Matchpoint

Chapter 5:

The moment I saw Ladley's eyes light up, I knew Dom had asked her to be his new coach. It dawns on me just how serious he is, and when he turns and meets my gaze, i see the mischievous glint in those forest green eyes.

Holly seems dumbfounded. She stands frozen, simply staring at Dominic as if he is a God. "So, when do we start training?"

"Whenever you want to start. What's the next tournament you're looking to enter?" Ladley questions, pulling out her phone to add notes.

"Well, I'm entering Rotterdam, the Indian Wells Masters, Miami Open, Monte-Carlo masters," Holly's face perks up as he mentions the Monte-Carlo "And then the Madrid, French, and Halle open."

"Well, you've certainly got your work cut out for you." Ladley comments as she finishes typing and glances up at Dom. We're currently crowded under an umbrella out of the sun, so we're not burning into crisps.

"Indeed, but I know what I need to work on, so I'm not worried." Dom's eyes gloss over me, as if proving to me that although I've called him lazy, he will show me he is quite the opposite.

"Besides winning and getting to Wimbledon, what's your goal?" Ladley queries, her eyes scanning Dom as if she is checking him out. In reality, I know she's just scoping him out. She does it with all her students.

"Ranked in the top three. Do you think you can get me there?" I knew this would be his answer. Being stuck at 11 is a tough gig. It's like you're on the brink of greatness, but you can't seem to push the last limit to make it in the 10.

"You do realise how many spots you have to jump to get into the top three. It's almost impossible to do that in one year." I comment, and Dom nods thoughtfully.

"It is, but my coach and I were on our way there, so if Ladley's as good as they say she is, then I should be top three in no time." Dominic smirks, eyes piercing mine as he speaks. It seems an impossible task for Ladley, and when I glance at her, I notice the slight gape sliding across her face.

"Well, it's ambitious, but with your rising talent, I don't see why not." Ladley chirps as she snaps back into reality, her eyes sparkling like never before. It is as if someone has lit one of those sparklers and stuck it in her eye, and now it's exploding with a firework of light.

At this point, I feel like I'm living in a nightmare. The blood in my body has been set aflame, as if instead, my veins are pumping with fuel, and someone has set a match upon me and lit me up within. That someone, being Dominic fucking Fraser.

"I'm heading off, I have to coach some littelies." With a wave, I turn and begin to walk towards the further courts where I usually meet the under 10 year olds. I could not get away fast enough. Ever second I spend with Dom, the more unbearable he becomes. Now that Ladley will be coaching him, I'm going to have to take every minute away from him, let alone second, as a blessing.

And those blissful seconds are already seemingly brief.

Behind me, I can hear the scuffling of feet against the court ground growing louder and louder. That is until the warmth of another body slides up next to mine. "I thought you didn't coach." His voice is filled with curiosity, and when I glance up at him, he has this arch in his eyebrow and a crease in his forehead.

"I don't coach professionals or people older than ten." I correct, and Dom smirks down at me.

"Are you a test dummy to them too?" He chews on his lip once the words slip from his mouth. He seems so proud of such a dumb statement, did he expect me to giggle, to award him with a smile, to tell him how clever he is? You don't get a sticker on your racket case for making sly comments like that.