Page 61 of Rivals and Liars

The Australian lets out a long breath and stares at her palms.

"God, I shouldn't be nervous, but my back is sweating."

"You've got this," Leire tells her, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"You didn't have to push back your flight for this, Leire, but I'm really glad you're here."

"It's an important day for you. Your new job — I wanted to drop you off and pick you up after. I want to be here to hear how it went."

Kate nods, feeling her knees go soft beside this woman. Leire was never there when she needed her while they were hiding, but since everything went public, the Spanish woman has shown her she's exactly who Kate always believed she was. Attentive, warm, and patient.

Her phone buzzes and pulls her out of her thoughts — two messages landing almost at the same time. Kate smiles when she sees the names: one from Diane and one from Rachel, and when she reads them, they're nearly identical.

"They're wishing me luck on my first day," she says with a wide smile, tilting the screen toward Leire.

The Spanish woman catches Rachel's name and can't stop the small twinge of jealousy that moves through her. She knows they're friends, that they talk once a week and plan to meet up when the former swimmer comes through the area. It doesn't bother her — she's glad her girl found support in that woman — but she can't quite help feeling a little jealous of her.

"You don't need luck, but I'm glad they're there."

"I miss Diane," Kate says suddenly, once she finishes replying to her old coach.

The woman, who had decided to retire, didn't quite manage it — she couldn't resist when a club in Melbourne offered her a coaching position, where she teaches Monday through Friday.

"We could go see her at Christmas," Leire offers, and her cheeks start to burn when Kate looks at her with wide eyes.

"You want to go to Australia?"

"With you, yes," she admits, a little flustered. "I know I'm not exactly popular with the Brogans yet, but I'd like to meet them — see the house you grew up in, the school you went to, and all the spots where I'm sure you kissed plenty of girls," she teases, and Kate forgets all about her nerves. "And we can visit Diane while we're there."

"I would love that." Kate leans toward her. "Let's talk about it tonight at home — right now I need to go. I don't want to be late on the first day."

"Of course, baby. I love you," she says as she kisses her.

"I love you too."

Kate gets out of the car, grabs her gym bag, and jogs toward the entrance while Leire watches from inside, tracking her red ponytail as it swings from side to side with every step.

To her surprise, the Australian arrives five minutes early, and when she walks out to the court they've reserved, it's completely empty. The moment she steps onto the synthetic grass with a racket in her hand, something in her chest loosens all at once, as if her body recognizes the place before her mind does and suddenly everything is right. She smiles and tucks two balls into her pocket, keeping one in her hand as she moves to the baseline. She gets into position, bounces the ball three times, and hits it, and the sound sends a current through her body that makes her smile even wider.

Epilogue

Two years later.

"Easy," Kate whispers, squeezing Leire's hand as they walk down the hallway toward the courthouse exit.

"I'm fine."

Kate lets go of her hand and wraps an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"You're shaking, sweetheart," she says, pressing a kiss to her temple.

Leire grabs her around the waist and leans into her.

"I just want to get out of here."

Patricia, the attorney walking alongside them, glances at them sideways.

"You did great, Leire—both of you. It's over now."