Page 91 of Game Point
‘Does that mean –’ I started to ask, but Oliver answered for him, turning to look directly down at me.
‘We can still compete,’ he said solemnly, with reassuringly soft eyes and a steady gaze.
‘Not at Brisbane,’ I answered.
‘But Melbourne … we have three weeks.’
‘With plenty more rest, ice, compression and elevation,’the doctor said, interrupting our conversation. ‘I’m sure between your general doctor and plenty of physiotherapy, we have a chance of getting you back on the court. But a moderate sprain typically involves partial tearing of the ligament, so you must give it the time to heal first.’
I nodded, trying to listen to everything else he said but I was already overthinking. The sprain wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. If I wasn’t ready, or if I pushed too early, I could cause more damage and put even more at risk.
Eventually the doctor left, leaving Oliver and me alone again.
Oliver pulled his phone from his pocket, barely looking up at me as he texted furiously. ‘I’ll get the physio in Melbourne booked. She already knows we’ll be working with her but I’ll see if she has more time over the next couple of weeks.’
I nodded silently, trying to hold back tears. This was good news, right? There was a chance I’d make it. But I still felt deflated, unable to stop myself from tumbling down into an abyss.What if I wasn’t ready? What was this all for?
‘Are you okay?’ Oliver looked at me, a worried crease in his brow.
I nodded without a word, unable to bring myself to say anything without crying. My hand curled, fingernails digging in the palm. In less than a second, Oliver was beside me, pulling my body in towards him.
His warm chest pressed against me, his head tucked into mine, hands pressing into my back as he just … held me. Slowly the feeling of panic eased away, and instead,I wrapped my arms around him and allowed myself to enjoy the feeling.
‘There’s no doubt this is a setback, Dylan,’ he murmured into my shoulder, validating my disappointment. He moved slightly, looking at me directly. ‘But if anyone can do it, I believe you can.’
‘Why?’ I asked. ‘It’s barely three weeks away. It’s too soon.’
‘We can rest up. Focus on your mentality. Follow the doctor’s orders to the letter,’ Oliver replied, his hands still holding me close. I didn’t move a muscle in case he pulled away.
‘I’m weeks away from the biggest competition of my life,my home slam, and I’ve sprained my ankle during a stupid friendly,’ I complained, the rising tide of stress growing, but still limited by his proximity.
‘And I don’t think you’re going to let it stand in your way,’ he said. ‘Just rest for now.’
I laughed bitterly. ‘I mean I’m hardly going anywhere fast.’
Oliver let out a heavy breath, his hands falling away from me. He looked sad as he said, ‘Dylan, I’m sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault.’
‘I arranged the match.’
‘Scottie said she’d call it off if I agreed to a sleepover,’ I countered. ‘Is it my fault for not agreeing?’
His hands rose to his face, rubbing his temples as if my stress and anxiety had transferred to him. ‘That’s not the same.’
‘You don’t know how serious that girl is about braiding hair,’ I joked. I shuffled over on the bed, patting the spacenext to me. If Oliver thought twice about joining me, it didn’t show. He pushed onto the small space, stretching out beside me, his legs hanging off the side. I needed him close.
‘I’m surprised she’d trust you,’ he remarked, his arms wrapping around me. He felt so good.
‘She absolutely shouldn’t.’
We stayed like that, lying beside each other, finding some peace in the comfort of him being near. I knew I shouldn’t let myself enjoy it. But these days it was becoming close to impossible to pretend to myself that I didn’t have stronger feelings towards him. That I didn’t think about him day and night. That I realized the true depth of friendship because of him. He was a reminder of how it felt to have somebody in my life who understood me, truly stuck by me, who allowed me to be myself and not some reduced, palatable version.
‘I thought we could stick around Brisbane for the first few days,’ Oliver said. ‘Check out some of the competition.’
‘Yes, my second favourite pastime,watchingtennis.’
He patted my shoulder twice, laughter rocking his body. ‘That’s the spirit.’
