CHAPTER 30
George
Sleep doesn’t come easily to me. My mind is too active at night.
Olivia and I had a spare bedroom just for the times when I would toss and turn, disturbing her too much. I frequently ended up moving, usually just past midnight, when she’d had enough.
My childhood bedroom isn’t much better. My strategy while at home has been to exhaust myself with exercise to the point that I cannot stay awake any longer. Not necessarily bad, but not exactly dealing with the root of the issue.
Hope has me trying breathing exercises: four seconds in, hold, four seconds out, hold. Pretty good, to be fair, when I remember to use it.
But one guilty pleasure I have is a hotel bed, and my big one at the Ritz Paris is fucking incredible. Fluffy, enveloping, comforting. It’s often the best sleep I can manage. Crucial during tournaments.
The issue this time hasn’t been my usual sleep anxiety.
I’ve not been able sleep properly because I’ve been thinking of Leo on the other side of the suite, wondering what she’s doing, why I can’t be doing it to her. I’ve ended up ridiculously aroused, gripping my cock, pumping hard, imagining it’s her delicate hands.
So today’s wake-up is a surprise.
My smartwatch gently buzzes, easing me to consciousness just before 5 a.m.
First, I register that I’m boiling. But I don’t care.
I take stock of everything else. I’m practically pretzeled around her. My arms are wrapped across her waist, tangled in the softest pyjamas. A hand has slipped under to brush against her silky skin. My nose is buried in her neck.
She smells like home already.
I should be scared at how quickly that thought occurs to me. But I’m not. It’s cosy, comforting.
My cock is poking her perky arse cheeks, thick and hard. But I really can’t do anything about that, it’s far too early and I’m not about to wake her up.
It occurs to me that not only did I drop off in record time, but I slept through the night. Rare. I’m also incredibly refreshed, no aches and pains, despite the unusual position. Also rare now that I’m thirty.
I ease myself away, careful to detangle without disturbing her. She murmurs softly as I pull away, but doesn’t stir. Her dark hair fans out across the vast pillows, her face natural, clean, her lips puffy, a deep pink.
I don’t want to stop staring at her, but one, I need to go, and two, I’m not a creep. I leave a note on her bedside table:
I repeat, you’re cute when you sleep.
See you tonight?
I think it’s my turn for date number three.
Love, G x
——
Even my trainer notices.
‘Where’s this energy come from, George? You’re usually telling me to go fuck myself by now.’
Another recommendation from Jack, Tom, my trainer, is used to dealing with pro athletes. He’s super knowledgeable but also doesn’t take my shit. He’s great.
‘Amazing what a good sleep can do,’ I grunt with a smile, mid bench press. I’m at 155kg; I idly think that’s probably about two Leos but quickly shut that down as I feel my cock twitch, images of my shower-fucking-fantasy running through my mind.
She stays in my thoughts as we move to cardio, a quick 10k to build some endurance. These matches can sometimes continue for five hours or more, so I need to work up stamina.
Except Olivia, I’ve never slept with somebody, without ‘sleeping’ with them before. It’s very new. Very new to me indeed.
Of course, I also want to sleep with her. But I’m enjoying my time beyond that. She’s funny, smart, cute.
Sexy as hell.
Fuck. The thought of that first push into her sweet pussy sends a jolt of pleasure straight to my groin and I try to think of anything else.
Luckily the passion-killer himself drops into the gym.
‘Morning, Gordy,’ I shout over. ‘Haven’t seen you here for a while.’
‘I haven’t seen you at all.’ He looks bored, but annoyed. The usual then. ‘Where were you for dinner last night? I had L’Avenue booked, then I wanted to run over some tapes.’
I’m not ruining the memory of last night by sharing it with Gordon.
‘I needed an early night. I watched the tapes, don’t worry.’ I move over to the stretching portion of my workout. I hate it. But needs must.
‘And the night before? You left the Louis Vuitton party early.’ He’s yet to start working out. He’s come to catch me. Bastard. ‘The night before that, dinner with Miss James, wasn’t it?’
‘And? I don’t want to be out late or at places like L’Avenue. I’m about to start a tournament. Ah!’ Tom pushes my legs back and my hamstrings sting.
‘Exactly, George. You’re about to start a tournament.’ He shakes his head. ‘Not just a tournament, the French Open!’ His voice rises. He’s actually losing his temper. ‘Don’t you care?’
‘Gordon, he’s looking strong,’ Tom interjects, and I give a grateful nod. ‘Whatever he’s doing, it’s working.’
‘I didn’t ask for your opinion, Tom. Nor do I want it,’ Gordon retorts coldly. ‘I’m not talking about his physicality. We can’t afford another meltdown, George.’ There’s no concern in his voice, only judgement. It’s so reminiscent of my father that I immediately close up. My face turns to stone.
He knows he’s won. I see a flash of smugness in his expression as he turns to leave. No workout done.
‘Finish your session, then come to my room.’ He pauses at the door. ‘It’s time to grow up, George. These silly dalliances are the actions of a boy, not a man.’
——
He keeps me busy most of the day meeting various brands, ‘important’ people, sponsors. I retreat further and further into myself, playing the part they want me to be.
I manage to escape him at practice. But it’s shocking, all over the place as anger bubbles under the surface.
I squash it down. It comes out in my play: a ball hit too hard in frustration, serves in the net as my body tenses.
I’m hitting with Cedars today. I was looking forward to it. Before this morning.
We’ve been playing for twenty minutes, when another one of my shots goes sailing past the baseline. He holds a hand up and gestures for me to come to the net.
‘You OK, buddy?’ He lowers his voice to a whisper. ‘You’re not yourself.’
