“I never doubted it.” Her smile deepened, a knowing curve that tugged at something inside me. I wanted to lean in, close the distance between us, feel her lips on mine again.
But a quick glance around the room reminded me why that wasn’t a good idea.
I knew the decision to keep our relationship private was necessary, but I hated having to hold myself back from her in public. Buteverything I saw told me it was for the best. Online, it seemed like the so-called fans had grown louder and meaner since the hotel crowd.
Inés had tried to talk to me about it in her own way, a hesitant “Have you read anything online?” I had lied, told her I was staying offline, but whenever pre-match jitters started to kick in, I’d end up doomscrolling again.
While most of the posts were positive, some were scary, claiming that our relationship was fake and for positive PR for me. It always ended with my phone thrown across the bed, feeling like my brain was rotting away in my skull.
My device buzzed on the table, pulling my attention towards it. I flipped it open to read the notification, a news headline, the algorithm spurred on from my midnight scrolling.
Messy Murphy Storms Off Court in Third-Round Match
I rolled my eyes.Seriously?Stormed off?Couldn’t the press find somebody else to kick for a while?
“What is it?” Inés asked.
“Nothing,” I answered, swiping the headline away.
Before she could respond, Calvin appeared by the table, his brow furrowed. “Have your legs stopped working? What are you doing sitting down?”
“Resting?” Inés answered.
Calvin shook his head firmly. “The rain’s heavy but it’s not going to last long. You two should be up, moving, making sure you stay warm and ready to go.”
I grimaced, glancing at the canteen again. “Can’t I eat?”
“Sure, grab a protein bar or something,” he said, tapping the table. “Then I want laps. Around the room if you have to.”
“Laps?” I echoed.
“Come on! You’re supposed to be professionals.”
I sighed, pushing back my chair. The look Inés gave me waspure mischief as she rose beside me, and I knew I wouldn’t make it through the next ten minutes without her making this run far more interesting than Calvin intended.
We joined the queue in the bustling canteen, lines of players waiting to refuel before the rain cleared. The air buzzed with chatter and the clatter of plates, everyone trying to stay ready for whenever play resumed.
Inés leaned towards me, her voice low and teasing. “Is he always like that?”
I nodded in reply, my eyes scanning the canteen, landing on the offering of pizza, my stomach grumbling.
“That’s kind of cute,” she said, standing on her toes to get a better view of the food options.
“If by cute, you mean annoying.”
Inés laughed as I spotted my favorite brand of protein bar, taking a second just in case the break went long.
“We’d better not sit down again,” I warned, shuffling away to another corner of the room.
“God, no.” Inés laughed. “That vein in Calvin’s forehead will pop.”
We stood off to the side, staying out of everyone’s way as we ate our snacks. It was nice to refuel but I still felt jittery, desperate to return to this match. I had been playing well, and the rain risked me losing my rhythm.
Inés tilted her head, playful and challenging. “You have a little chocolate.” She tapped the corner of her own mouth. “Just... there.”
She stretched out, her fingers brushing at the corner of my lips. And there it was again. That spark. That intensity that burned under the surface with her.
“Got it?” My question croaked out of me.
