Page 19 of Double Fault

“Elevators are this way, Curls. Not in Johnson’s pants.”

“I wasn’t?—”

Noah releases me and strides away.

Maddie’s little hand worms its way into mine. “Daddy’s in a bad mood a lot since Mommy died.”

I look down at the little girl, noting the sadness in her eyes, and my throat gets thick. Through all my years of education, I was never taught what to say to a kid who has lost a parent.

I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to lose someone so beloved. Raised by horrid parents, I willingly walked away and never looked back. I haven’t properly spoken to either of them in years. They haven’t once reached out in hopes of mending the rift between us, though I do get the occasional scathing text. Icould change my phone number, but that feels like a bigger pain in my ass than ignoring messages here and there.

An elevator opens, and the three of us step inside. Noah’s coach, the lucky bastard, looked fresh as a daisy when we got off the plane. He took a separate car so he could check out the courts.

Noah is silent for the ride to nearly the top floor, and when the doors slide open, he steps out into the hall and holds out a hand for Maddie.

She only clutches tighter to mine. I don’t know what to think of that interaction. Has his bad mood upset her? Or am I such a novelty that she doesn’t want to let me go?

He huffs a sigh and drops his head, hurt flashing in his eyes. Before Maddie notices, he schools his expression, then pads down the hall.

At the door near the end, he uses his key card and signals for us to enter first. Maddie finally releases me and darts ahead.

I drag the suitcase Alyssa and Lucy purchased, insisting I couldn’t survive traveling for months with only a duffel bag, and step into the room.

“This room is huge.” Several steps in, I freeze and drink it all in.

I didn’t know hotel rooms could be this large. It’s the size of a small house.

Since I’ll spend most of my time taking care of Maddie, Fisher arranged for suites or adjoining rooms at each of Noah’s stops, so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised by how big this place is.

“Your room should be to the right.”

With a nod, I wheel my suitcase past a large living area while Maddie bounces around, a ball of energy despite the long flight.

I open the door to the bedroom and stop in the doorway.

There’s no way this is my room. In the middle of the space, the king-size bed is covered with fluffy white bedding. The chairby the window looks like the perfect spot to curl up with a book, and the view of Melbourne through the window is incredible.

Never in a million years would I have ever believed I’d visit Australia.

The carpet beneath my feet is plush, and the room is bright and calming. With a deep inhale, I let go of my suitcase, then I all but sprint to the adjoining bathroom.

The bathtub is sunken into the floor and almost the size of a small pool. A glass rain shower takes up a large portion of the space as well.

It’s too nice.

Too luxurious.

After I stare longingly at every amenity a little too long, I shuffle back out to the living area. Noah stands at the windows, his brown hair mussed from running his fingers through it. Despite the sleep he got on the plane, there are bags under his eyes. I don’t know much about tennis, but like any professional sport, it’s got to be rigorous. This guy needs as much rest as he can get before he plays.

“I think you gave me the wrong room.”

Without looking away from the cityscape, he shakes his head and slips his hands into his pockets. “There are two queens in the other room. I’ll bunk with Maddie.”

My stomach twists uncomfortably. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

He looks at me then, his expression hard. It takes effort not to shrink beneath his gaze. I’m not easy to intimidate, but there’s something about Noah’s intensity that keeps me silent.

“She’s my daughter. She’s still my responsibility. And you get nights off unless I have a game.”

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