Game. Set. Match.

by Jennifer Iacopelli

  He studied her carefully, but nodded. “Okay, I’ll play, what’s your point?”

  “Do you know how old my mom was when she met my dad?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Sixteen. She was sixteen years old.”

  “Okay.”

  “Yep. She was sixteen years old and they’ve been together for almost twenty years now. Kind of nice right? That they’ve been together so long?”

  “I guess so.”

  “You know how old my dad was at the time?”

  Jack narrowed his eyes at her, obviously finally figuring out her point. “I’m guessing not sixteen?”

  “Nope. More like twenty-one.”

  “Did Indiana send you to talk to me?”

  Jasmine snorted. “What? God no. She’d kill me if she knew unless she died of embarrassment first. Then she’d probably haunt me for the rest of my life.”

  “Then I don’t get it. I distinctly recall having to literally hold you back from beating her to a pulp. Why are you doing this?”

  Jasmine shrugged.

  “And this has nothing to do with my brother?”

  “Teddy?” she asked, tilting her head. “What would he have to do with this?”

  “If I were with Indy, then my very easily distracted little brother would be less distracted.”

  “Teddy’s my friend. If I thought he’d be hurt by you and Indy getting together, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.”

  Jack raised a skeptical eyebrow, but Jasmine pressed on.

  “It’s true and I think you’re just making excuses. Indy’s seventeen, not twelve. I’m not saying you guys have to get married or whatever, but seriously for two people like you, a few years just are not a big deal.”

  He didn’t answer. She stood up and walked away, leaving him to his thoughts. As she left the stadium, her phone buzzed in her pocket. The screen lit up with Teddy’s picture, but with a deep breath, she ignored the call and kept walking.

  Chapter 22

  May 31st

  For Indy, the day between their walkover and second round match flew by faster than one of her serves. She had a good practice session with Jasmine, watched Penny win, even if it was just by the skin of her teeth, then it was straight to dinner and bed, avoiding all contact with both Caroline and her dad. Indy knew they were staying at the same hotel, but whenever she’d seen them in the distance, she’d done a quick about-face and even once hid behind a column in the lobby until they passed. She hadn’t had to avoid Jack because it seemed he was avoiding her. She figured he was freaked out enough to stay away from her for good.

  Now, she was back in the players’ lounge, dressed in the match outfit she and Jasmine had picked out together, a traditional white pleated tennis skirt paired with a bright turquoise tank. The color looked good on both of them, a rare thing for two people whose features were so opposite.

  If only the color of her outfit was her biggest worry. She wished Lutrova and Grishina hadn’t dropped out. Then these nerves would already be gone and she wouldn’t have to think about going out onto the court for the first time. Maybe the Kapur sisters would drop out too. Maybe they would wake up with a mysterious virus and withdraw from the tournament. Her throat tightened and her stomach lurched. Why was this happening again? When had she become this player who wanted to throw up before a match or hoped her opponents forfeited? That wasn’t who she wanted to be. She had to get over this and get over it now. She felt like she did before the final of the OBX Classic, jittery and ready to burst out of her own skin. What had she done to calm down then?

  Nothing. She hadn’t done anything; she went out there a total wreck and fell behind in the match. She couldn’t do that again. There was too much riding on it and their opponents were too good. If they fell behind, a comeback would be almost impossible.

  “Hey,” a voice said from just over her shoulder and she jumped in her seat. “Whoa, sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.” Penny stepped into view. “Dom was looking for you. He needs you down in the prep room in five.”

  “Oh, okay, I’ll just…I’ll just go then.” She stood, wiping her palms against the sides of her skirt.

  “You okay?” Penny asked, tilting her head in concern.

  “Hmm?” Indy stalled for a second. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just amped up, you know?”

  “Look, I just…I’m not going to be there. I’m just all over the place right now. I don’t want to bring any negative energy to your box, so I’m going to watch from here, okay?”

  Indy tilted her head and shrugged. “Sure, whatever.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you after then?”

  “Definitely, see you after.”

  Indy took a deep breath, starting down the hallway that led to the locker rooms.

  “Indy, hang on,” Penny called out. “I almost forgot. Ana Kapur, her serve is tougher so that’s who you’ll be facing, she tends to start off really powerful and then back off later in the match, opting for more consistency than velocity. If you wait her out, you should be able to handle her no problem.”

  “Right. Thanks.” Dom had reminded her of the same thing earlier, but she’d forgotten about it as her nerves took over.

  “You’re going to do fine. Just relax and let your training take over.”

  Indy nodded and made her way to the locker room. Jasmine was getting her ankle wrapped, but looked up with a smile as soon as Indy walked in.

  “This is going to be so much fun,” Jasmine said.

  The last of Indy’s nerves faded. She was about to play in the French Open, against two of the best players in the world. A month ago, she was just a regular girl sitting in physics, trying to hide her phone from her teacher. There were six thousand miles separating her from that classroom desk, but she may as well have been on Mars. Jasmine was right. The match, win or lose, would be the greatest moment of her life and she was going to enjoy it.

  “We’re ready for you,” a tournament official said from the doorway, headset in place, instructions coming from outside on court.

