Page 131 of Game Point
The door had barely closed behind me before I exploded, ‘What are you doing here? What happened to lying low?’
‘Don’t worry, I’m just taking up your break,’ he explained. ‘That and I paid the attendant to get you out of there quicker. Figured the less time with Rachel the better.’
I didn’t hesitate to pull him in for a kiss. ‘You are a genius.’ Collapsing into the chair next to him, I noticed the food on the table. ‘Is this for me?’
‘I thought you’d need lunch,’ he said, leaning forward to eat some teriyaki chicken from the shop we’d discovered round the corner from our hotel.
‘See, this is why I love you.’ I grabbed a fork, feeling half-starved.
‘And here I thought it was because of my perfect ass.’
I shovelled a forkful of rice into my mouth. ‘That too.’
Oliver paused midway through bites. ‘I was thinking, are you more of an action movie girl or would you …’He trailed off, pausing for dramatic effect as he pulled two DVDs out of his bag.
My eyes narrowed on him. ‘Was this your plan all along? Feed me, seduce me and force me to finish theTwilightseries?’
‘Can you believe they were on sale?’ He waved the twoBreaking DawnDVDs at me, his smile somehow growing brighter. ‘I think if we start early and order room service, we can get both parts in before lights out.’
I shook my head, swallowing some more food. ‘Aren’t you supposed to offer to distract me from the pressure with sex?’
‘That is still of course very much on the table. But I thought we could also watch a film.’
‘Or two,’ I corrected.
‘Round up the series and everything,’ he said, before taking another bite of his lunch. I rolled my eyes at him, but I didn’t bother to argue, knowing Oliver too well to accept my fate. ‘How are you feeling about it? I know you’ve said the night before can be a challenge for you.’
‘I’m feeling okay. I’m not panicking and that’s a good start.’
‘Good.’ His head tilted forward. ‘And you don’t have to worry, I’ll make sure you don’t have nightmares about the CGI baby.’
‘CGI baby?’
‘That’s all in part two,’ He picked up the second DVD, turning it to look at the back. I could’ve sworn his skin had turned a shade paler. ‘Honestly, she’s quite chilling.’
‘Well, thanks for those spoilers.’
‘It’s more of a content warning,’ he mumbled, poking at his food again. ‘I’m looking forward to tomorrow.’
My hand lowered, my attention on Oliver, taking in his ruffled brown hair. ‘Yeah?’
‘I love watching you play,’ he admitted. ‘Love watching you win even more. And after everything Chloe did this past year. What she said after China, how she took out Inés and Scottie. I can’t wait to see what you can do.’
Shaking my head, I dared to ask. ‘And if she eats me up too?’
I allowed myself to consider my own question, to follow down that path of anxiety. What if all of this work, all of Oliver’s time, had been for nothing. The injuries, the time spent getting better,all that damn journaling.What if, after all of that, I still lost?
I held my breath as I waited for him to answer, but Oliver just gently raised his shoulders in a shrug.
‘Then I’ll take you out back, we can destroy a few rackets together, and come back stronger next year.’ His hand slid across the table, the top of his knuckles brushing against mine. ‘But I know she won’t, Dylan. You’ve got this.’
The knot of anxiety untangled itself, smoothing out as I took in his smile, his confidence in me oozing out of every part of him. He believed in me, he always had. Even when I’d given up on myself, Oliver had been there to pick me up every time. My hand uncurled, taking his into mine. It didn’t matter in the end, if I lost.
He would always be there to get me back on my feet, put a racket in my hand and keep me trying again.
43
Dylan
