Love Match Read Online Free PDF Page B

have to ask what her friend was talking about. She knew. And she didn’t want to discuss it.
    â€œLook,” Cleo said. “This isn’t up for discussion. I’ve still got the taste of Vegan Velvet cupcake in my mouth. It’s going to take some real food to get rid of it. Besides, I just won the Junior Invitational. There are some people whose faces I need to rub my victory in. You’re not going to deprive me of that, are you?”
    Maya was stuck. She had been avoiding places like the Underground for the past few weeks. Basically, she’d stayed away from anyplace she might run into
them
.
    But Maya was tired of hanging in her dorm room when she wasn’t on the court. She also didn’t want to stop Cleo from having the fun she so totally deserved in light of her win. Part of her wanted to watch Cleo as she reveled in that victory.
    And part of her hoped she might run into the guys she’d been working so hard to avoid.
    Even though it was late on a Sunday night, Maya knew the Underground would be packed. It was the best hangout on campus and nobody ventured off school grounds on the last night of the weekend because of early Monday-morning training sessions.
    Everyone was going to be there. Which meant
they
were going to be there. No doubt about it. Maya hadn’t worked up the nerve to walk through the front door yet, and her friends were starting to notice.
    â€œHow many shoes do you have down there?” Cleo asked. “It’s sure taking a long time to tie them.”
    Maya finally stood. “Sorry. Just want to make sure everything is good and tight.”
    â€œUh-huh,” Cleo said, nodding. She wasn’t buying it.
    Maya couldn’t hide behind her training any longer. The Ontario Open was over. Sure, the Skyborne Cup was coming up and there would be another tournament after that. Tennis didn’t have an off-season like other sports. But that wasn’t thepoint. She couldn’t hide from her life anymore. No matter how much it improved her game.
    Maya took a breath and started to cross the small parking lot with Cleo and Renee by her side. “I can do this,” she said to no one in particular.
    â€œOf course you can,” Renee replied.
    Cleo let out a snort of sarcasm. “Yes, I believe you can manage—Look out!”
    A car horn blared. Tires screeched. And a cobalt-blue Audi R8 swung into the parking spot Maya was about to cross in front of.
    â€œHey!” she yelled, jumping back with her friends. It took all her control not to fall back on her butt. Her legs strained as she gave her muscles an even more intense workout than she’d had in the game.
    The driver’s window went down and a perfectly manicured hand waved backward at them. “Sorry. Wanted to get that spot before anyone else.”
    Maya didn’t recognize the car, but she knew the voice. Nicole’s direct flight must have gotten in early.
    Nicole liked to celebrate her victories with a major purchase. This was the second car she’d bought in the little time that Maya had known her. She probably had to keep winning tournaments to have any money in her bank account.
    Maya wondered how it was possible that she had the time to buy it. She must have preordered the car before the tournament and had it waiting for her when she got off the plane.
    â€œYou like?” Nicole stepped out onto the asphalt in a slinkyblue dress that matched the car’s paint job. She was way over-dressed for the Underground.
    â€œStarting your fleet?” Cleo quipped.
    â€œI traded the Aston in,” she said. “It hasn’t been running right since it got that ding in the side panel.”
    Maya rolled her eyes. She used to be embarrassed by that ding, which she had caused. But Nicole was being ridiculous. The barely noticeable flaw was minor cosmetic damage. On the other hand, Maya was glad that Nicole had not decided to sue. She could see the drama queen