Page 63 of Bending Under Pressure

“Go again,” Keelan tells me.

“Really?”

“Yeah. You can’t do it just once.”

He could’ve told me he loved me for as much as I’m smiling. I begin to circle around once more. My hands are trembling slightly, so I grip tighter. There’s that much adrenaline coursing through me. Keelan lets me run it three more times. Each time, I get better and more fluid like he is. I’m oddly tired when I park in my driveway, unable to stop my yawn.

“I’d much rather watch you than Cam drive my car,” Keelan says, making me giggle.

“Do I get a reward for eventually doing so well?”

I barely finish my question before Keelan has hooked his hand around my neck to pull me closer to his lips. I don’t know what it is about that one little action, but it melts me every time. But I must be more tired than I thought because when I part my mouth, it turns into a yawn.

“Sorry,” I laugh sheepishly. Ugh. How embarrassing is that?

“It’s okay.” He’s still smiling, so that’s a good sign. Keelan gets out, walks around, and opens my door for me.

“Thanks for tonight.”

“Thank you for today.” He leans down to kiss me once one last time. “Go sleep, Hales. I’ll text you tomorrow.”

Monday comes and Cameron and Jess have not made up yet. She apologized to me, which is a plus. However, it makes lunch extremely awkward. They both keep sneaking glances at each other. They look miserable, though I’m surprised it’s Cameron who is doing his best to not look miserable. Jess has barely spoken a word all day. However, Cameron has been talking to everyone but Jess.

In another matter, I’ve been a nervous wreck all day. Will Dad show at my game today? Will he be too busy? What if he does? Will he want to go to dinner afterward? Or will he leave? What if he tries to push me to meet his new family again? Will he be proud if I win my matches? Or disappointed if I lose them?

“Haley.” Hearing Keelan say my name snaps me out of my thoughts as I turn in my seat to face him. “Stop worrying.”

“I can’t.” Today is one of those days where I wish he didn’t have football practice. He can’t come to my match as support. With Jess giving everyone the silent treatment, I don’t exactly have her. I told Mom and Walter not to make this one since Dad is supposed to come.

“If practice lets out in time, I’ll drive by to see if you’re still playing,” he offers. Considering we’re playing our rivals this Friday, I doubt they will get out early.

“Thanks.”

The rest of the day flies by with my stomach in knots. As players begin to arrive at the courts, so do some parents. Tennis isn’t huge like football, so we don’t get crowds, but parents try to come watch if they can. We’re warming up when I see Octavia and John taking a seat on the bench Cameron and Keelan usually take.

I quickly jog over with a forced smile because Dad still hasn’t arrived. “What are y’all doing here?”

“I hope you don’t mind that we decided to come watch you. We were told you could use a little support today.”

Keelan.

I can’t wait until I can give him the biggest hug ever.

“Thank you.”

“Quit yapping, Haley, and warm up!” Coach Spell yells.

So, I do.

When it comes time for my first match, I glance around once more. Dad isn’t here. He’s stood me up. Again. Smiles from Octavia and John make me feel a little better. I can’t feel too much better. My dad has let me down. Again.

That’s it.

I’m done with him.

He’s stomped all over his last chance and ruined it. I won’t give him another one. I’ll go home, avoid Mom and Walter for as long as possible so I don’t have to tell them, and then let the tears I’m dying to cry fall.

My heart isn’t in it as I spin my racquet, my opponent calling ‘d’ over ‘p’. It falls, showing a ‘d’ at the bottom of the handle. The brand of my racquet starts with a P, but it being lower case, allows us to call either. Since she called it, she gets to serve first. All I want to do is go home. However, I can’t. With a deep breath, I rock on my feet left and right as I bend my knees to prepare for her serve.

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