Page 139 of Break Point
“Okay,” I whisper back. “I know. I’m ready.”
“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret it.”
I press my palm to his chest, feeling the wild beat of his heart matching my own, and kiss him again. The world tilts off its axis untilthere’s nothing left but the feel of his whispered promises sinking into me.
Nothing left but him and me.
“I love you,” he says, sliding my shorts down my legs. “So fucking much.”
And for once, we don’t hold anything back at all.
We stop building walls. We tear them down, every last brick, every last fear.
“I love you,” I gasp, his touch, his weight against mine, dragging me under like a riptide. “Don’t you dare leave me again.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t survive it.”
CHAPTER 31
I JUST WANTED TO WIN
APRIL 23, 2011
“BELÉN!”Dad shouts from the kitchen, giving hissalsa rojaits final stir. Henry’s glued to his side, determined to learn all of my dad’s Mexican recipes. Gemma’s perched on a stool, watching them with mild boredom.
“Go get your mom! Lunch is ready!”
“Where is she?” I yell back.
And where’s Robbie?
I’d much rather he be the one to fetch Mom.
“Outside on the terrace!”
We’re back in Montclair for a special lunch to celebrate my Monterrey win and my new and highest career ranking: sixteen in the world. It’s also a quiet send-off before I leave for the clay season in Europe.
Dad and Henry are traveling with me. I met with Tim McEnroe, my new coach, the day after I got back from Monterrey, and he was thrilled about my performance in Mexico. I started training with him officially this week, and it’s been … different. Intense. Meticulous.
I won’t lie and say I don’t miss having Henry as my coach, but I know Tim will get me far.
Henry has been present at my training sessions as an observer, now formally relocated back to the NTC. Even after the ban was lifted in January, we continued our routine at the Montclair Country Club.
Tim thought it was important to include Henry in the transition, and he even invited him to Europe to help ease the change.
If he only knew we’re inseparable now …
Henry would’ve come either way, but at least now we have a formal excuse beyond “he just feels like it.” We’re keeping our relationship quiet for now. We don’t know how Dad would react, and we’d rather not risk any drama that might get Henry banned from traveling with us altogether.
Robbie knows. Gemma knows. And, of course, so does Drew. But they’ve all agreed to keep things on the down-low until we’re ready to tell my parents and the rest of the world.
Gemma’s heading back to Korea in the second week of May, earlier than usual, so she can spend time with her family before meeting me at Wimbledon in late June. She missed it last year, and it’s been on her bucket list forever. She’s already planned all her outfits, naturally.
Robbie’s about to start his internship, but he promised to fly in from New York if I make it past the quarterfinals. He’ll only be able to stay a few days, though. He can’t risk his spot after fighting so hard to get into the program.
“Mom!” I shout after pulling the sliding glass door that leads to the backyard.
No answer.
