Chapter 19
Nineteen
“You were a natural,” Gary, one of The Tennis Network’s producers said, clapping her on the shoulder.
“They loved you, I know it. The way you clearly articulated where Makarova was off her game, it built a story that fans could follow through the rest of the match. That’s what tennis needs these days, especially as we work to attract newer fans. ”
Sydney removed her headset and hopped down from her chair. “She has a tendency to struggle against left-handers with single-handed backhands,” she said, repeating essentially what she’d said during the match.
They’d just wrapped day one, a surprisingly difficult first-round match for the
current number four seed, Maria Makarova. The match had gone to three sets, with Makarova pulling off what should have been a much more resounding win.
Still, Sydney was pleased with the compliment. Gary had been in the producer’s chair for a decade at this point, and his belief in her meant something as she ventured into this possible new career path.
“The production team is heading out to dinner. Care to join us? ”
Sydney looked down at her watch. She’d gotten to the box at nine a.m., already having gone through hair and makeup, and it was just after six o’clock now.
“I could have a quick bite to eat.” She wasn’t talking to Reese until a few hours from now, so the timing should work. Because there was nothing that was going to stop her from laying eyes on Reese’s beautiful face, not even the chance to rub elbows with the people who decided her fate.
“Hotel restaurant in an hour?” Gary asked, his tablet in hand as he jotted down notes at the same time.
“Sure.” Sydney left the box then, making her way down to where the cars reserved to shuttle the commentators from the hotel to the venue were waiting. She was lucky to find one available during the crew’s rush hour.
She’d take a quick shower, have dinner with her possible new coworkers, and then she’d be on to today’s main event.
She smiled reflexively as the car made the quick trip back to the hotel. God, she was excited to talk to Reese.
Sydney King - 6:06 p.m.
Heading to dinner with some of the production people and commentators.
Reese Devereux - 6:06 p.m.
Aww, that’s my baby. Making friends!
Sydney King - 6:06 p.m.
Hardly. I’m just passing the time until I get to see you!
She felt the thrill of excitement that Reese elicited in her skitter through her body, especially at the pet name being used. Sydney was so gone, and she knew it.
The quick drive was passing her by, but all she could think about was taking these few minutes with Reese while she could get them.
Sydney King - 6:07 p.m.
How did today go?
Yesterday, Reese had ended up staying with her mom at the Devereux house overnight, and today, she’d gone with her into the city to start meeting with a few divorce lawyers.
Reese Devereux - 6:07 p.m.
The whole process seems brutal. Remind me to never get divorced!
Sydney waited to respond, about to make a joke on a conversation about marriage, when she saw text bubbles pop up.
The moment lost, she tucked the thought away for a later time.
Not the idea of them getting married, obviously.
That would make her crazy. There was no reason for her to imagine what type of wedding she and Reese could have, though she’d always loved the idea of fall weddings.
And the color palette would go perfectly with Reese’s skin tone.
No . She didn’t even know where Reese stood on the subject of marriage.
But still, Reese hadn’t said that she never wanted to get married, just that she didn’t want to get divorced.
Another thought to tuck away. For a later date. Much, much later unless she wanted to scare Reese all the way back to California.
Especially given their current topic of conversation. Nothing screamed ‘romantic conversation about the future’ like discussing your parents’ impending divorce.
Reese Devereux - 6:07 p.m.
We met with three lawyers for consultations. We both liked Caroline Parker the best. The other two were like sharks who smelled blood in the water and just wanted their piece of the chum.
Sydney King - 6:08 p.m.
This is big. How do you feel?
Reese Devereux - 6:08 p.m.
About being a child of divorce?
Sydney King - 6:08 p.m.
No one gives you credit for how funny you are.
This was good. Keep the mood light. It was obvious that Reese wanted to, and she was going to follow her lead.
Reese Devereux - 6:08 p.m.
You’re giving me credit right now.
Light flirting. Perfect.
She loved when Reese flirted with her. It was always witty and understated and made Sydney smile uncontrollably.
Still, she really did want to make sure that Reese was okay.
Sydney King - 6:09 p.m.
I mean it. I’m trying to be sensitive to what you’re going through!
Reese Devereux - 6:09 p.m.
Honestly, I’m thrilled. I know this isn’t going to be easy for my mom, but she’s already done the hardest part. And she has so much life to live. I’m glad she’s going to get to live it on her terms.
