Matchpoint

Chapter 37:

"Photo!" Holly shoves her phone in my face and purses her lips into a duck pout.

"That's not being focused," I shove the phone away from my face. "Your game is at eleven in the morning. You need to be training."

Holly groans in frustration but continues to take photos on the practice courts. "Yeah, but this is good for my image."

"Where's Ladley?" I mutter, aware that the more I stand talking with Holly, the less time I have coaching Dom. He's currently on the baseline running through a drill. Paul simply drops the ball from shoulder height, and Dom hits it. It's a continuous drill, the momentum fast allowing precision and Dom the ability to loosen his wrist and arm.

"She's coming," Holly jabs her hand towards the entrance to the training courts. Her head still buried in her phone as she posts a picture onto her feed.

Unbeknownst to her, it's actually Jayce making his way over to us. He's not in his usual style. Sport shorts, black shirt, chain necklace, fancy sunglasses, and a cigarette between his lips.

"Hey baby," Jayce says as he slips an arm around Holly.

"You're not Ladley." Holly groans, shoving him off her and scrunching her nose in disgust at the scent of the cigarette.

"No, darling, lovely Ladley is sick." Jayce takes another inhale of his cigarette. "She woke up with a migraine and an increased temperature. Stack has taken her to the hospital to see what's going on."

Holly stares at Jayce, mouth gaped...only for a second because she was inhaling Jayce's smoke. "Um, no," Holly begins, her head shaking as she shoves her phone into her pocket. "What am I meant to do about my match tomorrow without a coach."

And that's when it dawns on me. The only possible outcome. "I have to train Dom." I say frantically, watching a smirk slide across Jayce's face.

"Well, sweetheart, you're going to have to do both." Jayce now slings his arms around both Holly and I.

It's a weird feeling. I've never coached two people, let alone having one. It's all so new.

With a huff, I walk over to Dom, causing Paul to stop the drill.

Paul smiles and walks away, leaving Dom to turn and smirk at me. He pretends to hit me with his racquet, a slow gesture causing me to smile at his playfulness.

"Hey, come to give me extra tips?" Dom flicks my hair with his racquet.

"No," I sigh, gesturing for him to follow me. "Ladley's sick, so I have to coach Holly tomorrow, too."

Dom's face falls slightly as he glances over at Jayce and Holly. He swings his racquet in frustration once again, eyes squinting in deep thought.

"But I'll still be your top priority?" Dom is practically pouting with hope.

"Yes, Dom, you're my top priority." I smirk, stealing his cap once more and popping it on my head.

We join Jayce and Holly before walking over to Paul and Philip. I begin explaining to them the details and how we'll be going about tomorrow.

Holly's game is at 11 am. Dom's at 5pm. My plan will be to do some warm-ups with Holly at 8 am. Good breakfast. A pregame jog and then some drills. Then, after that, we'll do a discussion  and get her in the game mindset.

During her match, depending on how long it goes for, I'll have Paul and Philip run Dom through his drills. Then I'll race over to Dom, do some hitting practice, before briefing him and getting him onto the court.

There's a heavy weight on my shoulders. This is going to be big. If one of the two can get through to the next round, that'll be the best outcome. Even better would be both. But if neither do, then this isn't going to look good for me. I don't need another Ladley outcome, nor do I need my father's judgement.