Chapter 24
Inés
Good Luck, Babe!—Chappell Roan
“We should toast,” Selene suggested, sitting at the head of the table. The clubhouse was busy, everyone getting in a good
meal before the events of the day began.
“Does that mean I get some bubbles?” I joked, looking at my team around me. We were all out for a team brunch, a little tradition
we had started while working together. If I made it past the first round, we got breakfast. And since this had been the first
in too long, Selene had even flown out for the occasion.
“No,” Mallory, my coach, replied sharply, her blonde hair pulled back into a tight bun. “You’ve got practice later. Stick
to your orange juice.”
At the opposite end of the table, Zackary pushed out of his chair. “Wait, let me get a picture for the socials.”
We all grinned towards him, everyone holding out their flutes, me with my fruit juice, into the middle of the table. I felt
a little emotional as I raised my glass, as if I’d been waiting for this for too long, a relaxed moment with my team.
“To Inés.” Selene grinned, a repeating chorus following her words. Everyone cheered, glasses meeting in the middle as Zackary
captured the moment.
“Thanks, guys.” I smiled gratefully.
Before, this breakfast used to be more of a strategy meeting, but today it felt lighter. My team had been fantastic, loyal
through the tough times, and even though we were only three days into the competition, I couldn’t help but feel hopeful for
the rest of the year.
“How has the wrist been feeling today?” Maya, my physio, asked from across the table, her dark eyes lingering on my arm.
“It’s fine.” I smiled. “I’m doing my exercises.” I was beginning to get really hopeful that my injury days were well and truly
behind me. The doctor had said that if I did the exercises and wore the splint after every training session and match, I would
see a vast improvement, and as it turned out, so far he had been right.
“I really appreciate the work you’ve all been doing,” I said. “Thanks to all your effort, I’m feeling much more prepared for
this string of competitions, and I’m hoping that we can only improve with every day.”
Everyone mumbled in agreement just as waiters appeared with dishes of assorted brunch items, handing out the orders.
Since it was my day off between rounds, I’d ordered the tortilla. The second I’d spotted it on the menu, it had reminded me
of home, of my mother cooking breakfast and a crowded dining table of siblings.
We fell into friendly banter as we ate, teasing each other with memories from the previous years on tour. Most of us had worked
together for a while now. The loyalty in my team was unusual given how much change there usually was for tennis players, but
we had all clicked early on. I loved these big meals, my on-tour family reminding me so much of my loud family back home.
It had been a few days since I’d last spoken to my parents, my mother ranting down the phone, telling me I was looking too
thin after stalking my social media from the beach house.
Zackary was in the middle of explaining some videos he wanted us to film when I spotted a familiar blonde in the background,
standing up from a table, with Henrik.
The sight of them almost caught me off guard. My hitting partner and my former mixed doubles partner. His hand on her lower back. They looked like the perfect couple.
Were they back together?
I almost slid down under the table to hide, when Chloe’s gaze met mine, a smile curling her lips. She gestured to Henrik,
then made her way through the clubhouse, Henrik behind her.
My mouth went dry as I took in her outfit, a simple white summer dress, thin straps cutting over her shoulders, hair down
and tucked behind her ears.
She looked beautiful, and it was all for him.
“Chloe, hey.” I smiled a little too awkwardly as she arrived, all too aware of the way the bodice of her dress hugged her
torso, the skirt highlighting the rise of her hips, that image of her changing in the guesthouse replaying in my mind.
I swallowed, turning to look around the table.
“Sorry to intrude.” She looked back at me, her hand resting on the top of my chair. “I thought I’d check if you were still
okay for our practice later?”
“Of course.” I nodded, my eyes shifting to Henrik. “Good to see you both.”
He waved hello to everyone at the table, familiar with them from when we had worked together. The food in my stomach turned
heavy at the way she looked at him. If they were back together, there was no way I could work with her.
“Pull up a seat,” I said, wondering to myself where that invite had come from. Why didn’t I let her ask her question and leave?
Her brows bunched. “Are you sure?”
“Of course, we can get you both some breakfast, or a drink.” I could’ve hit my head against the table. Everyone around the
table reluctantly shuffled closer together, plates slowly being taken away by the waiters.
Chloe grabbed a chair from an empty table, pulling in next to me, her knees nudging against mine as she sat. I swallowed, trying to stop myself from jumping to assumptions. They might not be back together.
“We’ve already eaten,” she said, looking up at a waiter, “but I’d take some water, thanks.”
“Henrik, you already know everyone,” I said, my voice cracking as I said his name. A chorus of hellos rang around the table,
everyone still friendly towards my old doubles partner.
And then it was Chloe’s turn.
“Selene you already know,” I said, smiling towards my manager. “But then we have Mallory, my coach, Lydia, my trainer, Maya,
my physio, and Zack’s on PR,” I said, going around the team; with every mention of a name, that person smiled, some of the
friendliness across their features clearly forced.
I had to bite down on my tongue to stop myself from begging them to be nicer, to make this easier. This was a fresh start
for us. If I could change my opinion about Chloe, then maybe they would too if they got to know her better.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” Chloe said, and smiled. If she’d caught any sense of the unfriendliness towards her, she didn’t
show it. “How long have you been working with Inés?”
“Zack’s the newest member and he’s been with us for three years,” Maya said.
“That’s great, you must be a close bunch?” Chloe asked.
“We like to work as a team,” Mallory said, each word sharpened to a spike.
“That’s so great,” Chloe chirped from beside me. “My team is a little different. We’re actually short a physio at the moment.”
I raised my eyebrows, looking towards Maya. “Would you be able to help Chloe out while she gets sorted?”
I knew she’d have time to help us both, not to mention the extra income would be appreciated.
