Fitz squinted his eyes slightly as he studied the sky above, taking note of how the sun barely peaked over the cumulous clouds hanging over them. He could feel perspiration forming underneath the thin white Nike polo he wore. It was much warmer than usual for this time of year in London, but he didn't mind. In fact, Fitz loved everything about Wimbledon, and for weeks he'd anticipated the tournament, praying that their dream of a "Liv Slam" would soon become a reality. His senses were awakened, and his slate blue eyes danced at the smell of freshly cut grass and Boston Ivy filling his nostrils; instinctively he let out a long airy breath thinking of the days ahead.
The golf cart that chauffeured them to the practice courts slowly wound its way up the narrow path, and Fitz could see in the distance droves of onlookers carefully observing the players who were already at work. They had established a routine during the tournaments; cardio at the fitness facility, followed by a cool down, breakfast, and a daily spar on the practice courts; but today had started differently. She'd overslept. She was in no mood for cardio, and much to his dismay, she hadn't spoken much all morning.
Fitz preferred to get an early start, especially due to the city's ever changing weather conditions, but mostly so his player could get a good workout, then be on and off the practice courts at the right time ensuring the proper recovery before the warm up and subsequent match. Today however, she was preoccupied, seemingly lost deep in her thoughts, and Fitz couldn't help but wonder if he was the cause. Slightly tilting his head, he placed an index finger to the corner of his mouth as he pondered her demeanor; His thoughts automatically reflecting on the conversation they'd had the night before.
[Flashback]
"Are you angry with me", he asked cautiously, his voice reaching just above a whisper.
A last minute decision, he'd opted not to stay with her; Rather than share a bed, he'd chosen to take a smaller room across the hall in hopes that she'd get off on the right foot for the first time this season.
She didn't respond immediately, choosing to keep her eyes fixed on the phone she fumbled with, but eventually shook her head no.
The house they'd rented was massive with 6 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, a family room on each floor, a small gym, theater, and game room complete with billiards, a ping pong table, and 2 bowling lanes. Her team which included her hitting partner and fitness trainer, physiotherapist, assistant, and her agent were traveling with them, and since there was plenty of room for everyone, Fitz had made an executive decision to put some space between them this time; He wanted her sharp and focused. Grand slam tournaments were the most important events in tennis, and it was no secret she'd had a rough go of it so far, constantly being criticized by the media for this or that. Fitz sought to eliminate all things that could possibly contribute to her less than stellar performances in the majors, never mind the fact that she'd won every one of her matches so far this season, he figured the less distractions the better, and if his presence in her life both on and off the tennis court was adding to her stress, then he was going to remedy this.
"I need you. Why aren't you staying here?" asked Olivia with furrowed brows and eyes filled with confusion. Fitz noted the cute pout that had formed on her lips at the mention of his new sleeping arrangements.
He'd explained that he wanted her to have no distractions but she only scoffed at the notion, turning away from him, and pulling the covers over her body so only the side of her face was exposed.
"Go then", he heard her mumble. Sensing her annoyance Fitz leaned over to kiss her forehead before turning to walk out.
"Je t'aime, dormez bien" (I love you, sleep well), Fitz whispered gently as he reached for the door, but before he could exit Oliva sat up quickly, grabbing the pillow underneath her and hurled it in his direction. He noticed her attempt to stifle the smile that had now formed at the corners of her mouth and playfully wagged his index finger at her, quipping to himself that this would be a long fortnight.
No words were exchanged between them as the golf cart came to a stop a few feet in front of the players' entrance of the practice courts. Usually Olivia was chatty, and full of humor. They had a playful relationship, so they'd often place wagers on the silliest things like, who would be the first to drop the F Bomb when an error was made, or how long she could hold her breath during a rally, but today only quick glances filled with words unspoken were shared. They climbed off the back bench of the golf cart, and Fitz carefully observed her as she threw her MCM reversible tote over her shoulder, and tucked her Maltipoo, "Dotty" (short for Dorothy Dandridge), who'd been perched on her lap during the ride underneath her arm. He draped his left shoulder with her tennis bag and grabbed his small black duffle, joining her on the short path up the sidewalk to the practice courts.
