Page 88 of Clean Point

‘We can try shorter steps too,’ Jon added roughly.

Ethan nodded in agreement. ‘It’s late into the competition now, but I can send you some videos of footwork drills to help you get into the practice. Have you been doing your prescribed exercises?

‘Yeah, every day.’

‘Good, but let’s increase the icing and elevation post-game. And I recommend cutting back on the doubles. You need some rest. Playing both is putting undue stress on it.’

‘Absolutely not.’ I shook my head, the finality of my words catching everyone off balance. Jon’s eyes narrowed again, clearing his throat to speak again. ‘I can’t back down. I’m playing both singles and doubles. I’ll just tough it out.’

‘I get the commitment, Nico,’ Ethan started, sounding apologetic. ‘But pushing through might make it worse. It’s a long tournament, and you risk jeopardizing the rest of your season.’

I wanted to tell them to fuck the rest of the season. I didn’t care about what came after this. It was hard to think ahead when I was so caught up with winning this competition; my focus was purely on this win. This win, and her.

‘I’m not cutting doubles.’ I crossed my arms, looking across at Jon, whose grim expression mirrored Ethan’s.

‘Nico …’ Jon began, but I was too impatient to listen to whatever speech he had locked and loaded.

‘No.’ I shook my head, looking at him. ‘You got me into this. Now let me finish it.’

He tilted his head, his lips pressed together, and after a pause, he said two simple words, ‘She’d understand.’

I could see her face in my mind, blonde hair tied up, that smile that she used to hide whatever she was actually feeling. She would understand. She’d always known I was injured, and part of her would’ve known the chances of me having to drop out. We had both been around long enough to have seen more than a few failed comebacks.

But this meant more than just a competition. Doubles was her revenge, her knife twist. And to me, it was what had tied us together. If it hadn’t been for our training together, I simply wouldn’t be here.

‘I can do it, both of them. The doubles are best of three, anyway,’ I pointed out. ‘Half the work and guaranteed shorter game play. I’m not dropping out. I could be knocked out of the singles competition and still be ready to play the doubles.’

Jon rubbed the back of his neck, sighing before he responded. ‘Just … remember this is a comeback. You need to be easy on yourself as much as you can.’

I fought the urge to grind my teeth with frustration. Of course, I knew this was a comeback. I could see how weak I was compared to the other competitors. Slower, and older, I was far too aware I was past my prime, but still longing for one more day in the sun. This struggle, the pain of the rehab, it had to be for something … right?

And if it couldn’t be for another win, another shot at the singles men’s title, then maybe it could be for her.

‘I’ll do everything I can post-match,’ I promised, determined to convince them that I could do this. ‘I’ll limit the sliding, do the exercises like you said. But I’m not cutting the doubles.’

Ethan looked at Jon and shrugged, as if to say, ‘he’s your problem’. And a problem I was determined to be for as long as they had this idea in their heads about quitting. Jon readjusted his posture, ruffling slightly before looking at me.

‘It means that much to you?’

I realized then that despite his suspicions of Scottie and I, he truly had no idea. Whether he thought it was a fling or a silly little attraction, Jon had not realized how deep these feelings went for me. Because if he thought this was still only about tennis, about competing, he had missed the point entirely.

‘She does.’ I watched as his eyes widened, his mouth dropping into a circle as realisation dawned on him, watched as he saw that this was a problem entirely of his own creation, and that arguing against me was entirely futile.

He nodded. ‘Alright, but if the pain gets worse …’

‘We assess options,’ I finished for him, knowing I couldn’t let it get to that point. Not for her.

‘You realize you are putting the run at the men’s singles at risk,’ Ethan added. ‘And with your injury, you could start to undo the progress you’ve made.’

His warning was stark in the silent room, Jon’s eyes on me, searching for an answer.

With a locked jaw, I nodded, acknowledging what he was saying. This could be it, if I pushed it too far and didn’t heed the warning. This was my second shot. Many had tried before, some had succeeded. More had failed.

Then I looked at Jon. ‘You can’t tell her about this.’

His eyebrows pressed together with frustration as his body straightened, finally stepping away from the wall. ‘Nico, she deserves to know.’

I waved a hand to dismiss him. ‘I’ll tell her if the time comes, but I don’t want her to know until then. She’s stubborn, she won’t understand.’

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