Page 87 of A Follow-Through in Faking
Forher.
Catalina pulls me down to bring my mouth to hers, and I use the proximity to massage her breasts in my hands, scolding myself internally for forgetting to give them any love.
“We don’t have time for you to make me want more,mi corazón,” she reminds me, nipping at my bottom lip before she smiles.
“Then let’s get you cleaned up,” I say, using all of my willpower to slide out of her.
Cata watches me from the bed as I rip off the condom, hunger in her eyes as she studies my half-hard cock like it’s exactly what she said it was.
Her favorite toy.
A chuckle escapes me as I lift her out of the bed, carrying her to the shower with me. I take my time washing her, then wrapping her in a towel and placing her on the empty area beside the sink. I hand her her toothbrush with toothpaste on it, and I do the same for myself, brushing my teeth even if it means getting rid of Cata’s taste for a little.
“Are you ready for today?” I ask once we’re done.
Cata hands me a cotton swab and some cleansing toner that she uses for her face. The message is clear, and I waste no time putting some of that liquid on the swap and swiping it across her face.
Fuck, but I love these moments more than anything else in the world. The quiet ones. The ones just between us when she’s entirely mine and no one else’s. When she wants me to take care of her. When she lets me in.
“I’m ready for today, but Santi…” She trails off, uncertainty covering her features.
“What,cariño?” I ask softly, placing my hands on either side of her thighs where they rest on the marble.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for Roland Garros. I need to win that tournament, and I—I just feel so hopeless. Maybe if there was a way I could feel closer to my mamá again, I’d feel more confident, but right now? I’m so lost,” she admits, placing her hand on the spot between my neck and collarbone, her eyes trained on her fingers. “I’m so lost without her in the world of tennis,” she whispers.
“What can I do to help you find your way again?” I ask, but she simply presses her lips to mine, lingering there with her eyes closed. Mine are half-open, too desperate to take in the sight of her to close them fully.
“I don’t think there’s anything youcando, but thank you for wanting to try,” she says before pushing herself off the sink, her hand trailing across my naked stomach before it disappears entirely as she leaves the room.
“I’m going to find a way,” I mumble, even if she can’t hear me anymore.
Chapter 36
Santiago
Thescoreisoneset to one, with Cata leading the third set three games to two. She’s been strong since losing the first set, but she has yet to take a service game from Hallin, her opponent, in this set.
I can tell she’s nervous, no matter how much she’s trying to hide it. Charlie hasn’t said a word in an hour to me, so I know they’re as anxious for Catalina to win as we all are.
Layla has been absent from yet another tournament, this one, because of an injury, so if Catalina manages to win today, as she has done for the last couple of tournaments, the gap between her and Layla in the standings will close immensely. And when she wins Roland Garros next, which I know my girl will, she will be number one in the world.
She will have accomplished everything she set out to do.
“Her confidence is going to crumble if they go into the tiebreaker,” Charlie says, and I tilt my head to look at their worried expression.
“It’s not going to go into a tiebreaker. Cata is going to get a break,” I assure them, but they use their chin to gesture toward Hallin, who looks ready to eat someone for lunch.
“With a serve as strong as hers, it’s going to be difficult.” I throw Charlie the look that statement deserves. They simply chuckle at my expression. “Okay, relax, Mr. I-Would-Die-For-Her. All I mean is that Cata needs to readjust for her return. She needs to back up a little, but she will figure it out. If not, I will tell her,” they add, patting my back before leaning forward by putting their elbows on their knees.
“I’m so nervous,” I say as I place a hand to my chest, doing my best to take deep breaths.
“Stop that. If she sees you’re nervous, she’s gonna get nervous,” Charlie says and swats my arm.
“That’s ridic—” They cut me off before I have the chance to finish my sentence.
“Why do you think she always has that stoic expression on her face when she watches you?” they challenge, but as much as I try to bite back my answer, I can’t.
“Because Cata is my little rain cloud. She always frowns. It’s one of the reasons I love her so much.” My eyes widen at the admission, but Charlie seems as unsurprised by it as everyone else in my life.
