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Alex nudges Drew’s elbow. “So no hitting with my coach today?”
“No, you’re with Raoul,” he says, checking his watch. “The kid’s testing the changes to his kick serve, and I’d prefer to be able to walk out of here tonight.”
Alex’s smile falters, his eyes darting to Drew’s lower back. “Back bothering you again?”
Drew nods. “Thank your nephew. He makes me feel more like an old man every day.”
Alex rolls his eyes. “Then stop carrying him around. If you keep picking him up every time he asks, he’ll never learn to walk.”
Drew laughs and claps Alex on the shoulder. It feels like I’ve stumbled into a secret world I was never supposed to see. How did I get lucky enough to end up here?
Drew turns back to me. “All right, Katie. Baseline. Show me that ground stroke one more time.”
“You’ve got this, Katie,” Alex says with a final wink as he heads back to court one. “Listen to Drew. He’s a pain, but he knows what he’s talking about. Most days.”
“I heard that,” Drew mumbles.
“I’m just saying what’s true, old man.”
“I will,” I say, my voice steadier this time. I turn and jog back to the baseline, the weight of their collective gaze following me. I’m not sure if Alex saw me struggling and came over to lighten the mood on purpose, but it’s working.
The easy way Alex talks to me—and how naturally everyone falls into conversation—makes me forget I’m just a trial player. I almost feel like I belong.
“Ready when you are,” I call out.
Before the first ball feeds, I close my eyes for a heartbeat. I settle my grip exactly where Drew showed me, feeling the bevels click into place beneath my fingers.
Forget the outcome. Find your form.
The machine whirs to life. I snap my eyes open and swing.
By the time I make it to the locker room around one, my legs feel like lead. My brain is a tangled mess of technical cues—drop the shoulder, relax the wrist, find the ground. It’s exhausting, but for the first time, it feels like I’m actually moving forward instead of running in circles. I can’t wait to come back tomorrow.
I sink onto the wooden bench and pull my phone from the side pocket of my bag. My thumb hovers over the screen for a second as I text Max.
Katie
I’m done for the day! Free if you want to meet up!
I’ve wolfed down half a protein bar when the phone buzzes in my palm.
Max
Brilliant timing. Meet me at London Bridge Station in forty minutes.
I look down at my legs.
Katie
You may have to push me if there are a lot of stairs. Or if the bridge is falling down.
Max
I’m supposed to be an action hero now, remember? Happy to carry you. Consider it research.
Katie
Keep talking like that, and I’m holding you to it. No laughing when you see me.