I grunt back, unable to look him in the eye. ‘I’m fine.’
He raises an eyebrow. ‘You’re playing like shit. What’s wrong?’
Frustration rises, threatening to spill out. I clench my jaw. ‘I’m fine.’
‘George. My first match is tomorrow, as is yours, and this practice is bullshit.’ He doesn’t say it unkindly. ‘If you’re not going to tell me what’s wrong, then I’m not wasting my time here.’
He waits. I say nothing.
‘Suit yourself, hotshot. Good luck tomorrow.’ He walks over to his bag, stowing away his racket. He’s about to pick it up when I jog over.
‘Ryder, wait.’ He looks up, concern on his face, and I soften. He’s not the bad guy. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘You going to tell me what’s got you all shaken up?’ He drops his voice to a whisper. ‘Is Hope not working?’
‘No, no, she is. She’s great actually,’ I take a breath. ‘It’s Gordon. He really fucked me off this morning. Usually, I just accept he’s a prick and get on with life. But today,’ I debate sharing, but decide to plough on, wanting to be open with the man who took care of me last year.
‘I’ve met someone. She’s . . .’ I struggle to find the words. ‘She’s it, I think.’ I shrug.
Cedars is full-on grinning now, that megawatt American smile that girls fall for on full show. ‘George! That’s fucking crazy, dude!’
Yeah, it is.
‘Gordon thinks she’s a distraction. That I’m not focusing well enough.
’ I shake my head. ‘But she’s not stopping me, she’s helping me if anything.
She’s encouraging me to talk about things, not push them down.
I feel better with her. More real, like myself, actually in control, rather than pretending to be.
Until he stirred me up this morning, I let him get in my head. ’
‘Look, man, I know he’s your brother and all, so I haven’t said it before, but I don’t trust the guy, George.’ He looks serious now. ‘I don’t think he’s good for you. He didn’t care about last year at all.’
My eyes widen, unsure how to respond. ‘I didn’t tell him, to be fair.’
‘Exactly. And why is that?’ He looks me in the eye. ‘You don’t trust him. Any idiot close to you could see you were suffering. I did and I’m not with you twenty-four seven.’
I hadn’t even thought about it like that, assumed it was my fault for hiding it so well.
‘Me, Hope, Jack, we all care about you. I reckon this new girl does too. I’m not so sure he does.
Do me a favour and remember that.’ He glances at his watch as I try to take in what he’s saying.
‘You know, we still got thirty minutes, you gonna give me a proper game now or what?’ He smirks and it makes me smile.
He’s so damn peppy all the time, the perfect antidote to my grumpiness.
‘My serve, right?’ I jog to the baseline, waiting for him to get into position before I start.
Ace.
‘That’s it, you fucker!’ he yells over and I laugh. ‘He’s back, baby!’
I’m back, baby.
——
I text Leo as I’m getting changed post-practice; surprisingly I’m alone in the locker room.
George Hampden:
Still free tonight?
Leo James:
You know I’m literally in Paris for YOU, right?
George Hampden:
YOU know that’s not what I mean.
Perhaps you’ve made other plans. I wouldn’t want to assume.
I was trying to be a gentleman.
I decide to make her squirm a bit.
George Hampden:
But I don’t have to be.
She starts typing, then stops. Then starts again.
Leo James:
You weren’t very gentlemanly yesterday afternoon.
It’s rude to eavesdrop you know.
Is she flirting back?
George Hampden:
Perhaps you shouldn’t moan so loudly.
Unless I’m there of course.
Then you have to.
Leo James:
So I don’t bruise your ego?
George Hampden:
Because you won’t be able to help yourself.
Leo James:
Before I knew you, I told Rosa that I thought you’d be awful in bed.
Silent
Boring
I bark out a laugh and it echoes around the empty room.
George Hampden:
And?
Leo James:
Well, technically, I’m yet to find out.
Could all go to shit when penetration is involved.
I laugh again out loud, my body warm and not from the workout. My cock stirs again, already thickening.
George Hampden:
I recall telling you I could fuck you better than any cowboy could.
I wasn’t lying.
Leo James:
These are all words, George.
I think you might have to prove it to me.
I need hard evidence.
George Hampden:
I can give you rock-hard evidence.
I look around the still-empty room and decide to be reckless, snapping a pic of my rock-hard cock.
Leo James:
That’s certainly a large contributing factor to consider.
Absurdly large in fact.
I think it’s pertinent that you come back quickly to debate further.
Crucial we get to a satisfactory conclusion for both parties.
George Hampden:
On my way, baby
I shower and pack up my things at lightning speed, hands shaking slightly with the anticipation of seeing her. I’m exiting the locker room as I smack right into the one person I was hoping to avoid.
‘George, there you are. Good practice?’ He doesn’t wait for my answer. ‘The car is outside. We’re going straight to supper. I’ve brought you a jacket, don’t worry.’
‘I’m not coming, Gordon.’ I try to shove past him. ‘I have plans already. And my first match is tomorrow.’
‘Don’t worry, we won’t be late. And you don’t have plans. I have texted Miss James to join us too.’ He smirks. ‘I assume that’s where you were headed?’
I don’t say anything.
‘Perfect. She managed to get us into Girafe. Very impressive at short notice.’ A strange look passes across his face. I don’t like it. ‘She is good, isn’t she?’
‘She’s very capable at her job, yes.’ I refuse to walk into this trap.
He smirks again. ‘Well, you’d know more about that than I do. Maybe I’ll have the chance to get to know her better tonight.’
I don’t like this one bit. But if Leo’s there, then that’s where I’ll be.