Page 51 of Long Shot

Her form was near perfect. The lack of qualifying matches showed. Taylor could tell how energized she was. Hell – a part of her was even a little jealous that she couldn’t enjoy it.

She shifted on her couch as Mac readied another serve. “Let’s go, baby. Hit ‘em where it hurts.”

Just as Mac’s arm was lifting into the air, Taylor’s hotel door slammed shut. She whipped her head around to see Kim, jaw clenched and arms crossed.

Taylor eyed her. “Could you at least knock?”

Before Kim answered, her gaze was drawn to the TV. “Why are you watching her?”

“Because if she wins this match, there is a very high chance that we play each other in the finals. And you don’t want me to lose to her in the finals.” Taylor muted the TV, leaving it on.

Kim sucked her teeth. “Idon’t want you to lose? What about you?”

Taylor laughed and crossed her arms. “Ineverwant to lose.”

The sound of Kim’s foot tapping against the laminate floors filled the room. Her nose wrinkled into a snarl. “We have a problem.”

Slouching into her couch, Taylor winced as her sore body moved. “What’s that?”

“I’ve gotten a tip.” Kim eyed Taylor. “A tip that you allowed that woman onto your plane and flew her here. And that it wasn’t some sweet reunion.”

Taylor shrugged, knowing that making eye contact would ruin her. If she acted like she couldn’t give a fuck, Kim might back off. Besides, Mac warned her there was a leak. If anything, this was an interesting test in timing. Whoever found out first on Mac’s team is closer with a source than Kim.

“I don’t know anything about that.” Taylor’s head bobbed as she watched the ball fly from one end of the court to another. “There’s always rumors.”

Kim’s jaw twitched. In a few paces, she crossed the room and stood in front of Taylor and the TV. “I can tolerate you fooling around with strangers when no one’s looking. But that woman…”

Taylor rolled her eyes. “My god, what is your obsession with her? Mackenzie was my friend and then a little more than that. It ended when you demanded it.”

“She threatened your career, multiple times. And here she is doing it again!” Kim exploded, her face turning red under the layer of foundation she plastered on.

Taylor’s heart pounded in her chest. She felt like it might just rip itself out and waltz down to Centre Court to watch Mac’s quarterfinals.

Steadying her breathing, Taylor met her mom’s gaze. “I don’t know what to tell you. She wasn’t on the plane.”

Kim licked her lip and walked closer to Taylor, leaning into her daughter. “Don’t risk your career over some nobody who never had the talent to stand in the same room as you.”

Taylor gritted her teeth together as Kim pulled back and walked toward the door. Just as she was reaching the hallway, Mac scored the winning tiebreak point. Taylor unmuted the TV to a tremendous cheer from the crowds. Mac collapsed down onto her knees, her head tilting back. She scanned the crowd for a moment before finding the camera. Looking into the lens, Mac smiled and winked.

Taylor felt her chest warm, a boldness taking over her being. “Hey, Kim. It looks like she had exactly the same amount of talent.”

Kim didn’t bother to look at her daughter. Instead, she slammed the door closed as she stormed out of the room.

Maybe it was reckless, letting her greatest ally walk out of the room like that. But Taylor couldn’t stand to hear another second of slander against Mac. Not when she was everything Taylor had ever needed.

She pulled out her phone and Mac a text:

Incredible match. Maybe we’ll have to fist fight for the $2.8 mil. Congrats.

Her finger hesitated over the red heart. Every part of her being wanted to click it, to send Mac what lay deep inside herself.

But just locked her phone.It’s casual. That’s all it is.

21

Mac

Mac’s bodyfloated in the Park Plaza pool, loose and limp. She wasn’t sure she’d ever felt so exhausted in her entire life.

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