Chapter 15
SAbrINA
Tennis is considered a gentleman’s sport.
That means there’s an assumed dress code.
Leggings are a no-no, and I’ve gotten more than one side-eye for wearing my combat boots with a sundress.
Due to inclement weather, the final had to be rescheduled from Sunday to Monday, so I used the extra time to sneak away and buy a few new outfits and shoes.
I’ll never fit in with these people, and I don’t necessarily want to, but for Maddie’s sake and Noah’s, I need to look the part.
“Are you ready?” Maddie singsongs from the other side of the door.
With a grimace, I shimmy the dress up my hips.
It’s short but heavy enough that it should stay in place, even on a windy day.
The material is luxurious. It’s certainly the most expensive dress I’ve ever owned.
I might’ve choked over my total when I checked out at the store.
I picked up five dresses and three pairs of shoes, that’s it, but the price was staggering.
With my generous salary and because almost all my expenses are paid, I can afford it, but it still wasn’t easy to part with that money.
“Just a minute, sweetie.” I struggle with the zipper, twisting and turning, for far too long before I give up and open the door. “Mads, can you help me with the zipper?”
The eight-year-old eagerly jumps off the couch and bounces over to the table, where I drop into a chair to give her better access.
“You’re not wearing a bra.” Her words are hushed and maybe a little scandalized.
With a laugh, I pull my hair out of her way. “It’s built into the dress.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that was a thing.” She works the zipper up all the way. “All done.”
I stand and press a kiss to the top of her head. Without even trying, this kid brings out the affectionate side of me.
“You look pretty.” She pinches the hem of my dress and rubs it between her fingers. “I like this color on you.”
“Thank you. Let me go put my shoes on and we can go.”
It takes me a moment to get the strappy heels on, then I double-check my makeup in the bathroom mirror. Five minutes later, we’re headed down to catch a car to the courts, our lanyards swinging around our necks.
“What should I do if Daddy loses?” Maddie adjusts her white sunglasses—a pair I picked up for her while I was shopping. We’re a little early, but we get settled in our seats and wait. “I don’t think a sticker will cheer him up.”
“Your cute face will be enough.” I give her a gentle hug. It’s the truth. All he needs is her, and I hope she can see that.
She flips her hair over her shoulder, striking a pose. “That’s true.” A heartbeat later, she sobers and slumps in her seat. “I just want him to be happy. He’s so sad without Mommy and tennis.”
When her head drops, so does my gut.
“Hey.” I tuck a strand of soft brown hair behind her ear. “You know you make him happy, right?”
“A little bit of happy doesn’t make up for a whole lot of sad.” She looks up and gives me a wobbly smile.
The expression is enough to make my heart crack open.
The words are so wise for someone so young. “Try not to worry about it, okay?” I run my fingers through her long hair, hoping to give her some measure of comfort.
“I’ll try.”
From the tense set of her posture and the way her knee bounces, it’s obvious the nerves haven’t dissipated. And the game isn’t even underway.
Noah’s up against Elias Johnson in the final. Though he hasn’t come out and said it, it’s clear the other man intimidates him. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s younger or if he really thinks he’s a better player.
“How long until my dad comes out?” Maddie asks as more spectators file in and find their seats. Neck craned, she surveys the court like she’s hoping to catch a glimpse of him, though we still have a bit of time before the match starts.
“I’m not sure.”
In front of us, one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen gracefully sits down.
Her curls are similar to mine, in texture and pattern, but they’re quite a bit longer, falling almost to her breasts.
Her pink dress is classy and only magnifies her beauty.
I find myself looking down at the green dress I thought was exquisite only an hour ago, suddenly feeling inadequate.
There’s no way I could ever look as put-together as she does.
She turns around then, probably sensing my stare, and smiles. “Hi. Noah’s family, right?”
“Uh, I-I’m the nanny … Sabrina,” I supply. “This is his daughter Maddie.”
She gives my little buddy a warm smile. “We’ve met before. How are you, Maddie?”
“My daddy’s going to beat your brother’s butt.”
“Maddie!” I chide, my face flaming. The mortification coursing through me slows my comprehension skills, so it takes a moment for her words to sink in.
Brother. That means the woman in front of me is Elias’s sister.
She holds her hand out to me. “I’m Ebba.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Sabrina. Ebba is a unique name.”
Her responding laugh is soft and tinkling.
“My mother is Swedish. She told my father that since she had to carry twins, she was picking our names.” To Maddie, she grins and says, “I do hope he beats my brother. Elias needs to be knocked down a few pegs.” She peers over her shoulder, then leans in closer. “Don’t tell him I said that, though.”
