Page 42 of Courting Trouble

She risked a glance sideways. ‘Will we see Petra today, do you think?’

Cassie gave her a look.

‘I’m sorry. I’m not asking,’ Delilah said quickly.

Cassie dropped out of her stretch. ‘I shouldn’t have snapped at you last night. It’s natural to wonder about me and Petra. But there’s not much to say about her, that’s all.’

Delilah was slightly stunned for a second. She hadn’t expected an apology. Should she just take it and be grateful? Or should she push her luck and inevitably piss Cassie off?

She was so close to managing the first option. But in the end, her Delilah-ness won out. ‘So… what was she like as a coach?’

Cassie went back to stretching. A full thirty seconds passed before she said grudgingly, ‘Tough.’

Delilah kept her tone neutral. ‘She seemed… I don’t know, it felt like you guys weren’t on the best of terms.’

Cassie’s mouth twitched. But she said nothing more.

Delilah didn’t push. She didn’t sayYou looked like you’d seen a ghostorYou’ve been wound tighter than usual ever since we got here. She just thought those things very hard.

Cassie straightened, brushing her hands off on her shorts. ‘You coming to breakfast?’

‘Yeah,’ Delilah said. ‘Let me grab my trainers.’

Cassie nodded, already turning toward the path. And Delilah stood there for a second, watching her retreat. She didn’t need to know everything. She just wished Cassie trusted her enough to let her in a little. Just a crack.

But not yet. Maybe not ever. So Delilah followed her down the path, leaving it alone. For now.

Forty-Four

The morning drills had been brutal.

She’d pushed Delilah hard, maybe harder than usual, harder than her elbow liked, that was for sure. But Delilah hadn’t complained. She’d taken every ball, every correction, with her jaw tight and her eyes bright.

Cassie had just handed her a towel when she caught the shape at the edge of her vision. Standing on the next court, arms folded, sunglasses perched in her hair, barking at a twelve-year-old girl to get the dropshot sorted. Petra.

It brought back memories. Some good, some bad.

But Cassie didn’t let her expression shift. She nodded once at Delilah, who was now guzzling water like she’d been dragged through a desert.

‘Cool down. Foam roll after. I’ll meet you at the mess hall.’

Delilah gave a half-salute with the bottle.

Cassie turned away and walked toward the far end of the court, towards the dining hall. She didn’t realise Petra wasfollowing until she was in step with her. ‘She’s not a tennis player.’

Cassie didn’t answer. She kept walking.

‘Cass.’

Cassie span to Petra. ‘Don’tcall me that.’

Petra smiled. ‘Come on. You know what I mean. I’ve been watching. Who is she? Why would you bring herhere?’

Cassie came to a stop and turned to Petra.

‘It’s none of your business.’

Petra tilted her head, a wry smile on her lips. ‘Oh, I think it might be. This is my place, and your being here is a favour.’