A Tiny Favour

Chapter 17

The rest of the week goes by without a warning. Most of my Wednesday was spent doing nothing but sitting out under the football bleachers with my latest book of choice and a boba tea. I only left my shaded hide away to get food at one in the afternoon.

And Thursday was with Adam, sorta. He played tennis and I spent my time on the golf range going through nearly ten large buckets of balls.

It's a nice way to relax through my winter holidays with all my family out of town, except my uncle, aunt and cousins obviously. Tom called once to make sure I was okay with bringing Adam, his prodigy, around. At first it was a little annoying having a tag along to my quiet space but he sticks to himself which works for both of us.

Edwin absolutely adores him and ten minutes ago, when he was done with what he wanted he insisted it was no issue to teach her. I walked her over and he pulled out one of two spare rackets he carries around.

She grips it in a fragile hand, the white strings standing out from the neon orange outfit she wears. I don't want to interfere with Adam's teaching so I camp out on the edge leaning my back into the cool metal of the fence.

"Okay and then you just swing like this," he bends his elbow, naturally swinging his racket forward and throwing the soft green ball across the court. Edwin copies the motion and sends the tennis ball into the net with a laugh, her movement not as graceful as Adam's.

"It's difficult," the old woman complains after only a half dozen attempts, "how do you do this quickly while running?"

Adam lets out a deep husky laugh and smiles, he has to look down because edwin is shorter than me. "Years of practice," he answers while showing off his ball handling skills by bouncing the tennis ball vertically. "Do you want to try?" he looks over to me, my face goes pink with the realisation i was staring.

"I guess," I walk over and push the hair from my eyes and fix my skirt. I'm dressed in a tight, pale blue golf polo and white skirt. He pulls out his third and final racket and hands it to me, adjusting my grip with his fingers. I stare at his hands, large and callused from years at the gym and gripping rackets.

"How hard can it be," I shrug, copying the movements he makes; bounce the tennis ball off the ground and swing at it with one arm. I make contact but not the centre so it goes sideways and barely over the net.

"Here let me help," he moves closer, putting his arms below mine and holding over both my hands. "Swing your hips," he says and I move with his movement as he does with my body and arms.

I feel tingles across my skin where even his skin touches, and the back of my neck where he lets out soft breaths. It's like when he spotted me, natural and sweet.

"Like golf," I comment, trying to make more sense of this forien sport with one I'm more familiar with.

"Sure," he says unsurely, "I wouldn't know I've never played".

I turn around, pulling away from his grip and stare him in the eye, a smile tugs at the creases of my mouth, "you've never played?" he shakes his head, "we are going tomorrow," I tell him and snuggle back into his body.

What the hell am I doing?

Adam doesn't mention it and just runs me though it a few more times and goes back to Edwin who struggles to get the right timing for a swing.

"To be young and in love again," Edwin looks over her smile pouring into her eyes as she sighs.

I pull away and hide my blushed cheeks, "'love' is a pretty strong word," I stutter. Adam says nothing and takes a carefree swing like nothing is happening.