  Time was up.

  They stepped out of the tunnel and on to the court. The sky was blue and the sun was bright. The Kapur twins were already stretching and getting warm. The stadium was at least twice the size of the OBX main court, with double the amount of speakers pumping in music. There was a sizable crowd and she caught sight of Dom sitting in the player’s box. Just one row back, her dad and Caroline were both dressed to the nines and sitting with the bored disinterest that people who sat in expensive seats at any sporting event always seemed to exude. Indy looked away, focusing instead on the rest of the crowd, all of whom were there to watch her play. She wasn’t going to let anything negative get in her head.

  A tap against her arm drew her attention and she turned to Jasmine. “Let’s go.”

  The chair umpire announced that warm-ups should begin and so they moved onto the court.

  She just had to keep her feet moving. That was the key. Keep her feet moving and use her serve. Get as many aces as possible, so they could save all their energy for Jasmine’s and their returns. And keep her friggin’ feet moving.

  “Time,” the chair umpire called, ending the warm ups.

  “You ready?” Jasmine whispered as they retreated back to their chairs.

  “Damn right I am.”

  ***

  “Game, set and match, Kapur and Kapur.”

  Indy bowed her head and tried to catch her breath after watching her last shot sail wide. She wanted to win. Of course she wanted to win, but she couldn’t be upset with the result. They’d gotten off to a bit of a slow start, but after that, they’d taken the second set and nearly pulled it out in the end, sending the third to a tie break. There was definitely a victory in this defeat.

  “Final score, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6,” the chair umpire said as they shook hands with their opponents, congratulating them with a kiss on each cheek.

  “We will see you again, I think,” one of the Kapur sisters said, grinning, before she
released Indy’s hand.

  The crowd cheered their effort as she and Jasmine gathered their things and exited the court. Her eyes darted up to the player’s box where Dom was standing and applauding for them. Caroline and her dad were nowhere in sight. She lifted her hand and waved a thank you to him and the fans.

  About a half hour later, Indy and Jasmine were both showered and changed into their street clothes, packing up their gear.

  “That wasn’t bad for a first time out,” Jasmine said and Indy turned to her.

  “If we play like we did in the second set, we could really do some damage in our next tournament.”

  The door to their locker room slammed open and they turned to see Dom standing in the archway. “Ladies, that was amazing. Taking the best doubles team in the world to a third set tiebreak! Phenomenal.”

  “Thanks, Dom,” Jasmine said. “And I really appreciate you giving me this chance, even after what happened.”

  “I take it you’ve worked out your differences.” Looking between them, he grinned when they both nodded. “Good, because I have plans for the two of you.”

  Indy had plans too. This was just the beginning for her and Jasmine both on the court and off.

  ***

  As soon as they arrived back at the hotel, Indy excused herself from the group, finding herself a chair in a quiet corner of the lobby. She just wanted to sit and think for a second. She and Jasmine had done really well and her nerves hadn’t been a problem all. Now she could go into girls’ singles and dominate, just like she had at the Classic.

  “Indiana.” Her dad’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

  “What do you want?” she asked, her eyes snapping up to his. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone?

  “I wanted to say good-bye,” he said, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other and then running his hand through the blond strands of his slightly receding hairline.

  She should’ve been thrilled that he was leaving, but her heart sank. “Okay,” she said, trying not to betray herself. It was beyond annoying that she could want him gone and then be totally gutted when he decided to leave.

  “Caroline thought it was best. She thinks it’s too much pressure having me here and—”

  Indy shrugged, cutting him off. “Well, whatever Caroline thinks is best and—Speak of the devil…”

  Caroline emerged from amid the mass of people milling around the lobby and exclaimed, “Indy! Très bien, chérie. What a wonderful performance to build upon for the junior tournament.”

  “Thanks,” she said, searching desperately for an escape route, but there was a wall behind her and she’d literally have to push them aside to get away.

  “I was telling your father after the match that, despite the loss, with the way you played the sponsors will most certainly come knocking. I have already been in contact with Nike and they will submit an offer for outfitting by the end of the week.”

  Indy watched in horrified fascination as her father’s hand landed upon Caroline’s shoulder. “She’s doing a great job, isn’t she?” He squeezed gently and the older woman’s blue eyes filled with warmth when she looked back at him.

  Indy’s jaw dropped. “Oh my god. Are you two…are you two friggin’ sleeping together?”

  “Indiana!” her dad scolded, but he pulled his hand away like Caroline’s skin burned him. That was all the confirmation Indy needed.

  “I cannot believe this. Is that why you hired her? And you!” She whirled on her agent. “First my coach and now my dad? Have you ever even heard the phrase conflict of interest?”

  “Is everything okay over here?”

  Jack stood behind her dad, his eyes trying to hold on to hers from over her dad’s shoulder. He was coming to her rescue again and it made her stomach turn. If he cared, really cared, he would’ve been there to begin with instead of just showing up to help, only to disappear again a moment later.

  “No, but it doesn’t matter. I’m out of here.”