A security guard who was stationed at the courts' entrance opened the gate for them to enter. Fitz nodded at the gentleman and motioned for Olivia to walk ahead, following only a step behind before reaching her side as they made their way to Practice Court 1. As soon as they were visible to the crowd, a resounding applause and cheers erupted as the No. 1. Women's Tennis player in the world made her appearance. Fitz could see fans standing in a nearby chalet observing their every move, and behind them a media tent was filled with sports analysts and cameras capturing the moment. There was a small area roped off for VIP members of the All England Club and undoubtedly their families, as he noticed several children waving American flags and jumping up and down with excitement. Neither acknowledged the warm reception they received, choosing to keep their eyes focused on her team members who had already made it to the practice area and were now warming up; her hitting partner/fitness trainer, Harrison stood next to a basket of balls, swinging his arms back and forth, and stretching from side to side. At 26 Harrison had already made a name for himself with a client roster that boasted the likes of sports teams, boxers, swimmers and NASCAR drivers. Having played division I tennis in college, Harrison not only had a passion for the sport but had followed Olivia's career since it began. So when he got the call to join her team as a consultant, he jumped at the opportunity and it had proven to be one of the best decisions of his career. Her physiotherapist, a tall slender red-head named Abby had worked with Olivia for the last 10 years. They'd met as teens on the junior's circuit, but after a knee injury left Abby unable to transition onto the pro tour she enrolled at UCLA and studied sports medicine. Throughout the years Olivia and Abby stayed in touch and when there was a need for a full time physio, Abby was the first person Olivia reached out to. Now they traveled together year-round, and shared a home in West Palm Beach during breaks.
Fitz was relieved to see the half smile she now wore, and committed the scene to memory as this was a sight he'd never grow tired of. It was no secret, Fitz was enraptured with Olivia and had been since the day she'd shown up at his tennis academy looking to reinvent her game. Although he'd met her when she'd first turned pro, and had seen her around at tournaments over the years, it wasn't until that day in Santa Barbara that he actually saw her. A lot had happened since then, and now she was back on top at number 1 shattering records, and dominating women's tennis.
Watching Olivia and Fitz as they strolled up to the practice courts, Harrison and Abby greeted the duo with warm smiles and hugs, while exchanging quick pleasantries. The couple took a short moment to get settled before the routine team huddle. As coach, Fitz's role was to formulate a game plan based on the opponent's strengths and weaknesses, then effectively enhance his player's abilities by incorporating new weapons into her game during practice sessions. Fitz pulled a small notepad from his duffle, and scribbled a few notes before relaying the strategy to the team, giving detailed instructions of what they would work on for the next hour. Looking intently at everyone as they processed his words, Fitz fixated his gaze on each person's body language, silently asking for their approval. Once all heads shook in agreement, he let out a breath he'd been holding, relieved that he wasn't met with any resistance, especially since he was still uncertain of what was causing Olivia's mood. Before they broke the huddle, Fitz extended his fist out front for their customary team fist bump, and on cue each person followed his lead bumping fists, signaling the start of practice.
Olivia was sluggish, and there was no other explanation for it except that she'd stayed up way too late thinking, tossing and turning the night before. Fitz had left her bedroom at 11:00 pm, and while she was frustrated that they weren't sharing a bed, she appreciated his unwavering dedication to her success, and knew he was only trying to put her best interest in the forefront. She'd suffered from a stomach bug at the French Open only 3 weeks prior, and Fitz had worked tirelessly attending to her, while juggling his new responsibilities at Tennis Channel where he'd recently been offered a full time analyst gig, and would eventually be hosting his own show. At Wimbledon Fitz wouldn't be on double duty, so he could focus all his attention on her which is why she was completely caught off guard when he chose to sleep separately. She knew she'd pushed herself too far at the French Open, and was willing to do whatever it took to ensure Wimbledon was easier for them. Lost in her thoughts, she drifted to events from the previous night.
[Flashback]
It was now after midnight as she lay on her back staring at the ceiling wide awake. His words, "Je t'aime, dormez bien" replayed on a loop in her memory but she couldn't sleep.
She contemplated going to him, but decided against it. Besides he's probably asleep by now anyway, she convinced herself.
