I sighed, wishing for the first time that I hadn’t told everyone at the bookstore so much. Plus, Peter had given me a ride home the day before, and they’d all seen him pick me up. But it’s not as if I can’t get around the city on my own. I’ve been taking the bus by myself since first grade. “Maybe.”
“Come on, everyone’s over by the trees.”
I followed Lisa’s gaze. “Everyone” turned out to be a lot more people than I expected. Evelyn and Becky were there, of course, and so were Alex and a few of the other bookstore regulars, but there were men here, too. I spotted Leonard talking to a couple of other guys, and not far behind him was—of all people—my brother.
Peter hadn’t seen me yet. He had his back to me, and he was smoking and talking to a guy I didn’t know. He was still wearing the pressed polo shirt he wears when he’s doing deliveries for Javi. With the joint dangling from his fingers, it would’ve been a funny image if it was anyone but my brother.
Evelyn and some of the others met us halfway to the trees. Alex was holding a softball glove, and a couple of the other women were tossing a ball back and forth under the big palm tree.
“Hey, you.” Alex slung her free arm around Lisa’s waist, and…wait. Now I was confused. Were Lisa and Alex friends? Or were they more? Do lesbians put their arms around each other platonically sometimes? “We were thinking about starting a game if we can get enough people. Either of you in?”
“Not me.” Lisa wrinkled up her nose. “It’s too nice out and I’m too lazy.”
Alex sighed. “Everyone keeps saying that.”
“I’ll play,” I offered. “I was on my church team up until last year.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “What position?”
“First base.”
“That’s perfect! We need infielders.”
It was clear she did. Other than the two women tossing the ball under the trees, I didn’t see anyone else who seemed to be the slightest bit interested in playing softball. We’d have to start soon, too, or the only light left would be from the lampposts that lined the park. “You might need someone on everything.”
“Yeah, and not just for today.” Alex laughed. “I’m in charge of recruiting women to play for the team Strangers is starting in the spring. You interested?”
“Really?” Wow. After my church shut our team down, I’d thought my softball days were over.
“Yeah.” Alex beamed, her arm tight around Lisa. “It’s in the early stages, but we’re trying to get a schedule together, so a bunch of the bars are getting involved. There are already three men’s teams, so we’re trying to get at least that many women’s.”
“Wait, did you say bars?”
“Oh, that’s right, you’re underage.” Alex frowned. “Well, I think it’ll be all right. The managers are all cool.”
I should’ve known—“Strangers” must be the name of a lesbian bar. I shook my head. “Thanks, but I don’t think I can.”
Alex groaned. “Why is everyone I ask such a downer?”
“I mean, I’ll definitely play today,” I added quickly. “I won’t have time to be on a team, though. I’m going to be really busy with school this spring. Plus…well, I probably shouldn’t join a lesbian team, since I’m not a lesbian.”
Evelyn and Lisa both turned away as though they suddenly had very important patches of grass to study, but Alex nodded slowly. “The teams are open to anyone, but that’s all right. Well, I’m going to try to find a few more players for today. Don’t wander too far, we’re starting soon.”
“Hey, Sharon, isn’t that your brother?” Evelyn pointed in the direction of the grass she’d been studying, which happened to be directly in front of the tree where Peter was hanging out.
“Oh. Uh, yeah.”
Evelyn was looking at me curiously, and now the others were, too. I’d been hoping Peter would leave before he noticed me there—him giving me a ride home from the store was one thing, but hanging out with his