Page 39 of Breakpoint
Jaz flopped down on the bed, putting her hand on her temples and massaging them. “Ugh, I hate these things, but it’s for theChildren’s Orthopedic Institute. They provide orthopedic surgeries and support for low-income families without insurance.”
“That sounds like a worthwhile cause. I’ve seen all the mentions for all the athletes who will be there. And you’re one of South Florida’s most eligible celebrities. People are going to be flocking to you, wanting to get your number to talk to you.”
Jaz looked over at her. “Dani, the only person I talk to is you. I wouldn’t even have time to talk to someone else if I wanted to. “
“Do you want to?” she asked quickly.Where had that come from?
Jaz looked at her, confused, but sat up. “Not really. But I feel like we’re talking about more than talking?”
Dani blew out a raspberry, but put it all out there. “Are we exclusive? Like, are you my girlfriend? Or should I not be asking you that so soon?”
Jaz’s smile widened a fraction. “Would you like me to send you a note with a checkbox for yes or no?”
Dani visibly relaxed, a subtle shift in her shoulders, the release of a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “You’re such an asshole.” She laughed and pushed Jaz back down on the bed so that she could lie on top of her.
Jaz’s arms enveloped her in an embrace and met her gaze, unwavering. “Yes, I want to be your girlfriend.”
After that, there were lots of kisses until she eventually peeled herself out of Jaz’s arms to finish packing.
They were building their own world, something real: one stolen kiss and shared laugh at a time. On paper, everyone thought theirpartnership and friendship was strategic. Merely to win Olympic Gold. But in reality, it was electric.
They also agreed that their relationship had to remain hidden, at least for now. And since Jaz wasn’t playing in this event, she had to stay away. It would spark probing by the media, and be suspicious if Jaz was sitting there in her player’s box when she wasn’t in the tournament and had no valid reason to travel to Canada.
Jaz wasn’t playing because Scott recommended she rest her knee, which swelled up after the back-to-back-to-back of Wimbledon, the Olympics, and then the DC Citi Open. But when Dani made it to the final, she hopped on her jet from Florida to Canada to be here with Dani to celebrate win or lose. But she couldn’t sit in her box.
Dani wanted her to be here, to share this moment, to wrap her in a celebratory hug, to whisper congratulations in her ear. But they both knew why she couldn’t. Neither one of them wanted to answer the questions that having Jaz there would likely spark. So Jaz was waiting back at the apartment she had rented near Dani’s hotel. The secret, they knew, couldn’t last forever. The tennis world, especially the locker room, was a fishbowl.
After what felt like forever but likely only five minutes, Dani finally got up from her seat to accept the trophy. It was heavy and cool in her hands, a tangible representation of her journey. She looked out at the crowd, at the sea of faces blurred by the shimmering heat and her own welling tears. The victory was sweet, undeniably so, but it would be even sweeter when she couldfinally wrap her arms around Jaz. A single thought resonated through her:I want to share these moments with her.
There was so much more press and media than she expected, so many hands to shake and people to talk to. At Wimbledon and the Olympics, she shared the spotlight with Jaz. Even though she answered most of the questions for them, since Jaz was her usual monosyllabic self, most of the press, sponsors, and fans directed their attention on the both of them.
But here the spotlight was hers, and she was all up there by herself. And what Dani realized she earned besides a trophy was a great deal of respect. She saw the way people approached and talked to her today after her win. If this were nine months ago, she would be reveling in it from the rooftops, like Chris definitely was, but right now, all she wanted to do was get back to Jaz. To wrap her in her arms, gush about the win, and have a quiet night celebrating with her.
After almost ninety minutes of press and meeting sponsors, followed by meeting evenmoresponsors, she was finally able to do a ten-minute cool down on the bike, take a shower, and leave the stadium. Thankfully, the Rogers Cup Celebration Gala wouldn’t be held until tomorrow night—and by celebration, they clearly meant mingling with more sponsors. Dani couldn’t take shakingeven more hands and pasting on a smile after playing such a grueling match.
She quickly ducked Sascha when she saw her coming her way, knowing she would want to party tonight. Dani was physically and mentally spent and almost wished Jaz was playing so that Scott would be here and she could get one of his massages. She separated from Tom and Chris in the hotel lobby, turning down their celebratory dinner for another time. As they went up the elevator, they promptly double-backed to the exit.
She walked about a block and a half before she found the brick apartment building that Jaz was staying in. She had no clue how Jaz found this place on short notice right near her hotel, but she knew Kira had a Rolodex a mile long, and most inquiries that Jaz made were fulfilled.
She found apartment 2B and knocked.
When Jaz opened the door, her smile was full-wattage and a mile wide, with her gorgeous lips and white teeth on display, with mirth radiating from her eyes. She wasn’t dressed in her usual athletic gear but had on a pair of fitted jeans and a V-neck t-shirt that showed off her athletic shoulders and arms. She was beyond gorgeous, and Dani felt frumpy with her wet hair, t-shirt, and joggers. She immediately stepped inside and hugged Jaz tight, her arms wrapping around her in a way that felt like coming home.
“You were amazing out there. I’m so proud of you,” she whispered into Dani’s ear and kissed the side of her wet head.
Dani pulled back from their embrace, wiping the happy tears from the corners of her eyes. Her celebration felt a tiny bitunfinished until now. “Thanks, I didn’t know how much I needed to hear that.”
Jaz took her hand and led her inside the apartment. “I’m sure Tom and Chris said the same thing.”
“They did, but coming from you, it hits different,” Dani acknowledged, interlocking their fingers together.
Using their interlocked hands, Jaz pulled her close. She kissed the back of her hand and pushed a lock of curly hair behind her ear that had fallen out of her ponytail. “So, how does it feel to have your first professional singles title in your trophy case?”
“Really fucking good,” Dani gushed. “Now I’m ready for the big one. A Slam.”
“And they say I’m the ambitious one in this relationship.” She smirked as she stroked Dani’s fingers with her thumb.
Dani laughed. “Ha-ha, have you met you?”
