“We fight,” Jasmine agreed, and they knocked fists and took their positions on the baseline.
Pallavi was serving, the slightly weaker of the two, and Indy prepped to receive it, stepping inside the baseline. The serve was solid, but Indy was ready, and she fired her return down the line—but Ananya was there to receive it, and she fired it crosscourt to Jasmine, who charged and volleyed it back near the net.
And then it was on, back and forth, a long lob from Pallavi that sent Indy chasing it back to the baseline to return it with a backhand just to keep the ball in play, and thena screaming forehand from Ananya that Jasmine blocked back, sending Pallavi sprawling to get her racket underneath before it hit the ground.
She did a little drop shot that barely cleared the net.
Indy raced forward, her thighs screaming in protest, using every last bit of energy she had in the tank as she hit the ball in stride down the line.
The world ground to a halt, the ball clearing the net in slow motion, their opponents caught flat-footed, too far to reach it, and it landed… just beyond the white chalk line.
Out.
“Jeu, set et match, Kapur and Kapur.”
Indy bowed her head and tried to catch her breath. It was over and she’d wanted to win. Of course she wanted to win, but she couldn’t be upset with the result. They’d fought hard against the best team in the world. There was definitely a victory in this defeat.
“6–2, 4–6, 7–6,” the chair umpire said as they shook hands with their opponents, congratulating them with a kiss on each cheek.
“We will see you again, I think,” Pallavi said, grinning, before she released Indy’s hand.
The crowd cheered their effort as she and Jasmine gathered their things and exited the court. Her eyes darted up to the player’s box where Dom was on his feet and applauding for them. Caroline and her dad were nowhere in sight. She lifted her hand and waved a thank-you to him and the fans.
About a half hour later, Indy and Jasmine were both showered and changed into their street clothes, packing up their gear.
“That wasn’t bad for a first time out,” Jasmine said, and Indy turned to her.
“A couple of shots go differently and we might have won. We could really do some damage in our next tournament.”
The door to their locker room slammed open and they turned to see Dom standing in the archway. “Ladies, that was amazing! Phenomenal. I am so proud of you both.”
“Thanks,” Indy said, her chest tightening.
She knew he’d see this loss for what it was, a first step on a really exciting path. And her mom, she would have loved every moment of this, even in defeat. But her dad? The man who was supposed to support her no matter what, win or lose? He didn’t even stay to watch the end.
No. No, she wasn’t going to let him ruin the moment. She wasn’t going to let him ruin anything ever again.
“Thanks, Dom,” Jasmine said. “And I really appreciate you giving me this chance, even after what happened.”
“I take it you’ve worked out your differences.” Looking between them, he grinned when they both nodded. “Good, because I have plans for the two of you.”
Indy had plans, too. This was only the beginning for her and Jasmine, both on the court and off.
As soon as they arrived back at the hotel, Indy excused herself from the group, finding a chair in a quiet corner of the lobby. She just wanted to sit and think for a second. She and Jasmine had done really well, and her nerves hadn’t been aproblem at all. Now she could go into Bari and dominate, like she had at the Classic.
“Indiana.” Her dad’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.
“What do you want?” she asked, her eyes snapping up to his.
Why couldn’t he leave her alone?
“I wanted to say goodbye,” he said, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other and then running his hand through the blond strands of his slightly receding hairline.
She should’ve been thrilled that he was leaving, but her heart sank. “Okay,” she said, trying not to betray herself. It was beyond annoying that she could want him gone and then be totally gutted when he decided to leave.
“Caroline thought it was best. She thinks it’s too much pressure having me here and—”
Indy shrugged, cutting him off. “Well, whatever Caroline thinks is best, and speak of the devil.”
