Chapter 18 Liana

Liana and Kelsey were only a two-person cheering section, but they made up for their lack of numbers with their sheer enthusiasm. Plus, it was a regional pickleball tournament in the middle of a work day; a group of two was a relatively large group of supporters, especially given how loudly Kelsey could project her voice. Kelsey also wasn't above heckling the other players and had even earned a whistle from the umpire after she colorfully protested a call.

Liana was mesmerized by James' game play. He was clearly much more athletic than most of the other players, and he hit the ball with a power few could match. He also seemed an expert in unflappability; twice, he was within a point of losing, only to maintain calm focus until his opponents' inevitable mistakes gave him the victory.

Other players hit some overhand volleys and dinks, but Liana noticed James always stuck to underhand. James had opened up to Liana a couple of days ago about his tennis career-ending shoulder injury, explaining that he was still, two years later, incapable of raising his right arm fully above his head. Still, this limitation didn't seem to impact James' ability to score points, nor his ability to get under his opponents' skin when they tried and failed to rile him.

Liana couldn't help feeling a touch of pride at each point James won. She couldn't deny it; she felt a tinge of possession over him, as if he were hers. She wanted him to be hers, she realized. It should be too soon — too soon after Liana's surgery, too soon after her move, too soon after her career disappointments, too soon given the small amount of time she'd spent with James — but Liana was falling for this man. The thought didn't terrify her as much as the logical part of her brain told her it should.

James ended the day with a win in the bronze-medal match, which was extremely exciting to Liana, but which Kels informed her wouldn't even cover half the cost of his registration fee for this event. Still, he got a little medal ceremony and a handshake from a middle-aged man with an exorbitant amount of hair gel, whom Liana assumed was the event organizer.

"More people should watch pickleball," Liana said to Kelsey. "After watching everyone play today, I think it would be just as fun to watch on TV as tennis. I know a lot of people don't watch tennis, but plenty of people are casual tennis fans. I and many other people watch the four tennis majors each year, at least."

"You sound like James," Kels replied, not altogether approvingly. "You should tell him what you just said to me. He might propose on the spot."

"Ladies," said a voice behind Liana. James looked as suave as ever, despite hours spent running in the Florida sun. She couldn't help running up to him and throwing her arms around his neck as he bent down to her.

"Careful," he said. "I'm all sweaty."

"I don't care," Liana said and kissed him soundly. "Congrats. You played so well today!"

"Thank you. I'm pleased with it. Wish I had won that second-to-last game, though. I definitely had an opening to —"

"Stop it, Mr. Perfectionist," Kelsey interrupted. "You're being annoying. You've got your two favorite girls in the world cheering you on, and you got on the podium. Be happy for once."

"You're right," he said, and for a second he looked surprised, as if just realizing that he was, in fact, happy. Liana beamed at him.

James narrowed his eyes, seemingly thinking something through. "Did you two drive separately or carpool?" James asked.

"Liana drove me," Kels answered.

"Cool." James reached into his bag and pulled out his car keys, tossing them to Kelsey. "You drive my car back. I'll drive with Liana. We'll meet you at home."

"Seriously?" Kelsey's eyes lit up with excitement. "You're letting me drive the Beemer?" He nodded, and she squealed.

"Liana, he's letting me drive his car! I've never driven it before. You know how men are such babies about their cars. He treats his car better than I bet he would treat an actual child."

"I do not!" James said indignantly. "Now, please go. I mean," he turned to Liana, "as long as it's okay if I ride with you. Either back to your place, or, preferably, to mine."

"Definitely," she said. "I'll drive you. We can all meet at your place."

"No take backs!" Kels yelled over her shoulder, mock-sprinting toward James' car.

Liana turned to him, and he took her hand in his. "Great playing today," she said.

"Thanks. I had a pretty woman to look at for inspiration."

"The view from the bleachers wasn't too bad, either."