Let's Play Ball by Lolah Lace Page A

but be honest with myself. I had
already lied to Mike and I was always lying to Tess.
    I waited three long days before I went
to see Kari. She wasn’t pissed. I had talked to her and texted her
the three days we had not seen each other. I told her I had to
spend some quality time with my kids.
    As soon as I got to Kari’s house we
went at it. I missed her just as much as she missed me. We fucked
until we couldn’t move. After a few minutes of silence I had good
news I wanted to share.
    I looked over at her after sex glow.
Kari is so beautiful. “I have a construction conference in two
weeks. Can you go with me?”
    “ Yes, I guess. When is it?”
Her eyes were on the ceiling.
    “ The weekend after the
fourth of July holiday.”
    “ Okay.”
    “ Just okay, we’re going out
of town together.” I was excited with the prospect of out-of-town
sex with Kari. “I already booked our flights. Do you care where
we’re going?”
    “ No, I really don’t care.”
Kari turned her eyes and body toward me. “Wherever you are is where
I want to be.”
    She always says things like that. Those
things that make my manly parts melt. Love ruins things. That’s why
I’m not able to say it to her. Or is that just some lame
excuse?
    “ The conference is in Vegas.
I have to go sit through the boring stuff in the morning but we
will still have some time together in the afternoon and at
night.”
    “ Okay.” Kari snuggled in
close to me and licked the bare skin on the side of my
neck.
    “ We’re leaving on a Friday
morning and coming back Monday afternoon. Your parents can keep
Trey?”
    “ Yeah that won’t be a
problem.”
    “ There’s a baseball game on
Tuesday after we get back.”
    “ Okay.” Kari
yawned.
    “ You’re tired.”
    “ Yeah, shut up and go to
sleep.” I wanted to tell her about the talk I had with Mike, about
Tess’ suspicions, but the time wasn’t right. Maybe I shouldn’t say
anything. I mean it’s not her problem. But Kari is the only person
I can talk to and be honest with. I shouldn’t lay my personal crap
on her doorstep. Me and Kari, we’re happy. Everything is good with
us and we’re going to Vegas.
     
    ****
     
    The Friday after the fourth couldn’t
get here fast enough. Kari and I took an American Taxi to the
airport. I had the driver stop and pick Kari up after me. We had an
American Airlines flight to Vegas our departure was at 7:10 from
O’Hare airport. Kari was excited. She told me she hadn’t been to
Vegas in six years. I removed my wedding ring and left it inside
Kari’s house.
    The annual AICPA Construction Industry
Conference was always boring but having Kari here made it so much
better. It was either her or Mike. That was not at all a tough
decision on my part. I couldn’t bring them both so I did what would
make me happy.
    I had never spent this much time with
Kari. I wondered if we could stand each other for longer than the
few blocked hours we spent together. The conference was held at the
Bellagio Hotel, the one with the beautiful fountains in front. I
got us a suite, the one called the Bellagio Suite with the premier
fountain view. Sure it was a bit pricey but when would I ever get
the chance to do this with Kari again. I wanted to show her a good
time. I wanted to give her something more than what we had back in
Bolingcreek.
    The suite was full of the regular
amenities, a separate living room, a bedroom with a King-sized bed,
marble whirlpool tub, 42” television and all the other standard
things. There was even a TV in the bathroom.
    We were silent as we got accustomed to
our surroundings. I took a seat in the living room and started
going through the a few file folders I had removed from my
suitcase. Kari peeked her head out from the bedroom.
    “ Mason, I’m going to take a
bath, wash off the airplane.”
    “ Okay.”
    Kari was gone before I could say more.
My cell phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket to read the caller
ID. It was Tess.
    “ Hey, hon.”
    “