Page 44 of Game Point (Game, Set, and Match #2)

‘Thanks,’ she said, smiling softly at me. The smile that Inés had said was rare, but maybe it was special for me and for me alone. I committed each to memory, knowing these were mine.

‘Three …’

I tried to push past my thoughts, trying to remember why I had been holding back from her. Why for weeks and months I had tried to keep her at arm’s length. I came up empty.

‘Two …’

As the seconds of the last year ticked away, I realized what it had brought me.

Heartbreak. A feeling of being lost like I’d never experienced before.

And a wake-up call in the form of Dylan Elizabeth Bailey.

Like in the time before her, I’d been sleep-walking.

She was the only thing strong enough to wake me up. To make me want more again.

‘One …’

‘Can we talk?’ I said, shouting over the crowd. Her smile dimmed as she eased forward, trying to hear what I said, but it was too late, the crowd erupted into cheers as all around us, confetti burst into the air.

‘Happy New Year!’

I was helpless to the draw of her as the room erupted with noise, celebrations going off around us as she looked at our friends and competitors alike.

Dylan lifted her glass midway between us, mouthing ‘Happy New Year!’ over the noise of the room.

My glass met hers, cheering in celebration.

I couldn’t take my eyes from her as I took a sip.

She was simply beautiful, her brunette hair down, cascading over her shoulders, eyes darkened with make-up.

It was hard not to be struck by the reminder of it all, how much I craved more of her.

I was running out of excuses not to touch her, using any cause to close any and all space between us.

And then, sitting on the sofa next to her, the lovers in the room locked in each other’s embrace, I longed to be hers, to take the leap and kiss her again. I knew if I started, I’d find it hard to ever stop.

I sat still in indecision, like I was trapped and unable to make any movement without falling into her. Did she still feel it too? Did she still want me?

Without realizing, the distance slowly closed, as if we both couldn’t fight it anymore; whether it was the champagne or the need wearing down our strength over the weeks, it didn’t matter anymore.

All that mattered was her and the question on my mind, wondering if her lips would taste like the champagne she’d drunk.

‘Happy New Year!’ Inés crashed in between us, pushing us apart as her arms stretched around us. She beamed, placing a kiss square on Dylan’s face. I swore for a second, I could read disappointment across Dylan’s features, before a smile replaced her slackened features.

I tried to ignore my own deflation, watching as Dylan pulled Inés in for a hug of her own, wishing her friend a happy new year.

Her eyes found mine as she hugged, only for a second before she looked away, distracted by the sound of the off-key singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ breaking out around the room.

Nico and Scottie came over, shaking hands and pulling us in for hugs and celebration, pulling me further and further away from Dylan, every single centimetre a misery.

It wasn’t long before the room began to empty, coaches corralling their players to bed in preparation for the competition ahead, and we weren’t far behind, Nico kicking us out to allow Scottie to prepare for her match the following day.

Silently, we waited together by the elevator in the now-empty hallway, the only noise between us the ping announcing the arrival of the lift.

‘What time is the flight tomorrow?’ she asked as we stepped inside, pressing the button to our floor.

‘Midday. We can leave after breakfast,’ I replied, the mental plan for tomorrow coming into place. We would fly back to Melbourne, and her physio would come over first thing to assess the swelling on her joint.

‘It’s an internal flight. We don’t need to be super early.’

I hummed, ‘It’s good to be on time.’

She leaned into a corner of the elevator, taking support from the bar. ‘There’s being on time, and then there’s five hours early.’

‘There could be traffic.’

‘Hey, whatever you want. I’m sure it will be thrilling to hang out in the airport lounge,’ she joked as the doors slid open, revealing our floor. Our rooms were close together, mine a little further down the hallway from hers.

I stepped out, only turning back when I realized she was struggling with her crutches, one of the supports at the bottom adjusted incorrectly.

The pained, frustrated look on her face as she fought with the rubber cap telling me all I needed to know about her pain levels, her ankle still swollen and sore after the injury.

‘Come here,’ I said, stepping back over to her. ‘I’ll carry you.’

She looked at me, incredulous. ‘Carry me?’

‘It will be quicker. Your room isn’t far.’

She looked around the hallway for some sort of answer, before ultimately accepting her fate. ‘Fine. Let’s get it over with.’

‘What a lovely way to say thank you,’ I joked, leaning down in front of her.

‘A piggyback?’ Her voice rang with laughter. Slowly her arms went around my neck, her legs brushing against my hands. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Come on. You’ll love it.’ I grinned as my hands clasped behind her knees, pulling her up with me. I suffocated a groan as I took a step, enjoying the weight of her on me, the fact that she trusted me not to drop her.

‘This is ridiculous,’ she complained, but she didn’t fight me. Instead, her head rested against my shoulder, her hot breath on the back of my neck driving me wild. No matter the touch, any physical contact with her was dangerous.

‘I can put you down if you want,’ I teased.

‘No,’ she immediately replied, one arm tight around my neck, while the other gripped her crutches. ‘I’m alright.’

‘You know, I didn’t realize coaching meant giving my player the princess treatment.’

‘I’m a special case.’

‘You’re definitely something .’

‘I’m going to take that as a compliment.’

I let out a quiet chuckle, feeling a little blue as we reached her door. I eased her back onto her good leg, one crutch giving her enough support.

‘I guess I’ll see you at breakfast?’ I swallowed the uncomfortable lump in my throat, the thought of leaving her – no matter how close our rooms – too much.

‘I’ll be down around seven.’

‘I think I’ll need an extra hour. I’m beat.’

‘Look who’s slacking now!’ she teased, smiling sleepily over at me.

I waved her off. ‘Even coaches get tired.’

‘Sure. I’ll let you pretend it’s not because you can’t handle your champagne.’

I fought a grin across my face as I turned away to head to my own room, feeling like if I didn’t leave soon, I’d have an even harder time leaving. ‘Goodnight, Dylan.’

‘Oliver?’ I turned, finding her standing where I’d put her.

‘Yeah?’ I asked, sleep beginning to wash over me at the thought of another night in a comfortable bed.

She hobbled forward with her one crutch, closing the gap between us.

Taking me by surprise, her lips found mine, placing the softest of kisses on my lips.

The moment was so far out of what I expected from her that I stood frozen.

Her lips tasted exactly how I’d expected, felt exactly how I had remembered them.

‘Happy New Year.’ She pulled back, keeping her eyes on mine. My hand reached out to grasp her, pull her back to me and keep her close. But she stepped away, the distance overwhelming, shaking her head as she bit her lip.

‘Not tonight,’ she pressed, stepping further back, her hand finding the door. ‘Don’t make that decision tonight.’ Barely breaking my gaze, she unlocked the door.

‘Dylan,’ I said her name like a plea for mercy. But again, she shook her head.

‘I’ll see you at breakfast.’ And then she disappeared into the bedroom, leaving me barely able to comprehend what had just happened.