She laughs. “I’ll see what I can do. So, who’s your partner?”
It’s funny. Marisol knows almost everything about my life, and I know a lot about hers, all due to talking on and off the court in between serves and chatting with our water bottles in hand.
She knows about Percy. That, though, isn’t entirely from me. Gossip travels quicker than light at this club, and he’s a staple here.
“It’s a new guy,” I say. “We’re friends, and now we’re sort of dating, too.”
“Sort of?”
“Yes. It’s early days still.”
“Right,” she says. “So, you thought you’d introduce him to all of New York society by throwing him into the vipers pit that is Grandview?”
I laugh. “Can you imagine? No, he’s already a part of… well. This group of people.”
“Oh,” she says. “He’s one ofthem.”
I nod. Marisol and I had bonded early on about our small-town upbringings.
“You could say that,” I say.
“Well, sure. Bring him along sometime and we can work on your game as a double.”
“Thanks,” I say. “See you Thursday?”
“You bet. I’ll send you some videos about kick serves, by the way. I want you to study them.”
“Got it.” I throw my bag over my shoulder and wave at her. She’s staying on the court, a new client already waiting in the wings.
I walk home. It’s a long way, but I need the air and the energy that’s always present on the streets of New York. There’s a complete lack of it in my apartment, so I’ll take it where I can get it.
My phone rings about halfway, and I have to dig through my bag to find it.
It’s Isaac.
We’ve never called each other before.
“Hello?” I answer.
“Bishop,” a familiar voice says. “Free to talk?”
“Yes, absolutely. Is everything all right?”
“Yes,” Isaac says. We haven’t spoken since the benefit last weekend. I’ve been working at Exciteur, him at Winter, and there hasn’t been a reason to. Professionally or privately. “Thank you for the other night.”
“No, thank you,” I say. “I had fun.”
There’s a pause on the other end, and I can hear the disbelief in it. “Did you?”
“Yes. Well, before and after the…incident.Watching you win the prize you’ve always dreamed of helped.”
The teasing breaks the formality between us. I can hear it crack. “Thanks for reminding me about that,” he says dryly.
“No problem.”
“What date is the doubles tournament?”
“It’s not this Saturday, but the one after that,” I say. “But, Isaac, it’s completely fine if you can’t do it, or if you don’t want to. I’m not expecting—”