Page 84 of A Follow-Through in Faking
Santi offers me that in his own way. In his scrapbook, he put parts of me I never thought anyone would truly see.
“We should eat before the food gets cold,” Ori says, and I force my eyes open and to step out of Santi’s arms.
His fingers linger on me like he isn’t quite ready to let go, but I don’t give him a chance. I simply walk back to where my family is with Sami and Hernanda’s food in my hand, helping my little brother rearrange so he has everything he needs while eating. Santi returns with Dad’s food, but Ori tilts her head, telling me there is one more thing she wants to discuss, but this time, only I’m supposed to hear it.
“Go ahead and start without us. I have a feeling this could take a second,” I tell my family, shooting Santi a hint of a smile to ease the concern I see building inside of him through the expression on his face.
Ori takes my hand and leads me into my hotel room. She closes my door gently, then turns to look at me before leaning against it, her hands behind her back. Her gaze is enough to make me shuffle my feet nervously.
“Spit it out, Ori. You know I hate that look. Just say whatever it is you need to say,” I blurt out, gesturing more with my hands than is necessary, but I can’t help it.
“Where is your focus, Lina?” I take a step back out of pure surprise.
“What?”
“You heard me. Where is your focus? Because at the beginning of the season, it was on becoming number one and winning your first Grand Slam. It was on your dreams and goals, not on winning doubles tournaments with Santiago,” she says, and I feel tears of shame fill my eyes before anger takes over.
“I told you my back wasn’t doing well. I told you I needed to take a break, and it was between taking a complete break and still being able to play tournaments. Tournaments that, by the way, pay for a lot of the things Dad, Hernanda, and Samuel need. I know you’re doing important, life-saving work, but it’s not paying the bills in the same way my career is. And it isn’t fair of you to make me feel bad about myself for a back problem I’ve had since I was a child, and finding a way to still play and be able to pay the bills.”
The words spill out of me in a quick rant that leaves me breathless, but Ori’s expression doesn’t change. I’d expected her to feel remorse for what she said, but she looks as convinced by her words now as she did a minute ago.
“I don’t want you to lose sight of your goals because of this fake relationship with Santiago, Lina. I’d hate to see you lose the chance to fulfill your dreams for another season, and I’m not saying this to be cruel. I love you so much, you know that, but you also know sometimes you need some tough love. If this is not one of those moments, then I’m sorry.” I feel my anger drifting away at the sight of genuine worry filling her eyes.
“I promise you, my goals are my top priority. I took a break for my back, but I’m going to use the rest of this season to achieveeverything I have ever wanted to achieve,” I assure her, so Ori takes a step toward me. Her legs are incredibly long, but apart from our height difference, we look the same. Same eyes, nose, hair, and lips, except Ori’s features are sharper than mine. I’ve always had a softer face despite the scowl resting there most of the time.
Ori’s fingers wrap around the necklace Mamá gave me before she offers me the saddest of smiles.
“She would be so proud of you,” Ori whispers, tears shooting into her eyes at the mention of the mother we both loved so much.
“She would be so proud ofyou, changing the world for the better,” I reply, but my big sister shakes her head.
“I haven’t accomplished much in the way of changing things, but you have. You’ve changed so much in the world of tennis, in the world of sport, not only through your advocating of important issues but also by being who you are. A kind person with a big heart. Never forget that.”
The tears finally fall as I hug my sister, letting her strong arms wrap me up in a bear hug that settles everything inside of me.
She’s right. A lot is on the line. This is the season I want to become number one, that I want to win my first Grand Slam, and it’s far from over. My back is feeling better, and I will do everything I can to snatch that number one spot for myself.
And no one can stop me.
Chapter 35
Santiago
AfterIwontheMonte-Carlo Masters, Catalina and I made our way to Stuttgart, where she won her first singles tournament since taking a break. She won the finals match against number fifteen in the world, Corinna Ginzler, which was a huge confidence boost for my woman. She needed it so desperately after returning, and she’s been in a really good mood since. Layla didn’t compete in that tournament, so Cata took a big chunk out of the point difference that was between them. Then, she did it again in the Madrid Open, winning the tournament a day before I won the men’s.
Cata and I have both fought our way into the finals of the Italian tournament, and I need her to win this one, too, because directly afterward, we’re making our way to France for Roland Garros, the French Open.
The second Grand Slam tournament of the season.
I brush a strand of hair out of her face, studying the peaceful expression on her face as she sleeps in my arms. My body is spent from all the training we’ve been doing during the day and losing ourselves in one another at night.
There is nothing quite as sweet as making Catalina come. If it were up to me, that’s all I would do, but I have responsibilities. And as much as I’d like to wake and beg her to let me go down on her to wake her properly, we have to go train before her finals match later.
“Cata,” I say quietly, brushing the backs of my fingers over her cheek. “You have to wake up,cariño. We’re going to be late,” I add, making her stir in my arms.
“Five more minutes,” she mumbles, and I can’t help but chuckle when she buries her face in my side.
I’ve slept beside Cata a dozen times by now, but I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how right this feels. With her limbs tangled in mine. With her hair all over the place. With the steady beat of her heart calming mine. I’d never slept beside someone I was in love with, most likely because the person I’ve been in love with most of my life—another fact I can’t wrap my head around—didn’t want me in the way I wanted her.
