“Shut up and play.” Jesse glared, teeth clenched.
Luke finally nodded, going back to the baseline. They continued on, and after a close call on one of Luke’s service games, continued to pull ahead. On match point, Morel’s forehand flew long. Neither Jesse nor Luke showed much emotion, just high-fived each other for show. Still, Luke couldn’t help but feel a jolt when their palms touched.
They shook hands with their opponents and returned to their chairs to collect their gear. Jesse was stone-faced, and Luke couldn’t blame him. By their lockers, Luke cleared his throat after glancing around to make sure no one was in hearing range. “Sorry. About today. Out there. It won’t happen again.”
Jesse slammed his locker. “You’re damn right it won’t. You can throw tantrums when it’s just you out there, but I don’t play like that.”
“I know. I’m sorry, okay?”
“Yeah, fine. I’ve got to go practice for my match tomorrow.” He stalked out, bag slung over this shoulder. Luke retreated to the shower room, but all the hot water in the world couldn’t release the tension coiled in his muscles.
“Geez, what did that cow ever do to you?”
Luke looked up from his plate, where he was tearing into his New York strip steak.
“Huh?”
Mike nodded towards Luke’s plate. “Got a little pent-up frustration?”
Luke realized he was gripping his steak knife so hard his knuckles were white. He forced a laugh and took a deep breath. “Yeah, it’s been a long day.”
“You won your doubles though, right? Hell, I never thought I’d see the day when Luke Rossovich played doubles on tour again.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think I’d see it, either.” Luke concentrated on his food.
“What’s the kid like?”
Luke shrugged, hoping he looked casual. “Nice enough. He’s quick on his feet. Good player.”
Mike smiled. “Great. Hey, you never know, you guys could make a great couple.”
“What?” Luke choked on his beer, and it dribbled down his chin.
“You know, like McEnroe and Fleming. Although you’re a bit long in the tooth to be starting a doubles dynasty now. But hey, you never know, right?”
“Right.” Luke smiled. He took a mouthful of green beans, since he couldn’t think of anything else to say. He swallowed and asked, “How’s Shelley like the new dishwasher?”
“Loves it. She’d better; it took me hours to install.”
“You know, you can pay people to do that,” Luke joked.
“Well, we all don’t have big Top Spin contracts on account of our pretty faces, now do we? Some of us have to work for a living!” Mike grinned.
They traded barbs back and forth, and for a while Luke didn’t feel quite so weighed down.
Luke lost in his next singles match, and then had to be on court to play with Jesse an hour later. Despite the fact that they only spoke when necessary, they managed to pull out a win. Luke had half a mind to just tank the match so he wouldn’t have to play with Jesse again, but the competitor in him wouldn’t allow it.
The locker room was packed, and he and Jesse chatted with some of the guys, which spared them having to talk to each other. Luke made a quick escape, but ran into Stein Koehler, the world’s current number one. The German was tall, dark and very, very handsome. Also very, very straight. Not to mention an asshole.
“Luke,” Koehler drawled. “Tough loss today.”
Luke squared his shoulders and smiled coldly. “Well, you know how it goes. Win some, lose some.”
“But you did win your doubles match, no?” Koehler infused the word with all the contempt he could muster.
“Yep.”
“Well, at least that’s something to be proud of.”
Luke smiled tightly and nodded, saying “Later,” before he kept walking down the hall. A car was waiting to whisk him back to his hotel. He dumped his stuff in his room and had a long, hot shower.
Soon, he found himself down at the hotel bar. The bartender, a cute woman with curly red hair and a big smile, flirted with him. He flirted back, and her pours became longer and longer.
“So, I get off in ten minutes,” she said, voice husky. “And you can, too.”
Luke swallowed the rest of his drink, the ice rattling in his glass. He smiled and shook his head. “Sorry. I need my beauty sleep.”
“Oh, playing hard to get, huh?” She licked her lips and leaned over the bar, showing off her impressive breasts.
Luke fished out his wallet and plunked down more than enough for the bill and a generous tip. “Like I said, sorry.” He spun around on his stool and walked away, the bartender pouting in his wake.
Luke wasn’t that drunk, but as the elevator door closed, he leaned back, eyes drifting shut. The doors opened a second later, and he opened his eyes to find Jesse with one foot on the elevator, the other still in the lobby.