Chapter 23 #2
They’ve both powered through the day, but it’s always wiser to stay awake until nighttime hits when traveling.
Best way to handle jet lag. But let’s be honest, we’ll be heading back home by the time they adjust to Melbourne’s time zone.
It always takes me longer to sync with the clock here.
More than anywhere else I’ve been. There’s just something about Australia.
It really does feel like the farthest place on earth.
“Considering …?” Robbie smirks, leaning slightly into her. I know he drinks most weekends, but I’ve never seen him like this. Even if he drinks often, he usually doesn’t drink much.
“Considering how you refused the sleeping pill I offered on the plane and opted for drinks instead,” Gemma says, giving him a casual push. “I’m impressed you’re still standing.”
“You look pretty,” Robbie says, tucking a strand of her hair behind Gemma’s ear in the slowest, most deliberate way. “You always do. You smell nice, too.”
“Stop being creepy,” I cut in. But Gemma’s staring into his eyes like time just stopped, and I nearly choke on my saliva at the interaction and whatever it might mean.
It can’t be. What am I missing?
Our server returns with our drinks and places them on the cocktail table, breaking the spell Gemma seemed to be under. I sip my ginger ale to wash down the shock and look away with a frown as Gemma and I share a conspiratorial glance.
“You heard her,” Gemma says, lifting her chin and taking a drink. Robbie mirrors her move, eyebrows raised, the corners of his lips tugging up as he swallows.
“There she is,” a voice whispers in my ear, sending a chill down my spine and making the hairs on my neck rise. “Now, this is what I flew across the world for.” Theo grabs my hand and twirls me before dropping a kiss on my cheek.
“Nothing you haven’t seen before,” I tease, making him laugh.
Gemma’s eyes widen. Trouble has arrived.
Theo says hi to Gemma, and Robbie greets him with a clap-shake and a few pats on the back. They’ve all been introduced in the past.
After a sip of his water, because Theo is nothing if not disciplined and methodical while on the tennis tour, he says in that sexy Polish accent of his, “I have been told you are sniffing around my coach.”
Busted.
“Could you guys give us a minute?” I say to Robbie and Gemma.
Robbie hands his empty beer glass to a passing server and extends a hand to Gemma.
“Dance with me?”
“No one’s dancing,” Gemma says, taking another sip.
“I can see that.” Robbie chuckles, snatches Gemma’s drink from her hand, and sets it on the table. He slides a hand to her waist and guides her away with a grin. My eyes follow them as they start swaying to the music, just far enough to stay within sight but out of earshot.
“So?” Theo’s dark eyes lock on mine, full of amusement. He doesn’t seem pissed, but it’s my job to figure out where he stands with his coach, who’s about to become mine.
“I am a lady,” I reply, lifting a brow. “And we don’t … sniff things.”
“I see you’re in the mood for games,” he says, sweeping his gaze over me, not bothering to be discreet. “Lucky for you, I am, too.”
As much as I hate to admit it, this is thrilling.
Theo’s good looks don’t hit me the same way they used to, though.
It’s not that I’ve become blind to the richness of his brown hair, the broad shoulders, those ridiculous forearms, or the depth of his dark eyes.
It’s all still there, and I still take it in.
But all I can think about now is how I hope Henry doesn’t show up just yet.
I’m getting cold feet about the plan, about trying to make him suffer.
Why would I want to do that to someone I care so much about?
But I’m still so upset with him. There has to be another way to get to him. To get him to finally open up.
“Elliot approached me,” he finally says after a beat, still shamelessly consuming my looks from head to painted toenail. “Just wanted to give you a head-up.”
“You mean a heads-up?” I correct with a smirk.
“That’s what I said,” he replies, completely unbothered.
His accent is charming and then some, and it cracks a smile on my face. Reminds me of our past fling.
I knew it was only a matter of time before Elliot, my former coach, landed a top player like Theo. And I don’t blame him for that. I’m the one who screwed it all up.
“Oh, so we’re swinging now?” I tease, lifting my glass to my lips for a slow sip. Theo laughs and takes a swig of his water. “I had no idea you were that kind of adventurous.”
“So you admit it?” His tone shifts into something more businesslike. “You’ve been in contact with Tim?”
“I haven’t done such a thing,” I reply truthfully. My team has been in touch with Tim, not me. I’m just having fun teasing Theo. It’s always entertaining to get him riled up about anything.
“Come on, Belén,” he whispers, stepping closer and brushing a strand of hair from my face with his fingertips.
It doesn’t make me uncomfortable; this is Theo, after all, but I’d prefer he didn’t touch me.
He’s trying to flirt his way into information, and we both know it.
“It’d make it easier for me to say yes to Elliot,” he adds.
