Page 95 of Game Point
‘One …’
‘Can we talk?’ I said, shouting over the crowd. Her smile dimmed as she eased forward, trying to hear what I said, but it was too late, the crowd erupted into cheers as all around us, confetti burst into the air.
‘Happy New Year!’
I was helpless to the draw of her as the room erupted with noise, celebrations going off around us as she looked at our friends and competitors alike.
Dylan lifted her glass midway between us, mouthing ‘Happy New Year!’ over the noise of the room. My glass met hers, cheering in celebration. I couldn’t take my eyes from her as I took a sip. She was simply beautiful, her brunette hair down, cascading over her shoulders, eyes darkened with make-up. It was hard not to be struck by the reminder of it all, how much I craved more of her. I was running out of excuses not to touch her, using any cause to close any and all space between us.
And then, sitting on the sofa next to her, the lovers in the room locked in each other’s embrace, I longed to be hers, to take the leap and kiss her again. I knew if I started, I’d find it hard to ever stop.
I sat still in indecision, like I was trapped and unable to make any movement without falling into her.Did she still feel it too? Did she still want me?
Without realizing, the distance slowly closed, as if we both couldn’t fight it anymore; whether it was the champagne orthe need wearing down our strength over the weeks, it didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was her and the question on my mind, wondering if her lips would taste like the champagne she’d drunk.
‘Happy New Year!’ Inés crashed in between us, pushing us apart as her arms stretched around us. She beamed, placing a kiss square on Dylan’s face. I swore for a second, I could read disappointment across Dylan’s features, before a smile replaced her slackened features.
I tried to ignore my own deflation, watching as Dylan pulled Inés in for a hug of her own, wishing her friend a happy new year. Her eyes found mine as she hugged, only for a second before she looked away, distracted by the sound of the off-key singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ breaking out around the room.
Nico and Scottie came over, shaking hands and pulling us in for hugs and celebration, pulling me further and further away from Dylan, every single centimetre a misery.
It wasn’t long before the room began to empty, coaches corralling their players to bed in preparation for the competition ahead, and we weren’t far behind, Nico kicking us out to allow Scottie to prepare for her match the following day.
Silently, we waited together by the elevator in the now-empty hallway, the only noise between us the ping announcing the arrival of the lift.
‘What time is the flight tomorrow?’ she asked as we stepped inside, pressing the button to our floor.
‘Midday. We can leave after breakfast,’ I replied, the mental plan for tomorrow coming into place. We wouldfly back to Melbourne, and her physio would come over first thing to assess the swelling on her joint.
‘It’s an internal flight. We don’t need to be super early.’
I hummed, ‘It’s good to be on time.’
She leaned into a corner of the elevator, taking support from the bar. ‘There’s being on time, and then there’s five hours early.’
‘There could be traffic.’
‘Hey, whatever you want. I’m sure it will be thrilling to hang out in the airport lounge,’ she joked as the doors slid open, revealing our floor. Our rooms were close together, mine a little further down the hallway from hers.
I stepped out, only turning back when I realized she was struggling with her crutches, one of the supports at the bottom adjusted incorrectly. The pained, frustrated look on her face as she fought with the rubber cap telling me all I needed to know about her pain levels, her ankle still swollen and sore after the injury.
‘Come here,’ I said, stepping back over to her. ‘I’ll carry you.’
She looked at me, incredulous. ‘Carry me?’
‘It will be quicker. Your room isn’t far.’
She looked around the hallway for some sort of answer, before ultimately accepting her fate. ‘Fine. Let’s get it over with.’
‘What a lovely way to say thank you,’ I joked, leaning down in front of her.
‘A piggyback?’ Her voice rang with laughter. Slowly her arms went around my neck, her legs brushing against my hands. ‘Are you serious?’
‘Come on. You’ll love it.’ I grinned as my hands claspedbehind her knees, pulling her up with me. I suffocated a groan as I took a step, enjoying the weight of her on me, the fact that she trusted me not to drop her.
‘This is ridiculous,’ she complained, but she didn’t fight me. Instead, her head rested against my shoulder, her hot breath on the back of my neck driving me wild. No matter the touch, any physical contact with her was dangerous.
‘I can put you down if you want,’ I teased.
