Page 51 of A Follow-Through in Faking
This kiss is life-altering, and I know if I let this go on for another second, I will become addicted to Catalina Sanchez.
Who am I kidding?
I’m already addicted to her.
Catalina’s hands drop to my abs as I gently explore her mouth before she pulls back and buries her face in my chest.
The crowd is waiting for me, but this kiss couldn’t have been longer than fifteen seconds. I know because it wasn’t enough.
It wasn’tnearlyenough.
“Go, Santi,” she urges and pushes me softly toward the steps to go back down to the court.
Happiness has taken over every part of me, so I kiss her cheek before practically skipping all the way back to the court.
Winning the Australian OpenandCatalina finally kissing me?
I don’t think I’m going to stop smiling any time soon.
Chapter 22
Catalina
“YoukissedSantiago.”
It’s the fifth time Charlie has said this to me today, but I’m not even annoyed because it’s clear they’re trying to process that fact as much as I am.
It still doesn’t feel real to me.
“I kissed Santiago,” I echo, staring at my hands.
“Why?” Ness chimes in, and I look up, into her dark brown eyes, trying to look for an explanation.
“I don’t know. He asked if I would, and I didn’t think I would, but when he started walking away, I realized Ididwant to kiss him.Joder. Why did I want to kiss him?” My rant comes to an end, and I cover my mouth, trying to keep any more words from slipping free.
“Maybe because you’ve always had feelings for him and he’s slowly pulling you in again?” Sage chimes in, and I throw her a dirty look.
“I would much rather shave off my eyebrows and never wear clothes again than have feelings for Santiago Javier Castillo.” I visibly shudder, making the three people around me grin.
“Feelings are as uncontrollable as the weather, sweetheart. Sometimes, you’ve got a beautiful outfit on and you're in a fantastic mood, but then rain pours down and ruins everything. Feelings are like that. You can be in a fantastic mood, feeling like the ruler of the world, and then they can ruin everything.”
“What a pep talk, Ness. Fuck, you should become a therapist,” I say sarcastically, but she frowns at me, clearly not having finished speaking.
“But they can also be warm and comfortable, a source of vitamins you need for a good quality of life. So even if they’re unpredictable, sometimes they’re vital for our happiness,” she goes on, and Charlie flings an arm around her shoulders, hugging her from the side.
“Ah my sweet, naive friend. Feelings are shit. They are the beginning of all drama and the end of many relationships. They are the incentives of impulsive behaviors, and the reason people cry themselves to sleep. If Cata doesn’t want to address her feelings, then leave her be. She has enough on her plate as is.”
Charlie’s words have me throwing a kiss their way, and they wink at me before squeezing Ness again and stepping away to help me with my stretches.
It’s been a week since Santi won the Australian Open, since I kissed him for the first time, and I have been avoiding him for the entire seven days. He hasn’t pressured me into meeting for our weekly dinner, but he’s been sending me texts, asking me how I’m doing mentally since losing.
He seems very concerned about my mental well-being, and I know it comes from his own experience with anxiety and depression, so I always text him back. I return the question. And then we move on until he checks in again the next day. Hedoesn’t push, but part of me wishes he did so I could be angry with him.
This way, he’s only making me want to kiss him again.
“We have another two weeks until you are partaking in the Dubai Tennis Championships. Eventually, you’re going to have to take two days rest. You know my rules. Training is important, but your body can only handle so much,” Charlie says, lifting my leg and stretching it out in a way that has my back crying in complaint.
“Fuck, whatever you just did, please don’t do it again,” I say, fighting back the tears that shot into my eyes in response to the pain.