Maybe I'm hungry, she wondered but groaned at the thought of eating so late.
As she continued to lie there desperately searching for a remedy to the untimely bout of insomnia, she heard her phone chime. Rolling over to the nightstand where it sat illuminated in the darkness she grabbed her phone to see what the message read.
Jake: I'm in London. Let's get together.
Olivia's eyes immediately slammed shut, then fluttered repeatedly trying to focus; She wanted to be sure she'd read the text correctly. After staring at the screen for what seemed like an eternity, she let it chime a second time before responding.
Liv: Can't. I have a match tomorrow
Jake: How about after
"The nerve of this asshole," she scoffed. Sitting up, she typed out a quick response and threw her phone back on the nightstand.
Liv: I'll be busy after
Two seconds later, her phone chimed again.
Jake: ? C'mon Liv. I want to see you. You know you want to. Please?
It was just like Jake to think he knew what she wanted. He didn't. In fact, seeing him was the last thing she wanted right now. "Ugh" she groaned before tapping out her response. She rationalized that she would have to face him at some point anyway because knowing Jake he'd just find other ways to get her attention. Exhaling dramatically she sighed through gritted teeth, "Needy fucker."
Liv: Fine. Come to my match
Jake: I'll be there
Jake: Thnx Liv
Setting her phone on airplane mode and tossing it to the side, Olivia sank into the pillows that surrounded her, and forcefully closed her eyes.
"Why does he always do this to me, or better yet, why do I always give in to him?" she asked aloud. "What does he want from me?" Liv it's nothing, she responded to her own question, just see what he wants and move on... right?
Truthfully, she wasn't exactly sure if she'd ever be able to rid herself of Jake Ballard.
Jake was the quintessential player, and boy had he played Olivia. He was a few years younger than her, but carried himself in such a way that women seemed to magically fall head over heels when in his presence. Charming, handsome, charismatic, fun-loving, those were all qualities Jake possessed on the outside, but underneath those carefully constructed layers was a frightened, insecure little boy who drained women of their confidence and stripped them of their dignity in order to stand tall. She'd learned this the hard way, twice already but for some reason beyond even her level of comprehension she would always let him weasel his way back into her life, even though she knew the outcome. They'd met 4 years prior in Miami at a players' party when Jake played for the Dolphins (he'd since been traded), and she was there as a team owner, while simultaneously playing the role of chaperone for Abby who at the time had an affinity for douchebags. Trying to blend in and enjoy herself without getting too loose, since the party was a work function after all, Olivia made her way to the 2nd floor bar and ordered a glass of champagne not noticing the pair of green eyes that had been watching her since she'd ascended the staircase. Almost instantly Jake managed to approach her, make light conversation, get her phone number and then promptly disappeared. A week later he called. He brought takeout and beer. They fucked. Since then Jake had conveniently bounced in an out of her life, usually when he was between women but ironically always when she was at her most vulnerable. Somehow through it all, she considered him a friend…with great benefits if she was being honest with herself, but since her relationship with Fitz began two years ago, she and Jake had only seen each other in passing and she was grateful that he'd kept his distance. Now here he was in London, and coming to her match tomorrow. What in the world could he possibly want now, she asked herself while lying awake for hours replaying their sordid history and cringing at the thought of seeing him later that day.
It wasn't quite 11:00 am but the London sky was clear blue, and the sun was reaching its peak, radiating throughout the practice courts. Most of the players who were there when they'd arrived almost an hour earlier were now gone, and the first matches of the day had already begun. After working on her drop shot and missing most of them, she signaled to Fitz that she was done, and headed towards the personal items that she'd placed on a bench nearby. Grabbing a towel from her tennis bag, she wiped sweat from her neck and underneath both arms. Dotty danced around on two legs begging to be picked up causing Olivia grin widely as she grabbed her with one hand, kissing her all over before placing her safely in her tote. She half listened to Fitz who was busy giving Harrison critiques on his groundstrokes, and noticed Abby off retrieving tennis balls that she'd hit outside of their practice area. Olivia's mood had lifted some, but she was still reeling over her exchange with Jake, and thinking about how she would tell Fitz he was attending.
