I could only think of her wrist after our doubles match, in that wrap. It had rested since then, but how long and often did she play through pain to try to claim a victory?
She smirked, but there was no humor in it. “Maybe. But sometimes you’re better off knowing when to stop. My dad, eventually, his knees gave out. He ran until he couldn’t stand the pain anymore.”
“That sounds...” I hesitated, not sure if I should push further.
“Messy? It was,” she admitted, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “But I guess that’s life when everyone’s chasing something, right? Sometimes, you lose track of what you’re running towards.”
“That sounds like my parents,” I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “They wanted it all for me. The trophies, the glory, the sponsorships. And when I couldn’t keep up, they made me believe I had to push harder. Until I broke.”
Inés turned to me, her eyes searching mine. “And now?”
“I know I’m doing it for me, because it’s what I want. But the pressure is so hard.”
For once, she didn’t offer a smirk or a sharp retort. She nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I think we all feel it. Whether it’s from a coach, our parents. Sometimes my worst enemy is myself.”
Inés leaned back against the bench, her posture relaxed, but her eyes were sharp, like she was taking in everything I’d said and fitting it into some puzzle.
“It’s funny,” she said after a pause. “People think because you’re good at something, because you choose it, that it can’t mess you up.”
I nodded, my throat tightening. “They don’t see the sacrifices, the breakdowns. They see the trophies and assume it was worth it.”
“Do you think it is?” she asked, her tone more curious than challenging. “Worth it, I mean?”
“Most days,” I said. “You?”
“I wonder what it would have been like to quit when I was first injured. What it would be like to not care so much.” She paused, neither of us filling the space. I knew exactly what she was talking about.What would it have meant if I’d picked a different life, if Calvin had decided he wanted to go pro. Would I have followed? “I guess that’s why we’re still here, though.The wondering. If we didn’t care, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. We’d be... I don’t know, normal.”
I laughed lightly at the idea. “What is normal anyway?”
“I think it’s not having a breakdown over losing?” she suggested, a glimmer returning to her eye.
“Unimaginable.”
Inés laughed, the sound ringing around me. “Well, if I have my way, you’re going to have to start getting used to it.”
“Not a chance.”
21
Inés
4ever—Xana
“Alright, let’s see some more movement, Chloe. You could’ve gotten that last one,” Calvin called out. He threw a couple of balls over towards his sister, Wilson sitting at his feet watching them longingly.
I watched as she pocketed one, the material of her skirt lifting slightly, revealing lengths of thigh I was trying,and failing,to not be distracted by.
The court was on her vast property overlooking the coast. When she had first pitched staying at hers, I wasn’t sure. Being in such close proximity to her had been a lot to deal with in the rental. But with a comfortable guesthouse outside, it was easier.
Even with that distance, however, it was getting harder and harder not to look at her. The memory of that party, that one night, one kiss that was imprinted on my brain.
The soft press, the sweet taste.
How long had it been since I got laid?
“Screw you!” Chloe snapped, whipping a glare at her brother. I had to hold back a laugh, enjoying not being on the other end of that particularly withering look for once.
Calvin really hadn’t been pulling any punches with the training. It was a demanding schedule, leaving my body aching at the end of every day, only to wake up and do it all again. For our time here, itwas only Calvin acting as the coach, but once we got out on the road, I’d have my own team join us.
