"This is so unfair!"

"I grit my teeth in annoyance. “But if I don’t do something now, there won’t be a musical!��"

"Mom, the school wants to get rid of our spring musical!"

"I’m going to homecoming!"

"There’s a simultaneous gasp from the students that could only be pulled off by well-trained singers with strong lungs."

" “Looks like you’re plotting, Riley,�� Paul says as he studies me. “I want to help, but my community theater director asked me to run acting workshops this fall, so I’m obviously swamped.��"

"I roll my eyes at his new presence in my life. Why is he at the store when he’s not scheduled to work today?"

"I bristle. “You’re working right now, aren’t you? If you’re desperate for more money, take it up with my dad.��"

"“First off, why are you watching me? Second, the only real punishment here is working with you.��"

"I grit my teeth in annoyance. “But if I don’t do something now, there won’t be a musical!��"

"Which I know is totally hypocritical because it’s not like I’m a big fan of gaming either, but does she have no idea that my father owns this store?"

"Guilt cuts through me, followed immediately by defiance. Am I not allowed to be close to Mom?"

"Don’t they know my father is in here? Everyone should stop and take a moment to think of him."

"They figured it out somehow!"

"“Believe me, I was trying to ignore you, but your clothes are so loud you might as well be walking around with a bullhorn to announce your presence.��"

"“Your dad was about two seconds away from securing a church for our wedding.��"
"Nathan shifts a little closer. “Maybe we should…I mean…What if we stopped turning it on and off? What if we just faked it all the time?��"

"He lets go of my hand but leans against the locker next to mine, looking so calm and gorgeous that I want to throw myself at him and kiss him until he forgets Sophia’s name."

"I am no longer the greatest tennis player in the world.
For the first time in my life, I can be…something else."

As Paulina walked by, she barely looked at me. “Izvinite menya, I did not see you there. You are so short.��
I gave a tight smile and then turned to my father. “I want to beat her to the ground.��

I congratulate Nicki Chan on her accomplishments in women’s tennis.
But her domination is over.
I’m back.

Bowe shakes my hand. “May the best player win,�� he says.
“Don’t worry, I will.��

I turn away and look out the window, overcome with this awful, sinking feeling. As happy as you are when it starts, you always end up that same amount of sad when it’s over.

I watch him throw his head back on the bed. And I let myself believe for a moment that maybe he means it. Maybe this time, maybe this man, means it.

“I see a change in you that I can’t quite describe, since Wimbledon.
�۴dz�’r��…f������.��
“I’m less afraid,�� I say. “Of losing.��
“Because you’ve made your peace with it?�� he asks.
“Because it’s unlikely.��

A tear leaves my eye. I wipe it away. Poor Dvořáková. She stands no chance. It’s over in fifty-one minutes.

My mother rolled her eyes at him as she began to put dinner on the table. “I would rather she was kind and happy.��
“Alicia,�� my father said as he stood behind my mother and wrapped his arms around her. “No one ever tells stories about that.��

“I know you did. Sometimes, you’re much smarter than me. So much stronger too. You’re like a bright diamond, one shiny, tough…��
“Bitch,�� I offer.
My dad laughs. “Okay, sure. One shiny, tough bitch.��

“No,�� he says. “Just accept it. Let me feel it and say it. You’re the meaning of my life.��

“And he knows you’re a better player than he is,�� my dad says. “I was always worried about that with you. Because the only person who could ever understand you would be another player. But how many players would be okay knowing they were second place? He takes to it well, though. Which is about the highest compliment I can think of. I’m not sure there is a greater strength.��

Bowe grabs my waist and spins me toward him.
And I wonder for a moment why I have spent all my time worried about losing things, when there is so much here.

So far this morning, as well as asking Gwen to get the smoothie, he’s woken me up, called down for almonds, run the shower, put me in it, and then when I just stood there, he got in with me and washed my hair.

“I fucked up. I forgot socks,�� he says. “When I was packing your things.��

"This is so unfair!"

"I grit my teeth in annoyance. “But if I don’t do something now, there won’t be a musical!��"

"Mom, the school wants to get rid of our spring musical!"

"I’m going to homecoming!"

"There’s a simultaneous gasp from the students that could only be pulled off by well-trained singers with strong lungs."

" “Looks like you’re plotting, Riley,�� Paul says as he studies me. “I want to help, but my community theater director asked me to run acting workshops this fall, so I’m obviously swamped.��"

"I roll my eyes at his new presence in my life. Why is he at the store when he’s not scheduled to work today?"

"I bristle. “You’re working right now, aren’t you? If you’re desperate for more money, take it up with my dad.��"

"“First off, why are you watching me? Second, the only real punishment here is working with you.��"

"I grit my teeth in annoyance. “But if I don’t do something now, there won’t be a musical!��"

"Which I know is totally hypocritical because it’s not like I’m a big fan of gaming either, but does she have no idea that my father owns this store?"

"Guilt cuts through me, followed immediately by defiance. Am I not allowed to be close to Mom?"

"Don’t they know my father is in here? Everyone should stop and take a moment to think of him."

"They figured it out somehow!"

"“Believe me, I was trying to ignore you, but your clothes are so loud you might as well be walking around with a bullhorn to announce your presence.��"

"“Your dad was about two seconds away from securing a church for our wedding.��"
"Nathan shifts a little closer. “Maybe we should…I mean…What if we stopped turning it on and off? What if we just faked it all the time?��"

"He lets go of my hand but leans against the locker next to mine, looking so calm and gorgeous that I want to throw myself at him and kiss him until he forgets Sophia’s name."