Doubles Tennis

Cassie Del Isla and Serene Siren are waiting for their new tennis coach. They stand side by side, rackets in hand, when Spencer Bradley walks onto the court. The heat hits them at once. Both women glance at each other, then lean in close, arguing in whispers over who gets her first. No agreement, so they turn back to Spencer and let their eyes settle on her. Then they strike. Cassie slides a palm down Spencer’s forearm. Serene steps in closer and murmurs something near her ear. The coaching bag slips from Spencer’s shoulder as each woman claims an arm and pulls. She rocks between them in a quiet tug of war. It only lasts seconds before Spencer laughs low, amused and already flushed, and says she’ll pick the winner herself. She tells them to loosen their grips. They do. Then she slides both hands to their waists and pulls them toward her. Short white skirts shift as knees part on the warm bench. Fingers trace lines under fabric. Mouths find skin. The racket handles drop to the ground. No warm-up drills. Just Spencer guiding two eager clients through the first round before any lesson begins.