  Indy stormed forward, her dad and her agent pulling apart just in time to get out of her way. Most of the people in the lobby stared in their direction, fascinated by the sudden outburst, but she ignored them as she moved down a hallway through to the back of the hotel. There was a small courtyard lined with a large fence and trees, the cherry blossoms still flourishing even as the calendar moved toward summer.

  “Are you alright?”

  Jack. He must have followed her. She crossed her arms over her chest and hugged herself tightly, but kept silent, taking deep breaths, willing herself not to cry.

  “Just tell me you’re alright.”

  “I’m alright,” she muttered. Seconds ticked away, but she didn’t hear him leave, so she turned to face him. He was leaning against the outer wall of the hotel, arms crossed over his chest, studying her. “I swear to you, I’m fine, Jack. You can go.”

  “Maybe you are,” he said, pushing off the wall and taking a step closer, “and maybe not, but that’s not why I’m still here.”

  “No?”

  “No.” She saw the moment when his expression shifted, moving from concern to something else, something she’d only seen glimpses of over the last few weeks when he’d allow the wall he built up between them to slip.

  “Why are you still here?” she asked, her voice no louder than a whisper, terrified the sound of her voice would break the moment.

  He took slow, measured steps until he was just inches away from her. “A few days ago, a crazy, beautiful, incredible girl called me a coward and she was right.”

  “She was?”

  “You were and I should have done this a long time ago.”

  It was just a soft brush of the lips at first and then that fire, that intensity and passion that swirled and built between them in the last few weeks, came bubbling to the surface as their mouths caressed each other, tongues dancing slowly. He brought her close, pulling her body gently into his, but she had other ideas. She pushed up against him, one hand twisting into the cotton of his shirt, the other caressing the back of his neck, keeping him close.

  When they finally broke apart, he buried his face into her hair, inhaling deeply. They stood breathing each other in for a moment until he ended the silence. “Is this really what you want?”

  “Yes,” she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, pushing up on her toes to brush their lips together again.

  Pulling back, their eyes locked and he lifted a hand to her cheek, stroking his thumb over the line of her jaw. “To hell with it,” he said as he drew her mouth to his again and they lost themselves in each other.

  Chapter 23

  June 1st

  There was too much time to kill. Penny glanced down at her watch, the gift Rolex sent in anticipation of her signing yet another endorsement contract. It was heavy on her wrist and nicer than anything she’d ever owned, but in that moment, all it did was reinforce the fact it was only six o’clock. Though she needed her rest before her match tomorrow against Lutrova, she couldn’t reasonably go to bed before eight. Any earlier than that and she’d be wide-awake at some ungodly hour the next morning.

  So instead of sitting around, staring at the walls of her room or watching random French television shows, she wandered down to the lobby, hoping the hustle and bustle would make the minutes tick by faster. At least, that’s what she told herself.

  She settled into a chair next to a large pillar. She would be well hidden and still have a view of the lobby. Of course her motives for sitting there had nothing to do with the possibility of seeing Alex coming back to the hotel after his training. The television mounted on the lobby wall was airing his press conference from earlier in the day and she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

  “Last time, he gave me some opportunities and I took advantage of them,” his image said on the screen. “We’ve played each other a lot over the years, so neither of us will be surprised by the other. It’ll be a matter of executing and hopefully I’ll be able to do that.”

  “Alex,
much has been said about your relationship with American star, Penny Harrison,” the reporter began.

  “I’m going to say this and I’m going to say this once, so pay attention,” he said, glaring daggers into the press pool. “Penny Harrison is the most genuinely good person I’ve ever met. She inspires me every single day to be a better man and she’s definitely too good for the likes of me. Now, does anyone have any actual tennis questions? No? Fine, then we’re done.” He stood up quickly, knocking his chair over and marched off camera, the reporters shouting after him.

  Her heart swelled against her ribcage. She knew he meant every word of it and she wanted desperately to forgive him, but it was just too much. She couldn’t keep opening herself up only to be blasted by another disaster. She’d tried that and he ruined what could’ve been something great between them. She was not going to make that mistake again.

  Glancing around the lobby again, she wondered if he’d returned, then she shook her head at how completely stupid she was being. This was ridiculous. She should go back to her room, put on a movie and try to zone out before going to bed. Sitting there waiting for him to come back, especially since she had zero intention of talking to him, was pathetic.

  She was just torturing herself and she should be focused on Zina Lutrova, the matchup she’d been training for since Madrid. It was enough with the self-pity. A mellow, relaxing evening would be the perfect way to prepare for facing down her rival tomorrow. She started for the elevator bay when she caught a quick glimpse of sandy blond hair at the other end of the lobby, heading straight for the hotel bar.

  Backtracking in that direction, she saw Alex taking a seat at the bar, the bartender pouring a drink into a shot glass. She watched, her heart rising into her throat as a woman took a seat on the stool beside him and ordered a drink. Tennis tournaments were notorious for attracting groupies. Alex looked up and glanced at the woman, took in her long legs, the deep cutting neckline of her dress and the clear invitation in her pouted lips and half-lidded eyes before turning away, studying his drink even more carefully than before. The woman took the hint and sauntered away toward a table of players at the other end of the bar.