Maya looked a little uncomfortable at first, but she answered, “Um, yeah, as long as you aren’t playing at the same time, I’m sure it would work fine with my schedule.”
“That would be awesome, thanks.” Chloe looked between us. “My brother was stressing about finding somebody reliable last minute,
so if you are up for it, we will work to make it happen.”
Looking a little less reluctant, Maya slid her phone across the table. “If you give me your coach’s number, I’ll send him
a message and we can arrange a session to see if we work as a good fit. If not, I know a few people I could suggest.”
“Thanks so much, I’ll let him know.” Chloe took the phone, the smile across her face growing as she typed. As she passed it
back, she looked around the table. “So, you must have some behind-the-scenes stories about Inés?”
Zackary muffled a laugh. “Remember that time you accidentally hit a ball kid?”
“Stop,” I said, cringing. “That was so embarrassing.”
Chloe’s laugh was sweet as she nudged her arm softly into my side. “What happened?”
Sighing, I forced myself to relive that day, even if it was only to hear that sound come from her again. “I served really
badly—I still think it was the wind.”
“Excuses, excuses,” Henrik muttered playfully from beside her.
Was I sweating? Or had it gotten really hot in here?
“And it flew at this goddamn kid,” I continued, “hitting him right in the face.”
Chloe almost squealed, “No, that’s so bad.”
“I felt terrible, and I tried to apologize,” I said, Zackary cutting me off to continue.
“But then his nose started to bleed and it was everywhere,” he said, a sly smile across his face. “And apparently Inés can’t
handle blood at all.”
“I hate the sight of it,” I admitted, the entire table laughing. “It’s supposed to be inside the body. It’s weird when it escapes.” A shiver ran down my spine at the memory of that day. “So, then I start getting lightheaded and I need to sit down. Threw me off for the second set.”
“Did you still win?” Chloe asked, her eyes connecting with mine, the glee they held giving light to the sea green.
“Barely,” I managed to say, before dragging my gaze away from hers. “I swear I kept seeing spots of blood on the grass and
feeling sick.”
“And then there was the kit mishap,” Mallory piped up from across the table.
My eyes went wide. “Don’t tell her that.”
A playfully cruel smirk pulled at her lips, her head nodding towards me. “Inés appeared late to her doubles practice.”
“I slept in.” I wasn’t sure if this was a story I wanted retold.
“And she’s got somebody else’s kit bag,” Henrik finished for her.
I couldn’t help my attention automatically swinging back to him. Seeing how close he sat next to Chloe, it was like she was
squeezed between us, his hand stretched along the back of her chair.
“I’d stayed with a friend,” I insisted.
His smile grew tenfold. “Sure, a friend.”
The pit in my stomach grew even bigger. If they knew the story behind that night, would they still laugh? If I told them how
I’d gone home with another player, somebody who’d approached me in the player’s lounge after a match. We’d spent all night
there, chatting and drinking and growing closer. There were all those stupid sparks and butterflies in the stomach.
It felt safe; she’d made every move first. Flirted first. Kissed first. Invited me back to her room.
So, we spent the night together, and she’d made me feel so fucking wanted it lit me up from the inside out. Until her boyfriend
came home. He had been so mad, but she’d argued that it had meant nothing, I was nothing, while I was in the fucking room.
In my blind panic, I’d grabbed the wrong bag. I’d nearly fallen apart when I saw her name stitched into the lining. The shame I’d been trying to bury came rushing back, sharper than ever.
And now I was sitting next to Henrik and Chloe. Different people, but the same fucking scenario threatening to rear its head.
I didn’t ever want to be the other woman again.
“Anyway, we have no time to practice, and we’ve got a match later. And no time to sort her out with new kit,” Henrik continued,
the table chuckling at the story. “I think you had to borrow from somebody else?”
I forced a laugh, trying to bring the story to an end. “Alright, that’s enough stories for one day. We are due at our practice
in half an hour, and if we show up late I think our coaches won’t be best pleased.”
One look at Mallory and she straightened, and immediately the team moved on. We quickly paid up, saying our goodbyes as Chloe
and I were sent ahead to prepare for our session, Henrik staying behind after noticing some other friends grabbing a coffee.
As we stepped out of the café, the summer heat hit us full force, the sun bearing down in that relentless way it always seemed
to during the hard-court season.
“Did you really show up with someone else’s kit bag?” she asked, breaking the silence as we headed towards the practice courts.
“Yeah,” I muttered, keeping my gaze forward.
“Come on,” she said. “It’s not like you haven’t laughed at me before.”
“It’s different, Chloe.” My voice came out softer than I’d intended, but the weight behind it was undeniable. She didn’t need
to know the truth. No one needed to revisit the fiery car wreck that was my romantic past.
Her smile faltered, and for a second, I thought she might push. “Okay,” she said. “Fair enough.”
We walked in silence for a bit, the only sounds the crunch of gravel underfoot and the distant thwack of balls being hit on nearby courts.
“I’ll tell you one thing, though,” she said, glancing sideways at me. “If you ever do something that stupid again, at least
let me be there to see it. Seems like it would make for good entertainment.”
“Noted. I’ll invite you next time I completely humiliate myself.” I laughed. “But only if you make sure I have a front-row
seat to your own embarrassment.”
“Feels like a fair trade.” She smiled, and this time I dared to look at her. The sunlight only made her more beautiful, everything
about her more vivid. The red tinge to her hair, the flakes of gold in her eyes.
I remembered seeing her on the beach, sitting next to Henrik. I’d had to use every shred of control I had not to let my eyes
linger on her too long, the high-cut swimsuit under shorts that she’d been wearing too much for my brain to compute.
“Let’s survive this practice without killing each other first,” I said, a hint of challenge slipping into my voice.
Chloe flashed a grin. “Where’s the fun in that?”