Maddie giggles, bouncing slightly in her seat. “I won’t.”
“I haven’t seen you around the grounds.”
I tug on the hem of my dress, suddenly worried I’m showing off more skin than is appropriate. “We’ve only been coming for Noah’s matches.”
“Oh, that makes sense.” Voice lowered, she leans over the back of her seat. “How is he?”
Unbidden, my thoughts stray to our moment a few nights ago. We were fully dressed, yet it was the most incredible sexual experience of my life. I can’t imagine what it would feel like to be skin to skin while he moved above me. Below me. Over me.
I clear my throat, wiping away those thoughts. “He’s doing okay. As well as he can be, anyway.”
She peers over her shoulder, then searches my face, her lips pressed together. “And Fisher? Do you know how he is?”
Confused, I frown. “He’s good.”
She nods and looks away. “Is he dating anyone?”
Hold on. Does Elias’s sister have a thing for Fisher?
“Not that I know of.”
With a long exhale, she plasters on a big smile. “Sorry for all the questions. I’m curious by nature.”
“It’s okay.” I dip my chin, though I’m not buying her excuse.
“We should hang out sometime. These tours are always such a dick fest. We need more women here. We’ll invite Elias’s assistant too. Whimsy is endearingly hilarious. She’ll be here soon.”
Nose scrunched, I huff a laugh. “Wait, her name is Whimsy?”
Ebba lifts one slender shoulder. “Her parents are a little … out there.”
“Whimsy,” I repeat, testing it out. “Interesting.”
“Honestly, it suits her. Anything else would be too boring.”
“Excuse me, excuse me. Sorry. Coming through. Ugh, I’m terribly sorry, sir.”
With a shake of her head, Ebba laughs. “Speak of the devil.” She points at a petite blond descending the stairs.
Her hair is pulled back in a tight ponytail and she’s got a large bag slung over one arm and an iPad clutched in her opposite hand.
Her dress is about the same length as mine, which instantly makes me feel better.
It’s light blue, with what I think is called a Peter Pan collar.
She’s huffing when she finally drops into her seat beside Ebba. “What I’d give to go back to bed right now. Your brother had me running all over the place this morning for toilet paper. He was out of his precious Charmin.”
Ebba giggles and thumbs over her shoulder. “This is Sabrina, Noah’s nanny, and you remember Maddie, right?”
Whimsy turns, her face lit up in a smile that nearly engulfs the entirety of her petite face. “Sabrina! Nice to meet you. Elias mentioned you a few weeks ago. I’m sorry I haven’t introduced myself. And Maddie Girl! How are you, princess?”
“I’m good.” She straightens her spine. “Just waiting for my dad to whoop Elias’s butt.”
Whimsy throws her head back with laugher. “If Elias loses, I’ll have to listen to him gripe about it for weeks.” She hums, her eyes drifting up and to one side. “It might be worth it, though.”
“You should get him a sticker to make him feel better. That’s what I do for my dad. Win or lose, he gets a sticker. Although,” her little lips drop into a frown, “a sticker probably won’t be good enough if he loses this time.”
Whimsy and Ebba exchange a look, then burst into laughter. “A sticker,” Ebba says between guffaws. “That’s perfect.”
“I’ll add them to my shopping list. Great idea, Maddie.” Whimsy pulls out her Apple Pencil and makes a note of it on her iPad.
Maddie beams at the praise and I find myself smiling right along with her. Sometimes she retreats into herself, weighed down by sadness and grief I don’t know how to banish. But in moments like this, the little girl shines through it all.
“Where are Mom and Dad?” Ebba asks as she turns to face the court.
“They’re coming,” Whimsy says. “You know your parents—they’ve never met a stranger.”
Ebba turns around again to face me. “My parents are something else. It’s a good thing that tennis spectators are expected to be quiet, otherwise they would be yammering on through the match and heckling Elias’s opponents.”
The smile that overtakes me is as surprising as it is genuine.
It usually takes a while to warm up to new people, but I was drawn to Ebba before she even opened her mouth.
Her friendly aura alone was enough to allow me to relax in her presence, but she only reeled me in farther when she started talking to me like we’re already best friends.
When her parents appear only minutes before the match is set to start, she introduces them quickly.
Her mother, Alvinia, is a strikingly tall woman with icy blond hair and vivid blue eyes, while Malcolm is African American and even taller than his wife. He’s handsome, with one of the kindest smiles I’ve seen.