“Elliot’s all yours,” I drawl, taking a playful step back.
But he takes a step forward.
“Are you sure you’re not hoping to patch things up with him? Elliot’s one of the best out there, and I need stability. I’m tired of all the chatter about Tim looking to expand his horizons.”
“I’m sure. And just a head-up,” I say, doing my best Theo impersonation. He catches it. “Elliot gets turned off by rackets being banged against the court. He doesn’t have much patience for people like you and me.”
“Color me intrigued,” he says. “You and me? I like the sound of that.”
I roll my eyes and push his chest away with a playful hand. I could use the distance. From afar, this conversation probably looks way too intimate, especially with the media hovering around. “You know, short-fused. Explosive.”
“Ah, so the rumors are true?” he smirks.
“That he left me after the racket thrashing? Yes. That it was solely because of that? Unfortunately … no.” I sigh, pressing my lips into a tight line and glancing away, ashamed. “Let’s just say that was la gota que derramó el vaso.”
The more time passes, the more embarrassed I feel about the racket incident. But there’s nothing I can do to take it back. I have to live with the consequences and try to keep the hungry, wrathful demons lurking around me at bay.
The thought of Henry stepping into Elliot’s shoes for good is tempting, but I know that’s not part of his plan, and I won’t ask him to give up his future for me.
Besides, things between us are getting complicated, and I’m more convinced than ever that accepting Tim as my coach is the right call for my career.
Especially if Theo is so eager to hand him over.
“I don’t know what you just said, but it was sexy as fuck.”
Theo’s such a flirt. He can’t help himself.
“It’s just a saying,” I say with a grin. “Like the straw that broke the camel’s back.”
“I see.” He clears his throat. “Okay, so you want to do the full swap?”
He laughs.
“What’s so funny?”
“Never mind,” he says with a chuckle. “So we have a deal? I get Elliot. You get Tim?”
“Deal.”
We shake on it, but Theo doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, he tugs me closer until I’m flush against his chest. And then he has the audacity to kiss the corner of my lips, cheeky and unbothered, like it’s all just part of the game.
“Down, boy …” The warning in my voice should be enough.
“A transactional kiss,” he says with a shrug, lips curved with zero shame.
Classic Theo. Of course he went for it. And of course, he picked the most public moment possible.
“You just broke two out of our three rules,” I say, my annoyance bubbling, though I keep my voice even. It’s not worth making a scene.
Rule number one: No PDA. Being seen complicates things, especially if it gets leaked to the media. It’s the type of distraction neither of us needs.
Rule number two: No interactions at crucial tournaments.
We only fooled around during minor stops on the tour when we happened to run into each other.
We never crossed paths during the Grand Slams. Not because of the rule, but because I met Liam during my debut last year, and by then, Theo and I were already over.
“That dress is making me want to break rule number three,” he says, his gaze sweeping over me, hungry and unbothered.
That’s my cue to wrap this up. I got what I came for: confirmation that he’s fine with Tim becoming my coach. I tolerated the theatrics because, well, I like him. But I’m done now.
“You wish,” I say with an annoyed chuckle. “That’s the one rule I’d never break. And you wouldn’t, either.”
Fooling around the night before a match was always off-limits. Doing it before a match at the Australian Open? Unthinkable.
“Wouldn’t want to get in trouble with your coach, eh?” Theo says, jerking his chin over my shoulder. I turn and find Henry’s stare locked on us, blazing. Evan stands beside him, chatting away and clueless.
Damn it, Theo!
Henry and I lock eyes for a few long seconds before I force myself to look away. I can’t tell if he saw the kiss, but the look on his face tells me he did. And that it wasn’t as playful or inconsequential as it was meant to be.
“Is Coach Henry taking his job too seriously?” Theo laughs under his breath. I don’t reply. I’m not giving anything away. “Imagine his reaction if I took you to bed.”
“Now, now.” I tap his shoulder like I would a cute puppy, just to piss him off with my lack of engagement. “Dream big, Theo.”
He rubs his clean-shaven jaw and throws another glance at Henry, lifting a brow like he’s sizing him up. They know each other. That much I know.
“So you’re hot for the coach, huh?” His gaze flicks back to me, studying my reaction like he’s poking at a bruise to see if it still hurts. “Won’t you be sad to let him go?”
“Don’t you have a sponsor’s ass to go kiss?” My voice is part whisper, part warning.
He rumbles out a laugh.
“You know it’s always the other way around, babe.”
With a wink, he adds, “It was nice breaking two rules with you tonight.”
I tilt my head, playfully unimpressed. “Let’s not make a habit of it.”
Theo snorts, grabs my hand, and kisses it. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
I force a smile. It barely holds.