Page 93 of Heart Match

More laughter, then complete silence as everyone waits for my reaction.

Of all the ways I could have told him I wanted to give him a chance, I definitely hadn’t considered this one. Not in a million lifetimes.

I don’t say a yes, or at least I don’t speak, because first, I don’t think I can find my voice right now. Second, I don’t think people will be able to listen. So I nod. My face is completely flushed and hot. I firmly nod multiple times, to make sure Luc got it. He did, because as the crowd applauds and shouts, he’s as flushed as I am, clearly using the trophy as shield. Seeing him this shy in public makes up for one of our favourite moments so far. I can’t wait to hang myself around that neck and make love to him until it’s morning. That is, if he’s fit enough for such a wild night after playing tennis for five hours.

After the trophy presentation and interview, Luc and Moretti take official photographs side by side, each with their respective trophy. Then they go for a round around the court, showing their trophies, only to finally make their way inside the building. By the door, Luc stops to autograph papers, caps, T-shirts and tennis balls of every size. Then he’s gone.

The crowd begins to leave and so do we. Luc’s family already knows their way in the building, so I just follow them through doors and corridors and way too many people. I’m still numb from all the past hours, but the only thing I can think about now is finding him.

My eyes keep searching for him, each turn we take inside the busy building I feel a pang of anticipation.

Then I see him, he’s talking to some people when he sees me. He excuses himself and begins walking towards me, cameras following him. We meet halfway. He pulls me into his arms. The hug is needy and almost desperate.

‘Did you mean it?’ he asks into my neck.

‘Considering what you got to learn about me in the past days, do you think I’d joke about something like this?’

He looks at me, holds my gaze and takes my face in his hands, and says, ‘Hi, girlfriend.’

I blush all over again.

‘Hi, boyfriend.’

Then he kisses me, hard. I hear the camera flashes going off, but most importantly, I feel him. I feel all the intensity of this moment, a combination of the roller coaster thrill of the past weeks. Above all, the realisation that sometimes, losing control means you gain something else.

#

I can’t believe I was just introduced to Kate and William. How insane is that? Even though he was clearly exhausted, Luc still had to mingle for photos, hand shakings, and an awfully long press interview, before we finally managed to leave Wimbledon.

We drove home alone in the black BMW, the same one that took us to our private dinner at Sketch, the same driver too. His family and the others left first, in another car.

Luc is tired, he lays on my lap as the car drives us from Wimbledon to my building. As I play with his hair, my fingers entangled in its wavy strands, he asks, ‘Do you happen to have a gala dress?’

‘Why?’

‘You’re going to need it for tonight.’

Oh God.

I text the girls and say we need an emergency meeting, they don’t even discuss or ask why.

#

When Naomi and Lexi arrive, they’re both carrying dresses and carry-ons.

‘Oh my God, you do realise I have clothes and makeup, right?’ I say, but they both ignore me and storm into my flat with a mission.

In between deciding on the lingerie, dress, shoes and accessories and getting my hair and makeup done, I tell them about how I made it to Wimbledon today. And how I became Lucas Lamaire’s girlfriend in front of everyone.

‘I never thought you were one for grand gestures, honey,’ says Naomi.

‘Huh, that makes two of us,’ I say.

‘I knew you were a romantic, you just had to find the right person to be romantic with,’ says Lexi.

‘Tequila shots?’ says Naomi.

‘Are you kidding?’ I ask.

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