Page 104 of Backhanded Compliments

As a player, even one knocked out of the tournament, it doesn’t take much for her to sneak into the locker room. She can’t imagine Luca hanging out in the players’ lounge or gym considering what was happening out on court.

Juliette takes a deep breath before slipping through the door. It’seerily quiet, the only sound the dripping of a showerhead that isn’t fully turned off. The walls are painted a soothing blue color, soft like the Ohio sky. Juliette pokes her head around each of the rows of lockers until she spots a lonesome figure hunched on the bench.

Juliette hesitates.

The last time they spoke, Juliette broke both of their hearts. Now, she’s here to ask forgiveness and fix what she tore apart. She knows Luca is more than likely to reject her. She’s in control here, and Juliette almost can’t breathe through the fear.

But she can’t imagine her life without Luca in it, so she steps out from the shadow of the lockers. Her shoes scuff against the floor, and Luca’s head snaps up.

She blinks as if struggling to process what she’s seeing.

“Hey,” Juliette says, clearing her throat.

“Here to revel in my misery?” Luca asks, her voice a thin, fragile chord. Her eyes are wide and glossy, and her hair is greasy and wet from the rain and dried sweat, the braid unraveling. She curls in on herself, as if she can flatten herself and disappear.

Juliette drops down onto the bench next to her. “I’m here to see if you’re okay.” She touches Luca’s knee. She doesn’t flinch away, and Juliette takes it as a small victory.

Luca squeaks out a breathless chuckle. “No, I’m not.”

Juliette squeezes gently, her thumb brushing circles against Luca’s kneecap.

“Why are you here?” Luca’s voice shakes.

“I’m here to apologize,” Juliette says, and Luca looks up, her eyes glassy. “I fucked up. I let my need to be in control take hold of me. I didn’t think we could work if we were together. I was afraid of how much I cared for you and how that would affect me and my life. I didn’t want anything to change, but I was already changed. I realized today how much I care about you. How much you mean to me. I finally realized how wrong I was. So, Luca, I am so sorry for hurting you and pushing you away and being so selfish.”

Her vulnerability hangs like a knife between them, and Juliettecan’t breathe. Luca can either set it down or cut Juliette straight to the bone.

“You want to be together?” Luca asks softly.

Juliette nods. “I don’t just want to be together. I want to know everything, from your favorite color to your darkest nightmare. I want to make love to you and kiss every inch of your skin. I want every moment with you. I want your snark and your anxiety and your brilliance and your sweetness and everything in between. I even want the hurts we’ll inevitably cause each other. I want us to break each other’s hearts and stay together anyway. I want us to be there for each other, through every soaring high and every soul-crushing low.” She takes a deep breath. “I want it all, Luca Kacic. I want you. I want us.”

Luca’s breathing is sharp and rapid between them, and somewhere in the midst of Juliette’s speech, she’s started crying. Juliette cradles Luca’s face, warmth spreading through her as Luca tips into the touch, her eyes tender and gleaming, every emotion in them. Juliette strokes her cheekbones, and curves her thumb down to where she knows Luca’s dimple would appear should she smile. The tears are warm against the pads of Juliette’s fingers.

They come together like magnets, drawn together by a cosmic hand. Luca presses her face into the crook of Juliette’s neck, her arms wrapping around her. Juliette cradles the back of Luca’s head, keeping her close and hiding her from the world around them, while her other arm wraps around Luca’s waist. She tilts her head against Luca’s temple, their edges melding together in warmth. And time becomes meaningless, as it usually does with Luca in her arms.

Luca pulls back, slowly, her breathing a little more under control. “Next time you feel overwhelmed and out of control,talkto me.” Juliette’s vision blurs as tears finally spill free. She swipes them off her cheek, nodding.

“If anyone can understand that, it’s me,” Luca adds. “We understand each other. Not just because we’re soulmates, but because we’re both tennis players.”

“I finally realized that being with you doesn’t mean being out ofcontrol. You make me feel content,” Juliette admits, and Luca starts to smile, that dimple curving against the edge of her mouth.

“I forgive you, Jules,” Luca says, pressing their foreheads together.

Relief crashes like a wave over Juliette. “Thank you,” she breathes, the dizzying feeling of falling and spiraling out of control finally subsiding.

FORTY-ONEJULIETTE

The rain does not let up through the evening. It continues steadily, drumming heavy fingers through the night.

Unfortunately, Cincinnati does not have a roof over any of its courts, so the final is moved to the next day if the deluge lets up.

Juliette’s original flight to New York City leaves in three hours, but instead, she knocks on Luca’s door with a healthy dinner from Phoenician Taverna in her hands. Even though Juliette wants to scarf down as much unhealthy food as she can, since it will be her last opportunity for three weeks, she knows Luca needs to be strong and steady for the remainder of the final tomorrow.

She smothers down her pinch of guilt. Octavia can still win the match, and she doesn’t need Juliette to actively sabotage Luca to do that.

Luca opens the door, once again in a comfortable white hoodie and black cotton shorts that look too good on her, even if they’re baggy.

“Well, hello there,” Luca says. She smiles as Juliette steps inside. As the door closes, Juliette wraps her arm around Luca’s neck and kisses her. It’s quick but it still sends a shimmer of excitement through Juliette’s stomach.

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