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“You trying to burn a hole through me, Mel?” he asked me, sprawling out further on the lounge. He was so tall there was no room for me to sit, not without having some part of him touching me.

I sneered around my chocolate.

“Just trying to figure out what kind of ape you are,” I retorted, turning back to the TV.

“Let me make it easy for you, I’m the sexy ape you secretly want to bone.”

I scoffed. “More like the ape who constantly grunts and beats his chest. You’re so full of yourself. Want to know the worst kept-secret in the world? Not every woman wants you!”

“No, but you do.” He thought he was so funny.

I groaned in frustration. “Dream on, pal!”

“Hey, you just let me know when you’re ready to take a ride on a real man, Stink. I’ll happily break you in.”

I leapt to my feet, a growl rumbling in the back of my throat.

I was just opening my mouth to inform him that I had an appointment tomorrow night with a real man, one with chest hair and everything, but at the last minute I caught myself and snapped my mouth shut so fast that I gagged on my own saliva.

“Don’t choke on your last bite of Caramello, Stink,” he warned, smirking up at me from the lounge.

I found my breath and lost my temper. “ Don’t call me Stink, you oversized doofus! You’re the biggest knob I’ve ever met! If I could –”

The door opened with a bang and Steve strode in.

“Mel, calm down, don’t let him get to you. Joel, stop teasing her and move over so she can sit down. Have you eaten, Mel?”

I took several deep breaths while Joel sat upright and patted the cushion beside him.

I plonked myself down, folding my arms over my chest. Joel rested his arm along the back of the sofa behind me, his fingers draped so they tickled my shoulder.

When I wriggled, he snickered at me under his breath so his father wouldn’t be able to hear.

“Yes. I had salmon pasta.”

“And she just inhaled a chocolate marsupial,” Joel added unhelpfully.

Steve sighed. “Joel, I told you to be on your best behaviour! Mel’s got a very important game ahead of her. I don’t want her stressed out.”

Joel rolled his eyes. Steve didn’t see it, but I did, and I scowled at him. He winked back at me.

“I was just trying to help her lighten up a bit, Dad – she’s way too tense. Seriously Mel, you need to chill out.” Oh, so now he was all concerned about my welfare!

“Well, why don’t you go do some Yoga with her? That’ll help her relax.”

“Mel?” Joel turned to me, sounding so sincere that I knew that I would look like the immature one if I didn’t comply.

I followed Joel out onto the balcony. It was large enough for both of us to use, and it was nice to be in the fresh air. It was getting to be late afternoon too, so the sun was low enough that the worst of the heat was gone.

Stripping off the long pants that I had been wearing in the air-conditioned players’ retreat, I stood waiting in my tiny training shorts.

Joel eyeballed me. I ignored it. I could rise above his childish behaviour.

You really wouldn’t have guessed that he was five years older than me by the way he acted.

“Nice arse, Stink,” he whispered as he moved into the Warrior. I followed.

“I don’t know why I used to want an older brother. If I’d had one as annoying as you, I’d have killed him by the time I was twelve!” I hissed.

“Don’t forget your breathing. In through the nose, out through the nose.” He moved flawlessly into the Sun Salutation, his muscular frame in frustratingly perfect balance.

I worked on breathing evenly, and it wasn’t long before the familiar postures, and the sound of Joel’s breathing matching my own did calm me down. I knew I shouldn’t let him get under my skin, but he had a knack that he’d perfected over the five years we’d known one another.

I gave Joel a small smile of thanks as I stepped back into my sweatpants and slid the balcony door closed behind us. I was feeling much more limber and much less tense.

My mobile rang as Steve served up dinner. Joel was in the shower, so I was having a moment of peace. When I saw who it was, I grinned.

“Brad!” I answered.

“Smellie! Congratulations!” he shouted over the din of a packed pub.

I almost wished that I didn’t have to be good tonight because it would be great to be out with him and Amanda.

But then I remembered that I was about to play in an Australian Open semi-final.

I wouldn’t give that up for a few beers, even with my besties.

“Thanks. You’ll be there for my semi-final, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it! You were incredible – I’ve never seen you play that well before!”

I laughed. “Well, thanks, I think. Let’s just hope the next match is even better.”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine. Amanda has something to tell you, hang on.”

“Oh my God, Mel! Thank you for inviting us down here!” Amanda yelled.

“You’re welcome! I didn’t realise you were that big a tennis fan.”

