Serving at Sunset

The corporate retreat was Elena's idea—team building, she'd called it, but really it was just forty lawyers in pastel polo shirts drinking too much at a Valencia resort. Marcus found her at the padel court, alone, hitting serves against the wall with rhythmic violence.

"Thought you hated sports," he said, leaning against the fence.

She turned, sweat-dark hair plastered to her forehead. "Thought you hated me."

"I never hated you. I hated how you made me feel."

The silence stretched between them, heavy and unspoken. Three years of partnering on cases, late nights ordering takeout, the electric brush of shoulders in conference rooms. The nearly-moments.

"Play with me," she said, tossing him a racquet.

They played until their shirts clung like second skins, until the sun dipped below the horizon painting the court in bruised purples. Afterward, they sat poolside, feet dangling in the cool water. The resort restaurant had closed, but the kitchen staff left them containers of spinach salad and cold cuts.

"I'm taking the Frankfurt offer," Elena said, picking at a spinach leaf.

Marcus's chest tightened. "Germany?"

"It's... I need to not be here. Not be around you."

He reached across the table, his palm covering hers where it rested on the wrought-iron. Her skin was warm, slightly damp from pool water and lingering sweat. "Then why play with me tonight?"

"Because I wanted one more memory where we weren't pretending."

The water lapped against the tiles. Somewhere distant, other lawyers laughed too loudly over cocktails. Marcus traced the lifeline on her palm with his thumb, feeling her pulse quicken beneath his touch.

"Go to Frankfurt," he said quietly. "Or don't. But don't go because you're running away."

She pulled her hand free, but slowly. "And if I stay?"

"Then we stop pretending."

Elena stood, gathering their dinner plates. The padel court sat empty behind them, evidence of what they'd almost said. "Meet me at the padel court tomorrow. Six AM. If you're serious."

She walked toward the hotel without looking back. Marcus stayed by the pool, watching the water ripple in the wind, thinking how some games only begin when everyone else has gone home.