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CHAPTER TWO.
NOT SO HAPPY RENUION
2019
DANI had just gone for a jog and was now re-entering her hotel. The woman removed her headphones as she approached the elevator. She took a glance around as she waited, taking in the beauty of the Ritz.
Being a world-famous tennis player had its perks.
"Dani Lopez?" And then there were downsides.
Dani turned, plastering on a smile for a fan but it widened into a genuine one, "Patrick?" She quickly embraced the man with a small laugh, "Oh my God, what are you doing here?" The two hadn't had contact in the last few years but it was by no means because they didn't like each other's company. They had just grown apart with everything that had happened.
"I'm playing in the challenger," he admitted as he pulled away.
"What a small world we live in. So am I," Dani replied. She gently pushed his shoulder as a smile crossed her face. The elevator was now long forgotten as she caught up with an old friend, "So, how've you been?"
Patrick shrugged as he looked down and scratched the back of his neck, "Alright. Things have been great."
Dani raised a brow and shot him a disbelieving look, "You lie for shit." He laughed. Dani had the subtlety of an elephant and always said what came to mind. It was probably one of the best things about her. You could always get a straight answer.
"Yeah. No, it's been hard," he admitted, "But I'm alive, so..."
"Are you staying here?"
"Not really, I'm kind of on a... date," he finished with a small grimace, inclining his head behind them. Dani took a peek over his shoulder. A woman sat at the bar, staring at the two. As Dani caught her staring, she blushed and quickly looked away.
"Not your usual type," Dani mused. At least from the girlfriends she'd seen him have.
He merely shrugged, "Trying something new. So why are you here, playing in this little Challenger in nowhere New Jersey." Dani had won the US Women's Open three times in a row and had recently played at Wimbledon and won. She was way out of this place's league.
"I need match time, something small. So I chose this," Dani replied.
Patrick nodded and looked over her shoulder, "Oh God."
At that moment, another person approached and Dani wasn't as welcoming as she'd been with Patrick.
"What the fuck are you two doing here?" Tashi questioned.
"We're playing at the Challenger," Dani replied snarkily.
"Yeah, I know that. But you're not staying here are you?" Tashi questioned.
"I am."
"No," Patrick responded at the same time, leaning against the wall, "Why are you staying here? I assumed you guys would rent a villa or something."
"Lily likes hotels," Tashi responded. The two's brows furrowed in confusion, "Our daughter." Dani rolled her eyes as Patrick made an enlightened noise. Jealousy hit her like a train as she realised all the things Tashi and Art had together, that she and Art had talked about in their relationship. God, even after all those years it still hurt.
"Art can't see us together. He already thinks I planned this to humiliate him," Tashi said.
"Didn't you?" Dani asked.
Tashi simply chuckled, shaking her head, "Not this part." She turned away but glanced over their shoulders. The two turned and saw Patrick's date looking at them, "Are you on a fucking date?"
"No. Well, yeah. It's not... I just need a place to sleep," Patrick replied. Dani glanced up at him and frowned as Tashi rolled her eyes, "What? We can't all stay at the Ritz."
Tashi hummed and reapproached them, "Well can you seal the deal and leave? You're on opposite sides of the draw, you're not gonna play each other unless you're both in the final."
"I don't think we have to worry about that."
"No you typically fall apart in the second round," Tashi responded.
Patrick leaned forward and whispered, "Your mom looks good."
"I know she does Patrick," Tashi responded before walking into the open elevator, "Do you a favour, both of you, stay the fuck away from us."
As the door closed Dani rolled her eyes, "Bitch." She fished her key card from the pocket in her leggings and pressed it into Patrick's hand, "508. Finish up your date and go up there. You can sleep in the extra bedroom."
"Dani..."
"You're not inconveniencing me, I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart."
"Where's your Mom?" Patrick asked.
"She's in the suite next door. Said I snore too much," Dani chuckled, "When I get up there, I expect to see you there. Then we can get some dinner and watch a movie or something. Promise me."
"I'll be there."
"Good," she kissed his cheek, "I'm going to the sauna. I need to remove all the bad energy I just cultivated from... that." As she walked off she heard him laugh.
An hour later, she felt brand new. The sauna at the Ritz was heavenly and she felt as though she hadn't even seen Tashi or learned that Art was there playing in the Challenger too.
The woman walked toward the elevators, seeing one on the verge of closing, "Hold the door."
A hand shot out and the doors parted. Dani stopped in front, ready to thank the person but frowned instead. She glanced up to the ceiling and questioned out loud, "Why do you test me, God?" Art rolled his eyes as she looked back at him, "I'll get the next one."
"Dani..."
"Don't say my name like that," she snapped.
"Just get in the elevator," he urged, stepping to one side.
The ravenette sighed, knowing she'd regret it, but got inside. She looked down at the panel but noticed her floor had already been pressed.
The elevator was silent as they rode upward until he decided to break it, "So... how've you been?"
"Don't try and make small talk with me because I'm not in the mood to talk, especially not to you," Dani crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. As her gaze was averted, he took the time to look her over. She was dressed in a black fitted shirt and shorts, with her hair in a high ponytail. A light sheen of sweat coated her skin so he assumed she had just been to the sauna. She still looked the same, save for a bit older. She was still the same gorgeous girl he was in love with.
The elevator dinged and he allowed her to exit first, shamelessly staring as she exited. He couldn't believe she was here, even though Tashi had told him just before he had gone to the bar for a drink. Her, him, Patrick and Tashi all reunited in some cruel twist of fate. He hated that he was loving it.
Dani stopped at her suite door and knocked. She expected him to just keep walking off down the hall, but instead, he stopped at the door opposite, pressing the keycard to the pad.
The door opened and Dani sighed deeply. The woman entered and slammed the door behind her.
