Page 121 of Double Fault

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lie. I’m determined to at least pretend I have my shit together.

Ebba was right. The longer the tournament goes on, the more elaborate the outfits.

Blessedly, she comes into view twenty feet ahead, where she’s talking to an older woman in a gorgeous fitted blue and green dress.

“Let’s say hi to Ebba.” With any luck, my friend can talk me off the ledge before Maddie and I are set to sit through her dad’s first match. All morning, she was distracted. She struggled to focus on her lessons, too worried about her dad’s state of mind. It’s cute how much she cares about him.

“Hi,” Ebba says as we approach. “Sabrina this is Duchess Loren. Loren, this is my friend Sabrina, and this is Maddie.”

Duchess.

She saidduchess.

That’s a royal title, right? I should know this, but at this moment, everything I’ve ever learned has fled my brain.

“Hello, so lovely to meet you.”

Lovely? Where the hell did that come from? I don’t think I’ve greeted someone using that word before.

“Likewise.” She smiles, though she takes me in with a little too much judgment. Or maybe my insecurities are making me see things. She touches Ebba’s arm. “We’ll catch up later.”

As she saunters away, I shrink in on myself. “I’m sorry,” I say. “I didn’t mean to run your friend off.”

With a snort, Ebba waves a hand. “Her? God, I should be thanking you. I can’t stand that bitch. She only talks to me because she wants to fu—cuddle my brother.”

I laugh at her save.

Maddie holds out her hand, palm up. “You said the b-word.”

Sighing, Ebba digs into her purse. She pulls out a twenty-dollar bill and holds it between them. “Don’t tell your dad.”

Maddie smiles gleefully and plucks the bill from my friend’s fingers. She folds it carefully, then tucks it into the little purse she insists on carrying. “I won’t.”

“Your brother isn’t playing against Noah, is he?” All of a sudden, a tidal wave of nerves crashes over me.

“No, not yet. They may compete later in the tournament, but he doesn’t play until later. I thought I’d come a little early and watch Noah’s match with you two.”

“Does this have anything to do with his coach?” I tease, already feeling more at ease now that I’m in her presence. “You two did spend a whole night together recently.”

“Shut up.” Cheeks going pink, she bumps her shoulder into mine. “It’s not that.”

Despite her denial, I can’t help but think I’m onto something.

“Come on, ladies,” she says, spinning on a heel. “Let’s get in there.”

Two hours later, Noah’s third set has just begun. He bends at the hips, swaying slightly and ready to run in either direction when the serve comes his way.

It’s incredible how fast the ball flies, and already, my neck aches from all the left-right ping-ponging I’m doing. Despite the speed at which the neon-green sphere travels, the game can be slow, especially when the players are evenly matched like they are today.

Both men are drenched in sweat. It’s a hot day in London with surprisingly few clouds in the sky.

Beside me, Ebba cools herself with an intricately designed hand fan. With as hot as it is, I’m feeling a tad jealous of the frilly looking thing.

On my other side, Maddie rifles through her baggy of stickers, probably contemplating which one she’ll choose if her dad wins and which one if he loses.

Noah streaks across the court, a white blur on the green lawn.

“Why is this court made of grass?” I keep my voice low so I don’t disturb the players or the people around us.

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