Estati Olimpiche

Chapter Two

Maya stood frozen in place as Carina approached, each step closer intensifying the thrum of her heartbeat in her chest. The world around her blurred, and it felt as though she were underwater, moving in slow motion, with Carina as the only anchor in her vision. Maya braced herself for the inevitable awkwardness that she thought would follow, but to her surprise, there was none of that.

Instead, as soon as Carina was close enough, she enveloped Maya in a warm, tight hug, as if it hadn't been eight long years since they'd last seen each other. For a moment, Maya was too stunned to react. The scent of Carina's familiar perfume—something floral and woodsy—washed over her, pulling her mind into a turmoil of memories she hadn't revisited in years. It was disarming, but in a way that made her feel both nostalgic and something akin to peace.

"Maya," Carina breathed out as she pulled back slightly, still holding onto her arms, a smile lighting up her face. "It's so good to see you."

Maya blinked, her thoughts catching up with her emotions. "Carina..." she finally managed, her voice laced with surprise and an unspoken question. The warmth of Carina's hug lingered on her skin, leaving her disoriented.

Carina released her, turning her attention to Andy, who was watching them with an amused smirk that Maya was sure she'd never let her live down. "Andy! It's been a while too!" Carina greeted her with the same enthusiasm, leaning in to kiss her on both cheeks in that familiar European style. Andy didn't seem as taken aback as Maya though.

"Carina," Andy replied, her voice tinged with amusement. "It has. How've you been?"

"Busy, as always," Carina said with a grin. She looked back at Maya, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of joy and curiosity. "I saw on Instagram that you're coaching now. I was so happy when I found out. You were born for this, Maya."

Maya felt a warmth spread through her at Carina's words, a blush creeping up her neck that she tried to suppress. She failed miserably, the redness taking over her neck and cheeks. "Yeah," she said, clearing her throat as she struggled to keep her composure. "I love it. It's different, but in a good way."

"I know it well," Carina replied, her smile never faltering. "You were always so passionate about the sport. Now you get to pass that on to the next generation. It's beautiful, really."

Maya felt her heart flutter at the sincerity in Carina's voice. "Thanks, Carina. It means a lot coming from you. I hear Italy has been doing excellent in tennis thanks to you."

Carina grinned and gave a casual shrug, but before she could respond, another voice cut through the conversation, calling her name. "Tesoro!"

Maya's head snapped in the direction of the voice, her eyes landing on a woman she recognized as Gabriella Aurora, a fellow coach of the Italian team. Gabriella was standing a few paces away, watching them with an impatient smile. The Italian word—tesoro, my treasure—lingered in Maya's mind, and she couldn't help the tiny flare of jealousy that ignited in her chest.

Carina turned towards Gabriella, giving her a small nod before turning back to Maya and Andy. "That's Gabriella," she explained, Maya felt a hint of something warm in her tone. "She's one of the coaches." Maya nodded, her smile more discomforted now. "I should go, but we should catch up sometime, Maya. I'd really like to see you again."

Maya found herself nodding before she could even process the request, blinking in surprise. She definitely hadn't expected the invitation. "Yeah, definitely. We should."

"I'll message you on instagram, yeah?" She leaned over to give Maya a kiss on each cheek, doing the same after to Andy. Carina's smile widened when she pulled back, and she still reached out to squeeze Maya's arm lightly before stepping back towards Gabriella. As they rejoined the rest of the team, Maya couldn't help but notice the way Gabriella's hand found its place on Carina's arm, a gesture that was intimate in a way that made Maya's stomach twist uncomfortably.