Serving Tegan (Sexy As Sin)

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

Roman

I sit in the stands, front row, on Alexandria's side, beside her father.It's the last match of the tournament. Alexandria versus Tegan, just like everyone predicted.

I have to keep my eyes from finding her on the court.She hasn't looked over here, which I'm thankful for.I'm trying to keep my mind in a box, carefully locked in, so that I don't think about her, the taste of her, the smell of her, the feel of her.

So that I don't think about the fact that I feel like I’m in the wrong place.Like over there, where she is, is the shore, and I'm bobbing in the ocean, getting further and further away.I'm surprised Alexandria's father is here to watch the match.

Part of me thinks it's less about watching the match and more about keeping an eye on his investment.I grit my teeth as the match goes on, one girl earning points, and then the other, back and forth.

Alexandria and Tegan have each won one set.I watch the shape of Alexandria's body as she fights each one of Tegan's drives.

It's just like I told Tegan, Alexandria has to work so hard. The sport doesn't come naturally to her body.She has long, awkward limbs, and while longer limbs should be a benefit to her, they aren't.She doesn't know what to do with them.

It's taken hours, days, months, to teach her how to properly hold herself, how to react quicker, how to calculate and watch.I spare a glance at Tegan. She’s like a heat-seeking missile.She grips her racket, her whole body poised to attack, like a wild animal.

I think about her last night.She climbed on top of me and rode me into next week.We fucked four times before I let her sleep.

And when I woke up this morning, she was gone.I shouldn't have kept her up.But it was like trying to starve myself when there was a steak on the table in front of me.

I watch with everyone else as the ball goes back and forth, as each woman lunges, hits, grunts.

Everything happens so quickly.

One minute, my eyes are on the ball, sailing over the net.

And the next, Alexandria is on the ground, clutching her leg.The ball bounces beside her. The umpire halts the set.

For a moment, we all just stare.The whole world feels disjointed.

I can't quite make out exactly what happened.It's like nothing is lining up in any sense of reality.Alexandria was not in any kind of position to injure herself. She lunged, yes, but not with any real force.

As medical officials rush onto the court,my eyes find Tegan.She looks as confused as I do, watching with a scowl, her tennis racket hanging limply from her hand.

Then she looks up at me.And I know.

I've just lost my job.

And for absolutely nothing.