It was the statement of intent I’d needed, a straightforwardwhile we have the opportunity, why not fuckthat immediately filled my mind with all the things I’d been trying not to imagine. Yet there was more, that exchange of admissions leaving behind a shared silence overlarge with import, like we were drawing a line beneath a past we needn’t return to. It felt good; a lifted weight I hadn’t realised I was carrying.
In its wake, Miles pointed at the basket. “Do you need to keep hitting balls or are we good now? Or was this really not about me?”
It might have been less embarrassing to lie, but my honesty ran deep so I said, “It was extremely, absolutely about you.”
“It was the towel, wasn’t it? You did want me to take it off.”
“No, I wanted to rip it off myself.”
Miles’s eyes widened, his lips parting on a soft groan. “Goddamn.”
“Oh, you would have liked that? I’ll keep that in mind.” I slung my racquet bag onto my shoulder. “I have to drop the balls at the office, but then we can go.”
Having surreptitiously adjusted his shorts, he grabbed the basket. “I’ll carry them, but only if you answer me something.”
“Answer what?” I said, fresh tension lacing through my chest.
“Why am I in your phone asScrunchie? Does that have some special meaning in Australia that makes no sense to anyone else?”
My laugh was as much relief as amusement, and I shook my head. “Nope, it’s just a fancy hair tie. But honestly, I have no idea. I don’t remember doing it, which is why I asked who you were when you messaged me.”
“And you didn’t think to change it?”
“Nah.” We started for the gate under the artificial lights, me with my bag, Miles carrying the basket. “I’m sure I will at some point, but for now it’s grown on me.”
He shot me an appalled look. “You don’t think it undermines my flirty messages?”
“Hmm, you’re right. Perhaps I should add dick to make it hotter.”
“Dick scrunchie? Really?”
“Rawr,” I said and snapped my teeth like I would take a bite of him.
“You’re a monster.”
I grinned, drunk on relief and enjoying myself far too much. “It could be worse. I could change it to scrunchie dick.”
“That just sounds gross. Instead of either of those things, you should message Katie back so she knows you’re not dead.”
“Oh, shit.”
Halting outside the court office, I dug out my phone.
Katie Zhang
Hey, Mat again now. Sorry about that
Gym or tennis court?
. . .
Court
Knew it. IdiotI won by the way
Fuck! Congratulations! I did watch, I swear, I just completely forgot to message you
You played GREAT
