Chapter 51
Chloe
Girl Is a Gun—Halsey
Costa vs Wei
Final—Arthur Ashe Stadium
Inés delivered another killer blow, a grunt echoing around the stadium as she sent the ball blistering over the net. Liang
barely managed to return it, standing firm on the baseline, while Inés pivoted to center court and unleashed a sharp two-handed
backhand.
The pace of the match had been scorching. The first set point delivered to Inés in twenty minutes flat. The second had been
considerably slower, Liang matching her pace.
Now, in the third set, I sat amidst the crowd, celebrating loudly with every point Inés scored. The energy around us was electric,
the crowd ready to meet their tournament winner.
They rallied down the line, the ball gaining speed with every hit, until Liang drove it sharply to the right, forcing Inés
off her mark. She stumbled to the other side of the court, dropping low and stretching to make the return. She was hardly
upright by the time the ball was fired back at her, Liang rushing up to the net for the kill. Inés responded with a delicate
lob, lofting the ball high and over her rival’s head.
The seconds seemed to stretch as Liang struggled to get to the baseline, keeping her attention on the ball. I was sure she had no chance to make the return, that the point would go to Inés. I was almost out of my seat, ready to celebrate.
But then she delivered the perfect return, a fucking bullet straight down the sideline. Inés tried to react, but it was too
fast and powerful, flying inches from the edge of her racket.
“Game, Liang,” the umpire announced.
“Fuck,” I swore, defeat ripping through my body, my eyes still glued to Inés as she reset, rolling her shoulders back. “She
totally had her there.”
“They’re both playing really well,” Henrik said, his words pulling my attention to him. He’d wanted to join me in her family
box to cheer on his former mixed doubles partner, and I had to admit, it was nice to see him again.
While our relationship had been over for a few months now, I had missed his friendship. He had been my first real ally in
this world.
“Too well,” I murmured. “I’m worried that her wrist will suffer if this goes too long.”
The second set had already come down to a tiebreak as both players hung on for survival. Inés was keeping up her pace, but
for how long?
“She knows how to handle that pain,” he reminded me as Inés took up a serving position. Four more points passed, Inés claiming
three, while Liang had managed to snatch just one.
They were rallying down the middle of the court, Inés up 40–15 in a fight to level the set score. The energy of the stadium
hadn’t died at all, if anything growing more charged and transfixed by the powerful athletes battling it out before us.
They continued their fight, exchanging backhand blows to the ball, firing it across and driving each other around the court,
testing for weakness. Inés drove the ball high and crosscourt, the speed slowing slightly but the technicality growing.
On the return, Inés stretched out to reach the ball with her forehand, batting it over with a one-handed grip. But Liang was fast, intercepting the ball before it could bounce a second time and sending it around the net post.
She aimed her drop shot with perfect precision, and again she caught Inés out, almost dropping to her knees as she celebrated
the win.
“Forty–thirty,” the umpire called, though the cheer of the crowd nearly drowned them out.
The look of frustration on Inés’s face was clear to see. She didn’t look up. She never did when she lost a point, but it was
still so easy to make out.
“Hang on,” I whispered as if she could hear me. “Keep fighting. One more point.”
Another restart. Another rally. Another frustrating point lost.
“Deuce,” the umpire announced, my heart threatening to hammer itself out of my chest.
The game continued. A long fight, but worthwhile as the ball flew out of bounds, Inés securing another point.
“Advantage, Costa.”
They played again, and I could hardly breathe as they fired through the game, each holding on for survival, but when Inés
called it wrong, and let a high ball fly over her, certain that it would land out of the court, only for it to land perfectly
before the baseline, the stress was almost too much.
A few minutes later, Liang claimed the game.
“Game Liang. Liang leads five games to four.”
Inés was facing defeat. She had to claw back this match. If Liang won this next game, it would be over.
“I don’t think I can watch,” I said, my nerves getting the better of me.
Both players went for their short break, Inés sitting in her chair, slumped over, a towel covering her head. I felt helpless
watching her.
“You know, if you’d told me even two months ago that I’d be sitting next to you, watching Inés play in a final, while the two of you are dating, I would have laughed in your face.” Henrik grinned at me.
“It’s a strange world we live in,” I said, feeling a slight blush burn on my cheeks. “Sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk
to you.”
“It’s fine,” he said. “I’m happy to see you both in love.” He sang the last word, nudging me slightly. “How did your parents
take it?”
“Badly.” I grimaced at him. “Dad’s texted a couple of times. Mom hasn’t even bothered. I think they are waiting for me to
reach out, to apologize and tell them I’m wrong.”
“But you won’t, right?”
I shook my head. “They’re going to be waiting a long time. I know where they’re coming from, but it’s twisted. With them,
I’m not sure what to believe anymore.”
“But you’re doing okay?” he said, his expression turning worried. “With everything?”
“I am.” I nodded. “Until things cool down, I’ve got security looking after me.” One quick scan, and they were easy to spot.
Days ago, I’d hated their presence, seen it as just another cage. Now they were a necessary precaution. But they were also
my choice now, not one forced upon me.
With my parents, maybe eventually we could have a relationship again. One with hours and hours of therapy, but until then,
I had everyone I needed. I had Calvin and Henrik. More importantly, I had Inés.
When the break came to an end, it was Liang’s serve, and it was clear her confidence fueled her resolve.
