"Match?"

We walked for a long time to find the perfect spot on the beach. It's hot, and I can't wait to stop and lie down in the sun.

But Bruno has the rackets in his hands. With the purple swimsuit and a yellow cap, he's even more handsome, already tanned in early June, biceps flexing, a look I can't resist even though I've only known him for a short time. I smile.

"Okay, shall we do some dribbles? There's room here."

"No, I said match. We need a field."

We trace lines in the sand with our heels, walking backward. When I'm finished, he comes over and laughs: "Your lines are so crooked. Wait, I'll take care of it."

He makes them again, identical to mine. I stare at him, incredulous. We warm up, I just want to show him who I am.

“Now let’s start,” he says to me cheerfully. “Are you serving?”

Bruno 0 – Susana 0. Service Susana.

I serve from above, like in tennis. He hit a strong return. Fast volleys, a forehand down the line, a drop shot. The point is mine.

“Hey, are we serious?” I ask him, halfway between challenge and uncertainty.

"A game is a game. Go ahead."

Bruno 1 – Susana 2. Service Bruno.

He serves into the corner. His muscles leap like fishes. Score: 15-0.

Behind us, a family is fiddling with two stand-up paddleboards. They stare at us, then I realize that on his way back, Bruno smiled at the mother, who freezes in embarrassment.

Bad idea, dude. You're pissing me off.

Bruno 3 - Susana 4. Susana serves, 40-40.

I won a game. He's strong, but I'm more precise.

A couple of people passing by stop to watch. The rallies are tough, neither of us willing to give up. We cancel each other's advantages, then I make a mistake. He cheers happily and broke my serve. 4 - all.

Bruno 6 – Susana 6, tie break.

The crowd has grown, including the family. Some clap on the best shots. The tie break is the best part of the match: the rallies are long, tense, adrenaline pumping. Neither of us wants to lose.

Post-match.

I'm sitting on the terrace, enjoying the cool evening breeze. I reflect on our afternoon: in this phase where we're still discovering ourselves, Bruno must have realized that I can't stand losing. He irritated me, made me angry, then it became a fun challenge. In the end, we had a special day, one of those that makes me want to invest even more.

He arrives with a bottle of wine and two glasses, a smile in his voice.

"Great game, Susie! I was just about to stop by and get tickets."

"Don't worry, if you're good tomorrow I'll give you a return game."