𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 | 𝐋𝐍𝟒

𝐗𝐋𝐕𝐈

A/N: ‼️PLEASE COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS ‼️

••••••

Café Lumière was almost empty, the low hum of an espresso machine the only sound. Milaine tugged her hood a little lower as she stepped inside, the faint chill of the evening clinging to her sweatshirt.

The walk over had been slower than she liked—three fans had stopped her for pictures, polite, smiling, harmless, but enough to remind her that quiet was never really quiet anymore.

Andrey was already there. Hoodie, cap pulled low, hands wrapped around a cup he hadn't touched. He glanced up when she entered, and for a second, neither of them smiled. Then she did, a small curve of her lips, and crossed the room.

«Hey» she said, voice soft.

«Hey.»

She slid into the chair opposite him, pulling her hood down but keeping the jacket close. When the waiter came, she ordered a matcha—no coffee, not tonight, not before a semifinal.

Andrey nodded as if he already knew she'd say that.

«How's life?» he asked once they were alone again, leaning back.

«Busy. You?»

«The same. Training, traveling. You know.»

The small talk unfolded easily enough. He asked about her mom, about Ralph, about Denis and his karting races in Europe. She answered honestly—«They're staying with him. I call them every night. It's good now. My mom and I, we... found our balance.»

«I'm glad to hear that» Andrey said, meaning it.

She asked about his training, if he'd been in Moscow before coming here. He told her about the hard courts, how he was struggling with his mental game.. Then back to her and her family..

After a beat he asked again: «So, they're not coming to watch you?»

She shook her head, smiling a little. «No. Denis has races. They're staying with him. It's okay.»

He nodded, then hesitated. «I'm glad you and your mom are okay now.»

«Yeah Same»

The pause stretched, and then he asked, too casually: «And Max? Kelly? How are they?»

Her shoulders tightened before she could stop herself. She looked down at her cup.

«It's... rocky» she said finally. «Max and I had a fight in Zandvoort. We haven't talked since. But He promised he'd be here, him and Mick both promised to come here and support me.. Mick's already here, though. So... we'll see.»

Andreys's eyes softened. «I'm sorry.»

She shrugged, but it was thin. «He know how I get if im expecting someone and they don't make it .. I know he will be here ,Maybe finals, if I make it that far. He promised, It's fine.»

Andrey turned his cup slowly between his hands, studying her for a moment. «You always do this» he said.

She looked up. «Do what?»

«Downplay everything. 'It's fine,' 'it's okay.' You've got a semifinal tomorrow, you're carrying a whole country on your back, you're fighting the memories with of you father and this is your first time in the Us open after his death ..and you say it's fine.»

Her lips pressed together, amused but faintly defensive. «It's not that deep, Andrey. I know how to handle pressure.»

«I know you do. But Max matters to you. And We both know what will happen if he doesn't show up.»