Chapter 24 Elias
ELIAS
I’m a little groggy as we climb onto the bus to the airport the next morning.
Ben kept me awake most of the night with his cute snoring and the occasional question about a missing organ.
He woke up at one point, apologizing profusely and telling me he’d sleep on the couch if I wanted.
It was adorable. I would like to get to the bottom of that weird, recuring dream, but aside from that, I wasn’t angry.
I suspect my inability to sleep might have also had something to do with the fact that I’d just had the most intense sex of my life.
Every time we fuck, it feels like more than casual sex.
I knew this would happen, but I thought I had it covered.
I thought the only thing I had to worry about was Ben getting attached.
I didn’t realize I was in danger of becoming attached, too.
We’ll have a day to practice when we get to Indian Wells and a night’s rest before the tournament starts. Can’t have Stanford getting an unfair advantage because they’re better rested than we are.
I manage to nap a little on the bus to New York, where we’ll catch a flight to Palm Springs.
It all sounds so glamorous. When I texted Carina last night, she couldn’t believe I was going to Palm Springs or playing a tournament at Indian Wells.
Her excitement for me made this decision feel like an even better one.
If I’d gone back out on the Challenger tour, I’d probably be staying in a cheap motel somewhere in Idaho, playing on substandard courts for pitiful cash prizes.
Instead, I’m travelling with a prestigious university to Palm Springs to play tennis at a legendary venue.
And last night, I slept in a fancy fraternity house with a sexy frat boy.
College life might not be as tedious as I initially thought.
When I wake up, Ben’s on his phone and we’re going over a bridge.
I glance at what he’s looking at—some Star Wars LEGO thing—before he catches me and slides his phone in his pocket with a shy smile.
“Hey, do you feel more rested now?”
“I was rested anyway.”
“No, you weren’t. I kept you up with my snoring and my weird sleep talking.”
“It’s not weird, it’s cute.”
He scoffs. “Yeah, okay.”
I think about kissing him, but then spot Coach up front. Even if dating your teammate isn’t against any rules, I’m sure he’d frown on us kissing on the team bus.
We have hours at the airport until we board our flight.
I leave Ben hanging out with Nate and the guys and go in search of …
something. I want to get Ben a gift. My subconscious wants to call it a parting gift, but I push that thought out.
There is definitely no guarantee that a pro coach will be impressed with me out there this weekend.
But there’s a chance that one of them will and that this college experience will be over for me.
Even though that’s what I’ve wanted since I arrived here, there’s a scrap of regret that this has to end.
I think my judgement has become clouded ever since I went to Ben’s parents’ house.
That pretty, church-inundated town scrambled my brain.
I search the duty-free store, sniffing cologne and dodging the overly friendly sales assistants, finding nothing. Giving up, I pop into a store to buy a pack of chewing gum and it’s there, dangling by the register. The perfect gift.
I have a big, goofy grin on my face when I find Ben and the guys. Ben’s smiling, in his element with his friends. For a second, I wonder what it would be like if he were mine. Really mine. He looks up and that smile turns extra megawatt when he sees me. My breath catches.
I put my arm around him and bend to whisper in his ear.
“I got you something.”
I feel the heat coming off his face and smile.
“I’ll give it to you later.”
“You know Coach doesn’t let me room with anyone because I keep them awake, right?”
I didn’t know that. And if I wasn’t playing the most important tournament of my life tomorrow, I might be considering sneaking into his room, anyway.
“I don’t mean that, get your head out of the gutter.”
“Oh.”
“You know what? I can’t wait, I’ll give it to you now.”
I pull the keychain out of my pocket and hand it over.
Ben eyes light up as I drop the little LEGO man into his hand.
“I think it’s a Star Wars one, I don’t know if you have it or not….” Why am I being so shy? I am not shy. I’m rubbing the back of my neck and practically blushing as Ben turns the LEGO man keychain over in his hand.
“It’s Luke Skywalker. And I definitely don’t have him on a keychain. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
The awkwardness really creeps in when we look around and find everyone smiling at us.
“What?” I ask.
“Nothing,” Nate says. “Guys, who’s hungry? Shall we go grab a breakfast burrito or something? Or they’ve got to have a McDonald’s in here somewhere.”
