Love Match (Love Match 1)

“Of course it’s not true!” The lies came so easily to his lips.

“So why do they have a picture of you two getting it on?” Good old Arnie. As blunt as ever.

“We’re not! Jesus, Arn. The kid was upset about losing; I gave him a hug that lasted for about two seconds. Of course they make it look like it’s something else, something worse.”

Arnie was silent for a few moments. “Okay. But if there’s more to this story, you’d better tell me right now. Because Top Spin isn’t going to want someone light in the loafers wearing their logo.”

“There’s nothing more to tell.” Luke felt sick. At least Arnie was truthful. This was the reaction most people would have, and Luke wasn’t about to jeopardize his endorsements.

“Okay, Ross. Then keep the hell away from that kid and start winning some more matches, you hear?”

“That’s the plan, boss.”

“All right. I have to get on the blower with Top Spin and assure them that their spokesman isn’t some fucking fairy. Talk to you soon.”

Luke opened his mouth to say goodbye, but Arnie was already gone. He hung up the phone and flopped back on the bed. After staring at a small, faint crack in the ceiling for a long time, Luke roused himself.

He ordered his chicken breast dinner and wished that Jesse wasn’t across the ocean.

The grass was slick under his feet and Luke struggled to maintain his balance as he changed directions quickly. He stabbed at the ball as it flew by, barely getting his racquet on it. The ball flew up and bounced harmlessly back to the court.

Across the net, Koehler pumped his fist and shouted encouragement to himself. He’d been ahead before the rain delay, and he was continuing to dominate afterwards. It was early in the third set, and after winning a tiebreak in the first set, Koehler was steamrolling over Luke.

Luke took a minute to towel his face before motioning to a ball boy for another ball to serve. It was only love-15, but Luke already felt like he was down break point. He mentally shook himself, knowing that that kind of attitude wasn’t helping him. But his legs felt like lead and his shots just weren’t working for him. His first-serve percentage was dipping precipitously low, giving Koehler many slower, easier-to-return second serves.

He tossed the ball up and brought his racquet around to launch it over the net. Unfortunately, like way too many of his first serves in the match, it didn’t make it over. To avoid the risk of double faulting, the second serve had to be slower and safer. Predictably, Koehler pounced on it and put it away into the corner.

Love-30. The crowd cheered on Luke, but he was sure it was because most of them wanted a longer match, not because they particularly wanted him to win. However, he did have some loyal, vocal fans in the audience, as he had all week. They’d been speaking up in his defense in the media and all over the Internet, denying his homosexuality.

On one hand it was a relief, but on the other…he wasn’t sure what to think.

The last week had felt very, very long. Luke had spoken to Jesse a few times, but after hearing a clicking noise on the line one day, Luke was now paranoid the phone was bugged. If a recording got out, they’d be finished. He decided it would be best to just wait until he got home to speak to Jesse again. Even his cell phone wasn’t safe, not with all the modern devices to pick up other people’s signals.

Jesse had seemed very far away, and Luke knew it wasn’t just the miles between them. He said that everything was fine with his family, and that the press weren’t bothering him too much. Mostly he changed the subject and talked about practicing with Jeff, about how his backhand volley was improving daily.

Luke tried to put it out of his mind and concentrate on the match he was playing. The match he was losing. He squared his shoulders, served again, and won the point with an ace that Koehler couldn’t even touch. It was only Luke’s fifth ace of the match, a very low figure for him considering it was the third set.

The crowd clapped and Luke tried to pump himself up. At least the whispers had slowed, and no one had called him any names while he was on the court. He’d gone on British TV and debunked the rumors with humor and his dashing smile, and the public seemed to be buying it. Alex had done him a favor and given an interview to the biggest newspaper in London, telling them all about how Luke had been a passionate lover and she was sure he wasn’t gay.

One night he had seen Jesse on the news, microphones shoved in his face as he headed into Brookview to practice. He had looked very young and very nervous. Luke had cringed at the fear he saw in Jesse’s eyes, because he knew others would see it, too. Jesse had refused to comment.