Page 78 of Heart Match

‘I might have also learned a thing or two about what a serve is. And surely by now I know what deuce and advantage are,’ I say, half crying, half smiling, my nose still full.

He reaches for my hand, pulling me and placing me between his legs. We can’t keep our eyes apart and I’m finding it hard not to kiss him right now. But then I remember the reasons why I shouldn’t. He and I can only end in heartbreak, and it’s most probably going to be mine first.

‘You should be celebrating with your family, I don’t want to keep you,’ I say, pretending I’m not enjoying the fact that he’s here standing in front of me after winning a Wimbledon’s semi-final. Pretending I’m a cold-hearted woman, just because I still haven’t fully forgiven him for omitting that he happens to be the current number two tennis player in the world.

He smiles and exhales sharply.

‘I don’t want your family to resent me without even knowing me,’ I say.

‘They’d never resent you,’ he slides his hand through my hair, so that his fingers are touching the nape of my neck and his thumb’s stroking my cheek.

‘Maurice already does,’ I say.

‘That’s not true. Maurice is just a coach who wants his player to focus on winning the most important tennis championship in the world.’

‘When you put it like that, I feel like I’m the villain of your story,’ I tease, but it has some truth to it. That’s what he meant when he said I made him lose focus.

‘Never,’ he says, pulling me closer to him and into a gentle hug. My ear is against his strong beating heart, his hands tight around me. It feels good, safe and just what I need right now. His nose is on the crown of my head, breathing in my hair. For a moment I even forget why I’m so mad at him.

After enjoying a long moment of silence, he takes my face in his hand, lifting my chin so my eyes are fully connected to his and says, ‘I’m sorry. I really am.’

He could be saying this because he’s sorry for what just happened, but as I stare into his eyes, taking him in, reading him, breathing him, I know the reason he’s saying it’s because of his betrayal.

‘I know you are. It’s just, I need to think, right now it’s all too much,’ I say.

‘I know,’ he says, and touches his lips to my forehead. ‘I’m not used to getting involved with women who don’t know who I am. I enjoyed being myself with you. I was selfish and unfair to you, and for that I will always ask for your forgiveness. But …’ He doesn’t finish his sentence, because another storm seems to have invaded my home, Naomi and Lexi are breathless and desperate walking through the front door that was still open. I’m surprised Mrs. Thompson doesn’t follow after them. I’m pretty sure she isn’t enjoying all the commotion.

‘Oh. Is that why you needed help?’ says Naomi, panting.

Luc and I immediately break apart, more me than him. He stays where he is and I go hug the girls.

‘Josh was here.’ As I say it, it all comes back to me, the realisation, the fear, the tears.

‘You’re ok now,’ says Lexi in our triple hug.

‘How did that happen?’ asks Naomi, shaking her head in disbelief.

‘He saw the news, he must have found out where I’m living somehow. Maybe following me from work, I don’t know. You know how he is,’ I say, fully aware that Luc is listening just behind me.

‘But how did he get in?’ asks Lexi innocently.

‘You know, it’s not hard to get in the building, just wait for someone to open the front door,’ I say.

‘Shit,’ says Naomi. She lifts her gaze to find Luc and I feel my face flushing.

‘Hi, I’m Luc,’ he says with a shy smile on his face, hands in his pockets. Now watching him from where I am he looks so tired.

‘Oh we know who you are,’ says Lexi with a big smile on her face. She has always been easily charmed, it’d be alarming if she wasn’t charmed by Luc.

He walks towards us and greets the girls with a kiss on their cheeks. My heart beats faster seeing them all together in one room. I honestly didn’t think this would ever happen.

‘I guess I should let you girls talk,’ he says looking at me. ‘Now I believe you’re in good hands,’ he says to me.

I walk him to the door, and it’s awkward, because I know the girls are watching us.

‘Celebrate tonight, you deserve it,’ I say.

‘That’s ok. I need to focus on Sunday, get some rest,’ he says, running his fingers through his ever so perfect hair.

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