Now both girls are in love with hottie newcomer Gil Burke and are competing again in the tennis tournament.
Gils eyes were warm on me.
Its cool how youre so serious about everything.
Credit: Charles Aydlett
Youre a funny princess.
Im not, I answered sincerely.
Especially when you dont mean to be funny.
But Id meant that I wasnt a princess.
Led Zeppelin was on the jukebox.
What sort of music do you go for?
Now Gil leaned in on his elbows.
Id struck a nerve.
Clapton, Tom Waits, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Ive been to Madison Square Garden twice this year.
Once for David Bowie and once for Elton John.
This wasnt trueit was my sister, Daphne, whod gone.
But Id heard enough about both concerts.
That guys a dud.
Gil began to sing Bennie and the Jets through his adenoids.
My cheeks got hot.
Daphne never did dud things!
What would Daphne say in this moment?
Well, I saw Eltons whole act, and its a complete hoot!
Pianos good if Waits is playing it.
Im more into guitars myself.
He molded his hand around an invisible neck, and with the other hand, he strummed air.
I used to mess around in a bandwe called ourselves The Mindbenders.
But that was B.C.Before Uncle Carp.
Now Im at the law firm day and night.
Hes got me in his focuswhich I do appreciate, added Gil quickly.
Hope I wasnt coming off ungrateful.
Have Carpie and your family mended fences?
Gil paused, as if deciding how to frame this.
Matter of fact, one of the deals of my being here is, I cant contact my family.
He smiled, guarded.
Sipped his beer and shrugged in answer.
But thats family politics for you, I said.
Im glad you told me.
Im always here to listen if, you know I floundered you want to tell me more.
Now Gil eyed me in a way that burned up my cheeks.
I want to know more about you.
what do you love?
Dont put me on the spot!
I hid behind my beer mugonly a few sips remained.
I wouldnt order another.
Even one drink made me too careless with my words.
I love tennis, I told him after a pause.
Where Im from, that games for snobs.
I never feel snobby when I play.
Unless its too competitive.
Have you got a shelf full of trophies?
Aw, youre stewing about something.
Gils voice was gentle.
He tipped his head, watching me.
Cat got your tongue?
Theres nothing to tell.
Put it out there.
She was something real.
She was something to put out there.
But I wouldnt even speak her name out loud.
Fritz ONeill, who last summer had entered the Junior Cup Tennis competition at the eleventh hour.
Then shed casually annihilated me.
My loss had shocked the family.
My mothers and Daphnes names were both etched into plaques that hung in Haven Casinos center hall.
Im training super hard for a tennis rematch that I lost last summer.
Ive been practicing after school and every weekend.
Bet youll do fine.
There are other good players.
I guess I cant remember her name.
Gil popped his last huge bite of burger in his mouth.
He ate too quickly, but his appetite also made him sexy, like a wolf.
When Young Americans came on, I clapped for it.
I love this song!
Ill get out there if you want.
Gil slapped a ten on the table to pay.
When he held me to his chest, I felt myself melt against the press of his body.
Were Dalton girls watching?
Would people talk about how smooth we looked out here?I felt expansive with all the possibilities.
And when the song ended and Gil stared down at me, for once my uptilt felt entirely natural.
Id never felt so radiant as I did in his gaze.
Gil leaned in close to my ear.
At least I got one New York night exactly right.
We had enough time to walk uptown and still beat my curfew.
Kinda funny, remembering about earlier, Gil said, as if hed been listening in on my thoughts.
When Uncle Carp first mentioned his goddaughter?
He took my hand and slid his fingers through mine.
For some reason, I pictured a little girl with braces and a hula hoop.
Carpie thinks Im still a child.
He said it sweetly.
Not like a come-on.
His fingers were woven strong through mine.
And now a brand-new thought overtook me.
First Gil had rescued me from my fight with Daphne.
Then hed sprung me out of the apartment and whirled me into this perfect evening.
What if Gil had come here all the way from Elmore, Alabama, to Sunken Haven for me?
Could it be true?
A summer starring Gil Burke and me?
Summer flings and sexy romances were Daphnes territory.
I was the one you didnt pick.
I swatted off my hope like a bumblebee, knowing it was too late.
Id already been deliriously stung.