Amanda laughed. “I’m not. Oh, I mean, I really enjoy watching you play. But, Mel, I met this guy today in line for snacks. He’s here at the bar tonight. He’s super cute, and you wouldn’t believe it, he lives in Sydney!”

“Oh, wow. Well, you were obviously meant to be here, to meet him!”

“I hope you don’t mind, I kind of name dropped that you’re my friend. He’s a big tennis fan, he’s super impressed.”

I snickered. “See, having a semi-famous friend is working out for you tonight! ”

Amanda’s giggle was suddenly muffled, and I heard a male voice in the background.

“And … she’s flirting again,” Brad said. “It’s kind of sickening to watch to be honest.”

I chuckled. “Let her have her fun – you never know, it might turn into something more.”

“And in the meantime, I can have another beer and watch the tennis highlights,” he said cheerfully.

“A worthy evening. See you tomorrow, Brad.”

I hung up the mobile and slid into a chair at the dining table. Joel was already seated, still topless after his shower. His smooth chest gleamed, and he raised an eyebrow at me as he flexed his taut pecs. He was waiting for me to ogle him. I didn’t give him the satisfaction.

He decided to torment me another way. “Ooh, Bwaddles, I wuv you so much, mwah, mwah!” Joel puckered up his lips at me. I gave him a sugar-coated smile.

“Oh, don’t be jealous, Joel. Brad’s just a friend. I know you have a thing for him, but I’m sure if you just keep pining … well anything’s possible.”

“That’s enough, both of you!” Steve snapped as he plonked the food down on the table. I picked up my cutlery and ate in silence, eyeing Joel crankily. He looked smug, and I hated that. How did he annoy me so much, but nothing I said ever seemed to break through his smarmy exterior?

My nerves started to peak just before dinner the night Pete was playing his quarter-final.

All day I’d felt them jangling in the background, in the gym, and out on a practice court with Steve.

Luckily, Steve didn’t like to work me too hard on my days off, or he would have noticed just how out of the game my head was.

After dinner, we all turned to the TV to catch Pete’s match against Donatello Herrera. Steve and I sat on the lounge, and Joel sprawled on the floor, leaning back so his head was touching my thigh. His hair was soft and it tickled. I should have pushed him away but I didn’t.

I was too busy getting hot under the collar watching the sweat dripping off Pete, thinking about what he’d offered for tonight.

Joel tilted his head, his hair caressing my knee, and I looked down.

His legs, stretched out in front of him, almost reached the TV.

He was so tall! I sneaked a look at Steve out of the corner of my eye.

Steve was a good head shorter than his son.

I wondered how he had spawned such a monster.

It wasn’t like Joel’s mum Sandra was a giant.

Joel didn’t really look like either of his parents, with his deep-set eyes and strong jaw.

Even his short, dark brown hair was nothing like the pictures I had seen of his parents when they were younger.

Sandra Herbert was blonde and Steve had blue eyes like his son, but his hair had been sandy brown before he went grey.

As I had expected, Pete beat Donatello in straight sets. He hardly even looked puffed at the end of it. I found my cheeks warming as I thought gratefully that he’d have plenty of puff left for me.

Steve got up and stretched. “Well, I’m turning in for the night. Don’t stay up too late please, Mel. You need your rest.”

I sighed shakily. Could I be experiencing a little pre-coital stage fright? It was a new sensation for me. Joel cocked an eyebrow at me. I stuck my tongue out at him.

As Steve clumped off down the hallway, I stood and paced the kitchen. My hands were sweating. I wiped them on my pants.

I needed something else to focus on, otherwise I was going to wind myself up so tight I’d be the worst lay Pete Levine ever had.

Normally I treated myself to Caramellos only on match days, but desperate times…

I snatched another from the cupboard and tore the wrapper off with gusto, sinking my teeth into the feet, savouring the chocolatey goodness as I chomped my way up the tiny koala.

I moaned when the caramel hit my palate.

“Christ Stink, are you eating that thing, or fellating it?” Joel said. I narrowed my eyes. He was leaning on the kitchen bench, staring with avid amusement .

I popped the head into my mouth, sucking it slowly, throwing my head back and making a sex sound. Joel watched, eyes glinting.

I swallowed the last bit of deliciousness and smiled at him.

“Bet you enjoyed watching my foodgasm!” I spun on my heel and headed down the hallway. Joel’s chuckle followed me, leaving my skin tingling in irritation. Why couldn’t I get under his skin the way he did mine?

