Page 46 of A Follow-Through in Faking

Santiago

My ankle is killing me.

As relieved as I am that it’s only a partial tear that’ll heal in a month or two, it’s still a fucking pain that my season is on hold for as long as it’ll take this stupid injury to heal.

But even so, with all of that happening, I can’t help focusing entirely on Catalina. She’s made her way into the finals, and I flew her family out to France so they can watch her win her first Grand Slam today.

Because she will win.

There is no doubt in my mind.

Ori, Sami, Hernanda, and Felix, her father, are here, and while I didn’t tell Cata that I’ve arranged for them to be at another one of her games, I know she’ll be happy to see them. It’s added pressure, yes, but it’s also the kind of comfort she may need on the biggest day of her career.

I don’t think Cata will survive losing another Grand Slam with her heart intact.

“She’s got this,” Ori says from her seat beside mine.

“Are you trying to reassure me or yourself?” I ask, my heart racing. The tall woman with the same color hair as Cata, as well as the same nose and eyes, doesn’t even look at me as she replies.

“I’m trying to convince the universe so it doesn’t take it from her again.”

“I thought you’re a scientist. Do you even believe in that sort of thing?” I ask with a nervous laugh, but Ori looks as serious as always. It reminds me a lot of Cata’s expression.

“I believe because she believes. And she believes because of the trip you took her on,” Ori explains, scanning my features for something. “I want to go there one day, too. See what Cata saw.” I place a comforting hand on her shoulder and offer the smallest of smiles.

“I’m sure she’d love to go there again. We can make it a family trip. I’m sure Sami and Hernanda would love to go too.” That finally makes her smile, but it’s the kind of sad smile a child in pain wears when thinking about the loss of a parent.

Cata never speaks to me about her siblings’ grief because she said it isn’t her pain to share with anyone they wouldn’t be comfortable with.

Seeing it so plainly on Ori’s face makes me understand why.

I don’t think any of them have truly dealt with the extent of their grief yet.

A big step for Catalina was our trip, but her siblings haven’t had the kind of closure or healing experience as their sister.

I make a plan in my head then and there to find a way to take them all to Greece.

Our heads snap in the direction of the entrance of the court where the players come out as soon as Catalina’s name is announced.

The crowd starts screaming her name, and pride surges through me at the sight of her.

I didn’t get to see her for long today before she disappeared with Charlie, preparing for the match, but she did kiss me thoroughly before telling me she loves me, so I can’t complain.

I’m a very lucky man.

Catalina looks determined, fierce in the skirt and top combination Spin put her in, and absolutely breathtaking as she prepares for the match.

She’s listening to music as she places her bag down, letting it comfort and calm her as well as put her in the zone.

Her opponent is Frederica Udo, the number three tennis player in the world.

Past match statistics between them show that they’re about evenly matched when it comes to match wins against each other. That means this one could end with either of them on top. But I believe in Catalina.

She’s got this.

It takes her several more minutes until she finally spots her family in the box for her team, but when she does, the tension that resided in her shoulders finally leaves.

Tears fill her eyes as she waves at us, and Charlie, Ori, Hernanda, Felix, Papá, Mamá, Manu, Vanessa, Sage—who should still be recovering but was too stubborn to miss the match—and I stand up simultaneously to show off our shirts.

They have “Catalina is our #1” written on the front.

She covers her mouth with her hands, shaking her head as she takes us in while we cheer for her. Catalina throws us kisses, and I do my best to ignore my stupid ankle to keep upright. It helps that I’m not putting any weight on it, but it’s not exactly pleasant either.

After they go through all of the pre-match procedures and warm up, it’s finally time for the start of the match.

Frederica wins her first service game. It’s very clear that Cata is still warming up, but she secures her service game minutes later.

They look so evenly matched that I stay at the edge of my seat from the second service game Frederica takes. Catalina struggles in her next one a little before, eventually, making the score two games to two.

This back and forth continues all the way until it’s six games to six.

Nerves have wrapped around my throat, making it impossible to breathe properly.

“Oh God, I hate tiebreaks,” Ori says beside me, and Hernanda and Sami give agreeing nods.

Playing them is easier than watching them for me, so I almost tell them that I agree, but my words die on my tongue as Frederica positions herself to serve.

It’s an advantage to start serving in the tiebreak, which is annoying considering I want Cata to have all of the advantages, and so far, she’s had none in the match.

Frederica serves an ace, getting her the first point in the tiebreak. One out of seven to win.

Catalina doesn’t look rattled in the slightest, but I know my woman. She’s getting nervous.

She wins one of her service points, but when she loses her second service point before it switches back to Frederica, I see her confidence crumbling.

She loses another point.

Then another.

It’s four points to one, and Catalina’s hands seem to be shaking as she picks up her towel to wipe her face.

She loses both of her service points.

It’s six points to one for Frederica.

My heart stops beating when I realize it's a set point and not for Catalina.

“What the fuck is happening?” Ori whispers to me, and as much as I’d love to reply, I don’t have an answer.

I wish I did. Cata thinks I can read her mind, but I only know what she’s thinking sometimes because of how well I know her. No matter how long I’ve studied her playing, it’s hard to look into her head during a match.

But I know for certain that right when she misses the next point, giving Frederica the first set, that her heart drops into her stomach in the same way mine does inside of me.

Fuck.