“Hello?” She waved a hand in front of my face. “Mexico? Even just for a week, I’m not suggesting you give up all your time.”
I realised in that moment I couldn’t burden her with the Xavi news. One way or another, it was going to drive a wedge between us, and I just couldn’t bear the thought. If the rumours reached Toni, I had every right to deny them if I wanted. Xavi would certainly do the same to save his relationship with her.
Not that I felt great about the choice, but I found myself saying, “Sure, just let me know the dates and the airport. I’ll get it sorted out. You don’t mind playing tour guide?”
“Not at all. Doesn’t a week of great food sound perfect? Quiet places to read and sleep and just do nothing if you want. Or we can go out on the lake! Have some adventures maybe.” Toni bounced back over to her locker, fuelled on pure enthusiasm again. She came back with a towel in one hand, her shoes and socks gone this time. “I need to shower, but can we ride back to the hotel together maybe? Make some plans.”
“Of course. I’ll have Parisa fix everything up once you fill me in. One condition, though.”
“Name it.”
“If you’re giving me somewhere to stay, I’m paying for your flight. We can even go straight from here.”
I knew Toni wasn’t getting the best treatment from her federation, and we all paid most of our expenses out of pocket. This way I could treat her to first class, which was the only bearable way to do long haul after a season like this. The thought of maybe getting to do something nice for someone I actually cared about made earning this money seem worth it. I felt a surge of renewed lust for winning, like I was just starting.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“It’s not a pride thing or whatever. I just really like to balance things out. I’ll even use my miles if it’s less…whatever.”
“Well, I’m only just back to making real money, so I think I’ll take you up on that. If you’re sure?”
I nodded. “Go, shower, so we can get out of here.”
She walked away, and I closed my eyes. If I concentrated very hard on my breathing, I could convince myself I wasn’t picturing what she might look like under the spray.
Chapter Fifteen
While I was relieved to take the finals trophy and end the season ranked number one, I was more pleased that Toni made the semi-finals. Her game had been improving by leaps and bounds, and she’d been watching all the other top players in their matches too, ever the willing student.
Parisa had been confused when I asked her to fix up travel plans for Mexico, and then she did the same mental mathematics as Celeste to work out why.
“Elin, are you dating this girl?”
“What? No! We’re just friends. Honestly, Parisa. You of all people should know I’m perfectly capable of being friends with straight girls.”
She held up her hands. “I know, I do know that. It’s just I’ve got some crazy exclusive offers for you here, and you’re saying the one vacation you want is a week at someone’s grandma’s house?”
“It might be good for me,” was the only answer I had. “Anyway, we can’t go straight from here because Toni is in Spain first for some charity event. I’m heading home to LA as planned, but these are the dates I want to be in Mexico. I told Toni I was arranging her flight too, so get her something connecting via Madrid, I guess? I’ve written down when she can leave, and I think we’ll arrive fairly close together.”
“Elin—”
“Can we just do the thing without all the questions? I know I’ll get it from my mother, but I really don’t want to make your life more difficult, I promise.”
Parisa shrugged and started tapping on her tablet screen. I really would have been lost without her. I’d have to start thinking about that when it came to retiring. No doubt I’d still need an assistant, at least at first, but nothing like this level of organising and running my life. I’d be staying in one place a lot more for a start. I felt dizzy just thinking about it, that it could really happen sooner rather than later. Could Parisa tell? She didn’t seem worried.
“Leave it with me,” she said in the same comforting way she always did. “But you’re telling your mother that you’re not going to Sweden this year.”
When my plane touched down in Guadalajara, I realised it had all been worth it. Arguing with my mother, not seeing my dad until closer to Christmas, even the continued radio silence from Alice that hurt more than it should.
If everything had gone to plan, Toni would already be landed and waiting for me somewhere in arrivals. I missed the whole private-jet thing, I could admit that, but first class from LAX hadn’t exactly been slumming it. I grabbed my cabin bag and thanked the cabin crew as they let our section disembark first.
After that everything was a blur until I saw her, Starbucks cup in hand and earphones in. With her head down over whatever book she was reading, I had the chance to observe Toni for a long minute or two before she noticed me. My knees had a funny little moment when she finally looked up and smiled.
What was that annoying romcom about people and airports and everyone was sort of extremely English? It felt
