"So this is the girl who turned my brother down?" Joshua laughed as he settled onto the bleachers next to his wife.

Jasmine elbowed him gently in the side, and returned her attention back toward the young woman who stood alongside Jerry talking to the soccer team. Several of the boys on the team were just as tall or taller than the petite coach. "I wouldn't be so sure about that turn down," she murmured half under her breath.

"She gave him the 'let's be friends speech', Jasmine. Trust me, in girl language, that's a turn down. Even we guys understand that one."

"I think she likes him," Jasmine said thoughtfully, ignoring Joshua's comment. She'd long since given up trying to explain to her husband that the female of the species just knew things. And she was getting definite vibes from Ms. Kimbra Davies, even halfway across a soccer field. And poor Jerry, he just wore his thus-far fickle heart all over his sleeves, anyway. But she had to admit that he didn't date nearly as much as he used to. She wondered. . .

"Yeah, 'as a friend'," Joshua responded, cutting in on her thoughts.

"I think we should invite her to dinner," Jasmine decided, suddenly coming to a decision. She turned and focused a determined look on her confused husband.

"Fine. But what good will that do?"

"Well, it will give all of us a chance to meet her," Jasmine replied, reasonably. "And--"

"Surely you're not going to inflict all of us on the poor girl at once are you?"

Jasmine gave him a longsuffering look. "Just the five of us," she reassured him. "You, me, Jerry and Joan." She continued to watch as the two coaches headed for the sidelines. Then, hoping up from her seat, grabbed her husband's hand and dragged him down the bleachers. "Come on. Let's go get the deed done."

Jerry settled back into the orange plastic chair of Menagerie's Playworld, crossed one foot over the other and simply enjoyed the chaotic atmosphere as the team enjoyed ice cream and pizza. His attention was caught, as usual of late, by Kim as she weaved in among the tables ensuring that the children had everything they needed. He watched as she laughed with a group of boys before producing a red plastic-wrapped spoon from a pocket. He suspected he wasn't the only male associated with the Benton Heights soccer team who had a bit of a crush on her.

He turned as a shadow settled over him, looking up to see Ray Santucci - the some time assistance coach. He stifled his instinctive response to the man.

"Anyone sitting here?" Ray asked, pointing to the seat across from him.

Jerry gestured that the seat was his if he wanted it.

"The kids played a great game." Ray said, settling back in the chair opposite Jerry. He gestured around the gaily colored room.

Jerry considered him for several moments, wondering how he would know. He hadn't shown up until near the end of the game. "Yeah, they did," he said finally.

Something changed in Ray's expression. His gaze went from relaxed to alert. "You know just because you don't see me it doesn't mean that I'm not there," he said cryptically.

Jerry raised a brow. "Excuse me."

Ray's expression relaxed again, and he smiled and shrugged. "You and Kim had everything under control. You work well together. Anything serious?"

Jerry blinked as the conversation changed to a direction that he wasn't sure that he was ready to discuss. "We're friends, you know."

The other man nodded as if he completely understood.

Jerry was sure that he didn't. So he continued. "Good friends."

Ray's eyes widened. "As in . . . ?"

Jerry didn't like the way this conversation was headed. He turned, glancing out of the window, subconsciously seeking a way to change the subject. His eyes settled on a bearded man that he was sure he'd seen before.

"Isn't that your friend from the park?" he asked pointing to the man who was climbing out of a tricked out SUV. The man turned and saw his pointing. He didn't seem too happy about the attention.

Ray's entire demeanor changed. "I'd better see what he wants," he said. Then, never taking his eyes off of the man, he moved to a standing position and headed toward the door. "Tell Kim I said 'hi'."

Kim chose that moment to arrive at the table. She looked out of the window in the direction Jerry had been staring. "What's going on?" she asked, settling in the recently vacated seat.

"He had to leave," Jerry told her. Then, "Do you think that there's something a little strange about him?"

"Strange how?" Kim asked, nibbling on a ketchup-laden french fry. She pushed the plate half in his direction so that they could share.

"I don't know," Jerry said, taking one of the offered fries. "There's just something about him that rubs me the wrong way. Like he's hiding something. I don't trust him."

Kim sighed. "Here, eat this." She said, picking up a fry and putting it into his mouth.

"I'm serious," Jerry said around the fry.

"Have another." Kim picked up another one and placed it in his mouth. Jerry obediently accepted and quickly chewed it. But when she would have fed him another, he grabbed her hand, halting her mid-motion.

"No more," he said very seriously, taking the fry from her fingers and putting it back onto the plate. "I'm trying to tell you something here, and you're not listening."

Kim sobered, and gently pulled her hand out of his. "You know you can be pretty intense when you want to be."

"Sorry." Jerry relented slightly. "It's just. . . " He shrugged. "I just don't trust the guy, okay?"

"He sorta asked me out." Kim dropped the bomb on him.

"What?" Jerry just stared at her. "What do you mean he sorta asked you out? What did you say?"

"Well, he didn't exactly ask," Kim tried to explain. "He just sort of asked. You know, rhetorically."

"And your rhetorical answer?"

Kim folded her arms across her chest. "That I was having dinner with you and your family. The subject dropped after that."

"Oh." Jerry looked away. "I just don't trust him."

"Yeah, you said that. You're just as bad as Stephen."

"And this is a problem because?"

"Because he's over-protective and overly suspicious. He imagines problems sometimes that aren't there -- at least where I’m concerned. It drives me crazy. I really don't need to hear it from you, too."

"You're my friend," Jerry said. "I worry about you."

Kim smiled. "That's pretty close to what Stephen said. Only, he was talking about you."

Jerry grinned at her. "Why would I give brother dear a cause to worry?"

Jerry's gaze followed as she bit her lower lip and then smiled up at him. It was a habit of hers that made him nuts. He fought to raise his eyes to hers when she spoke.

"Maybe he thinks you want something from his sister," she suggested.

Jerry stared into her eyes. I want to kiss his sister until she can't think straight, he thought to himself. "Oh, I do," he said aloud, his gaze not wavering. He felt the familiar attraction spring between them. He knew she felt it, too. But, as always, he let her off the hook by changing the subject.

"I want more fries before they get cold. Feed me woman."

Kim laughed at him, and tossed one of the few un-ketchuped fries in his direction.