Chapter Text
It’s a perfect summer day in the middle of August for tennis and Victoria can’t wait to get outside. Since she graduated college and started medical school, Victoria has been on a journey to discovering what brings her peace outside of work. Around three summers ago, she started picking up tennis with the help of her dad—much to her mom’s dismay.
You need to focus on your residency!
We don’t have time for hobbies in our line of work.
You’re already losing sight of what’s important.
I’m very disappointed in you, Victoria.
Her mom’s words ring and chant viscously in her head even now as she throws on a pleated white skirt and a matching light blue and white tank top. She shakes the thoughts away, grabbing a scrunchie to tie up her hair when her phone rings. Eyes widening at the contact and peeking at the time, she scrambles to get on her socks. On the last ring, she answers.
“Hey Joy…”
“Oh hey stranger. Almost thought I was getting stood up.”
Victoria laughs, placing the phone between her shoulder and ear as she grabs her water bottle, keys, and shoes by the door. “Nope, just running late per usual. Sorry I’m on my way now.”
A few weeks ago, Victoria spent a shift complaining that her dad was siding with her mom against her hobbies. Overhearing the rant, Joy stepped up and offered to be her new tennis partner. Now, whenever they have free time this summer, the two spend it playing together, growing much closer as friends.
Joy chuckles, knowingly. “All good…we have a slight problem though.” Victoria’s stomach plummets, and her hand drops from the doorknob. She hasn’t played in literally forever and all she wants to do is take out these past few nightmare shifts on the fuzzy green balls.
Victoria braces herself as Joy continues, “There seems to be a senior league pickle ball tournament happening at the park and…Ugh! They’re using all the courts.”
Victoria exhales, thankful their plans are still salvageable.
“No way! How fun,” she says. “But don’t worry. If you don’t mind the extra few minutes on the drive, there’s another park closer to my place that has courts.”
Victoria sighs softly at the memories the park brings back. Early morning walks with her dad. Brutally competitive short-court tennis games they used to play when they were first starting out.
“Oh, thank God,” Joy says, relief clear in her voice.
“I’ll pick you up on the way. I’ll be there in under ten.”
“Perfect. See you then!”
****
“You doing alright, Javadi?”
They had just wrapped up their game, both sweaty and exhausted. The first set was close; Victoria won 7–5, but in the second set, she crushed Joy 6–2.
Joy peeks over at Victoria with humor but the slight furrow in her brows makes Victoria feel exposed. Victoria turns to face her, sighing and smoothing sweat back into her hair.
“I’m…” she starts, suddenly feeling bad for not warning Joy beforehand.
“I mean that’s the hardest I’ve ever seen you hit the ball…I guess this is a healthier way to release some pent up aggression but…” Joy trails off with a hearty laugh which makes Victoria smirk and turn her palms up with a shrug that says ‘well you’re not wrong.’
“Yeah I’ve just been feeling so mentally drained. My parents are…exhausting. Work hasn’t helped.” Victoria looks up with a humorless laugh. “These last few shifts…These last few weeks…They were hard. I don’t mean to make tennis my punching bag but it’s sort of becoming that for me.”
“I completely get it,” Joy says, looking at Victoria with empathetic eyes. “I mean The Pitt is a lot. I honestly can’t believe how long some people have been working there. It’s admirable as it is insane.”
Victoria laughs softly.
“…And I know from what you’ve told me that your mom is still giving you shit about the emergency psych residency?”
Victoria sighs, rolling her eyes. “She still thinks she can somehow convince me otherwise. Both of them. But I think I’ve made up my mind. And like he said, I have time!”
“Who said?” Joy asks, confusion clouding her expression.
“No one. Never mind.”
“Well if it counts for anything, I’m proud of you, Vic.” Joy says. “But if this is your version of rusty, I’m terrified for the real deal.” The two laugh, finally finding the energy to peel themselves off the bench and dry their sweat.
