Page 72 of Long Shot

“Horrible.” Mac bit the inside of her cheek.

“Yeah.” Taylor rubbed her forehead. “Maybe I can when I retire. But I don’t think Kim would keep coaching me if I really… said it.”

Mac nodded, sitting down on the bench in the center of the aisle.

Taylor tilted her head. “What’s going on?”

Sucking her teeth, Mac rested her head in her palms. “I really thought I could handle it.”

“I knew it.” Taylor sighed, starting to pace up and down the aisle. “I knew you couldn’t handle keeping it casual.”

Mac’s forehead wrinkled. “I couldn’t handle it? You’ve been using my last name as your pseudonym for years. I can’t keep it casual?”

Taylor rolled her eyes. “Come on, that’s not fair.”

“I actually think it’s very fair.” Mac scoffed, her leg beginning to shake. But after a minute, she got on her knees and closer to Taylor. She looked up into her eyes, a fierceness in them. “Taylor, I saw the way you felt in that bar – how it felt to hold my hand and not worry about getting caught. I think you want that more than you’re willing to admit.”

Taylor looked away, unable to hold Mac’s gaze. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. I know you’re new to being at the top. But I’m telling you, Mackenzie, they are nasty.”

Moving her head to interrupt Taylor’s gaze, Mac searched for her there. But even from outside Taylor’s head, Mac could see Kim working inside her mind. The years of vitriol and doubt that Kim sewed.Maybe it’s too late.

Mac stood up. “Taylor… no one – not a single pundit or commenter – has been nastier than your mom. I don’t know what it will take for you. But maybe you’re right: I can’t handle it.”

Taylor snapped. “Then stop wasting my time.”

Shaking her head, Mac turned her back on Taylor and walked for the door. There was training to do and no one would win the U.S. Open for her.I can’t spend the rest of my life waiting for Taylor Young.

28

Taylor

In her mind,Taylor was screaming for Mac to come back.

But in the cement locker room of the McEnroe Center, Taylor crossed her arms and watched as Mackenzie walked out of her life. As soon as she heard the metal door slam, Taylor’s heart sank.

All she could see was Mackenzie’s face, ten years ago – the way she looked when Taylor broke it off. Somehow, Taylor might have cut the knife deeper this time.

I should’ve known not to get her involved again.

But she shook her head. It was too late now. All she could do was prove why she had to focus on her games. Her chest rose and fell as she stared into the blue lockers. She clenched her jaw before letting a scream out of her lungs.

The slam of her fist against the metal locker sent a ricochet ofclangsthrough the room.

Licking her teeth, Taylor steeled herself. She grabbed her racket and stormed out of the room. Waiting in the hallway, Kim revealed a sinister grin. “Shall we?”

Taylor nodded. “Did you get me a new partner?”

Kim nodded as they strode down the hallway, the sound of their steps syncing. “She’s waiting for you outside.”

The courts were full of duos practicing. Taylor introduced herself to her new partner, Renee and quickly went to her spot at the baseline.

With a ball in her hand, Taylor wrinkled her nose. She bounced the yellow felt against the rubber as she prepared her serve. Clenching her jaw, Taylor bent her knees and leapt into the air. She released a vicious grunt as she smacked the ball across the court.

Renee did her best to reach it but she couldn’t make it fast enough.

Taylor took another ball from her pocket and prepared for another shot. As she bounced the ball, she peeked at Kim. Standing at the edge of the court, Kim stood with her arms crossed and a slight smile pulling at the corners of her mouth.

With each serve, the entire training center turned to look at the beast screaming across the court. There was no more time to waste. The Open was three weeks away and she needed to win it – no matter the cost.

---