Chapter Forty-Eight Juliette
FORTY-EIGHT JULIETTE
The night before the semifinal, Remi convinces the four semifinalists to dine together. It wasn’t difficult, considering Juliette is dating Luca and Claudia is her sister. Half of the Connolly Cup is represented, and it’s almost normal around the table.
Claudia and Remi try to press Juliette on how she feels playing Luca, and vice versa, but they adeptly swerve around Remi’s questions. Eventually, Claudia gets the hint and maneuvers the conversation into other topics, and from there, the evening passes smoothly.
“I never thought I would become actual friends with Remi,” Luca says as they walk back to the apartment. A chill nips the air, a reminder that winter and the off-season is around the corner.
“She’s really not that bad once you peel back the layers,” Juliette says. “She’s an onion.”
Luca wrinkles her nose and curls her lip. “That’s rude and a terrible metaphor.”
Juliette gapes at her. “Have you never seen Shrek ?”
“No?”
“We will have to rectify that immediately. As soon as this tournament is over,” Juliette says, appalled by Luca’s lack of movie taste.
Luca shakes her head, but she’s smiling as Juliette unlocks the door. “Speaking of after the tournament, we should talk about tomorrow.”
Juliette chews the inside of her cheek. “Yeah.”
“I heard what you said in your on-court interview last night,” Luca says as she strips out of her jeans and T-shirt.
“I meant every word of it,” Juliette says as she pulls her hair back into a high bun and heads into the bathroom.
Luca leans against the doorjamb in her sweatpants and one of Juliette’s oversize graphic tees. Juliette bites back the urge to abandon this conversation and wrap herself entirely around Luca until their bodies melt together again.
She looks in the mirror and almost laughs at herself for how lovestruck she looks.
“This is our job. We knew it would happen eventually,” Luca says quietly.
“How do you feel about it?” Juliette asks as she loads her toothbrush up with toothpaste and starts brushing.
“I don’t want this match to change anything between us, and I’m worried it will.” Luca’s voice is low, as if she’s afraid to even utter the words.
Juliette’s stomach drops. “Because of my jealousy?” she asks around her toothbrush.
Luca sighs and steps into sight of the mirror.
Her arms slide around Juliette’s stomach, and she rests her chin on Juliette’s shoulder.
“Yes,” she admits. Juliette winces, the word stinging.
Luca’s arms tighten around her. “In a perfect world, we’d both play our best tennis, and we wouldn’t have to deal with the complicated emotions that come with losing. ”
Juliette nods and finishes brushing. Luca releases her enough to let her rinse her mouth, and then Juliette twists around and wraps her arms around Luca’s neck, keeping her close.
She cards her fingers through her silky straight hair, gently pulling a knot loose and brushing it back from Luca’s face.
“I love you,” Juliette says, and Luca nods, her jaw still tight.
“And I love tennis. And tomorrow we get to do the thing we love so much. I’m excited, actually.
” Luca blinks rapidly, surprised, making Juliette smile.
“It’s just a match, and no matter the outcome, my feelings won’t change about you or tennis. ”
Tension flows out of Luca, and she tilts to press her forehead to Juliette’s. “We’ll be all right?” she asks quietly.
“We’ll be all right,” Juliette echoes, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss her. It holds a promise, and Luca’s mouth moves against hers in reply. She draws back a fraction and smirks. “Maybe this time I’ll beat you.”
Luca snorts. “Good luck, darling.”
Juliette kisses her again, fleeting and soft. “So, are we ruling out distracting each other to win points?” she asks teasingly.
Luca’s hand cups Juliette’s left breast, thumb drawing over her nipple. Juliette shivers, even though she still has her bra and shirt on. “I don’t think it’d be appropriate to get your tits out on live television,” Luca says dryly.
Juliette laughs and tilts her head back, giving Luca a chance to kiss her neck. “Thanks for the idea. I might pull it out for match point.”
Luca smirks against her throat and lifts her head to stare at Juliette fondly. “You’re ridiculous.”
“So are you for being in love with me, my strange noodle.”
Luca rolls her eyes, but her cheeks flush pink. “Come on, let’s not wait for match point for you to distract me,” she says, her other hand sliding down to grab Juliette’s ass, drawing their hips together.
“Brush your teeth first,” Juliette says, letting her arms fall. “I can’t believe you ate garlic when you knew we were sleeping together. Or was that a plot to disturb my sleep?”
Luca lets go and moves around Juliette to the counter. “I did offer you a bite.”
Juliette crinkles her nose. “You know I hate shrimp.”
Luca gets a strange expression on her face for a moment before she turns thoughtful. “I didn’t, actually.”
“Still so much to learn,” Juliette says, stealing another garlicky kiss. “Luckily, I am an excellent teacher,” she says as she steps back and smacks Luca’s ass, just because she can. She loves how Luca jolts as if shocked, and her pupils expand.
“None of that tomorrow either,” Luca says, sounding breathless and slightly strangled. She grabs her toothbrush and shoves it in her mouth.
“Damn. Plans foiled,” Juliette says in a singsong as she exits the bathroom.
She sprays their bed with the lavender mist Luca loves so much and wriggles under the sheets.
“Hey,” Juliette says as Luca leaves the bathroom and heads to her side of the bed.
“What’s up?” Luca asks as she pops open her melatonin bottle.
“I think we should do it.”
Luca raises her eyebrows. “Jules, we’ve been doing it for weeks.”
Juliette groans. “No, I have an idea.”
“Tell me.”
So Juliette does.
“Once that can of worms is open, it can’t be undone,” Luca says as she flicks the lamp light off and slides into bed.
“Why not make a statement?”
Luca laughs and twists over on her side to kiss Juliette. “You’re crazy and I love you,” she whispers against Juliette’s mouth.
“So, is that a yes?” Juliette asks, and Luca nods.
“Yes.”