Meanwhile, Inés had never looked smaller, crouching in position on the baseline, ready to spring. But it was the subtle cracks
in her demeanor that gave me cause for concern.
The way her hands readjusted on the handle, as if she couldn’t remember how to even hold it. How she kept shifting her weight
awkwardly, not in the same usual bouncing rhythm. And the fact she hadn’t looked up at the box. Not for at least twenty minutes.
She was facing defeat head on, and it killed me that I was stuck up here, forced to watch.
“Hey,” Henrik said from beside me. “I’ve known Inés for a long time. And the thing I’ve learned is to never count her out.”
I nodded weakly, my gaze returning in time to watch Liang serve, exhaling as Inés returned. She ran like a spring released,
a renewed energy fueling every step she took, every swing she made. It was no less than a battle, but when Inés secured the
point, I jumped to my feet, cheering as loudly as I could.
As if she heard me through the crowd, she looked up, her eyes connecting with mine. Inés nodded, her only sign of celebration
in the face of the small victory.
But that win was only the beginning, as she proved time and time again she could break Liang’s serve. The momentum shifted.
Inés played like a woman possessed, while Liang grew desperate, calling for Hawk-Eye reviews that only seemed to strengthen
Inés further.
When the score reached 15–40 in Inés’s favor, she was seconds from showing that she could put up a real fight, that this was
far from over. That she was formidable and strong, everything I knew her to be.
That’s what I told myself when Liang managed to win another point.
30–40
“One more, Inés,” I said, my hands curled into fists in frustration. “Close this out.”
Liang won again, Inés standing strong, staring defeat down. An unusual hush had fallen over the crowd as we watched the two
women fight.
“Deuce,” the umpire called as Liang caught Inés out once again.
Only two points separated her from victory now.
I still believed Inés could do it. Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on my breathing, on the racing beat of my heart. This
situation was precarious. There was no way Inés could come this far only to watch it slip away.
Inés took her time, not letting any of the stress show in her playing, delivering blow after blow. She was going to win. She had to win. But then Liang claimed the point, the umpire announcing, “Advantage, Liang.”
Match point, and one last opportunity for Inés to show everyone who she was. To show that this was not over until she said
so. Until she walked off court, trophy in hand.
Liang served, putting her full power behind the ball. Inés leapt at it, the ball flying towards the sideline, groaning as
she sent it back over the net. Liang shot it crosscourt, challenging Inés to the opposite side. She made the backhand return,
sprinting to meet it, but Liang was on the center line and cut the ball off, skillfully sending it short.
Inés was perfectly placed, hitting it easily back over, but in doing so, she fell into the trap that had been so perfectly
laid out for her.
The ball jumped over the net, meeting Liang’s racket, who sharply sent it narrowly into the open court.
Inés stood no chance.
“Game, set and match to Liang, 6–7, 6–7, 4–6.”
Liang crumpled to the floor, the celebration sweeping her off her feet.
Inés stood, shoulders slack, her chest rising and falling like she was holding back the weight of it all, racket lowered.
She looked defeated, and then, in the blink of an eye, a soft curve touched her lips.
She crossed the court with purpose, meeting her opponent at the net. There, the curve shifted into something fuller, her arms
open as they shared a tight hug, as if they hadn’t battled fiercely over every inch of that court.
And I realized, as I watched them walking along the net, talking and laughing like old friends as they shook the umpire’s
hand, that this, this kindness, this grace, was what made Inés one of the best people I knew.
Liang finally turned, throwing her racket to the side as she soaked up the energy of the crowd, her fists raised high in triumph.
Inés didn’t try to interrupt. She simply tucked her belongings into her bag, her movements deliberate and slow, as though
giving herself the space to breathe through the hurt.
Her gaze found mine across the stadium, steady despite the storm she must have been feeling. A small wave, a softer smile,
brave, even now. But when her lips tightened at the corners, I saw it. Felt it. The weight of losing, the fight to make peace with it.
Something in my chest splintered.
I had spent so long running, avoiding, wasting time on everything except what mattered. But her? She had always been right
here. Strong, kind, impossibly brave. Mine.
Girlfriend. The word settled in my ribs, warm and certain.
Before I knew it we were on to the interviews, a TV camera set up in the middle of the court as the interviewer launched into
condolences over her loss. She kept taking it in her stride, kept her cool, kept the tears back as she answered each question
with poise.
“And I wanted to ask,” the interviewer said, taking a breath. “I wanted to ask if you have any comment about what happened,
just days ago with your competitor Chloe Murphy. I know you two have grown closer.”
I froze, feeling the crowd’s eyes turn to me. I wanted to shrink away, the residual fear the attack had left. But with my
gaze on her, I stayed strong, listening as she answered.
“I think what happened was unacceptable. And the lies that were being spread, the way people talk about other people online
is disgusting. We may be athletes, celebrities, whatever, but we are still human. Being in the public eye does not mean you
are entitled to any piece of our private lives, and I hope that we learn from this awful event.”
Tears welled in my eyes at the pride surging in my heart. Watching her take defeat in her stride, still managing to celebrate and be proud of the success she had fought to earn, and still take the time to stand up for me, left me certain of one thing.
Maybe today hadn’t gone our way. But tomorrow was just arriving, and it was waiting for both of us.