Until Then. // denis shapovalov - sascha zverev

3.5 - safe travels

Willow's POV

"Hey, I wasn't sure if I should meet you- Shit, did you just come out the shower? Sorry!"

"Alex?" I stare at him in shock, almost dropping my blanket from surprise. "What- what are you, erm, doing here?"

"We were getting dessert? With Mischa? At 7?" Alex asks. "Um, are you out of towels?"

"Oh, I, um-" I stumble, readjusting the blanket around my bare chest.

"Who is it, Willa?" I hear Denis call from inside.

"Shit," I mutter.

Alex looks at me, confused, hesitating for a second, putting the pieces together of the situation. I'm so in shock, I have no idea what to say. Was there even something I could say to make the situation better? I, then, feel Denis walk over to the door, standing behind me. His bare chest comes in contact with my naked back as he wraps his arm around my lower waist.

Fuck, could you not have at least put on a shirt? I think. This can't actually be happening. What did I do the deserve this?

"Alex?" Denis says. "What are you doing here?"

I watch Alex look at me and then to Denis. His face doesn't show any emotion, as he gives Denis a stoic stare. "Just here to pick up Willow for ice cream." Alex says.

"We're kind of in the middle of something," Denis answers.

"Mischa is expecting to see her," Alex replies.

"Can't he just call her afterwards?" Denis asks.

"No." Alex responds. "Don't you have a flight to catch?"

"In two hours, yeah." Denis says. "I just wanna say bye to my girlfriend.

"Okay, say your goodbyes. Then, I'll walk her to ice cream," Alex answers.

"What's your problem?" Denis suddenly asks, as I feel him scoot closer into me to size up Alex.

"Definitely not you," Alex scoffs.

"Guys," I say. "It's really fine. I should go. I've gotta go over a few things with Mischa. Can you just give us a second, Alex?"

"Sure, whatever," Alex shakes his head, turning away.

I close the door between us, turning back to Denis, "I'm sorry, but I promised I could make it. I just totally forgot and lost track of time," I apologize.

"No, it's okay," Denis says, hugging me tightly. "It's sweet that you care so much. Here, let's get your shirt on."

-

"Safe travels," I smile as I share one more kiss with Denis before opening back up the door. Alex is still waiting outside as I give him a timid wave. "Thanks for waiting."

Alex shrugs as he follows us to the elevator.

"I'll see you in two weeks. I'll be missing you every day until then." Denis says, kissing my cheek before heading to the stairwell, jogging back up to his floor.

"What the hell was that?" Alex asks me as soon as Denis is gone.

I click the down button for the elevator. "What?"

"We just spent all night together and ten hours later, you're back onto that fuck?" Alex asks. "I don't get it."

"I don't either," I sigh. "I didn't mean to. I just didn't know you were coming to get me and Denis was saying bye and one thing led to another-"

"I really don't wanna hear about it," Alex interrupts me. "Were we not just laying together, watching the sunrise? Did all of that mean nothing to you? I don't get you, Willow. I think I've made my feelings very clear."

"Alex," I sigh. "I had the best night I've had in awhile with you, last night. I just- I don't know where I am with Denis and I promise, last night made me doubt some things with him... And today, I just couldn't find the right time to break things off or to even think about my situation with you and him," I try to explain.

"So instead of breaking things off, you had sex with him?" Alex scoffs.

"Okay, we didn't have sex," I defend. "And there's nothing wrong with that if we did."

"No, what's wrong is that you're leading him on," Alex shakes his head.

"I just need time," I answer. "To figure shit out with myself."

"Yeah, but in the meantime, you'll string me along," Alex says.

The elevator doors open and we step in.

"I'm not stringing you along," I roll my eyes. "You knew I had a boyfriend before you asked me out last night."

Alex hesitates. "You know where my feelings are at here."

"I know," I sigh.

"It really fucking pissed me off." Alex says. "Thinking about you and him. Together."

"I know," I say again. "I'm sorry. You were the last person I expected to see."

Alex lets out a long sigh. "As long as you know where my feelings are at."

I nod and the elevator empties us into the lobby.

-

"I was actually going to head to Dom's," I tell Alex as I follow him into the elevator back up. Ice cream went well, and I got to meet Mischa's wife, who I had no idea existed. I honestly thought Mischa single and obsessed with work, but I guess not.

"Shit," Alex whispers. "I totally forgot; I'm playing him tomorrow."

"Wait- what?" I ask. "Wait, no. No, you're playing Dom after this match, I thought."

"Nope," Alex sighs. "Tomorrow... I spent the whole day studying his matches. I just keep forgetting that I'm actually playing him. It's weird going from friends to rivals all of the sudden."

I nod, trying to imagine the situation for myself, like if Dom and I suddenly had to play against each other for a Title. I can't imagine it.

The elevator opens onto the floor and we both walk out.

"Do you feel ready?" I ask as we slowly walk down the hall.

Alex shrugs. "Yeah, I do for the most part. You spend all this time preparing and there's all these game plans and calculations going on beforehand but once I step out onto the court, it's like... everything disappears and I'm zoned it, not thinking about everything I studied beforehand."

"I think it's really interesting how athletes can just jump into the zone when they know they need to," I respond. "I played golf and swam through high school, but there was never really an intense switch, like you have, for me."

"I guess it's how we're programed," Alex shrugs, pausing at his door.

"Programed?" I chuckle. "Are you a robot or something?"

"Sometimes, I feel like I am," Alex responds. "Like everything around me is simulated and fake..."

"So, how do you snap back to reality?" I ask.

"I look at you," Alex shrugs. "You're the only thing in my life that makes me feel real... Goodnight, Willow. Sweet dreams."

And before I can respond, he's already disappeared into his room, the door shut behind him.