Page 22 of From the Courtroom to the Court
"See you next week then," Emily says goodbye, giving her a broad smile.
"I want a rematch with you," Emma declares, giving Mia a small shoulder bump as she passes by.
"She's hateful," Mia grumbles in Leah's ear.
"Be careful, Mia," Leah smiles mockingly. "You know what they say: there's a thin line between love and hate."
"With her? I'd rather chew glass."
Leah's laughter echoes as she walks away from the court, leaving Mia with the ball tube in her hand and her gaze fixed on Emma Harris's back.
Chapter 12
Attorney Emily Harris has counted the hours until this day arrived. The match that Leah organized has been a kind of incentive that made the week pass quickly. On the weekend she went to the mall, which isn't her habit; in fact, Emily hates malls because they're crowded and it's almost impossible to move around comfortably, but she had a mission and was determined to complete it: buy new equipment to face the duo of Emma and Mia. The saleswoman spent two hours with her; the lawyer tried on skirts, dresses, sneakers, and even visors, renewed her sports attire and also took the opportunity to get a couple of new rackets. Most people don't understand Emily's excessive passion for sports, much less why she doesn't give up despite how bad she is at them. She doesn't need to explain herself, only her cousin understands clearly that, besides enjoying running after a ball to return it, constant movement greatly destresses Emily.
She appreciates these lessons with Leah, especially now that she's going through a trial that seems like a pain in the ass where she has all the advantages, but the prosecution keeps filing motions to buy time and gather evidence to incriminate her client. She's experienced many like this before, although this one has that special tinge that makes Emily live between past and present, because seeing her ex-partner almost every day, that woman she once loved so much and who shattered her, isn't exactly what she wants. She has noticed Vanesa's intense gaze on her several times while they're in the courtroom and, when they leave, she feels like the other lawyer wants to talk to her. Emily simply does her job and leaves, but she can't shake that unsettling feeling that one day Vanesa will approach her.
"Be careful, Emily," Emma's hand wraps around her cousin's arm.
As is now completely normal, Emily has tripped on a curb when both women got out of the car after parking it in the Walker Elite Sport Club lot. The two walk and, although they appear relaxed on the outside, reality is quite different. Emily feels nervous, scared, and excited all at once. She's been waiting for a long time to play a match, though she can't help thinking that maybe the others won't enjoy it as much as she will because it will be difficult to have the typical rallying between opponents on the courts. It's no secret to any of them that the lawyer can barely stay on her feet without falling. Emma, for her part, doesn't know what she feels; the only thing she's sure of is that playing with Leah Walker's employee has cost her sleep the night before, and she isn't clear about the reason. Obviously, there's animosity between them; Emma thinks Mia is haughty, arrogant, presumptuous, and has an ass she could lose herself in for hours. She quickly eliminates that thought; she's Emma Harris and she doesn't date—or like—ball girls.
Leah and Mia Clark are already on the court, they've hit the ball back and forth for a while, but really they've been talking about a little bit of everything. When they're together, that's what happens; despite the age difference, Mia, at twenty-five, has become a confidante for the tennis player. She knows how her relationship with Stella is going, when her mothers drive her crazy, or even how the club is doing financially. The only thing Leah hasn't told her yet is that small tsunami she's been feeling lately in the pit of her stomach when she spends time with Emily Harris. She hasn't shared it because she doesn't know what it means herself, if she just likes her, if her carefree personality attracts her, or if she simply likes her and that's it because she's a woman who has all the ingredients that fascinate Leah. Until she figures out what's happening, she'll keep it to herself.
"Emily looks like a true professional," Mia says when she sees the cousins approaching. Both are dressed impeccably in tennis dresses, light pink for Emma and white for Emily.
"Emma too," Leah blurts out; she loves teasing Mia with these comments.
In reality, Mia hasn't taken her eyes off the prissy Harris. Since she entered the club, she's felt a murmur settle in her ears, like that story where a man attracted animals through his music. The club employee feels irresistibly drawn to that aura and knows clearly there's something dark about someone like Emma catching her attention.
"Hello," Emily greets with her radiant smile when she reaches the court.
Leah gets hooked on that gesture.
"Good afternoon, today it seems less hot than expected," the tennis player answers looking at the sky with her hands on her waist.
"Then let's not waste time," Emily says as she tosses her bag carelessly on the bench and takes out her racket.
Everyone does the same and Emma disguises her gaze. Mia isn't wearing her usual club employee uniform; this time she wears a skirt and a sleeveless shirt that reveal well-toned arms.
"Looks like you like them," says Mia, who has spent a few seconds watching Emma check her out without mercy. The lawyer hadn't realized her error.
"I'd rather die, ball girl," she spits. "I'm playing on this side," she points to the court on her left.
"Fine with me," she replies in a cocky tone. "I'm good at playing on any side of the court."
As said, an arrogant one.
"Alright, girls. Let's rally for a few minutes and then we'll start, okay?" Leah asks, raising her voice to make sure everyone hears her.
"Roger that!" Emily suddenly shouts, making side-to-side movements with her legs.
Leah lets out a small laugh; Emily Harris is one of a kind.
After the ball travels from one side of the court to the other for a while, Leah Walker announces the start of the match. They're all aware they should play calmly and pass soft balls to Emily so she can return them; after all, the activity has been organized so the lawyer can have some fun. A few hours earlier, Leah realized she planned this match just to make Emily happy.
"Come on, Emily!" Leah shouts, encouraging her.
Emily sprints and reaches the ball, but before she can hit it with the racket, she slips and falls sideways to the ground. She immediately stands up and brushes the dirt off her skirt.
