Page 122 of Set to Love

We share another quiet laugh before settling back into the booth, exhaustion finally catching up to both of us now that the adrenaline has worn off.

Max steals another one of my sweet potato fries, pretending to be sneaky about it.

I let him.

For the first time, it doesn’t feel like I have to choose between tennis and the people I love. I’m allowed to have both.

After we finish our chocolate milkshake, we walk out into the cool evening air, hand in hand.

Max slows his pace, pulling me gently to a stop beneath the warm glow of a streetlamp. The sounds of the city fade into the background.

“What?” I ask, smiling up at him as he turns to face me fully.

He doesn’t answer. Instead, he brushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His fingertips linger on my cheek. The gentle, reverent look in his eyes causes my breath hitch.

“I just can’t get over how lucky I am to have you as my girlfriend,” he says softly, his voice dropping into that quiet, intimate register meant only for me. “You’re incredible, Katie Keller. On and off the court.”

Then, with the smallest grin, he starts singing Take My Breath Away.

My heart does a slow flip in my chest.

Before I can tease him about being dramatic, he slides my bag off my shoulder and sets it beside his backpack. Closing the small gap between us, his hand cradles the side of my face.

Slowly, his thumb traces the curve of my cheekbone. He leans in and presses his lips to mine. The muscle aches, the pressure of the upcoming quarterfinals, the noise of the city—all of it vanishes into the background.

This kiss feels different. There’s no uncertainty left between us. No wondering if we’re heading in the same direction. It’s quiet, certain, and full of every promise we made to each other tonight.

I slide my hands up his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms, anchoring myself to him. Max lets out a contented sigh against my mouth as his arms wrap securely around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest.

When he finally draws back, his forehead rests gently against mine. His eyes find mine, warm and full of something that still feels almost too good to believe.

“I love you,” he whispers, his breath warm against my mouth.

I smile, resting my hands against the back of his neck, feeling lighter than air.

“I love you too, Max.”

Epilogue

We’re still a few days away from the official world premiere of The Winged God, but luckily for me, I happen to know the lead in the original cast. Which is why tonight, I’m sitting in the fifth row of a packed West End theatre attending the first preview performance.

Will I make it to every preview? No. As much as I’d like to, the preseason is about to take over my life.

After making the quarterfinals at Kensington, and finishing the fall season stronger than anyone expected, I’ve managed to skyrocket my WTA ranking high enough to secure a direct entry into the upcoming Australian Open qualifying draw. Which still feels insane to say out loud.

Drew’s reaction was to nod once and call it “a decent start.” Which, translated from him into normal human language, is the equivalent of shouting from the rooftops.

I know the odds. Qualifying is brutal—like trying to make it to the summit of Mt. Everest—but hey, I have a shot.

The important thing right now is that I’m here tonight.

For Max.

The last eight weeks have been the busiest of our lives. Between rehearsals, tournaments, physio appointments, travel days, line runs sprawled across my apartment floor—I chose the Richmond flat—and approximately twelve thousand protein shakes, we’ve somehow managed to make this whole relationship thing work, anyway.

I lean over to Zoe beside me and whisper, “Should I even ask how you plan on embarrassing Max afterward? Or is it better if I’m surprised? That way I’m technically not an accomplice if anything illegal happens.”

“Come on, Katie,” Zoe whispers back, looking offended. “I’d never go that far. What I’m doing is tame.” She pauses thoughtfully. “Mostly because I couldn’t fit that much stuff into my suitcase.”