Page 34 of A Follow-Through in Faking
Which is a damn shame because when I win, I don’t feel accomplished.
It’s easy to win against someone who gives up.
It’s infinitely harder to win against someone who will throw everything they have at you, even when they’re losing.
Chapter 15
Santiago
CatalinaandIhaveboth made it to the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Matteo lost against Blake Hauser yesterday and Cata’s friend Sage lost against Layla. Cata has been on edge since. If she makes it to the final against Layla, she isn't sure she will be able to win.
And if she doesn't believe in herself, shewon't.
In a sport where you are competing for yourself, if you are not sure of your abilities and skills, you won’t get anywhere.
Catalina and I are meant to go on a public date to celebrate her twenty-fourth birthday today, trying to sell our fake relationship during the first tournament of the season. She’s expecting us to simply go to a restaurant, a place Charlie and Mamá tipped the paparazzi off that we were going to, but I have a different plan in mind.
Something grander.
Something that will make my little rain cloud very happy with me.
When she was a kid, her mother would organize scavenger hunts for Catalina. Usually, they would take place on her birthday, and she’d have to figure out all these clues to find the location that held all of her presents.
So, that is exactly what we’re doing today.
It’s convenient that neither Cata nor I have a match today, and while it’s important to train, a recovery day is equally as important. It allows us to rest, to fully hydrate ourselves, and to get some much-needed pain relief through massages and stretching.
It also gives us time to mentally recover.
And as emotional as she might be initially when I reveal what we’ll be doing, I hope the fun of it all will overpower everything else.
“Well, well, happy birthday to me,” she says, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I’m mid stretch, my legs straddling the ground as I thrust my hips forward in a slightly inappropriate motion that is also very good at stretching out my hips. A smirk covers my lips as I keep going, not the least bit ashamed. This is part of my routine, and while I’ve never had anyone but Papá in the room while I did it, I can’t say I hate the way Cata watches me with lust in her eyes.
Normally, she’s very good at shutting down her desire for me since her contempt overpowers it, but she’s not so successful now.
“Want to join me?” I ask, still watching her as I keep going. Ten more seconds, and I’d be done, but I don’t want to stop whilemi mariquitawatches me like that.
“I’d rather never have sex again,” she replies, crossing those trained arms of hers over her chest and glaring at me.
“Come on, be honest with me for once,cariño. You’ve thought about fucking me, haven’t you?” I ask, watching her roll her eyes. I stop stretching, kneeling as I wait for her response, which is as I expected it to be.
It’s so very Catalina.
“I’ve also thought about sticking my hand in boiling hot oil, but the goal is not to let intrusive thoughts win, Santiago.”
A snort slips free, making pride glimmer in her eyes.
“I think you should let all your intrusive thoughts about me win,” I reply, standing up and closing the distance between us.
Cata doesn’t move away, even as I lift a hand to her cheek. I wait for her permission before touching her, and she turns her head to put her cheek in my hand with a frown.
“Fine, but you should know, I always fight my intrusive thoughts of stabbing you with my fork when we have dinner. Considering you’re taking me out today, you might want to reconsider that statement.” I notice her staring at my bare arms before she catches herself and shifts her attention back to me.
“Don’t worry. Forks are going to be the last thing on your mind today.”
She gives me a confused look, but I simply grin at her and hold out my hand, waiting for her to put hers in mine. Cata rolls her eyes one last time before taking my hand and allowing me to pull her out of the gym.
