Page 120 of Backhanded Compliments

Luca sighs and steps into sight of the mirror. Her arms slide around Juliette’s stomach, and she rests her chin on Juliette’s shoulder. “Yes,” she admits. Juliette winces, the word stinging. Luca’s arms tighten around her. “In a perfect world, we’d both play our best tennis, and we wouldn’t have to deal with the complicated emotions that come with losing.”

Juliette nods and finishes brushing. Luca releases her enough to let her rinse her mouth, and then Juliette twists around and wraps her arms around Luca’s neck, keeping her close. She cards her fingers through her silky straight hair, gently pulling a knot loose and brushing it back from Luca’s face.

“I love you,” Juliette says, and Luca nods, her jaw still tight. “And I love tennis. And tomorrow we get to do the thing we love so much. I’m excited, actually.” Luca blinks rapidly, surprised, making Juliette smile. “It’s just a match, and no matter the outcome, my feelings won’t change about you or tennis.”

Tension flows out of Luca, and she tilts to press her forehead to Juliette’s. “We’ll be all right?” she asks quietly.

“We’ll be all right,” Juliette echoes, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss her. It holds a promise, and Luca’s mouth moves against hers in reply. She draws back a fraction and smirks. “Maybe this time I’ll beat you.”

Luca snorts. “Good luck, darling.”

Juliette kisses her again, fleeting and soft. “So, are we ruling out distracting each other to win points?” she asks teasingly.

Luca’s hand cups Juliette’s left breast, thumb drawing over her nipple. Juliette shivers, even though she still has her bra and shirt on. “I don’t think it’d be appropriate to get your tits out on live television,” Luca says dryly.

Juliette laughs and tilts her head back, giving Luca a chance to kiss her neck. “Thanks for the idea. I might pull it out for match point.”

Luca smirks against her throat and lifts her head to stare at Juliette fondly. “You’re ridiculous.”

“So are you for being in love with me, my strange noodle.”

Luca rolls her eyes, but her cheeks flush pink. “Come on, let’s not wait for match point for you to distract me,” she says, her other hand sliding down to grab Juliette’s ass, drawing their hips together.

“Brush your teeth first,” Juliette says, letting her arms fall. “I can’t believe you ate garlic when you knew we were sleeping together. Or was that a plot to disturb my sleep?”

Luca lets go and moves around Juliette to the counter. “I did offer you a bite.”

Juliette crinkles her nose. “You know I hate shrimp.”

Luca gets a strange expression on her face for a moment before she turns thoughtful. “I didn’t, actually.”

“Still so much to learn,” Juliette says, stealing another garlicky kiss. “Luckily, I am an excellent teacher,” she says as she steps back and smacks Luca’s ass, just because she can. She loves how Luca jolts as if shocked, and her pupils expand.

“None of that tomorrow either,” Luca says, sounding breathless and slightly strangled. She grabs her toothbrush and shoves it in her mouth.

“Damn. Plans foiled,” Juliette says in a singsong as she exits the bathroom.

She sprays their bed with the lavender mist Luca loves so much and wriggles under the sheets.

“Hey,” Juliette says as Luca leaves the bathroom and heads to her side of the bed.

“What’s up?” Luca asks as she pops open her melatonin bottle.

“I think we should do it.”

Luca raises her eyebrows. “Jules, we’ve been doing it for weeks.”

Juliette groans. “No, I have an idea.”

“Tell me.”

So Juliette does.

“Once that can of worms is open, it can’t be undone,” Luca says as she flicks the lamp light off and slides into bed.

“Why not make a statement?”

Luca laughs and twists over on her side to kiss Juliette. “You’re crazy and I love you,” she whispers against Juliette’s mouth.

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