"Hey Liv you okay this morning", asked Abby, having noticed Olivia's less than chipper spirits throughout the practice. "Are you having any pains or discomfort that we should discuss"? As a tennis player, especially at 32 years old aches and pains were the norm.
"No Abbs, I actually feel pretty good", Olivia retorted not looking up, continuing to gather her belongings.
"Well something is off with you Liv, and I want to know what's up. Is everything okay with you and Fitz?"
"Shhhh, lower your voice Abby", Olivia scolded as she cut her eyes in the direction of Fitz and Harrison making sure they hadn't heard what Abby said. "Fitz and I are fine."
"Then what's the problem?" Abby probed, now impatiently tapping her foot as she waited for Olivia to answer.
Realizing that Abby wasn't going away easily, Olivia took a deep breath and moved them out of Fitz and Harrison's' line of sight before whispering, "Jake is coming to my match today."
"WHAT? WHY?" Abby all but screamed! "Olivia, please tell me you did not agree to let that asshole come to your match."
"He texted me last night Abby."
"And what did this text say exactly?"
"He just begged to see me, and eventually I gave in. I mean what else was I supposed to do? It's been 2 years since we fell out. Hell maybe he's changed. Maybe he has finally settled down, and wants to show me he's a different person. I don't know."
"I think you do know. I also think you're going to fuck up this great momentum you have going if you allow Jake to weasel his way back into your life. Does Fitz know about this?" Before Olivia could respond, Abby put up a finger silencing her, as she noticed Fitz and Harrison now making their way over, Abby whispered to Olivia, "We'll finish this later" then turned away to continue collecting tennis balls.
Since they'd gotten a later start, time was now of the essence. Olivia desperately needed to hit the shower, but more than anything she wanted to relax and take a cat nap before her match that afternoon. After Fitz gathered their bags, the two of them made their way off the practice court and back to the golf cart awaiting them. Just before reaching the gate they'd entered earlier, she stopped to autograph memorabilia, and posed for a few "selfies" with the large crowd of fans who had gathered throughout the practice. As soon as they were settled onto the cart, Fitz faced her and pressed his lips gently against hers whispering into her mouth, "Hi". Butterflies immediately formed in the pit of Olivia's stomach. This man was everything; completely irresistible, and best of all he was hers. At 6'2" Fitz, towered over her. His broad shoulders, toned arms, defined chest, 8 pack, and the most beautiful set of eyes she's ever gazed into made him one of the finest men she'd ever seen, and that was really saying something because Olivia had traveled the globe and seen many beautiful men. Fitz was of Greek descent on his father's side, and he'd gotten the best of all their features; thick wavy hair, a strong jawline, and the body of a God. But more importantly, Fitz oozed confidence. When he swaggered into a room, people took note; Women and men. Fitz knew he was fine, but he wasn't arrogant, in fact he was incredibly humble, and appreciative. He loved passionately, and fought hard for the causes and people he believed in, especially his kids and now Olivia. He believed in her, at times even more than she believed in herself. It was true that she was in love with him, and although they were both incredibly passionate and at times fought just as hard as they loved, he was the driving force behind her resurgence in the last couple years.
"Hi" she replied, parting her lips slightly so he could ease his tongue inside. Wanting to deepen the kiss, Olivia intertwined her fingers in his curly locks which felt like silk underneath her nails, and pulled Fitz closer but to her surprise he ended the kiss quickly no doubt mindful of their surroundings, as they knew fans, and media oftentimes craned their necks and lingered eagerly to catch a glimpse of players during intimate moments. Instead his lips traveled to her ear, and he whispered in that deep rich baritone voice of his, "Can I have you Sweet Baby?" Instantly Olivia felt a surge of moisture pool between her legs and her nipples harden.
Fitz hadn't intended to say those words, but honestly couldn't help himself after spending the previous night alone, and seeing her somber demeanor all morning. He desperately wanted to remedy whatever angst she was feeling. He could see her wheels turning, and was delighted when her body immediately responded. Olivia placed her hand over his and looked up into his eyes, smiling coyly before replying, "But wouldn't that be a distraction?" Fitz belted out a laugh at the sassy response, slightly resenting that she was now using his words from the previous night against him. He pecked her on the lips once more, and shifted in his seat as they made their way toward the locker rooms.
