IN WHICH Dani Lopez reunites with former friends and a former lover at a small town Challenger

━━ PRESENTING

THE ASSASSIN

DANIELLA 'DANI' LOPEZ

( sofia carson )

THE FIRE

ART DONALDSON

( mike faist )

SUPPORTING CHARACTERS OF GAME, SET, MATCH

TASHI DUNCAN ... Zendaya Coleman

PATRICK ZWEIG ... Josh O'Connor

MARIELLA LOPEZ ... Salma Hayek

FLAVIA LOPEZ ... Penelope Cruz

━━ PROLOGUE

DANIELLA LOPEZ was a winner. And there was no doubt about it.

Yet she still had her own issues that made her feel like a loser. One of them standing on the court at the very moment. Now, Dani didn't have a lot to complain about, obviously, but she did complain about Art Donaldson anytime she saw his stupid face.

He was ridiculously gorgeous with light blue eyes and curly strawberry-blonde hair. Or at least he did back when she knew him better. Now he'd cut it. She didn't like it cut.

Her eyes assessed his frame as he waited for a serve to come from his opponent. His former best friend, Patrick Zweig. The game had been tense and Art was losing. Patrick, being the cocky bastard he was, was smirking like he'd already won.

Dani didn't know why, they still had a whole 2 sets to play. And in tennis, anything could happen.

As the serve came, a healthy rally came about. Dani inhaled deeply as she watched, back and forth. Her eyes eventually found the other side of the court, where Art's wife sat, clear annoyance on her face.

Tashi Donaldson, previously Duncan, was an evil bitch.

But there was a time that Dani had thought of her like a sister. Even now, Dani could still read her like an open book. She was pissed that Art was losing, but even more pissed at Patrick. For what Dani couldn't tell that much, but she'd been assessing Tashi's mannerisms since the match had started. Her eyes would flick to Patrick ever so often as if she were waiting.

Sensing someone was watching her, Tashi's head turned and they met eyes. Tension crackled between them from opposite sides before Dani's lip twitched into a small smirk. Tashi's eyes narrowed and her smirk widened. Dani winked at her before averting her gaze to Art, who'd just lost another point.

His jaw clenched tightly as he grasped the ball for his serve. Similarly to his wife, he locked eyes with the ravenette and she offered him a small smile.

Dani's mind flickered to the night before in the elevator.

"She said she'll leave me. If I lose tomorrow."

"Where is she?"

"Don't know. She left an hour ago. She's so fucking complicated to be with," he muttered, leaning back against the wall.

"I could've told you that ten years ago, you didn't have to stop the elevator just for that," Dani replied in annoyance.

"I want her to leave."

"Well that's fucked up. Don't you have a daughter?"

"I'll take her," Art shrugged, "Tashi never wanted kids anyway."

"Why are you telling me all this shit like I'm you're fucking therapist," Dani snapped suddenly.

"Because I fucked everything over. I was selfish and stupid."

"Are you about to confess your love for me?" Dani chuckled.

"Do you want me to?"

"No."

"Why not?" Dani sighed in response. She had thought about this moment probably a hundred times. Of the day he'd come back into her life and tell her it had all been a mistake, that he loved her more than he did Tashi. That he never should've let her go. But now that it was here, she didn't want to hear it. Because she'd already been hurt by him before. And she didn't want it to happen again.

"Because it's ridiculous," Dani replied, leaning forward and restarting the elevator. He gripped her hand and pulled her forward into his chest

"Do you not love me anymore?"

She reared back, "You are married."

"Only for so long."

"You are so..." she shook her head as she tried to find a word, "Messy."

His brows furrowed in confusion as his head tilted, making him look like he was a teen again, like a confused puppy.

"There is quite literally no other way to describe your actions besides 'messy'. And I don't think I can deal with your bullshit anymore."

"Only for a few more minutes," Art whispered, "Please." His blue eyes shined with swirling emotions she could barely make out as they passed. He leaned down just slightly and his lips brushed hers. Even the slightest contact made her weak in the knees. She felt like a teenager again, pulled into the whirlwind that was his aura.

Once he made sure she didn't pull away, he kissed her softly, pulling her into him. His arm wound around her waist and she sagged in his arms.

Their lips moved in perfect synchronicity, like two sides of a coin. Made for each other.

The utter wrongness of the whole situation appealed to Dani more than it should've, in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to stay in his arms for the rest of the night. To have him kiss her like she was his everything and to hold her as if he could never let her go.

And yet she pulled away, turning her head.

"As much as I hate her, I couldn't go what she did to me."

The elevator door dinged and she detangled herself from him.

"Do you think it matters if I win tomorrow?" he asked suddenly, stopping her in her tracks.

"Why would it? You're a great player, you don't need to win a stupid challenger just to prove that," she muttered before exiting without another word.

And with that Art knew he'd made a huge mistake, all those years ago.

Dani was brought from her thoughts as Art glanced away and served.

PLAYLIST

001. judas by lady gaga

002. womanizer by britney spears

003. if you think I'm pretty by artemas

004. 365 by charlie xcx

005. make you mine by madison beer

DISCLAIMERS

All rights go to Luca Guadagnino and the creators of Challengers. I only own Daniella Lopez and any other characters I have added.

This book contains; swearing and sexual context

ESTABLISHED — May 23rd 2024

PUBLISHED — August 23rd 2024

STATUS — Ongoing

COPYRIGHT © CHERXE 2024

COMING AUGUST 2024