24. Jordan
Chapter Twenty-Four
Jordan
The tunnel stretched out in front of me like a damn mile.
Every step felt heavier than the last because you knew exactly what was waiting at the end.
Centre Court was out there, packed to the rafters, humming with that electric, once-in-a-career sort of noise, and my heart was already thudding hard enough against my ribs that it felt like it might try to break its way out.
This was it. The biggest match of my life.
The one I’d spent years clawing toward through injury, bad draws, and long seasons that nearly broke me.
All I could think about was whether she was here yet.
My grip tightened around my racket until my knuckles went white.
My mouth was dry, tongue sticking to the roof like I’d been chewing cotton.
Chris had said something in my ear before heading up to the stands, probably the usual last-minute push, but I couldn’t tell you a single word of it.
Because somewhere under the noise, a quieter, more dangerous thought kept sliding in.
What if she didn’t come?
No. She would. She’d kissed me like she meant it this morning, like she was leaving me with something to carry onto the court that told me to go win.
But still, doubt flickered behind my ribs.
What if it was too much? Too public? What if she’d changed her mind about it all, freaked out, and gone back to the safety of Gwen’s house?
I told myself to keep my head on straight.
To focus. To worry about seeing her after.
But the truth was, I needed her here now.
I wanted to walk out and see her in the front row, in some dress that would inevitably short-circuit my brain, her perfect hair, that soft gloss on her lips catching the sun.
I wanted the curve of her shoulder in my eyeline when I played, the one I’d kissed this morning and felt her shiver.
Jesus.
Was I in love with her? Was that what this was? This soon? The thought came hot and fast, like it had been waiting for me to stop moving long enough to catch it. I didn’t have time to chase it down. Not now.
“Time to walk, boys,” someone said.
And suddenly my legs carried me forward.
The sunlight hit first, the rays bright, blinding, then the roar came, slamming into me in a wall of sound so big it felt like stepping into a storm. Every seat was filled, every voice swelling into one massive, rolling wave.
And then I saw her.
Front row. Navy dress. Eyes locked on mine.
My heart just…stopped.
The crowd vanished. The noise fell away. There was only her, sunlight pooling over her skin, lighting her up like some angel. Her gaze was fixed on mine with warmth in her eyes like something was pulling us toward each other.
My feet kept moving, but the rest of me stayed right there, stuck in that singular, altering second.
I smiled; I couldn’t help it. It was big, and stupid, and probably too much, but she smiled back, like she was handing me the win before a single ball was hit. And that was it. I was a goner.
Five days ago, I hadn’t known her name. Now, I couldn’t imagine stepping onto this court without her.
Was I in love with her? Yeah. Fuck yeah, probably.
And no matter what the scoreboard said today, I’d already walked out here with the only thing that mattered.
Her.