Chapter 24 #2
“How do you always know the right thing to say?”
He just smiled and pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “I’m glad you’re not upset. I know things have been a little rocky between you two since you had to drop doubles, but she approached me about it, and I couldn’t tell her no.” Jack leaned in to peck Indy lightly on the lips.
“Of course not. You had to sign her. Jasmine’s going to be a great player, and you’re going to be amazing for her.”
“I think it’s a good fit,” he agreed, “for the both of us.”
“It is, and speaking of good fits… I signed with Athleta, like, thirty seconds ago.”
“You’re kidding. Indiana, that’s amazing,” Jack said, stepping up to her and pulling her into his embrace. He spun around and she had to wind her arms around his shoulders to stay with him. Lowering her to her feet again, he leaned in and kissed her. “Congratulations.”
“Do you want to hear about the deal?”
“Outfitting?” he asked.
“You knew!” she accused, poking him in the chest.
Jack laughed, grabbing her hand. “Word gets around.”
She beamed at him. All that hard work she’d put in and she’d done it.
And now, even if it wasn’t quite what she’d hoped for, she had a solid sponsorship deal with Athleta.
She was a professional tennis player. It was everything she and her mom had ever dreamed of together, and it was real.
Now all that was left was to show everyone that she wasn’t a risk, that she could win on the big stage.
The US Open loomed ahead, hard court season, the surface she’d grown up on, a home crowd that was sure to be cheering for her, and a brand-new sponsorship, so she’d look her best. Not to mention the funding that would come with it.
“Congratulations,” Jack said again, “you’ve made it.
” She was pushing up on her toes to kiss him again, and he allowed it for a moment but then stepped back.
“I’ve gotta get out of here. Jasmine’ll be down in a minute, but we’re all going out after this.
Lots of things to celebrate and I might have a surprise for you. ”
“A surprise?” she asked, bouncing her eyebrows playfully at him.
“Not that,” he started, but she shot him a disbelieving eye roll. “Not just that. Get dressed. I’ll see you out there.”
“See you in a little bit,” she said, stealing one last kiss.
Finally alone, she turned toward the showers. There would be a press conference—child’s play compared to the media she’d faced down at Wimbledon—and a drug test after, but right now she just wanted to be clean.
When she emerged from the shower, Jasmine had arrived in the locker room, cheeks still flushed with victory, her smile wide and true.
“Hey,” Indy said, “good match.”
“You too.”
“You know I’m gonna need you to win this whole damn thing now, right?” Indy said, nudging her arm.
Jasmine laughed. “I plan on it.”
“Good. Now listen,” Indy said, growing serious. She needed to get this out. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for everything that happened in the last few weeks.”
“Don’t be,” Jasmine said, brows scrunching. “You did what was best for your career.”
“Never thought my job would make me a shitty friend.” Indy smiled ruefully.
“It’s part of the gig.” Jasmine waved a hand, then she smirked. “Did Jack tell you? About us?”
“He did. It’s awesome news. He’s going to do big things for you.”
“He’s really good at his job,” Jasmine said. “And I heard you signed with Athleta.”
“News travels fast.” She couldn’t hide her smile.
“That’s a really big deal, Indy.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m excited. I’d be even more excited if I knew I could wear some matching gear with my doubles partner.”
“We’ll see.” Jasmine reached out and hesitated for a second before squeezing Indy’s shoulder. “It would be fun, though. New York, under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium, jets flying overhead, the crowd raging.”
“Yeah,” Indy said, grinning at how, despite their differences, their dreams really were exactly the same.
“Are you two done yet?” a new voice joined in, followed by the click of metal hitting the floor.
Penny was swinging herself between her crutches, her foot in an air cast. “There are a lot of people out there who want to congratulate you”—she nodded to Jasmine and then turned to Indy—“and console you.”
“Maybe we should just stay in here for a little while,” Indy said, taking a seat on the locker room bench. “Come on, Pen, take a load off.” She patted the empty spot beside her.
“That’s all I’m going to be doing for a while,” Penny said, lowering herself to the wooden seat and leaning her crutches next to her. “No tennis for me.”
“Sucks,” Jasmine and Indy said at the same time.
“It does, but that means I get to live the hard court season vicariously through you guys, and then… New York.”
“New York,” Indy said, the side of her mouth quirking up.
“Hang on, guys.” Jasmine laughed. “I still have a tournament to win.”
“Please, didn’t you look at the draw?” Indy asked. “You’ve got this. Our match today—that was the championship.”
Penny smiled and bumped Indy’s shoulder. “Enjoy it while you can. You’re both gonna get wildcards to the Open, and by then, I’ll be as good as new.”
“Yay, I can’t wait to lose like that again,” Indy drawled, and Jasmine rolled her eyes.
“Let’s go, guys, enough. I just won a pretty big match and I think my dad is probably interrogating Paolo as we speak.”
“Yeah, Paolo, when did that happen?” Indy asked as she helped Penny stand. “Because damn, girl, you owe me one.”
“What am I missing?” Penny asked, and Jasmine’s cheeks grew red as they started out of the locker room.
“It was back in Paris…” Jasmine said, and Indy let the words wash over her, Jasmine making it sound like she’d literally thrown her into Paolo’s waiting arms, Penny laughing at all the right parts.
Indy pulled out her phone and sent Jack a quick text as she followed her friends out of the locker room.
I can’t wait for my surprise, she wrote.
But when she emerged to a sea of faces smiling at her, she smiled back, almost forgetting Jack’s promise as she tried to memorize the feeling, because, for right now, everything was absolutely perfect.