Page 80 of Love, Amy

I stand up from my yoga mat, shaking out my hands. “Good, I think,” I admit. “Today’s been a nice change of pace.”

Vince snorts. “You can say that again.”

Barbara looks between the two of us. “What am I missing?”

I shrug. “I didn’t realize how much of my anxiety during these finals was coming from Beck. I’m still nervous, still restless, but it’s different. I’m also excited about the opportunity to play Fernanda again, to play under the lights, to play here in the States. It feels like the perfect match for me.” My fingers touch my wrist, free of hives. “My redemption.”

Barbara’s smile is slow, but it’s there. “Well, the wait is over. You’re set to warm-up in ten.”

I want to reassure my new coach. “I’m ready. I remember everything we talked about.”

Barbara adjusts her visor, business-like. “I know you do,” she says briskly. “If you didn’t, I wouldn’t be your coach.” She fixes me with a look. “Now, let’s go win this, Amy.”

She heads out of the gym, determination in every step.

Vince hovers by my side. “She’s so cool,” I tell him, eyes wide. He chuckles. I put an arm around his broad shoulders and squeeze. “You are too,” I promise him. “Thanks for sticking with me.”

He shrugs under my arm. “You made it easy,” he says. A lump forms in my throat, knowing that Beck made it anything but.

“Come on.” I start pulling him towards the door. “Or we’ll lose your sister to the fans begging for an autograph.”

We walk out together.

*

My player’s box is the fullest it’s ever been, and it’s not because Beck has weaseled his way in. Aurelio, Barbara, Vince, and Tyrese sit in the front, clapping appreciatively when I come out onto the court from the locker room. Alessandro, Aurelio’s father, and Bianca sit right behind them. Bianca stands on her father’s legs when I get to my bench, waving excitedly at me. I wave back, smiling. Aurelio didn’t tell me they were coming to the match. I thought about inviting them but wasn’t sure they’d come since Aurelio isn’t playing. He always says that tennis isn’t their world; they only come to support him.

I guess they’re here supporting me.

There’s one more person in the box, but her back is to me, a curly, gray-streaked ponytail my only clue. I’m squinting, trying to decipher who’s standing between Aurelio and Barbara, as I walk over to the sideline. Aurelio nudges the stranger with his shoulder, and she turns to look at me. Aurelio’s grin should have tipped me off.

It’s Suzy.

I drop all of my rackets on the sideline with a clatter. My tennis bag falls off my shoulder. I walk in a daze to stand below my box. “Suzy?” I look up at her in disbelief. “You’re here?”

She smiles at me, eyes twinkling. “Thank your guy, Amy. He called me earlier this week.”

Of course he did. I look at Aurelio with hearts in my eyes. I hope he knows how much I value his thoughtfulness. He winks and turns to talk to Vince, leaving Suzy and me in our own bubble.

I reach up and she meets me in the middle, leaning over the railing to hold my hand. I squeeze hers gently. “I’m sorry it took me so long, Suzy. I’m sorry I didn’t figure it out sooner.” I look at her regretfully. I have to blink back a few tears. I can’t be crying when I hit my first serve. “I’m sorry I treated you so horribly when you left. You did nothing to deserve it.”

She’s shaking her head before I even finish. “I’m sorry, Amy,” she tells me. “I’m sorry I left without really explaining my worries about Beck. I see now that you had the capacity to listen.” She glances at Aurelio, at Vince, at Barbara, at my new family. “I’m proud of you. You’re finally surrounding yourself with the right people.”

When she says right people, all I can think about is the wrong one, my gaze scanning the crowd behind her. I don’t see Beck anywhere, but I hardly have the time to check every seat. He might be here, blending in as I asked. He might also be back on a plane to Malibu, discarding his dad-card forever.

Suzy knows me. She knows what I’m looking for, or better yet, who. “You don’t need him to win,” she reminds me, gently squeezing my hand. My gaze snaps back to her, to the woman who helped raise me.

I swallow a lump in my throat. “I invited him to come here and be my father, not my coach.” I confess to her. “I guess a small part of me thought he might show up.” Suzy makes a sympathetic noise, but I wave her off. “But you showed up, Suzy, and so did the rest of my family. I have everything I need.”

Her eyes soften. “I really think you do, Amy.” She squeezes my hand one more time, then drops it. “Good luck out there. I mean it.”

I take a step back from the box, wanting to look at all of them as long as I can. Only Suzy looks back at me, the rest of them talking excitedly and looking around the stadium. My chest warms at the sight, at the reminder that this could be my box for many more years to come.

Bianca finally calls me out. “Auntie Amy!” She points at me sternly from her father’s lap. “You need to go warm up!”

Everyone’s gaze turns to me. Aurelio’s is warm and sweet, just like the day we met.

I want to say something poignant, something that shows them what they mean to me. Instead, I say, too simply, “Thank you all for coming. I love you.”