. Sadie had promised her that she would consider the idea. With a kiss on the cheek and a hug, Lara promised shed cook dinner soon so that Sadie could appreciate her culinary skills, and was out the door to work the dinner crowd at the club.

Considered and rejected! Sadie had said less than a minute after Lara closed the door. There was no way she was going to miss seeing Marina this eveningnot after their kiss the day before.

Her ribs had quieted to a dull ache, but her leg was bothering her a bit where the stitches were, and she looked at the pain medication on the counter. Shed still not taken any. Instead, she popped a couple of ibuprofen. She turned back to her closet. She settled on a pair of warm chocolate pants, which rode low on her hips, but were a little roomy through the thigh and legs. A black tailored shirt and sandals completed the outfit. She added a leather bracelet, a silver thumb ring and her black watch.

Alrighty then, she said and opened the door of her apartment, Wish me luck, Mia!

-*-*-*

The crowd was getting pretty large when Sadie slipped into The Planet. As the woman looked around, she saw Tina and Bette motioning towards her. Her heart liftedit was good to see friendly faces. Moving towards them, she glanced around for Marina. The dark haired beauty was nowhere to be seen.

Hey Sadie! Bette welcomed her with a hug. Hows it going? Marina told me this morning how good your shop was looking! The slender brunette pulled out a chair for Sadie, who sat gratefully. Bettes hug had been painful for her ribs, but shed managed to maintain a smile. Sadie hated the sympathy that followed an injury, and had always tried to stiff upper-lip her way through pain.

Yeah, Marina has your flier hanging up right over. Tinas voice trailed off as she looked towards the front window. Well, it WAS there this morning. Hmmm, it must have fallen. Anyhowtell us about your mountain bike clinics.Id love to get Bette out in the woods!

Bette stuck out her tongue playfully, and rolled her eyes. Im not exactly the dirt type, she explained to Sadie who grinned back. I guess I could be persuaded, thoughfor the right price. And the brunette reached over and stroked Tinas hair playfully. Sadie smiled again, and thought how happy this pair seemed to be.

Well, its a good thing the flier came down, cause Im going to be a couple of weeks before starting the clinics, I think. Sadie said. Before she could continue, the arrival of Shane, Alice and Dana interrupted the threesome. We come bearing fruits of the vine! Dana said and handed a glass of wine to Tina. Alice followed suit with Bette. Shane just looked at Sadie. Sorrywe didnt know you were here toowhats your pleasure, red or white?

Red, but I can go and get it. As Sadie started to rise, Shane put a hand on her shoulder, No problem, Peach, consider it a welcome-to-town drink. Dana made a decidedly unladylike noise and Bette and Tina looked at her with concern. Alice put her hand around Danas shoulder and said with forced gaiety, Dont mind hershes just allergic to peaches. Dana nodded, glared at Sadie and drummed her fingers on the table. Sadie looked back with confusion clearly on her face.

Soanyone seen any good movies lately? Alice asked lamely.

Shane arrived with Sadies wine, who accepted it thankfully. Between the tension with Dana and the pain in her ribs, Sadie was beginning to need the numbing affects of alcohol. As the five women began to talk about some list or chart that Alice seemed really excited about, Sadie let her eyes wander around the room.

Ahh, there she was.

Marina was stunning in a simple, sleeveless emerald green tunic, with sheer black pants that flowed easily as she moved through the crowd. As Sadie watched, Marinas eyes met hers. Sadie smiled and raised her glass, but Marinas eyes showed no similar welcome. Incredulous, Sadie watched as Marinas glance moved past her without acknowledgement. Marina turned and greeted a long-legged blonde with a fond embrace and let her hand trail down the womans back as they talked in hushed tones heads almost touching. Marina threw her head back and laughed, her rich tone cutting through Sadie.

Sadie felt her face redden. How could she have gotten things so wrong in her head? She thought back to their kiss.she remembered how Marina had responded”*****—even initiated. She looked again at Marina, across the room, and saw her glance away quickly. What the *****? she thought angrily.

Sadie took a longer sip of her wine, her mind racing. Lara was right; she should have stayed home. Her ribs were beginning to ache with a pronounced thud, and things werent going at all as shed hoped. She looked around the table to find Shane watching her quietly. Ready for another glass, Peach? Shane smiled, and put her hand on Sadies arm.

Sadie pulled away, politely. No, I dont think so. She pushed back from the table. I think Im going to head out.

So soon? Tina looked up, surprised. You only just got here.

Well, I really just wanted to drop in, say hi to everyone. Im a little tired. Its been a long day.

I bet. Dana said flatly studying her fingernails. Everyone looked at her, shocked that impeccable, proper Dana was being so flagrantly rude to the newcomer.

Sadie cleared her throat, Yeah, well, thengood night.

Before she could move away from the table, Marina appeared to her left. Everyone, Im so glad you could make it. She put her arm around Dana and squeezed the tennis player. Dana, you must tell me when your next match is.Id love to come out and cheer for you. Marina turned her back to Sadie and said hello to the others.

Fighting back angry tears that suddenly welled up in her eyes, Sadie spun around and headed for the door. As she was passing through the crowd, a woman suddenly moved backwards and rammed into Sadie with considerable force. Sadie yelped loudly, fell back onto the table behind her and crashed to the floor groaning.