new relationships

“I like that hug,” Luis thought as he watched Carrie and Rhianwen drive away. He started his car and leaned back in his seat replaying bits and pieces of the conversation from the tennis court back through his mind. Confidence. That’s what he felt. He felt confident about how he handled the questions Carrie threw his way. She had a…

The sun was shining and the weather was beginning to warm up as the first hints of spring sprouted around us. Deep hues of purple, yellow, and pink blossomed in the landscapes as the cold from the winter began to shed its last frost. Rhi was adjusting to married life while I was adjusting to living with my parents, but…

Part III Unfortunately, as the year ended, our tennis trio eventually dissolved. Rhi was getting married, so her time and attention were on her upcoming nuptials. I didn’t want to lose what Luis taught me, so I started taking adult tennis lessons through my local community recreational center. Commuting to Luis and Rhi’s side of town was harder to manage…

Part II: Halfway into 2022, Luis, Rhi, and I struggled to maintain our tennis trio. My work schedule intensified and Rhi and I were both traveling more frequently. During one of our joint trips, she had the brilliant idea for us to treat Luis to a birthday brunch to thank him for his generosity in giving us free lessons. I…

It was 2016 and I was at a friend’s house for dinner on Resurrection Sunday when one of the more mature women amongst us struck up a conversation about dating and relationships. We were standing around in the kitchen, eager to eat and indulge in some of our holiday favorites ( my mind was focused on the peach cobbler because,…