It Starts with Love

Chapter 17 - Ineffable

A/N: I decided to upload early because I've been loving all your comments on the last chapter and the prologue for Break to Love. Fair warning though, this chapter is emotionally brutal but we all love drama, anyway. Please vote and comment what you guys think!! <3

Taliana poked her head out of the locker room and looked from left to right. Patricia was down the hall with her back to Taliana. She took a deep breath and ran in the opposite direction. If Patricia saw her, Taliana wouldn't be able to watch Sascha because she'd be stuck in interviews for the rest of the night. She didn't stop running until she arrived at Sascha's box.

Sascha's team greeted her but silence soon consumed the whole box as the match began. The only new addition was Marcelo Melo who was happy to banter back and forth with Taliana.

There two consecutive successful challenges from Sascha. "He has good eyes today," Marcelo said.

"He's dating me so we know he's got good eyesight," Taliana replied, earning a chuckle from Marcelo and a smile from Jez and Hugo. As usual, Alexander Sr. was focused on the match entirely.

The first set was very tight. Sascha was playing well but he couldn't break Gulbis' serve. It went to tiebreak. Taliana cursed under her breath when he lost the first set. She chewed on her lip nervously as she watched Sascha sit down looking tired.

"Jez, is Sascha okay? Physically? He looks tired," Taliana observed.

"He started throwing up again. He hasn't eaten anything in a while."

"I thought he was doing better already."

Jez looked away. "He told us not to tell you."

Taliana held herself back from letting out a string of expletives. He had said he was 100% okay. They really had to work on the honesty part of their relationship.

In the second set, Sascha was up with an early break point. When he converted, Sascha yelled out, "Let's go now, come on."

Marcelo shook with silent laughter with Taliana. "You are rubbing off him," he said.

"I know. He even cheers like me now."

"The boy is whipped."

"He's not alone," Taliana murmured in agreement. She glanced at her phone which was blowing up from Patricia's calls. She ignored them all.

Taliana gasped when Sascha slipped in the middle of the second set. Her instinct was to jump up but Marcelo held her down. "Calm down," he said, "it is not a basketball game."

"This is why I prefer sitting in the crowd but Sascha would throw a tantrum if I don't sit in his box." Taliana watched as Sascha won the second set. He's playing well, save for the first set.

There was a moment in the third set where Marcelo was not able to stop her from standing as Sascha slipped yet again but still won the point. Taliana was gripping the railing now and was leaning forward. "Get up, Sasch. Come on," Taliana cheered. And he did.

A few minutes later, Sascha was given a warning when the linesman told on him saying he was swearing. Of course, Sascha wouldn't have any of it. He argued with the umpire for a while, to no avail. Sascha won the third set after that but he resumed arguing with the umpire about the point penalty.

Another call from Patricia came in and a text from James after that. Patricia was getting mad and James was threatening to drag her to the press room. Sighing, Taliana excused herself and exited the box.

Before she was out of the court, though, the umpire said, "Gentlemen, please, let's play." Taliana looked back and saw Sascha talking. She badly wanted to stay and find out what was happening but she had to go.