Page 122 of Game Point
‘I can tell. There’s such a big difference in you.’
She looked at me strangely, ‘Thanks?’
‘It’s supposed to be a compliment,’ I reassured. ‘You’re playing better too, but you just don’t seem as tired.’ I remembered her months ago, even the first time we’d met. She seemed like a shadow of herself. Talking negatively, neversatisfied with her performance. All I could hope was that I’d been part of the change in her life, a change for the better.
‘It’s a wonder what a real bed can do for a girl.’ Dylan took another bite of her doughnut, her expression changing to something serious. ‘I think I’ve been enjoying myself so much that I didn’t think about what came next. I know I don’t want to carry on how I was,’ she admitted. ‘But I love competing.’
I nodded, understanding what she was saying. ‘You can just decide what you want to do, when you want to do it. You’re good enough to keep up with everyone, and you are in charge of your own career.’
‘It feels weird to say I want to slow down. I’m not supposed to want that, right? I should want to play every single match all of the time. Keep trying to get better.’ She sounded unsure of her own words.
‘There’s no reason you can’t still do that but acknowledge when it’s good for you to take a break. Breathe and sit for a while,’ I advised, thinking of the breaks I had taken throughout my career. The world of good they had done me.
Dylan stopped beside me, her eyes looking around the city. ‘I was thinking about staying here for a little longer,’ she said, seeming a little unsure. ‘Maybe even until the summer. I’ve always hated the clay season.’
‘Yeah?’ I asked, feeling almost guilty for how happy her words made me. It felt selfish, to want her to take it easy, but staying with her these few months, living slowly and relaxed. I never wanted it to stop.
‘All that dust getting all over me?’ Her nose scrunched at the thought. ‘No thanks.’
‘What do you want to do instead?’ I asked.
Her gaze caught on mine. ‘Whatever I want, I guess? Stay home a little, without all the intense training. Travel, even.’
‘Would you mind …’ I trailed off, almost losing my courage. ‘Would you mind having a house guest for a little longer? Maybe even a travel buddy?’ I finished, waiting for the smile on her lips to diminish.
But it didn’t.
‘You’d want to stay?’ Dylan asked, her hand finding mine.
‘If it meant being with you,’ I nodded, ‘yes.’
She closed the small gap between us, our lips meeting as we kissed softly, the contact momentary before she pulled back, her arms around my neck as she cheekily smiled.
‘I better get the guest bedroom properly set up then.’
I laughed. ‘Absolutely not.’
40
Oliver
Nobody Gets Me – SZA
‘You had a great match yesterday,’ Radley said, Dylan’s ankle delicately held in her expert hands. ‘Does this still hurt?’ She looked up to where Dylan was perched on the bed.
Dylan hummed, ‘It’s a little bit sore, especially after playing for a while.’
‘She limps,’ I added, standing at the side of the vast hotel room, my arms crossed. Both women looked over at me, Dylan’s eyes narrowing with disdain. But I held her gaze, adding, ‘After matches.’
Radley nodded, turning back to the joint, before rolling the foot around, testing with her fingers. ‘Do you feel any sharp pain here?’
Dylan shook her head. ‘No, it’s more like a dull ache.’
Radley nodded, inspecting the joint further. ‘Okay, that’s fine. We have to remember that you are playing with a lot of intensity here.’ She put her ankle down. ‘Have you been doing the exercises I showed you?’
Dylan’s eyes slid back to me, her eyebrow raised. ‘Yeah. I have somebody making sure they get done.’ My shoulders rose on a shrug, a smug look on my face. Dylan looked back at Radley. ‘Strap and balance exercises, right? Day and night.’
‘Exactly. That’s good.’ Radley turned back over her shoulder towards me. The curve of her lips knowing. ‘It’s good to have somebody to help.’
