AllFreeNovel
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We take our coffee out to the balcony and enjoy it in the afternoon sun. Victor has a smoke and declares more than once how badly he feels about smoking. We talk about Gabriel’s next match, my new job at the Rosewood, and what we’ve been up to on thetour de Melbourne—doughnut shops, gyros in an alleyway, trips to the beach, meeting koalas. Bernard listens but says nothing. Victor can’t stop talking about how well Gabriel’s koala photo is doing on Instagram.
It all feels normal. Lovely and normal, and like this was always how it was meant to be.
Gabriel’s booked a private court on the banks of the Yarra in South Melbourne. It’s dark. Powerful lights illuminate Gabriel’s body as he works on his serve. I watch, in awe of the power and grace of his body and how effortless he makes it look.
My phone vibrates. Yesterday, I downloaded the tournament app, and now I get push notifications for real-time scores.
‘Looks like Lukas won,’ I say as I pull up the app. ‘Yep. In five sets.’
‘Good,’ Gabriel says, sauntering back towards me. ‘Hope he’s pulled something.’
I give a mock gasp at his bad sportsmanship. ‘Leave him alone. He’s my favourite player.’
Gabriel’s arms encircle me, pinning me to the little plastic chair on the side of the court. He leans close, so close I can feel his breath on my face, and I feel the plastic chair buckle slightly. ‘Oh really?’
I tilt my chin up, staring him down. ‘I hope he wins this entire—’
He kisses me hard. I wrap my arms around him, full of need and desire after being so careful all day.
‘Cameras, people,’ I murmur against his lips. His tongue slides against mine and I lose all ability to think critically about the situation, or why we shouldnotbe kissing right now. I suck in a breath and pull him closer, even if it means half falling off the plastic seat and onto the artificial turf. It’s worth it.
We kiss for an amount of time I’m not at liberty to describe or measure but eventually he pulls back. His pupils are wide with desire and his kiss-bruised mouth is a beautiful shade of red.
‘I’m supposed to be training,’ he murmurs. ‘Dad was right; you are a distraction.’
‘You’re the one who kissed me.’ I push him away. ‘Go train. But do me a favour and atleasttake your shirt off while you do it.’
Gabriel snorts and it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever heard. ‘You are a horrible little urchin with its spike in my arse.’ His accent curls around the words and it sends a tingle down my spine.
‘Please, I have so little joy in my life, Gabriel,’ I say, reaching for the hem of his shirt. ‘Let me have this.’
Gabriel laughs and steps back. ‘It will be weird for my partner though.’
‘Your part—’
My question dies as soon as I see a familiar figure walking towards us. ‘Gabi!’ His Swedish accent echoes across the empty court.
Lukas Froebel.
I give Gabriel a dirty look. ‘Why didn’t you tell me he was going to be here?’
Gabriel just laughs like the spiteful little demon he is. ‘I thought you’d be happy to meet yourfavouritetennis player.’
Lukas drops his gear beside us, looking more Greek god than mere man. He’s over six foot, blond, tanned, with eyes like sapphires and a smile made for the cover of magazines.
‘Hey, I’m Lukas.’ He smiles like I don’t know who the fuck he is; like ten thousand people haven’t just celebrated his performance.
‘Noah,’ I reply. ‘I’m Gabriel’s friend.’
‘Yeah, the kid on Twitter.’ He laughs, his accent more American than I’d expected. ‘Loved that shirt on you. Gotta tell me where you got it.’
‘Savers,’ I reply. ‘It’s, like, a thrift shop near my house.’
‘Vintage, nice.’
Beside me, Gabriel holds his tongue and smiles like an idiot while I fumble through a conversation with a man who is so famous Japan makes vending machines with his face on them.
‘Didn’t you just play?’ I ask, looking between them.
