Thirty-Seven Teagan
Thirty-Seven
Teagan
T oday is the day.
Today is the day I get back the man I love.
I didn’t immediately go to Dominic’s after my parents left and beg his forgiveness. I needed to digest everything my parents told me. I’ve been going through what I could say to make Dominic forgive me for the horrible things I’ve said. I misjudged him horribly because I was so afraid to believe anyone could love me unconditionally. I kept throwing the past back in his face and he took it, letting me harangue him when the truth was much more sinister. My father was controlling my life and I fell right into his hands. I allowed my fears to cloud my judgment.
Because the truth of the matter is Dominic isn’t solely responsible for our breakup, but it fit the narrative I contrived in my head to put all the blame on him instead of taking equal responsibility for what happened. I pushed him away, not my father. I didn’t think Dominic would want to be with me if I couldn’t play professional tennis anymore. I thought he deserved someone better. I didn’t value myself or give him enough credit. And when he did return, I assumed he wanted the spotlight for himself, but that’s not true.
My star can shine just as bright with him by my side.
I won’t make that mistake again.
I get dressed for battle. I opt for a rich crimson Nike tank and flouncy tennis skirt because with all the press coverage, the tournament sold out. I learned from Charity that Dominic didn’t accept the money in exchange for a solo tournament and instead donated the balance himself for the Phoenix Desert Smash to reach our two-million-dollar goal—which means our doubles tournament is still on. Everyone will be looking at me so I might as well be noticed. I’ve paired the tank and skirt with my favorite pair of red Nikes. My hairstylist came over yesterday and did my hair into sleek waves close to my skull. I’ve foregone makeup because lord knows how many sets we’ll endure, but I did add a touch of mascara, some lipstick and lathered my skin with shimmering suntan lotion. The least I can do is look dewy.
“You look great!” Lyric states from the doorway when I spin around. She’s wearing khaki shorts, a simple cotton tank and a pair of espadrilles. “How do you feel about the tournament and Dominic?”
“Nervous. Scared. Anxious,” I reply. “What if he doesn’t want to speak to me?”
“Then you make him listen.”
I nod. I have to get through to him because I refuse to lose another decade with him.
“I’m going to head out.”
The rest of the Gems are coming midmorning and Lyric is picking them up in my Mercedes-Benz. So I hired a vehicle to take me to the tournament and it’s already idling in my driveway. I wave at Lyric, pick up my tennis bag and walk toward my destiny.
* * *
The drive to the club doesn’t go as planned and I don’t have a chance to talk to Dominic before the tournament. There’s a big wreck on the expressway, and I’m stuck in traffic for over two hours. When I finally arrive to the club, the place is a hub of activity. I head to Charity and the rest of the tournament committee to check in and see how I can be of assistance.
“Teagan, how are you, darling?” Charity rushes over to kiss both my cheeks. “I’m so sorry about all the unflattering news coverage. They had no right to air it.”
I shrug. “Nothing you can do. We can’t change the past.”
Charity smiles sympathetically. “No, we can’t, but I’m not surprised to see you and Dominic are an item. I knew it!”
“I can’t get one over on you,” I say, pointing in her direction with a wry smile. “Has Dominic made it?”
“Oh, yes, he’s already on the court and making a splash. There’s a crowd just to watch him practice hitting the ball.”
Of course he would beat me here because he’s a consummate professional. I suck in a deep breath and remind myself I can do this. I will get through to him.
“Thanks. I’ll make my way there, but do you need any help?”
Charity shakes her head. “Mitzi and I and the rest of the volunteers have it covered. You’re playing in front of the world. Go get ready.” She gives me an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
I leave the check-in desk and make my way to the courts. My heart beats so loudly in my chest I’m certain everyone can hear it. My palms are damp and I can feel sweat under my armpits. I haven’t been this nervous since my first junior championship when my father and trainer were breathing down my neck.
There’s a crowd around one fence near the courts showing me exactly where Dominic is. “Excuse me,” I say, pushing my way through. At first, I’m met with resistance because they’re all jockeying to get a view of Dominic, but when someone realizes who I am, suddenly the crowd parts and allows me to enter.
Lucky number seven. I smile.
Dominic is playing in earnest, slamming his racket against the ball and sending it at least one hundred thirty miles per hour across the court.
“Good morning,” I say once he and the hitter finish an intense rally.
Dominic spins around on his heel and instead of being greeted with the frown I’d expected, a wry smile spreads across his full lips. As always, he looks sexy in a simple white tennis top and shorts. “Teagan, so nice of you to finally join us.”
His snarky remark makes me laugh because it’s classic Dominic. He likes to rile me up before a game.
“Not all of us are programmed to get up at the crack of dawn,” I respond, coming closer and dropping my bag. I pull out my visor because the sun is beaming overhead. It’s going to be a hot one, which won’t make this tournament any easier.
