Page 184 of Summer After Summer

“What’s that.”

“I’m coming with you to London.”

“You sure?”

“I am one hundred percent going to be there for the start of your comeback and as far as it takes you.”

“I’ll probably lose in the first round.”

We stand up together. “I don’t think even you believe that.”

“Okay, I don’t, but I’m old for tennis. Especially as a woman.”

“You’re in the best shape of your life.”

I kiss him. “It takes more than that.”

“You’re happy, though, about going back on tour? Wimbledon?”

“I chose it, didn’t it?”

And I had. It had started as a thought experiment. If I gave myself over to it for a year, what could I achieve? And then I’d played in a tournament for fun and won. And then another. Pretty soon I was collecting ranking points. But most of all I loved playing again. I loved the competition. I loved pushing myself to the limit. How my body felt, even though it was sore.

“You did. And you chose me.”

“I did.”

“Regrets?”

“None.”

“I have some.”

“Oh?” I say, my heart fluttering.

“Only that we didn’t do this sooner.”

I laugh. “No, no, this was the perfect time. We weren’t ready before.”

He leans his forehead against mine. “I think sometimes about the lost time.”

“I think about all the time we have left.”

“That’s wise.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses the diamond. “You said yes.”

“You were worried?”

“Well …”

I look at it sparkling in the sunlight. “When did you buy this, anyway?”

He mouths turns into a guilty smile. “If I say last summer, would that surprise you?”

“Nope.”

“Last summer.”

“When last summer?”

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