To France With Love

I woke up for work at my usual time. I showered and out my hair into a bun then put on my clothes for work. I wore a pale pink polo with a white skirt, and white cable knit sweater. I hadn’t washed the sweater since I’d come home from Paris less than a week ago, mostly because it smelled like Rafa’s cologne and I didn’t want it to wear off. I grabbed my phone and jumped in the car to drive to work.

When I got there I checked my schedule. Same thing as usual. I had a lesson with an older retired couple, then I had to run a juniors clinic for homeschooled kids, then I had lunch, and my last lesson was with a new client named John Summers. I had an easy day.

Someone else walked behind the counter. It was Madison. “Morning Maddie.” I said. He rolled his eyes. “Do you have any idea who John Summers is?” He shrugged.

“New member?” He suggested. I shrugged and went out to get a ball cart for my lessons.

I made it to my lunch break before announcing to the rest of the pros that I wanted to go home and sleep. “Not until we practice.” Said Ty. He had been pushing me doubly hard lately. It was probably because he got me a spot in the Aegon Open and in the qualifiers at Wimbledon. It was a huge deal, but my muscles were sore everyday and I have never really played on grass before. Tyler had gotten us in to train on the grass courts at College Park Tennis Center in Maryland. We were leaving tomorrow and staying until the day we left for Aegon.

“I know.” I answered. I finished my lunch and went out for another lesson. I had one more after that. The one with John Summers, the mystery man.
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I waited for John at the desk of the pro shop for ten minutes. I finally looked at Madison, who would be at the desk for the hour. “Tell John to come out to court 4.” I said while walking out the door. Another five minutes passed. I rolled my eyes and decided to hit some serves. I was pretty annoyed at this point so I hit the ball really hard.

“Woah tiger.” I heard a very familiar voice say. I whipped my head around. When I saw him I dropped my racket and ran to him. I jumped into his arms.

“Oh my gosh!” I shouted. “Rafa, what are you doing here?”

“I’m here for my lesson and my name is Joe.” He said in his cute accent.

“Actually, you’re supposed to be John.” I rolled my eyes.

“Fine. I'm surprising you.” He said. Then he kissed me on the forehead. “Your mom wants to meet me.”

“You’ve been talking to my mom?” I laughed.

“Yeah.” He said. “I like her more than you” He poked my side. Then someone else walked on the court. It was Ty.

“Rafa!” He said, shaking his hand. “Glad you made it out.”

“You knew?” I asked.

“Yeah.” Said Ty. “He’s coming to College Park, and so is Maria.” He looked at his watch. “Who is late.’

“Who is late?” Asked Maria as she walked onto the court.

“Maria!” I shouted and hugged her. “I’m so happy right now!”
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The next morning we all piled into a big van. All three players and three coaches and all of our gear for the week we were going to be here. That was a lot of stuff. The three of us sat in the back row. I was in the middle. We played on our iPad and I loved being with them. We were the three musketeers, and I was having the time of my life. I was about to join the WTA tour and I was in love with the most amazing man I had ever met. What could be better?