Page 55 of Breakpoint
She swore that guy never learned how to use an inside voice. But more than that, she was always amazed how a guy that big, at over six foot four inches and two hundred pounds of muscle, could move so fast.
“Knock much?” she shot barked at him.
“Whatever, lil sister, I’ve been entering your space unannounced since before you could talk.” He smiled and his white teeth showingthrough the scruffiness he called a beard he was attempting to grow. His mocha skin and eyes matched hers and sometimes she felt she was looking back at her twin in male form.
“What if I was doing something private?”
He laughed at her as he plopped down on the couch beside her. “Like what? We used to share a room.”
“Because our family couldn’t afford anything else in the hood.” Which was true. She grew up in a two-bedroom, one-bath apartment. Her parents had one room, and she and Brandon shared the other room with bunk beds. As a kid, she loved sharing a room with her brother. Their teenage years were a bit more challenging as they hit puberty. There were definitely some fights, but in the end, he was still her best friend.
They had come a long way from those times. “You have your own rental here, Brandon. Why aren’t you there?”
“Testy much, Jazzy,” Brandon chided as he leaned back and made himself comfortable. “I was just dropping by to see how you were holding up with everything going on today.”
Jaz removed the bags of ice from her knees and properly sat up, her aching back fighting every additional movement. She went to put her feet on the floor but remembered the massive blister on her right foot that needed to be constantly drained and elevated.
“What are you talking about?” She strained through the pain as she put her feet on the coffee table.
“Your girl has been all over the television and blowing up social media.”
Jaz was still confused and wondered why he was checking in now. “No shit. She’s been doing amazing in this tournament. I’m sureeveryone wants a piece of her.” Jaz tired to do a media blackout during big tournaments. So besides what was the required press commitments, she tried to keep all other requests and social media at bay and stay focused. There was no doubt with Dani’s getting to the final four of the US Open, the media outlets were clamoring for her story and to create a narrative. Jaz couldn't escape that.
Brandon shook his head. “That’s true, but this is a different level and all about the interview she did with Jess Thomas this morning. It’s gone viral.”
“Huh?” Jaz had no clue what the fuck he was talking about.
“I’ll pull it up.” He picked up the remote and navigated to the streaming services on the television, opening the YouTube app. In the trending topics section was the thumbnail of Dani with Jess Thomas. He clicked on the app and after watching a ridiculous amount of ads, wondering why these folks didn't have YouTube Premium, and the interview started.
There was Dani, looking as beautiful as ever, sitting across from Jess Thomas. The soft glow of the studio lights highlighted Dani’s usually vibrant, bouncy curls.
Jaz had always admired Jess Thomas. She was the consummate professional whenever she had to interact with her and never fed into the crazy narratives that were often put out there about Jaz. She was also gorgeous, with her long dark hair and piercing green eyes. Those eyes were currently directed right at Dani. Seeing them both on her screen, she realized what a striking pair they were.
Dani was dressed in the light blue t-shirt and joggers, matching the color scheme of her tennis dress that she was wearing throughout the tournament. She smiled brightly at Jess and looked as calm,like she didn’t have a care in the world. The very opposite of Jaz whenever she had to do an interview with the media. Jess asked her a couple of questions about her last few matches and the run to the semi-finals.
Jess nodded in all the right places to Dani’s responses. She then leaned to ask the question that every reporter had this year since she became Jaz’s doubles partner. “Not just this tournament, but you’ve really had a good year. Wimbledon doubles champ, Olympic gold and a win in Montreal. It seems like your game really took off when you started working with Jaz Mason. What has that experience been like and what have you learned from her?”
Dani held her breath before she answered. And Jaz saw it wasn’t with the smile and lightness that she used to answer those questions previously. She twitched her lip, and Jaz could see the grind on her back teeth before she spoke. “I’ve learned so much working with Jaz. But the biggest thing she’s imparted to me is the mental part of tennis. That it’s okay to be great, but more importantly, give myself permission to be great. She’s made me tap into my confidence, where every time I step on the court to be locked in and believe ‘I’m the baddest mother-bleeper on the planet and no one can beat me.’ I think that has been the biggest change in me because of Jaz.”
Jess laughed. “Well, that does sound like Jaz Mason. One last question before we go. Do you feel any pressure to live up to the Kappas name? Brittany Kappas is a legend in the women’s game and your dad is also a multiple Grand Slam winner.”
Jaz knew that was a question that Dani despised. She hated being compared to her parents and their legacy.
Dani plastered on a smile that was one of her fake ones she employed instead of cussing the person out. She took a slow, deliberate breath before speaking. “I feel pressure every time I step on the court to win. I don’t think that has anything to do with my family legacy, that’s just sport. But overall, I’m just trying to be me.”
“And who is Dani Kappas? What do you want the world to know about you?” Jess leaned in.
This time Dani gave a genuine smile and replied warmly as a flicker of something unreadable crossed her face. “That I’m normal. I love crosswords and cooking. I’m a Libra. Queer. And passionate about the game of tennis.” Her voice, though slightly trembling at first, gained strength with each word.
Jess held up her hand, and her left eyebrow perked over those green eyes. “Hold on, I didn’t want to skip over something important you just said.” Leaning forward even more, her voice was low but obviously amplified by the studio microphones.
“Oh, the crosswords part?” Dani replied sarcastically with a laugh.
Jess laughed along with her. “Well, that is fascinating too.”
“Oh queer. Yes, I am,” Dani stated confidently.
Jaz could NOT believe what she was hearing. Dani just publicly came out on one of the biggest sports networks in the world, with a renowned sports reporter. She didn’t shy away. She didn’t deflect. She answered, honestly and openly, confirming what only a few knew, but others likely had only suspected.
