Cassandra’s mouth curved faintly, like she wasn’t sure if it was a good idea but was willing to humor me. “Sure.”
We walked side by side through the restricted corridors. The chatter and rush of the main stadium faded as we stepped into the quieter, polished calm of the lounge, soft lighting, cushioned seating, and the low hum of conversations from coaches, sponsors, and family members who didn’t need to queue with the crowds outside.
I guided her toward a corner table by the glass, overlooking the practice courts below.
For a moment, we just… looked at each other, the buzz of the stadium muffled behind layers of glass, leaving us suspended in that strange, half-private quiet.
Cassandra was the one to break the ice. She leaned back, one hand loosely holding her drink. “So… this is your life for the last years, huh?”
I huffed out a small laugh, though it came out more nervous than amused. “Pretty much. Planes, courts, hotels… then repeat. It looks glamorous, but mostly it’s just schedules and recovery.”
Her gaze cut back to me, sharp but not unkind. “Fancier than triathlon. I get it now, why you’d trade one sport for the other. More visibility. Higher pay. Easier to get sponsors.”
I flinched slightly, heat crawling up the back of my neck. “It wasn’t about the money.”
Cassandra gave a low, bitter laugh. “Yeah… tell that to everyone you left behind.”
I hesitated, fiddling with the condensation on my cup. “Cass, I—” I exhaled, the words heavier than I’d expected. “I’m sorry. For leaving you in triathlon like that.”
Her eyes softened, but there was still a shadow there. “We weren’t just teammates, Alex. We were best friends.Training partners. We did everything together, and then… you were just gone.”
“I know.” My voice was low. “I just… I couldn’t explain it back then. Switching from triathlon to tennis, it wasn’t planned. It felt like I had to grab the chance or lose it forever, and I didn’t know how to tell you without feeling like I was betraying you.”
Cassandra studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable, but her eyes betrayed her, hurt, disappointment, and something else flickering underneath. “You could’ve just told me,” she said quietly, almost like a plea.
“I was scared you’d try to talk me out of it,” I admitted, my throat tight. “And scared that you’d be right.”
Her shoulders softened, the edge in her voice fading as she tilted her head, searching my face. “So what was it really? Why tennis? We were at the top of our circuit, you had the momentum. We had a shot, both of us. And then one day, you just… disappeared.”
I looked down at my cup. “The reason’s… childish.”
Her brow furrowed. “Try me.”
I shook my head, the heat rising in my cheeks. “It’s not something I can even put into words without sounding ridiculous. Just… I couldn’t say it back then, and I still can’t now.”
Before she could press further, movement at the entrance pulled my attention. Olivia walked in with her manager and a couple of her team, laughter bubbling between them, light and easy. My eyes snapped to her instantly, of course they did. Reflex.
I offered a small, tentative smile. She looked right at me… and then kept walking, her face shuttered, like I was invisible. The sting was sharper than I wanted to admit.
I remembered then that we were set to face each other in our next match. Maybe that explained the walls she’d just put up.
When I glanced back, Cassandra was watching me. She leaned closer. “That’s her, huh?”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Huh?”
“That girl,” she said simply, her tone laced with knowing. “She’s the one you can’t explain.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. My throat had gone dry, my usual rehearsed calm nowhere in sight.
She continued. “I remember you dragged me to watch the Juniors Wimbledon, at first I thought it was only because you were also playing tennis at that time but then after we watched, something in you flipped. Like you’re really obsessing getting better at tennis.”
I remembered that day vividly, the way the sun hit the court, the smell of fresh grass. I’d been mesmerized, not just by the game, but by Olivia.
Cassandra’s voice pulled me back. “It was her who won that match. You were watching her like the whole universe revolved around her. And I could see it, Alex. I knew something had shifted in you that day.”
I swallowed hard, blinking down at my hands. “I… I guess I just couldn’t admit it back then. But after that I wanted her to see me.” I shifted, unsure, biting the inside of my cheek.
She leaned a little closer, lowering her voice. “So what are you waiting for? This… this was your plan all along, wasn’t it? To see her again. And now you’re here. Same court. Same draw. Why not risk it now? You’ve wanted this for years, and this is your chance.”
