For the Love of Tennis | ✅

Chapter 15

I have to find Megan.

I have to find her so I can punch her in the bloody nose.

Her father did this. And since I can't find him, she'll have to be his advocate.

But I'm in a loop. I have no phone, so I can't ask Kylie to ask others what her number is. She hasn't been turning up at training lately so I can't talk to her then. And she's suspended too so she could be God-knows anywhere.

There's only one way I can find her, though. And that means going through my ex.

My hands are shaking as I reach Dayson's door. The flowers at the front have changed since seven months ago. Before, they were vibrant daffodils. Now they're low, sinking bluebells.

I take a deep breath as I raise my hand to knock on the door.

Knock. Knock.

I wait. The butterflies seem to tangle in my stomach.

Who's there?

There's a burning in my throat, something that I can't get rid of.

Surprise! It's Chandy, your ex.

I see the curtain twitch, but it's so fast I can't be sure.

Who?

Then the door creaks open.

Dayson stands there in his boxers. His face is one of impatience as he props the door open, one foot sticking out lazily to stop it. I have to stop myself from raising my eyes any higher.

"What do you want?" he huffs.

I drink in the sight of him, but it doesn't give me the same effect it did when we were together. He shifts his weight onto his other foot as though he's nervous.

"I need to speak to Megan?" I say, trying to sound bold. I'm not sure if I succeed.

He gives me an eye roll. "What? You think she's here?"

I ponder on that question. What if she is?

"I need to talk to her. It's important," I urge. "If you'll just give me her number-"

He cuts me off by turning. I launch forward, willing the door not to slam closed on me.

"Come in," he grumbles. "I gotta put a shirt on anyway."

Surprised that he didn't intend on shutting me out, I follow him down the hallway that I know all too well. We'd spend so much time at each other's places that if we ever did sleep-walk we'd find our way around perfectly.

He leads me up the stairs. I shift my weight on the second-to-last step, knowing fully well that it creaks. We tried to sneak up here one time at night after a party to his room. I learnt about the creaky stair the hard way. I try to erase the memory from my mind of Dayson's mother's bellowing voice catching us in the act.

He turns left on the landing. I follow suit.

Like always, his room is a mess. Like mine, he has no sense of organisation. Everything is strewn everywhere.

Including a pair of woman's clothes.

The girlish squeal from the bed draws my attention. Like a towel hanging off a hook, my jaw swings wide open.

Hiding under the sheets to cover herself is Megan Arenas.

"What are you doing here?" she squeaks at me. Even from here I can see no straps on her shoulders and so I'm pretty sure everything else under the cover is stark bare too.

"Could ask the same of you," I reply loudly.

She turns to face Dayson, who's throwing on a shirt.

"Did you let her in? Why?" Her whine is so pathetic it makes me want to cover my ears with my hands. "We were having a good time."

"Ew," I snap. "Don't say another word about that."

Megan's eyes go cold. "We were fucking nicely until you came along."

Dayson takes a step towards the bed. "Now, stop that, you two. Megan, Chandy's here because she said she needed to speak to you."

Megan's lips curl into a sneer. "And?"

I turn to Dayson. "Can we do this alone?" I say softly. He nods, turns, and the door clicks shut behind him.

Then I punch Megan in the face.

Her cheekbone cracks between my knuckles. I feel the restraint in my elbow as her face goes flying backwards, her grunt filling the air. I draw back, flex my fingers, loving the tingle.

"Bitch," I say for good measure.

She digs her cheek into the pillow, eyes closed as I pull back for another hit.

"Dayson!" she screams.

But the door doesn't open.

The laugh leaves my throat flat and heavy.

"He's not coming for you," I taunt. "He's not-"

And then she's on me. We go flying backwards. My head rams into the footboard and I groan at the stab of hot pain exploding down my spine.

"You're the bitch!" she's yelling, hands trying to wrap themselves around my throat. "What do you want from me, Dickson?"

Her slap is so fast I barely register it.

"Your Dad did some despicable things," I heave, feeling her weight pressing down on me. I try not to think of her bare skin on me. "You hear about it?"

Her grip tightens. I have to gasp for air.

"Stop," she hisses, but there's something in her voice that I can't quite catch.

"He fucking raped her," I say.

"Stop!" She falls back, dead weight tumbling off me. I clutch my throat, drawing myself up into a sitting position. Megan lies curled on the bed beside me, her curves matching the curves of the balled-up duvet. "I know what he did," she says, voice trembling as she clutches the pillow. "And, Chandy, I'm sorry."

I pause at her apology, then press on.

"You have to get him fired. You have to get my Mum a new job." I stare her down. "You have to make him pay."

Her wide eyes watch mine. I see the remnants of her mascara as it smudges under her hand.

"I will," she says.

The door opens. I hear scuffling and then it stops as Dayson surveys the scene.

"Everything okay?" I can practically smell the nervousness in his voice.

"Yeah," Megan says. "Chandy just punched me in the face and then I tried to strangle her-"

"-all while she was naked," I add.

"No big deal," finishes Megan. "Seriously."

"And you've talked about all that you wanted to?" Dayson asks with a raise of his brow.

"Yes," I say. "A bit of hustle but it's sorted. " I make a show of checking my watch. "I need to go now. Tennis later."

"Oh," Megan says, catching my hand as I leave the bed. "One thing. There's going to be a party at Kylie's tomorrow night. I thought you'd want to know."

I nod stiffly and pull away. I'm halfway to the door when I turn and say, "I met a boy."

Her face shows genuine surprise. Dayson looks uncomfortable all of a sudden.

"His name is Amias," I say, "and he's fucking sexy."

Then I'm out of the room, leaving the couple stricken-faced.