Page 94 of Break Point
“I respect your father. You know I do,” he says, his voice steady. “But I have to disagree with him on this one. I don’t think bringing up the subject about his coach tonight is a good idea. Let your dad handle the paperwork behind the scenes. He already is, anyway.”
Henry’s eyes are practically pleading for me to avoid Theo tonight.
“It would make me feel better to tell Theo myself,” I say, tying my shoelaces. “It’s the right thing to do. I’d appreciate it if the roles were reversed.”
I also wouldn’t mind seeing Henry squirm a little more.
“And seriously,” I say, glancing at him as I tug the laces tighter. “Can we stop with … whatever this is? You barely answer my questions, so why should I keep answering yours?”
“That’s not true.” His brows lift like I’ve accused him of something absurd. “We talk all the time.”
“Never about you,” I refresh his memory, standing up. He does the same, trailing me out.
“I do talk about my stuff with you,” he says, pulling my arm to stop me just past the glass doors. “Ask me anything.”
“I already did,” I reply, lifting a brow. “Yesterday. And, as usual, you didn’t cooperate.”
“Bells,” he exhales, exasperated. “The answers aren’t complicated. I just hate bringing it up because I know you’ll try to fix things for me. Or worse, offer me your money again to get back into tennis. I appreciate it, but it’s pointless. I’m trying to move forward, not look back.”
I snort, shaking my head, unimpressed.
“You realize you’re still not saying anything, right?”
His jaw tenses. “What do you want me to say?” He drops his hands to his hips, waiting.
“The truth, Henry.” I walk toward the elevator and press the button.
“The truth is I’m applying to colleges in New York like I’ve told you countless times, because that’s where I want to be. I originally thought MIT was what I wanted. I even considered getting into coaching. Permanently. You know, once my time here was done. But that was before—” He stops as the elevator chimes, announcing its arrival.
Thankfully, it’s empty.
We step inside.
I think you were born to be the one holding the racket and standing on the court.
But I don’t say that.
“Before what?” I say instead.
“Before realizing I can’t stand the thought of being away from you. I’ve done that once. I’m not doing it again,” he admits. “I’ll do whatever it takes to stay in your orbit.”
My heart skips a beat as I force myself to breathe through the nagging thoughts that plagued me all night and this morning.
I need to be sure Henry’s feelings run deeper than a jealousy-fueled reaction to being around me all the time. That this isn’t just habit, or attachment, or something fleeting.
But I can’t trust myself right now.
Henry is my biggest weakness, always has been. He’s too smart not to realize it. I’m all too transparent around him. That is why I need to be level-headed about this.
“Are you injured?” It’s my turn to ask the questions.
Henry shakes his head no.
“Why did you stop playing tennis?” I cross my arms.
“Money. Logistics.”
“Expand.”
