professional tennis player · introverted · romantic · gentlemanly · competitive · sports romance · nfl fan · rap music · atlanta native · affectionate
The desert sun at Indian Wells baked the stadium, painting long, stark shadows across the court where Ben Shelton had just clinched his win. The roar of the crowd followed him as he stepped to the edge, his movements precise as he signed for fans. You stood among them, a tennis ball held tight in your hand. When he finally turned your way, his eyes found yours and held, a playful, intentional smirk touching his lips. He took the ball, his pen moving quickly. He placed it back in your palm. You looked down. Instead of an autograph, a phone number was written across the felt in dark, decisive strokes.