After they’ve shagged all the balls, Victoria walks to the parking lot with Joy, handing her back the ball hopper. “You sure you don’t need a ride?” Joy asks. “I promise you’re not that far out of the way.” “No, no, I’m really good. I need the walk. It’s a beautiful day,” Victoria insists. She pulls Joy into a mutually sweaty hug, neither seeming to mind. “I’ll see you next week?” “Next week,” Joy says, smiling before getting into her car and waving goodbye.
Victoria grins to herself, already feeling much better about today. She decides to take the long way home, heading through the park instead of around for some extra steps. Fishing out her bag for her airpods, she pops one in and starts playing some music on her phone. With After The Storm by Kali Uchis in her ears, she hums along, feeling floaty and way less tired than she was a few minutes ago.
“AND ONE! AND FUCKIN’ ONE!”
Victoria looks ahead, smiling to herself. The sounds of scuffing shoes, trash talk, and dribbling fill the air instead of her music as she makes her way closer to the basketball courts. Since Victoria started coming to this park with her dad, there always seemed to be a million guys playing out here for hours. In the past, she had never gotten the chance to watch before, so she decides to stop by the fence for a few minutes to take in the action. There’s a freedom to basketball that Victoria has always admired. Everyone plays with so much confidence and joy that she almost feels jealous of them.
“Don’t stop talking shit now, Diaz. I wanna hear ya!” someone calls.
Victoria hears a familiar bark of laughter. She freezes for a moment before quickly tracking her eyes to the players. Tanned skin, broad shoulders, and thick biceps instantly come into view and Victoria almost feels lightheaded. And he’s…shirtless. Oh my God. To her, Mateo moves in slow motion. He dribbles with experience and precision, athleticism on full display as he finishes a reverse layup at the rim.
Victoria watches as he simply shrugs with a smirk, backpedaling down the court on defense. She spots Donnie and the hot EMT with tattoos on the opposing team and covers her mouth, laughing quietly to herself. This is better than she could’ve imagined.
“Shut up!” Donnie bites out. “Ain’t say a word,” Mateo says, coolly while guarding the tall, tatted man. It dawns on her that they’re now on her side of the fence and she could be seen. She battles with wanting to get his attention or leaving beforehand. The choice is made for her when she sees Mateo glancing in her direction. Victoria offers a small awkward wave and smile, feeling caught and embarrassed.
Mateo beams in surprise as he recognizes her, abandoning the game and jogging over to the fence, leaving Hot EMT wide open to score.
“Teo, what the fuck?!” his teammates complain.
“Dude!”
“One sec guys!” Mateo calls over his shoulder. Victoria feels a rush of anticipation as he stops in front of her. His curly hair is nearly sopping wet, thin headband not doing much to help the sweat dripping onto his face. Her eyes fall to his chest and abs, widening at the fullness of his pecs and sharp angles of his V line. His arms now cross over his chest, highlighting his biceps and shoulders. Victoria starts shaking her head at the sight because it’s so not fair.
“My eyes are up here, Dr. J.”
Victoria’s eyes snap to his, breaking out of her trance, and she’s met with an amused stare and his signature smirk, his dimple—her greatest weakness—on full display.
She can feel her cheeks heating up, and she wants to crawl into a hole and never be seen again. But it’s too late to pretend like she wasn’t just checking him out.
“Oh, I’m aware,” she retorts, crossing her arms in an attempt to really sell her indifference. Mateo’s smirk breaks into a full surprised laugh, almost as if he’d been expecting a much more awkward response from her.
“Well, I guess we’re both distracting each other now,” he says, leaning casually against the fence.
Victoria swallows, her mouth suddenly dry as she clears her throat. His scent drifts closer, a mix of salty, clean, and faintly sweet in a way she’s starting to recognize as just…him.
“Looks like it,” she manages out, voice feeling tight against her will.
Mateo drops his head in a silent laugh. “What are you doing out here?” Victoria is thankful for the subject change. This she can handle, this she can do. “Played some tennis with Joy earlier. Are you guys winning?” She nods at the guys, now all taking a break as they wait for Mateo.
“Well we were…til someone made me lose focus and Manny scored,” he says with a huff, looking over at him.
