“Game, set and match, Léna Nagy. Two sets to none, 2–6, 1–6.” The umpire’s announcement rang around the stadium, the crowd on their feet cheering for the winner.
Meanwhile, Chloe looked like a shadow of herself. She met Léna at the net, shaking her hand in congratulations, before grabbing her things from the side of the court, heading straight for the exit.
Calvin and I tried to cut her off at the tunnel, but she coldly stormed past. A quick glance at Calvin confirmed he was just as tense as I was. We followed her through to the warm-up area, but she didn’t stop to cool down, instead pushing through to the women’s locker room.
She was furious and now it was up to me to face the fallout.
“What happened out there?” I turned to find Maya, my physio, standing behind us. “I was with her for her warm-up, and she seemed fine.”
Calvin looked over at me, nodding his head towards the door. “You better go apologize.”
Maya’s gaze burned into me. “What did you do?”
“We swap bracelets for luck, but I didn’t show up to exchange this morning,” I answered, cringing at the thought of how I’d failed her so badly.
Reluctance clawed at me, but I knew I couldn’t avoid this. I pushed open the locker-room door, but the instant I stepped inside, an object whizzed past my head. I ducked instinctively, and the crash of a racket hitting the tiled wall reverberated through the room.
My heart raced as I straightened, my eyes locking on Chloe. Her hair clung to her damp face, and her bag lay open on the bench, items spilling out. Her chest rose and fell with rapid, uneven breaths.
She turned sharply, yanking another racket from her bag. Without hesitation, she smashed it against the edge of the bench. The composite cracked with a sickening sound, the frame splitting as she tossed it aside with disgust.
“Chloe, I’m so sorry,” I started, my voice shaky but sincere. “I slept in and I just lost—”
A water bottle flew past me, slamming against the back wall with a hollow thud.
“How could you not show up?” she shouted, her voice raw and filled with rage. “You don’t get it. I knew it was stupid. But I let it get to me. I letyouget to me. I was so stupid relying on someone else.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeated, my hands raised slightly in a gesture of peace. This time, I stayed rooted, not daring to step closer. “It wasn’t on purpose.”
She shook her head, pacing back and forth. “So what, this is just bad luck? Because it felt like something else. Maybe I was dumb thinking this wasn’t just another mind game.”
“It wasn’t, I promise,” I began. I couldn’t pretend she hadn’t been my biggest competition. But I wouldn’t go as low as this. Shaking my head, desperation creeping into my voice. “I promise you, it was a mistake. I messed up completely. Ifucked up.”
Chloe sank onto the bench, her body folding in on itself as if heranger had burned out, leaving only exhaustion behind. Her gaze fixed on the row of lockers, distant and empty.
The silence stretched between us, broken only by the faint hum of the air conditioning. Beneath the rage was something much heavier. Disappointment. Hurt.
I stepped forward cautiously, my voice softer now. “I know I can’t undo what happened. But I’m here, trying to apologize, and I won’t leave until I make it right.”
Her head tilted slightly, her expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought she might lash out again. Instead, she closed her eyes and exhaled a shaky breath. “Do you want to know the worst part? I knew I was unraveling. I could feel it happening, and I couldn’t stop it. I was a complete mess out there.”
Her hands rested on her knees, fingers fidgeting as though she was replaying every misstep in her head.
“I know. I hated watching it,” I admitted softly, the guilt twisting like a knife in my chest.
Her gaze remained fixed on the floor. “I couldn’t focus. Every time I missed a shot, it felt like I was proving that voice in my brain right. Like I wasn’t good enough, like my luck had run out.” She glanced up at me, her expression raw. “It’s impossible to get out of a spiral once it starts. Every point felt like part of a landslide, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.”
I crouched slightly, careful not to invade her space. My hand brushed against her bare thigh, the touch of skin a reminder of how delicate this balance between us was. “I do know. I’ve felt the weight of it. But you have to remember, it’s nothing to do with luck or talent.”
She let out a bitter laugh, swiping stray hairs from her face. “I had a complete meltdown in front of everyone.Again.”
“One match doesn’t define who you are. You’re still ChloefuckingMurphy. You’re still brilliant.”
Her lips twitched slightly,almosta smile but not quite.
“I’m serious,” I said, meeting her gaze. “I believe in you, even when you’re angry enough to throw rackets at my head.”
“Call it a warning shot.”