I walk over to him. “Could I have a word with you in private?”
He glances around at the crowd on the sidewalk and already in the bleachers. “Now isn’t the right time, Teagan. Can we talk later?”
“I know that,” I whisper, glancing behind us, “but it’s really important.”
“We need our heads in the game and I don’t want to argue.”
“Please…” I implore.
“Fine.” He tosses down his racket and we move farther away from the court. People can still see us, but they can’t listen in.
“You’re not wired or anything?” I ask.
He glares at me. “No, Teagan. I’ve been playing all morning. What have you been doing?”
“Trying to get here,” I say sharply, and immediately soften my tone. I don’t want to fight with him. I want the opposite. “I was caught in traffic on the interstate.”
He nods and stretches his neck back and forth. “I’m sorry. I’m just wound a little tight.”
“Because of me?”
He looks down at me and his expression softens. “Teagan…”
“Listen, I know I made a mess of things,” I begin quickly, “but I wanted to tell you I’m sorry. I’m sorry for every hurtful thing I’ve ever said to you.”
His brow furrows. “Where is this about-face coming from?”
“From the fact that I finally know the truth,” I say, looking into his ebony eyes. “I know what my father did.”
His eyes widen in surprise. “You do? How?”
“My parents. They told me everything. My father admitted you kept coming to see me after I was injured. Even when I sent you away, you kept coming back.” Dominic doesn’t say a word, so I keep going. “My father said he asked you to stay away from me because he thought it would be in my best interests if we weren’t together. He thought I wouldn’t want to be around you and watch you live the dream I could no longer have.”
“That’s exactly what he said,” Dominic responds. “He told me you were better off without me, to leave you to find someone better suited and out of the tennis world. I foolishly believed him. I thought I was doing the right thing when I walked away and left you.”
“And I thought it was for the best to push you away so you could find someone better, someone worthy of you.”
“Worthy of me? Teagan, you’re the only woman I’ve ever cared about. Why would you think that?”
“Because I’ve had a lot of fears and hang-ups after growing up in my father’s house. No matter what I did, I could never be the son he always wanted. When the accident happened, it was like a sign showing me I wasn’t good enough—that I wasn’t worthy.”
“That’s crazy, Teagan. You had me right by your side telling you day in and day out…that I—” His words are cut off by the announcer stating that the tournament will begin in fifteen minutes. When the announcement is over, I look at Dominic, eager for him to finish that sentence.
“That you what?” I press.
Dominic’s gaze moves behind me. Our opponents have walked onto the court. He looks down at me. “We need to finish this discussion later.”
I grab Dominic’s arm. “No, we can’t.” Something tells me if we don’t finish, if I don’t get out everything I need to say, I may never get another chance. “I’m sorry I let my fears get in the way of us. You’re not the only one to blame for the demise of our relationship. I shouldn’t have put all the blame on you.”
From the stunned expression on Dominic’s face, he’s surprised by my words. “You mean that?”
“Of course I do. I’m to blame too. I pushed you away and gave my father the leverage he needed to break us up and control my life. It was just easy to make you the fall guy rather than face my own shortcomings. I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to embrace life, and I hope it’s one that includes you. Can you forgive me for all the terrible things I’ve said?”
The crowd starts to chant Dominic’s name and he glances to the bleachers and then back at me. “We should get into position and get ready.”
My heart stops. I don’t want him to put distance between us, not now.
I grasp his arm. “Tell me it’s not too late, Dominic,” I blurt out, blocking out all the voices around us. “That I haven’t lost the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
His eyes soften and my heart finally starts beating again. “Baby…”
Hearing the endearment is like music to my ears. “I can’t wait to play tennis again,” I say, moving closer to him and placing my hand on his chest, “but more so because I have you on my side. I know you weren’t trying to steal the spotlight, and I know you didn’t take Scott’s offer even though it would have brought the tournament more money. I let my fear take over, but I don’t want to do that anymore. Promise me if we win that I get to have your heart.”
A broad grin spreads across his full lips. “Now, that’s a promise I can keep.”
His large palm reaches out and rests on my cheek. The tiny action is a comfort.
The five-minute whistle blows, indicating we should get ready. Dominic and I walk over to our opponents, shake their hands and then move back to our side of the court. I bend down, grab my racket from my bag and inhale sharply.
The moment of truth is here. All the practice Dominic and I have put in will finally reveal itself for the entire world to see. My hand is shaking and I remind myself to calm down.
When I’m upright, I glance up and see the Gems holding a sign: Go Get ’Em, Teagan. I can’t help but smile because these women have stood by my side during the best and worst of times. I see Dominic’s family too. His mother, sisters and brother are waving Dominic signs.
Dominic and I both move to the baseline.
“Are you ready for this?” he asks.
“I was born ready.”
Because this moment means I get to start my life over again and finally find the happiness I seek.