The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 104

Garnett gripped his racket. "Lavinia, you're with me."

"No." Lavinia turned her head, her ponytail swinging in an arc. "I want to be on Saul's team."

Garnett frowned. "Why?"

"I'm terrible at it, and you'll just criticize me," she said matter-of-factly.

Saul chimed in, "Come on, Lavinia. Be on my team. I've got you covered."

Garnett gave them a long look but didn't push it.

The club manager immediately summoned a female hitting partner. She wore a pink tennis skirt so short it bordered on scandalous, revealing a flat, toned stomach. As she jogged over, she practically bounced, bending low enough to flash her cleavage as she flashed a bright smile. "Mr. Harper!"

Garnett gave a curt nod.

Charley sat on the sidelines, phone in hand, but his eyes were locked on the scene unfolding. A lot of tennis clubs had recently hired these types of 'hitting partners.' With the nightlife industry taking a hit, it seemed the club hostesses had simply rebranded.

The match began. Lavinia truly was terrible; every swing either sent the ball flying wild or straight into the net.

On the other side, the hitting partner was running all over the court, making every single save look like a sultry stretching routine.

When she picked up a ball, she deliberately crouched right next to Garnett, tilting her head up with a sickly-sweet voice. "You're so amazing, Mr. Harper. Playing with you makes me feel like my own skills are leveling up!"

Garnett didn't look at her, simply twirling his racket in his hand.

"That backhand you just did—I couldn't even see the ball before it flew past me." The woman took a half-step closer, her shoulder brushing against his arm. "You must play a lot, Mr. Harper. Your physique is incredible."

Garnett gave a faint smile. He didn't step away, nor did he respond.

The woman crouched to pick up another ball, bending even deeper this time. Garnett caught it out of the corner of his eye but didn't let his gaze linger, turning his attention back to Lavinia's side of the net.

The score disparity was brutal. Lavinia and Saul had been completely blanked in the first set and had yet to score a single point in the second.

Suddenly, Saul's phone rang.

Charley casually raised his racket. "Sorry," he said mildly, then gestured for the caddy to throw him another ball.

Lavinia blinked, completely stunned. She turned to him. "Did that not count?"

"No. They weren't ready," he replied evenly.

Lavinia stared for a second before doing a tiny, excited fist pump. "That was amazing! That was an ace, right?"

Charley offered a small smile. He bounced the new ball twice and reset his stance.

Smack! Another blistering ace. This one shot right through the narrow gap between Garnett and the hitting partner, scoring the point instantly.

Garnett's jaw tightened dangerously. First a flawless golf game, now aces on the tennis court. Was this guy just here to humiliate him?

The old, bitter resentment from high school—the frustration of constantly being second-best to Charley on every single exam—came rushing back.