Page 109 of A Summer of Stars

A knock at the door made us both jump. “Uncle Kieran, are you in there? Mila can’t get Dru to stop crying!”

“I’m coming,” he answered through the door. His face somber now, he told me, “I’ll let you get ready.”

“So you’ve been pining over him for ten days now?”

“Dad, that’s not at all what I said,” I huffed, pressing my headphones further into my ears as I swung the racket again, the machine across the court spitting out another ball.

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack.Then a pause as the machine stirred. I took it as a moment to come up with a better response.

Coach stood at the side looking less than impressed. I told him I could multitask. Good for vascular health. The machine quieted before shooting another ball to the right of the court. I lunged, sending it back.

“Fine, what did you mean, then?” he responded over the call.

“All I meant was that I haven’t heard from him.” I swung the racket again, the ball going high this time.

“It sounds like he’s giving you space because you asked for space.” His voice sounded the same as it always did when he had to explain something that he didn’t think needed explaining.Luna, you’re in a bad mood because you haven’t eaten. Luna, the chair is falling apart because you didn’t read the instructions.

“Well, I didn’t expect this much space!”

“Drop shot this time, Luna!” Coach ordered.

I ran to center court, swinging the racket parallel to my knee.

“Why don’t you just tell him that, then?” Dad offered.

“Because apparently I told him I wanted space! I can’t change my mind now, he’s going to think I’m insane. I should stick to what I said: focus on tennis and let him spend time with his family.”

I was so close to my best ranking, I could taste it. It was sweet and addictive. Being the sixth best woman’s tennis player in the world again was right under my tongue. It fueled my energy, which had been pulsing all week, waiting for the final, five days and two matches away.

“I don’t think that’s a problem seeing as you’re playing in the final.” I extended my right arm out, reaching for the ball. “Why can’t you just be honest with the man?”

“We’re not even in a relationship, Dad, that would be weird,” I panted, racing to the other side of the court. The ball flew over the net, hitting the clay court. “Like the time Walt had a crush on Sarah Anthony, do you remember that?”

“Was that the girl Walt asked your mother to bake cookies for on Valentine’s Day?”

“Yes, her! Walt would stare at the back of her head every day but talked about her as if they were married. It was so weird.”

“Your brother was a weird kid in general. He treats his cats like children. You and Kieran are both adults, so you have no excuse.”

“But I just met his entire family. That’s overwhelming enough.”Swing, hit.

“How was his family?”

“They were fun and loud and kind. But his father wasbrutal.”

“Why’s that?”

Forehand. My knee was beginning to throb. “He does everything in his power to make Kieran feel ashamed about his career and treats him like a child because of it. It’s like he has no desire for his son to be happy.”

“Sounds like he needs a reminder of what being a father is about.”

“That’s exactly what—” I stopped, letting the ball bounce behind me. “You’re a genius. Can you do me a huge favor?”

“Kieran Alexander Spotted at Luna Aldridge’s Madrid Final”

—The (Pro) Tennis Club

“DAY FOURTEEN OFthe Madrid Open, and Luna Aldridge is one match away from winning her third consecutive trophy here. If I’m not wrong, this would bring her ranking to number eight. Just to remind you, Greg, number six is her personal best, and that wouldn’t be hard to surpass if she keeps this up at the US Open next month.”