Reese Devereux - 6:09 p.m.
I feel like I’m getting a front row seat to the implosion of my father’s life. Is it wrong that I don’t feel badly about that?
Sydney King - 6:10 p.m.
Absolutely not. He’s reaping what he sowed. I, personally, love some karmic justice.
Reese Devereux - 6:10 p.m.
Perfect. Because if we don’t both enjoy the misfortune of others (when they deserve it), I don’t know how this could ever work.
Sydney only briefly considered not sending her next text.
Sydney King - 6:10 p.m.
Good. Because I really, really want this to work.
Reese Devereux - 6:10 p.m.
Me too. Okay, gotta run. We’re already late to our dinner reservation. Talk later?
Sydney King - 6:10 p.m.
Yes. Text me if your plans change.
As Sydney arrived at the hotel, with enough time to take a shower before meeting the crew for dinner, with a huge next step of her professional career looming before her, all she could think about was what Reese was doing and whether she was thinking of Sydney, too.
“Tell me everything. Don’t leave a single bit out,” Reese said as the video call connected, her soft face coming into view.
Sydney had just closed her hotel room door behind her. She threw her leftovers on the desk near the television and slid her shoes off. “There’s not that much to tell.”
Reese let out an adorably indignant huff that Sydney found downright charming. “I don’t believe that for a second. You were back at a pro tournament. Around friends and foes alike. Working in a completely new role.”
“What colorful commentary, babe. Maybe you should have been the one on screen? ”
“Seriously, Sydney. I want to know,” Reese said, her voice softening and cutting through all of Sydney’s defenses.
Sydney plopped down in a chair next to the window, holding her phone a few feet away from her face.
“Honestly, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really digested or processed a lot of it yet.
And we’re only on the first day of live matches, so I’m trying to temper making any judgments about the commentator aspect of it. ”
She had six more days of live commentary to provide, leading through the final matches happening on Sunday. It was unclear yet if she’d be tapped to commentate at the finals, but she had to be on standby through the weekend regardless.
Reese nodded along, her back resting against the headboard in Sydney’s hotel room at The Stone’s Throw. “That’s fair. How do you feel , then? Take the big-brain thinking out of it.”
“I feel…” Sydney sat with the question for a moment, tapping into her senses. “My body is tired. It’s a whole different type of exhaustion to have to be ‘on’ for so long at a time. And I like getting dolled up as much as the next person, but hair and makeup is not a gentle process.”
Reese laughed then, and Sydney loved how she slid a little farther down into the bed, burrowing into the covers they hadn’t shared in far too long. “Okay, that all makes sense. Did it feel good to be back at a tournament?”
“I feel like you’re gentle-parenting me,” Sydney said lightly as she kicked her legs up on the coffee table, only a little embarrassed by the situation.
“Is it working?” Reese asked, flashing Sydney a grin.
“I miss you.” Sydney said the words before she’d articulated them in her mind. “That’s how I feel.”
“I miss you, too.” The way Reese said it made Sydney’s insides go all mushy, and she wondered how she was still retaining her body’s shape.
“And it’s hard to fully experience something with that always in the back of my mind. ”
Hesitation was etched across Reese’s face when she said, “Should we talk less? To give you more time to focus.”
Sydney shook her head resolutely. “That’s absolutely not what I want. I’m just being honest. I think I’m homesick… for Stoneport.”
She saw how Reese’s cheeks turned pink, and it looked like the phone shook gently, cradled in Reese’s hands. “Stoneport misses you, too.”
But she’d promised that she was going to give the commentary position a chance, at Reese’s insistence even.
So she thought about the positives. It had felt good to be praised by Gary, considering she’d never done something like this before.
And parts of it were fun. Analyzing the players from a few levels removed, instead of her mind and body adapting in real time, making what felt like a million decisions a second during a match.
But there was something lurking at the back of her mind, something that hadn’t taken shape yet in a way that made sense to her.
So she did what she did best and decided to distract herself. “Have you heard anything from Brynn?”
Reese groaned, sinking into the bed even farther. “I haven’t. When I left yesterday morning, she told me I’d given her a lot to think about.”
“Her life, her choices, I guess.” Though Sydney couldn’t imagine being able to sit quietly with that information and do nothing, she didn’t know what kind of mettle Brynn was really made of, when it came down to it.