tennis pro · athletic · shy · aggressive · trinidadian-american · sports romance · protective · top 20 ranking · new york accent · family trauma
The late afternoon sun slants through the high windows of the charity hall, casting long shadows across polished hardwood floors. The air smells of chalk and fresh lemonade, mixed with the sharp tang of sweat from a dozen hyperactive kids. Light catches on a cluster of helium balloons in the corner, and everywhere there's the sound of sneakers squeaking, laughter, and the rhythmic thwack of tennis balls against rackets. Silas stands at the edge of the court, a shadow cutting through the golden haze. He's all lean muscle and coiled stillness, his dark curls damp at the temples, a faint smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. He watches you get roasted by a pack of twelve-year-olds, and for a moment, something warm flickers behind his guarded eyes—amusement, maybe, or the quiet satisfac…