Chapter 62
Sixty-Two
‘OK, we need to nail this,’ Cassie told Delilah.
‘I know. I’m ready,’ Delilah said. ‘Run me through it again?’
‘OK… start in the darkest corner of the breadbasket, the rolls no one touches because they’re actually white inside.
Take the eggs at the edge of the catering tray, where the butter has pooled, and therefore are fattier.
Grab the turkey bacon that is slightly overcooked and brittle.
With enough salt, it could almost pass for very poor-quality pig bacon. But don’t be obvious.’
Delilah snorted. ‘You make it sound like smuggling contraband.’
‘It is contraband,’ Cassie said. ‘They want us fuelled on spinach smoothies and egg whites. We’re building the closest thing to a fry-up this camp will ever see.’
Delilah shook her head, grinning. ‘Fine. But if I get caught with three butter pats in my pocket, I’m blaming you.’
A few minutes later, they carried their haul to a patio table.
‘You’re right. This does look like a real breakfast,’ Delilah said with delight, salting her burnt turkey bacon.
Cassie was watching Delilah spooning scrambled eggs into her mouth, oblivious to the appalled/jealous looks from the next table from a young guy eating some plain yoghurt.
I managed to get you into bed, Cassie thought. And then: How?!
If Delilah had looked good to Cassie before, she was radiant now. Her warm brown hair, pulled into a messy ponytail, was glossier than ever, and her large, clear mahogany eyes seemed almost hypnotic. Her small, perfectly shaped mouth drew the eye, like a quiet invitation.
Cassie realised that when she’d first met her, she’d ignored her beauty on purpose. Because she was the kind of woman you saw and thought, Not a chance, and left it at that.
But there was a chance. More than chance. And Cassie had dared to take it.
The morning seemed to wrap itself around them as they ate together. And everything was just easy. For a moment, it was almost ridiculous how natural it felt, like this was something they’d always done.
After they’d finished eating, Cassie saw something she hadn’t spotted earlier. ‘Is that a banana on your tray?’ she asked, surprised.
‘I have to keep trying with them,’ Delilah declared, picking it up and peeling with a sigh.
Cassie watched Delilah eat a tiny piece of banana with barely concealed revulsion and then subtly spit it into a napkin. Cassie wanted to kiss her very, very badly.
But they were in public, so she simply said, ‘You can stop torturing yourself now. I grabbed you some of the giant Jelly Baby stash—they’re in my bag,’ Cassie said, pleased when she caught the spark of delight and gratitude in Delilah’s eyes.
‘You’re so cute,’ Delilah told her with a cheeky grin.
Cassie willed herself not to blush. She wasn’t very successful.
Then Cassie saw Delilah’s smile falter. She followed the line of her gaze to the fence.
Petra was over by court five, reaming out a teenager for skipping his drills.
‘Did she talk to you like that?’ Delilah asked carefully.
Cassie nodded. ‘Constantly.’
Delilah’s jaw tightened. ‘I knew I was right to hate her.’
Cassie chuckled. ‘You hate her?’
Delilah suddenly found her cup of tea fascinating. ‘I mean, yeah. Although it started as jealousy.’
Cassie was astounded and delighted. ‘Really?’
Delilah sighed, her eyes trying to meet Cassie’s. ‘I probably shouldn’t have admitted that.’
‘I don’t hate hearing it,’ Cassie said.
Delilah cleared her throat. ‘You were together, weren’t you?’
Cassie nodded. ‘Yep.’
‘How long?’
‘Two years.’
Delilah let out a whistle. ‘Do you think it was maybe… not so good? Being as she was your coach and you were young, and she was older and…’ Delilah stopped. ‘Jesus, I really need to shut up.’
Cassie considered it. She didn’t have to talk about this. She was shocked to find she wanted to. She wanted Delilah to know her. Even the bad stuff. Maybe especially.
‘In retrospect? Yes. I think it was… not so good.’
Delilah paused. ‘How did it end?’
‘It ended with my career. The doctor gave me the final pronouncement that my arm wouldn’t get back to where it was. And then she was gone a few days later, no conversation. Straight up ghosting.’
Delilah’s jaw tightened, her eyes flicking back to Petra like she was sizing up an opponent. ‘That woman,’ she muttered under her breath. Her fists clenched briefly around her teacup.
Cassie raised an eyebrow. ‘You still…?’
‘Still what?’ Delilah snapped. ‘Still want to throttle her? Fuck yes.’
Cassie chuckled softly. ‘You know, she can’t hurt me now.’
Delilah’s glare didn’t soften, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes. ‘I’m glad you feel that way. But she shouldn’t have treated you like that. None of it.’
Cassie tilted her head, feeling the strange pull of being cared for so fiercely. ‘I know. I appreciate it.’
Delilah’s lips pressed into a thin line, her protective energy palpable, like she was ready to defend Cassie with everything she had. She exhaled sharply and turned back to the courts, voice low but firm. ‘She wants you back, doesn’t she?’
Cassie shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ she said honestly. She simply didn’t care.
‘Has she tried to touch you? That’s not jealousy, by the way. I just don’t want her to try and force herself on you. I’d—’
Cassie smiled, a little wryly. ‘Delilah… I think I can handle myself.’
Delilah’s eyes softened fractionally, but her stance didn’t relax. ‘I must look silly,’ she said, almost grudgingly. ‘Imagine me trying to fight her. She’d crush me like a snail.’
Cassie felt a quiet, strange warmth at Delilah’s anger, her insistence, her loyalty. Cassie didn’t need protection. But she liked knowing it was there. Cassie thought maybe having someone willing to rage on your behalf was its own kind of comfort. It was a very new sensation for her.
Cassie’s hand moved almost without thinking. She brushed a stray lock of hair back from Delilah’s face, and Delilah looked up, surprised.
‘She’s nothing next to you,’ she told Delilah.
Delilah’s eyes widened, caught off guard by the soft certainty in Cassie’s voice. She looked like she wanted to argue, but no words came.
‘Absolutely nothing,’ Cassie said again.
Delilah’s lips pressed into a thin line, half a smile, half disbelief. ‘You mean that, don’t you?’
Cassie gave her a shy look. ‘Never lied to you before. Not about to start now.’
Delilah’s smile widened, and her hand found Cassie’s under the table, gripping it lightly. Cassie squeezed it gently, and they looked at each other for the longest moment. To Cassie, it lasted an eternity and was somehow over in a wink at the same time.
Delilah cleared her throat, breaking the spell. ‘Welp,’ she said, with deep regret. ‘Can’t sit around making eyes at you all morning. I still need to figure out how to look like I’ve heard of tennis before.’
Cassie laughed, her heart light. ‘You’re doing better than you realise. But yeah. We should get cracking.’
They finished their breakfast and headed over to the courts. Cassie was so caught up in Delilah that she didn’t even notice when they passed Petra.
But Petra noticed Cassie. And Delilah. And Cassie noticing Delilah. And then she suddenly found had a bunch of fresh things to yell at her student.