“That must be nice,” Toni said. “I had a place in Florida for winter training for a couple of years, but I let it slide when I was out, and the federation don’t want to pay for anything extra now. Maybe when I get my number a bit higher.”
“Well, if you need some training space, you’re welcome in LA. I don’t really… I mean, there’s a great hotel just down the road from my place, but I have the courts and my team will be there.”
Toni stared at me like I’d forgotten to speak in English. “Did you just invite me to train with you?”
“Is that weird?”
She shook her head, but for the first time since we’d met at the bar, Toni wasn’t looking me in the eye. “You do that often? Offer people their dream training situation like it’s nothing?”
“What?” Damn, she had a point. I had never offered it to anyone. Even when we were together, Celeste and I had maintained our own places and our own training programs, entirely separate. I hadn’t even thought about it before offering; I was just so intent on a chance to spend more time with this woman. I fumbled for a way to walk it back and make the gesture seem less than it was. “Is it so unusual? When I started on the circuit, a bunch of us used to rent places together. Well, the organisers did it for us. I’m not asking you to move in or anything, but the facilities are pretty great if you need them.”
“You should write a brochure,” Toni said, reaching out to squeeze my arm. “I’m sure there’s already something in place, but let’s swap numbers anyway. If you don’t mind? I guess you don’t give yours out a lot.”
“Good guess.” I hated it, but my personal number was given out to only a handful of people. Press and business were filtered through another line, one that Parisa kept the phone for. I’d had my share of scary experiences when it came to personal privacy. “I make exceptions for new friends, though. Tell me yours and I’ll text you, then you’ll have it.”
“I promise not to sell it to the National Enquirer.”
“Is that still going? Last time I read it I was pregnant with triplets and marrying someone from One Direction.”
Toni snorted. “I’m sorry to have missed that.” She rattled off her number, and I keyed it in faithfully. A quick ‘hi’ message and my number had officially been passed to another person, making it no more than fifteen in total.
“Okay, so call me if you want to train,” I said. “Otherwise… Well, it’s up to you.”
Someone waved Toni down. “I really should go. Last chance to come with…?”
I shook my head.
“Okay, well enjoy the rest of being the champ.” Toni took me by the wrists this time, as natural as though we did it every day. When she kissed my cheek, the touch lingered, the creamy press of freshly applied lipstick no doubt leaving its mark. “And say hi to the triplets from me, you know, when you tuck them in.”
She was laughing as she left, and I found myself grinning like an idiot too. Moments later, Celeste was at my side again as though we’d never been interrupted.
“Isn’t that—”
“Yeah, she’s been injured. Back now, though.”
I made damn sure not to stare at the door, trying not to give away how much I hoped she’d change her mind about the club and come back, even if just for a little while. Despite my best efforts, I was quickly rumbled.
“Oh Elin, sweetie. Don’t tell me…”
“What?” I was straight on the defensive as though she had targeted my weaker backhand. “There’s no harm in finding out a colleague is a nice person. So we might be friends? So what?”
“Friends, huh? Lot of wistful staring for just friends.” Celeste had a fresh drink but hadn’t brought me one. “Just as well, then, since everyone knows she’s with her coach. That Xavi dude, who gave Jürgen a fright on clay a couple of times. You must have seen her with him; they’re usually joined at the hip. Wonder where he got to tonight.”
It shouldn’t have been a disappointment. It shouldn’t have mattered one bit, in the grand scheme of things. Yet I felt my stomach do that strange falling sensation, leaving me a little queasy.
Of course.
It figured, really. That when I finally pulled my attention from tennis to another person, she wasn’t available. And probably straight, just to put the terrible icing on the crappy cake.
“Maybe that’s who she was off to the club with,” I suggested. It would make sense. A boyfriend who wanted time away from professional schmoozing but still wanted a fun night out with his beautiful girlfriend. Meanwhile, I’d been mentally inserting myself into a story where I was a bit part at best.
“You okay? You’ve got that look…”
“Tired,” I said, because it wasn’t lying. Being around this many people for this long really did exhaust me. “I’m going to head back.”
“Sure? The night is young, and so are we. Relatively speaking, in your case.”
I patted Celeste on the arm. Her teasing little digs always made me smile.
“Enjoy it. Go call your wife and feel better about all this.”
She snorted, but I had every faith she’d leave in a little while and make that call. Celeste didn’t give up on things, not until she absolutely had to. I left her to work the room, while I slipped out to the side entrance and hailed a cab. My mother could take the official tournament car home. She’d be out for hours yet.
When I got back to our rented home, the signs of our imminent departure were everywhere. I found my father in the dining room, supervising the last of the packing. By which I meant he had a glass of brandy, a brand-new hardback, and there were a few
