I let out a shaky laugh. “You’ve thought this through more than I have.”
“Only because I know you,” he said warmly. “I know that look you get when your serve is slipping. You carry it in your shoulders, like the world’s going to end. But you forget that you’ve built yourself back up before. You’ll do it again.”
Silence stretched between us, filled with the comfort only he could give.
“Thank you Dad.” I whispered.
“Always love,” he said. “Now, rest. Tomorrow you can decide how to take that first step. Tonight, just be my Liv again. No rankings, no press, no expectations. Just my daughter, who’s still the fiercest fighter I’ve ever seen.”
I closed my eyes, letting his words wrap around me like a blanket. For tonight, I wouldn’t think about the match,the serve, or the weight of what came next. I was too tired, in body and in heart. All I could do was allow myself to stop, just for one night and breathe.
•••••
We stayed in New York one more day, mostly to rest and let the sting of the loss settle. The thought of Wilson Academy kept circling in my head, the way Dad’s words had planted it there like a seed.
When I finally brought it up with Dani over breakfast, she didn’t look surprised. She simply nodded, stirring her coffee. My Agent, also said that it's a good plan.
“It makes sense,” he said. “Players do this all the time, go back to where it started, sharpen one weapon, tune things up. If Wilson Academy is where you feel your serve can reset, then that’s where you’ll go. But you’ll treat it as a partnership. Your team stays intact.”
I exhaled, a small knot in my chest loosening. “So you think it’s the right move?”
“I think it’syourmove,” He said gently. “And if you believe that’s where you can find your edge again, then I think Coach Dani will back you.”
Maddie, who had been listening quietly, set her phone down on the table with a decisive nod.
“Then let’s not waste time. I’ll reach out to Amelia Wilson today. We’ll pitch it as a short-term training partnership, just to tune the serve and the nerves. Amelia will understand, especially since the academy’s been doing this with pros lately.”
My agent leaned forward, tapping his phone. “Alright then, let’s map this out properly. The next two weeks before the Asian swing are open, right?”
Dani nodded. “Yes, but if we’re committing to this, she needs at least a solid two to three weeks at Wilson to make it worthwhile. Anything less, and it’s just a cameo.”
Maddie flipped open her planner, scribbling quickly. “So… we could block out three weeks at the academy, pitch it as a special training residency. If it clicks and Liv finds her rhythm again, we’ll regroup for the next tournaments.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, a little overwhelmed but relieved to see it coming together. “Three weeks? You think Amelia will agree to that?”
Maddie glanced up, smiling with quiet certainty. “If it’s you asking? She’ll say yes. And if she knows it’s about sharpening your serve? She’ll probably roll out the red carpet.”
“Alright then,” I said quietly, more to myself than anyone else. “Wilson Academy it is.”
CHAPTER 18
OLIVIA
Three days at Wilson Academy, and already the place felt like it was shaping me up again. Amelia Wilson had been nothing but hospitable, she’d set me and my team up with proper quarters on site, quiet and close to the courts, and made sure everything we needed was handled. More than that, she’d been treating me less like a guest and more like one of her own players. Somewhere between sessions and shared coffees, we’d even started to feel like friends.
But on court, Amelia was all coach. She was relentless about drilling me back to basics. Toss, timing, footwork, shoulders, nothing escaped her.
“Don’t flick your wrist. Let the motion flow, give your body the lead, not your arm.”
I groaned under my breath but obeyed. Toss, bend, strike. The ball snapped off my racquet cleaner this time, landing where it should.
By the time Amelia finally blew her whistle and dismissed me, I collapsed onto the bench, head tipped back, gulping water like it was the finest champagne. Just as I started to catch my breath, Maddie plopped down beside me with a mischievous look.
“Well, well, look at you. Back to square one with serves, sweating buckets, and Amelia barking in your ear.”She nudged me with her shoulder. “And yet you’re still pretending you’re not distracted.”
I squinted at her. “Distracted by what, exactly?”
Her grin widened. “Oh, come on. Alex. She’s basically on a full break from tennis, running around in triathlons like it’s the most normal thing in the world.”
