Page 37 of Game Point
I had always hated these things. Looking around at the packed ballroom, the gala in full swing. Everyone around was dressed up in black tie, brand reps practically crawling all over the place. That was the only reason Brooke had allowed me to attend, a certain amount of PR built into our contracts with sponsors.
‘Dylan?’ Inés pulled my attention back. ‘You okay there? You zoned out.’
I forced a smile. ‘I’m fine. Just seeing if I recognize anyone.’
‘It’s a room full of tennis pros,’ she smirked. ‘Chances are there’s a few familiar faces.’
I took a sip of my champagne. She wasn’t wrong; it was impossible to so much as turn around without bumping into somebody I knew.
But none of them would be him.
We were five thousand miles apart, Oliver tucked away in London. I pulled my phone out, glancing at the empty home screen. He hadn’t replied to my messages today, usually answering no matter the hour. It was stupid, how hard I felt his absence.
Trying to push away the thoughts and make conversationinstead, I turned back to Inés. ‘How are you feeling about your first match?’
She waved me away. ‘My opponent is barely in the top 200. I’ll be done in an hour.’
Beside her, her doubles partner Henrik grinned, pulling her close with his arm around her shoulder, ‘That’s my girl.’
She wriggled out of his grasp. ‘I am not your girl anymore, remember?’
Henrik placed a hand on his chest, looking over at her with a look of fake shock. ‘It’s only been a few dates and already you think I’ve abandoned you.’
‘Showing up late to morning practice,’ Inés pressed. ‘Practically swaggering in.’
‘Wait, who are we talking about?’ I asked. I’d been away with the camp and training Brooke had demanded. I’d hoped I’d come back feeling brand new, refreshed and ready for the China Open. Instead, weeks with Brooke had only left me feeling off-balance. The remaining confidence that I had in my playing somewhat eroded.
Inés turned towards me, her black hair pulled back off her face. ‘You know Chloe?’
‘Chloe Murphy?’ I clarified, Inés nodding in answer. My mouth opening a little, I turned to Henrick. ‘You’re dating her?’
‘It’s casual,’ he dismissed me. I thought of the younger American. She’d played a couple of us so far, usually with middling success but she’d made it as far as the semis in New York, an impressive run for her.
‘Casual?’ Inés practically laughed. ‘Have you ever known him to speak about anyone he’s dating?’
I wondered why Inés cared so much. What did it matter if he was seeing somebody?
Henrik only rolled his eyes, ‘Just becauseI’vedecided that casual tour hook-ups are getting really old.’
‘What is that supposed to mean?’ she questioned. I could tell he’d taken a step too far, and judging from the change in his expression, he’d realized it too. Inés hadneverbeen the type to date, always single and up until now, so had Henrik.
‘Well …’ Henrik trailed off, and I took his panicked expression as a cue to make a quick exit.
‘I’ll be right back,’ I said, raising the glass. ‘Does anyone need a refill?’
They both shook their heads, Inés refusing to look away from her doubles partner until he answered her question correctly. I turned, heading towards the bar.
The relief was temporary, the bar staff far too efficient with their service, and sooner than I would’ve liked, there was a full glass of fizz in my hand and I was faced with the decision of returning to the duo or having to bear anyone else in this room.
I pulled out my phone again, fully aware of how stupidly desperate I was becoming, and hating how my heart sank into my stomach when no new notifications came up.
Scanning the crowd, I searched for a distraction, finally catching sight of Scottie in the crowd, waving wildly towards me. Swallowing down the urge to just leave the gala completely, I forced myself to leave the bar, heading towards Scottie and Nico, who stood beside her. Her blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders, covering partof the pink dress she was wearing. As always, she looked gorgeous.
‘Dylan! It’s good to see you back on the tour!’ Scottie crushed me with a big hug, my hand barely holding onto the full champagne flute. When she released me, her grin hadn’t faltered even slightly. ‘How was the camp?’
‘Fine,’ I lied. ‘Good to be back.’
Beside her, Nico nodded, his silent grumpy approval making my shoulders relax slightly. We’d had a past, Scottie and I, and because of that, things between Nico and I had been slightly strained. He was protective of her, something I hadn’t understood until recently.
