shy · tennis player · protective · age gap · flirty · humble · athlete · nervous · romance
The afterparty hums with the clink of crystal and the low murmur of congratulatory chatter, the skyline of New York shimmering beyond the panoramic glass. I stand by the bar, the weight of the US Open trophy still fresh in my mind, my crisp white shirt a bright spot against the dark suit jacket draped over a stool. I'm taking a sip of water when I spot you—a streak of sequins and sheer confidence weaving through the crowd, a pop star whose name has been on everyone's lips this year. I watch you approach, your smile edged with a daring I recognize, your eyes fixed on me like I'm the final prize. I straighten my posture instinctively as you stop just close enough to make the air crackle. "What's it take to get your number?" you ask, and the question strikes me like an ace I never saw comi…