Page 21 of Long Shot

Wrinkling her brow, Mac tried to understand what was happening. But Babs, already awake, was trotting toward the door, hollering over her shoulder, “Big day, big reward.”

As the door swung open, a silver cart rolled inside with a platter full of food. It was mostly fruits, vegetables, and clean proteins. But it was more luxurious than anything Mac had ever eaten.

“Thank you,” Mac smiled up at the bellhop as the cart stopped on her side of the bed.

The bellhop nodded and whispered. “Good luck today. The staff is very excited by your progress.”

Mac’s forehead wrinkled. “Really?”

With a wink, the server disappeared.

Stunned, Mac looked at Babs. “Can we afford this?”

Babs laughed. “Your win the other day guarantees you a $400,000 prize, even if you fall on your ass and gargle Taylor’s racket in center court.”

Mac rolled her eyes. “I hate you for saying that. Besides, once you and Tommy’s cuts come out, it’s closer to $240,000.”

“Enough to quit that dumb job of yours?” Babs raised her eyebrow. If she could quit, Mac could train full time — greatly increasing her odds of winning the rest of the summer’s Grand Slams.

Shoveling a pile of scrambled eggs into her mouth, Mac chuckled. “Ask me again when we’re back in New York and the check hits my account.”

Babs snickered. “Can’t argue with that. Meet me at the Training Room in an hour. Your muscles must be all types of fucked up from a week straight of intense competition.”

Before Mac could agree, her coach disappeared out of the hotel room door. As silence settled over the room, Mac felt like she could finally take a deep breath. She hadn’t been alone in a while – there was always Babs talking strategy, Piper checking in on her, or crowded locker rooms of other athletes. But now, there was just Mac, this gorgeous hotel room, and a delicious breakfast.

She opened her phone and scrolled social media, which was littered with posts about the face-off between the former friends. She knew she shouldn’t watch it, but her finger hovered over a video from Sports Central.

“Ugh, fine.” Mac pressed.

An anchor’s voice played over old photos of Mackenzie and Taylor practicing together. “The duo first met while attending Camp Baseline, a tennis training camp, together in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. But after a few public outings, the friendship appeared to end abruptly. Speculation grew thatTaylor’s fame was becoming difficult for the less known player to handle.”

Mac scoffed. “Fucking Kim.” It was the same narrative she had spun over a decade ago.It must have cost a pretty penny to make the pundits say that shit again.

Clenching her jaw, Mac tossed her phone into the pillowy duvet and jumped out of bed, abandoning her breakfast altogether. Her outfit had been dry cleaned and hung by the foot of the mattress. She threw it on and did a few jumps, hoping some exercise might help her kick the prickling acid in her stomach.

Her chest was already burning when another knock came from the door. Mac whipped her head around. “Who is it?”

“It’s Mom.” Piper’s voice called out.

“Come in!” Mac called as she crossed an arm over her chest to stretch her back and biceps.

Piper smiled when she saw her daughter. “You look fresh this morning. I thought you’d be a little more… doom and gloom.”

Mac shrugged, nodding her head toward the phone on the bed. “Have you heard this shit?”

“Yeah,” Piper winced as she sat on the edge of Babs’s bed. “I was hoping you hadn’t.”

Scoffing, Mac bent over and touched her toes. “It’s bullshit, they’re talking out of their asses.”

Piper nodded along as her daughter ranted. “It is. But we know the truth.” Her gentle, amber eyes held Mac’s. Closing her eyes for a second, Mac tried to steady her own breathing.

When she opened them again, Mac felt lighter. “I know. I just don’t see how Kim thinks this helps Taylor.”

Piper stood up. “Luckily, that’s not your business anymore. What you need to know is that we are all so proud of you. Win, lose, or draw. What you’ve achieved here… it’s everything you’ve dreamed of. Me and Babs just want you to be happy.”

Mac nodded, pulling Piper in for a hug. “Thanks, Mom.”

“Now, go out there and stick it to that mean, old bitch Kimberly.” Piper winked as she said goodbye to her daughter and disappeared into the hallway of the hotel.

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