Page 84 of Courting Trouble
Delilah had thought she would be on one of the smaller courts, just playing in front of James, maybe a handful of people at most.
Instead, she was being led toward Centre Court, where Santos and Fujimoto had played that afternoon. The lights were on as the sunlight faded, and dozens of people were in the stands.
She had been on sets where the lighting turned her skin a jaundiced yellow, in front of cameras so high definition they exposed every pore. But in her most sweat-soaked nightmares, she had never imagined being on display like this.
Just as she was about to head in, she saw movement at the edge of her vision.
Cassie. She was leaving. Head down, shoulders tight, as though she couldn’t get away fast enough.
‘Wait!’ The word tore out of Delilah. She turned to Lena, desperate. ‘Just give me a moment.’
Lena shrugged, unbothered. ‘Sure.’
Delilah bolted, heading after Cassie. ‘Hey!’
Cassie stopped reluctantly, face stony as she turned.
Delilah skidded to a halt. ‘What are you doing? The match is about to start. They’ve got me playing bloody Lena Dalton for the role!’
Cassie paused. ‘That’s good news. She’s an actress, like you. Not a player. Probably can’t play any better than you can now.’
Delilah didn’t understand what was happening. ‘But, but… why are you leaving?’
‘Because I can’t do this anymore.’ Cassie’s voice was quiet, but it landed like a hammer.
Delilah blinked, stunned. ‘What are you talking about?’
Cassie folded her arms. ‘You’ve got what you wanted. You’re ready for this film. You don’t need me anymore.’
‘That’s not—’ Delilah faltered, words sticking in her throat.
‘Whatever this was between us…’ Cassie’s throat worked as she swallowed. ‘It’s run its course, hasn’t it?’
‘What?’ Delilah whispered.
Cassie shook her head, cutting her off before she could scramble for words. ‘Go play, Delilah. You’re gonna do fine without me now.’
Delilah’s mouth opened, closed. Nothing came. By the time she gathered herself, Cassie was already gone.
**
Back on court, everything felt muffled, unreal, like she was watching someone else’s body move.
Lena’s first serve streaked past her untouched, a blur of white against the green. The second did the same. The third Delilah swung at, desperate, and batted straight into the net.
She was already prepared to fold, to sink to her knees right there. What was the point? She was nothing. She’d always been nothing. She didn’t deserve to play Tamsin Rowe. Getting this far had been a fluke, a cruel mistake. And now she was about to be exposed, everyone watching, every mistake magnified under the lights.
Her chest burned, her hands trembled around the racket, sweat stinging her eyes. Maybe if Cassie had stayed, given just a word of encouragement, a hand on her shoulder, something. But Cassie hadn’t stayed.
It was just Delilah—alone.
As she watched Lena Dalton lazily bounce a ball, preparing to serve, Delilah opened her mouth to say,Forget it. I’m not playing.Then she could walk off, go home, and plan her life as a former actress.
Then Lena Dalton gave a little sigh.
Not even a smug one, just… bored, like this was beneath her. Like she knew what was going to happen, that she was going to win.Everything.
The sound cracked something in her.