I lean down and whisper, “I’m not letting you force feed me Dunkin’ Donuts again.” Ben laughs.
After a long flight in economy with my legs squashed like a concertina fan, we finally arrive in Palm Springs. I’m too tired to take it all in and appreciate anything and I forget to take photographs for Carina. I promise myself I’ll take some on the way back.
We have dinner as a team at the hotel before going off to our rooms to get a good night’s rest for the match tomorrow.
Coach Sanchez has roomed me with Nate. I’m not sure whether that was strategic or not, but I’m too tired to care.
I text Ben while Nate’s in the bathroom, brushing his teeth.
Try to get some sleep, I’ll see you tomorrow partner.
He replies with a bunch of emojis, like always. By the time Nate emerges from the bathroom in a ratty t-shirt with ‘Atlantic City’ emblazoned across his chest, I’m grinning like a loon.
“How’s Ben?” Nate asks.
My defenses come up. “How do you know I’m talking to Ben?”
“Because you’ve got a big smile on your face. He has the same one whenever you text him.”
Why does my heart soar at that?
Nate walks around me to his own bed and takes a seat, facing me. “Listen, Elias ...”
I stiffen, this doesn’t sound like a conversation I want to have. The only interactions I’ve had with this guy so far have involved him lecturing me.
“Ben’s my friend, and I’m protective over him. I’ve just always wanted to make sure he doesn’t get hurt.”
His arrogance is astounding if he thinks he knows what’s best for Ben. He thinks I’m going to hurt Ben? I’ve never hurt Ben. I can see when Ben is nervous or spiraling or pining after someone too oblivious to see it. Can he?
“I’m not going to hurt Ben.”
“I know.”
What?
“Listen …” He runs a hand over his face and sighs. “I know I haven’t been the friendliest since you got here.”
I raise an eyebrow. Nate scrubs a hand over his hair with a cringing smile. “I’m just over-protective of my friends sometimes, and Ben means a lot to me.”
I open my mouth to speak. I’m not sure what was going to come out, so I’m glad Nate interrupts.
“But I’ve seen how good you two are together and how happy you make him. So, I guess … sorry for being a dick. I’m glad you joined the team, and not just because you’re good at tennis.” He turns this full-beam, president-of-the-fraternity smile on me. I’m stunned. What the hell do I say to that?
“That’s all I wanted to say.” Nate adds when he sees I’m not going to contribute anything to the conversation. “I’m glad he’s happy. I’m fully on board with you two. That’s all.”
He lays back and turns the light out.
It takes me a while to get his words into my head. I shouldn’t care what Nate thinks of me or if he approves of my relationship with Ben, but it felt good to hear him say it. It felt good to hear I make Ben happy. Ben does deserve to be happy, but I won’t be around to be the reason.
The partners of professional tennis players have to follow them around on the tour, give up their own goals to be with them.
I’m not going to inflict that on Ben. He has far too much potential to give up his dreams. His company is going to change the face of tennis.
And I know he and Nate will make it happen no matter what.
I’m not going to stand in the way of that.
But the more I tell myself I’m fine with walking away, the less I believe it.
The following morning, after breakfast, we go out onto the courts to warm up before our first match against the University of Texas.
Most of the Division I conferences have sent their best tennis team to this tournament.
Texas from the SEC, Stanford from the ACC.
University of Arizona is representing the Big 12, San Diego the West Coast Conference .
.. I blink, taking in how good it feels to represent something, especially something as prestigious and well-respected as the Ivy League.
But my main goal—I remind myself as I step out onto the court—is to impress any pro coaches that may be in attendance.
While Coach Sanchez tries to keep us grounded and focused on the match, rumors spread about who might be here, watching.
Archer keeps checking his phone, whispering with the guys about the latest information.
I hear the name Richard Kingsley and my heart flies into my throat.
The Richard Kingsley is here? Possibly the greatest tennis coach of the Open Era?
Here to watch our little college tournament?
Richard Kingsley has coached multiple men’s and women’s players to Grand Slam victories and world number one spots.
If I could work with him, my success would be practically guaranteed.
He could introduce me to the best nutritionists, physiotherapists, and trainers in the sport. Not to mention managers and agents.