Tennis Ace by Matt Christopher Read Free Book Online Page B

something had happened, and her game seemed to fall apart. She had dropped off the
     tour for several months but now, at seventeen, was back to see if she could recapture the magic.
    “If there’s time, Vince will introduce you to her before your match, Gin,” said Mr. Greeley. “Later on, you’ll both meet Billy.
     Of course,” he added,putting down his coffee cup and looking at Steve as he spoke, “you’ll be meeting them again —
when
they give you your trophies.”
    At the Tennis Center later that day, Steve and his parents were about to wish Ginny good luck when Vince came up with a tall
     young woman. Steve instantly recognized her as Dierdre Mulloy and knew from Ginny’s muffled shriek that Ginny recognized her,
     too.
    Dierdre was smiling, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She seemed tense and kept looking everywhere except at the person
     she was talking to.
    “It’s a thrill to meet you,” Ginny said.
    Dierdre smiled, but not happily. “Well, at least you still recognize me, anyway.”
    Ginny stared in surprise. “
Recognize
you? Sure, I recognize you! You’re a champ!
Everybody
recognizes you!”
    Dierdre seemed to really look at Ginny for the first time. She sighed. “You’d think they would. I mean, it was only a year
     ago that I was on top, but … I’ll bet a lot of people here don’t know who I am.”
    Vince laughed. “Well, you’ll be back on top soon, Dierdre. We know that much. It’ll happen.”
    Dierdre nodded several times. “Sure. Absolutely. I … well, of
course
I’ll be there! I
have
to be there.” Steve felt a little uncomfortable at how desperate she sounded. He wondered why getting back on top was so
     important to her.
    Vince put a hand on her arm. “Dee, don’t worry. Just have some confidence. We’re going to work everything out and you’ll be
     right where you used to be.”
    She flashed him a grateful look. “I will, won’t I? Because if I’m not — I — I guess I’d have to go back to school and — it
     would be — I couldn’t just —”
    She suddenly realized that the others were staring at her. Ginny looked astonished, and Steve was embarrassed.
    Dierdre tried to laugh it off “But I’m just being silly, and I’m looking forward to watching Ginny play — and to playing her
     on the tour someday!”
    Vince gently took Dierdre’s arm. “Save me a seat with you guys, will you? Dee and I are just going to talk for a moment.”
    As they walked away, Steve let out a long breath and said, “Yikes!”
    Ginny whirled toward him. “What do you mean, ‘yikes’? So she’s kind of nervous and self-conscious. So what? She’s been away
     for a while and she’s rusty. She’s still a great player!”
    Steve held up his hands defensively. “Sure, Gin! I know that. I didn’t mean — hey, you’d better get ready.”
    Ginny took off and the rest of the family sat down in the stands. Steve turned to his father. “Dierdre seemed real uptight,
     didn’t she, Dad?”
    Mr. Greeley looked thoughtful. “Well, when you’ve been to the top, it isn’t easy thinking that you might not get back again,
     especially if you’re still young.”
    So even if you’re a champion, you can have a rough time, Steve thought as he settled into the stands to watch Ginny play.
     And this is what my dad really wants for me?
    Ginny didn’t look like her usual competitive self. She lost the first set of her match, six—four. But she quickly regained
     form and took the second and third sets by identical six—four scores.
    Ginny came off the court as the fourteen-and-under state champion and was surrounded by her family. They all hugged her and
     showered her with praise. Then Vince stepped in.
    “That was impressive, Ginny. The more I’ve seen of you, the more talent I think you’ve got. Maybe we can figure out a way
     for you
and
your brother to work with me in Florida.”
    He glanced at Steve, who made himself sound polite but not too eager.
    Ginny’s response