Page 2 of Courting Trouble
Delilah sank onto the couch, the news hitting her in waves. She’d wanted a role like this for years. Could it actually, at her lowest moment, be happening?
Her smile trembled. ‘Are you serious?’
Ashley’s grin suddenly looked a little tight. ‘Yes.’ Then she gave an embarrassed little laugh. ‘But here’s the thing. And this is no big deal, I’m sure you’ll agree.’
Oh, here it was. The caveat. The sting in the tail. The twist.
‘I might have bent the truth a little,’ Ashley said.
Delilah’s brow furrowed. ‘About what?’
Ashley’s eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘Well, they called me last week, wanting some more info about you. About your tennis skills.’
‘I don’t have any,’ Delilah said.
She’d literally never picked up a racket in her life. She was more of a yoga girl. But she hadn’t worried too much about that when she auditioned. It was strictly an emotional scene. No balls involved. And considering it was the longest of shots, she hadn’t given any thought to not being able to play for shit.
‘I told them you’d played throughout your life.’
Delilah stared at her agent, horrified. ‘You what?’
Ashley shrugged, like it was nothing. ‘Started at six, numerous summer camps. On the doubles team at uni.’
Delilah pressed her palms into her eyes. She had to physically stop herself from laughing at the absurdity.
Ashley softened then, her voice losing its glib edge. ‘Look, Del… they were circling other names. Names with bigger résumés. If I’d just told them the truth, they might have moved right on. I had to make them picture you in the part. Something to give you that bit of extra sell. That’s why I lied. Because if anyone deserves this role, it’s you.’
‘More than someone who’s ever picked up a racket?’ Delilah demanded.
Ashley waved a dismissive hand. ‘It’sOK. You’ve got six weeks to look like you belong on the court. That’s when rehearsals start.’
Six weeks to look like a lifelong player? Starting from zero?
She’d had about twenty seconds to enjoy this news before it became a problem. Typical.
‘How the hell am I going to dothat? Do you understand the position you’ve put me in here?!’
Ashley smiled, calmness itself. ‘I’m in the process of getting you a coach.AndI’ll pay for it. In six weeks, you’ll thank me for this fib.’
Ashley was already on her phone, thumbs flying over the screen.
‘You’ve got me a coach?’ Delilah asked hopefully.
‘I’mgettingone. I know a woman who knows a guy who can recommend someone. It’s just theslightestbit tricky because we’re in the middle of tennis season and the top coaches are all booked up with pros. But fear not! We’re going to pull this off. I swear.’
‘Christ, Ashley,’ Delilah groaned. She would have killed Ashley if she weren’t the fine thread keeping her career dangling.
Ashley laughed, chipper as ever. ‘Honestly, this friend of a friend knows someone who really is a get.Ifwe can get them. Which I’msurewe will.’
Delilah sighed and waited and hoped. It was all she could do.
Two
The air on Court Three of the Riverside Tennis Club smelled like melting tarmac and suncream. Cassie Thorne adjusted her cap, pulling the brim down to shield her eyes, and watched Nigel prepare to serve once again.
Nigel’s salmon shorts and polo shirt were soaked with sweat, the damp patches forming a butterfly-shaped blotch across his back. He was only five minutes in and already gasping from the sheer effort of bending to pick up a stray ball.
He tossed the ball up with the enthusiasm of someone throwing confetti at a wedding and swung. The racket whiffed entirely, and the ball thudded weakly to the ground. Nigel stumbled forward, then grinned sheepishly.