I turned into the bathroom I would now have to share with Joel for the rest of our stay. I ran the shower cold – I needed to calm down. I soaped myself up, washed my long, chestnut brown hair and blow-dried it straight.

I studied myself in the mirror. My skin was nicely tanned from the summer, my brown eyes warm.

Ever since I’d gone through puberty, I’d had boys …

and men … telling me that I was gorgeous, but I’d never really paid my looks much mind.

As long as my body did what I wanted it to – win me matches – I was happy.

But I couldn’t help wondering what Pete would think of it.

Would he like the sleek line of muscle in my thighs?

Would he appreciate my breasts, a decent handful, but nothing to really write home about?

Shaking my head, I wrapped the towel around myself and sneaked across the hallway to my bedroom.

I wasn’t sure what I should wear down to Pete’s room.

I settled on a pair of cropped denim shorts and a singlet; cute and comfortable.

It was also not too hard to get out of. My face heated up again at that thought.

Dressed, I sat on the edge of my bed and tapped my feet on the floor, glancing every few moments at the clock. I didn’t know how long it would be before Pete would be back in his room.

It was close to eleven when I decided I’d given him enough time. I opened my bedroom door quietly and crept down the hallway. The TV was on, volume low. Joel was still up. Oh great. Well, I wasn’t going to let that scare me back to bed.

Taking a deep, fortifying breath, I walked out like it was perfectly okay for me to be sneaking off in the middle of the night on the eve of my Australian Open semi-final.

“Where’re you going, Mel?” Joel asked quietly from the lounge. I turned to look at him from the door .

“None of your business,” I hissed. I put my hand on the door handle, ready to open it and make my escape.

Jesus, he moved fast! He was standing next to me in less than a second, leaning against the door so I couldn’t open it.

“Well, you’ve made an effort for someone, haven’t you?” He looked me up and down, reaching out to run long fingers through my shiny, straight hair. I smacked his hand away.

“Like I said, it’s none of your business. Now let me out!”

“Not until you tell me who you’re meeting.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why do you care? I can go meet whoever I want!”

Joel stared at me expectantly. But I wasn’t giving in. I wasn’t telling him anything.

“Well, I thought it might have been Lover Boy Brad, but you’re not wearing any shoes, so it’s someone in this building.”

I snorted at him. “Brad is not my Lover Boy, he’s my friend. I know you’ve never been able to have a platonic relationship with a member of the opposite sex, but surprise, it’s possible.”

Joel gazed down at me, that familiar sardonic grin on his face. “I have a platonic relationship with you, Stinky. Although I guess I’d be willing to change that.” He very obviously looked down at my cleavage. “But you still haven’t told me who you’re meeting.”

I was very close to blowing my stack. “Okay, let’s just get one thing straight. Whatever you consider a platonic friendship, this” – I gestured wildly from him to me – “isn’t it.” I tried to push past him, but he wasn’t budging.

“It’s Pete Levine, isn’t it? You were practically panting earlier when we were watching him play. Honestly, I didn’t realise you were into the Snuffy look.”

“The … what?” I asked.

Joel snorted. “You know – from Sesame Street ? Come on Stink, you must know Pete is renowned for his stellar chest rug.”

I tried not to show any emotion in my expression. How had he figured it out? I decided to be blunt with him, then maybe he’d leave me alone.

“Okay, you got it, do you want a medal? I’m going downstairs to have lots of wild woolly mammoth sex with Pete, because it’s been a long time between drinks, and I really need a root, and I’ve heard that he’s got a big trunk. Are you happy now?”

The smug look on his face slipped away as I spoke. His eyes were stern, lips down turned.

“Mel, I’m going to be serious for a moment here.”

I choked back a sarcastic laugh, waiting for him to explain himself.

“D’you really think this is a good idea? I mean, you’ve got the biggest game of your career tomorrow. Is a bang with the grizzly man worth ruining that?”

I knew deep down he was right. But hearing it from Joel made me more determined than ever to continue with my plan.

“I’m going downstairs and I’m having sex with Pete Levine. And I don’t have to justify that to you or anyone else. It won’t affect my game. If anything, it’ll help me relax.” I hoped so – every tendon, every muscle in me was crackling with tension.

Joel shrugged and moved aside. As I opened the door and walked out, he stuck his head out after me.

“Well, have fun. Don’t get too many Snuffleupagus pubes caught in your teeth.”

I kept my shoulders stiff until I was in the lift. Then I let the laugh out. Joel was truly sick, and I shouldn’t find him funny. But sometimes, I just did.