Page 6 of Ace My Heart

“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 myowndidcalm 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 watchingyouplay. 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 mythigh. 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.

---