“Oh that’s his name…Manny,” Victoria says, following his line of sight and waving shyly when Manny makes eye contact. She doesn’t miss Mateo’s jaw tick and him slightly moving over to block her view of Manny. “What? I just didn’t know!” She assures, grabbing onto the gate to move closer into Mateo’s space.
“Right…anyways. Whatchu got goin’ on the rest of the day?” Mateo says, a soft smile returning to his face. “Nothing much. Was gonna get some food after this, then go home, shower, and relax.” Victoria suddenly feels hyper aware of how sticky she is from the drying sweat and she prays she doesn’t look and smell as disgusting as she feels.
“Well our game’s almost over…” He says, trailing off.
“Okay…” Victoria says, slightly raising her brow in question.
“Could you stay for a bit? And then come with m- with us to get food?” Good. A group. I can do that, she thinks. “Yes, that sounds good. I’ll be right here.” She awkwardly gestures to where she’s standing, already internally kicking herself for that.
Mateo bites back a grin. “Okay, I’ll be over there,” he points to the court, “whipping up on these old heads. Back in a bit.” He leaves with a wink and Victoria is grateful he walked away before she could embarrass herself or say anything any further.
The game is intense for the last ten minutes. Both teams are scoring, no one can get stops. She can’t see the score board from where she’s standing but she knows it must be tied again or close. Finally after what feels like forever, Mateo’s team breaks ahead and they win.
Victoria starts walking closer towards where the guys have their stuff on the end of the small bleachers. Donnie and Manny look so salty and start ranting about the game at Mateo and she overhears Donnie say, “It’s because Javadi’s here. I was doing just fine til she showed up.” He throws his hands up in frustration.
Victoria gapes. “How rude Donnie? Don’t put that on me!” she calls out and Mateo and Manny burst out laughing. “Yeah she’s my good luck charm not yours, Donnie.” Mateo says, meeting Victoria’s eyes with a soft expression. She quickly cools her gaze, not wanting anyone to notice the butterflies swarming in her stomach at his words.
Mateo breaks eye contact at the sound of Donnie snickering. Victoria glances over at the other two guys, both of them sharing a knowing look.
“Anyways…” Mateo starts, shooting Donnie a pointed glare. “Do we wanna grab a bite to eat?”
Victoria doesn’t miss the way Donnie and Manny immediately side-eye each other before Manny answers, “I would, but I gotta get my ass home. You know…stuff to do.” Manny starts gathering his things, throwing his sweat towel over his head.
Donnie nods along. “Yeah, gotta get back to the wife. But y’all two have at it.” He flashes Mateo a sly grin as he and Manny push themselves up from the bleachers. The three of them dap each other up.
“Aight, I’ll see y’all next week, yeah?” Mateo says, briefly glancing over at Victoria.
“Oh yeah, for sure. Gotta get my lick back,” Manny says, rubbing his hands together with a look that means business. Mateo shakes his head, waving them off before finally directing his full attention back to Victoria.
“What are you in the mood for?” he asks softly, his expression neutral.
“Oh—uh…something heavy? If that’s okay? I think we both earned it,” Victoria says, amusement clear in her voice.
Mateo grins widely. “Ohhh yeah. I’ve got just the spot.” He opens his bag and pulls on a white sleeveless tank top, which does absolutely to conceal his chest.
Victoria subtly draws her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes tracing the stretch marks lining his shoulder. Get it together, she thinks, forcing herself to drag her gaze away from him.
Mateo, completely oblivious to her thoughts, slings his bag over his shoulder. “Ready? I’ll drive.”
“Yeah. I didn’t bring my car anyway. I live close to here.”
“All good. I’ll take you home after.”
The two make their way over to his car, and Victoria can’t help the sudden wave of nerves twisting in her gut. Sure, they’d hung out before, but always in a group setting, or at least with someone else around.
Ever since her coffee date disaster on her first day at the Pitt, she’d gotten really good at setting boundaries with herself and respecting Mateo’s ‘No Dating in the Workplace’ rule. So why does this suddenly feel like the walls she’s worked so hard to build around him are starting to crack?