Booked & Busy ? Devin Booker

Three days had passed since Whitney's win in her opening singles match and the momentum carried her through her next two matches, securing victories in her doubles match with CoCo Gauff and her second singles match. Although she hadn't seen or heard from Devin since their last encounter, she and Tyrese had stayed in touch through texting.

After her latest win, she stepped out of the locker room to find Tyrese waiting in the hallway. "Hi," she greeted him with a smile.

"Hi!" Tyrese responded, pushing off the wall where he'd been leaning. He took the duffle bag from her shoulder and slung it over his own just like last time. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her shoulders. Whitney allowed her head to rest on his chest, just under his chin, and they both lingered, savoring the warmth of the embrace.

"So, I take it the video helped?" he asked, looking down at her with a smile. The comfort of his hold made Whitney reluctant to pull away.

"It did!"

The night before, USA basketball had won their first game against Serbia, and Tyrese had sent her a video of her favorite player, Kevin Durant, wishing her luck and saying he was a fan. He told her to kick her French opponent's ass and even called her "Whit" like they were old friends. She figured Devin tipped him off about the nickname which added a personal touch that made it feel even more special.

After a moment, Whitney gently pushed against his chest. "Alright, Haliburton. You can't hog all my post-win energy!"

"Fair enough," he chuckled, releasing her but keeping a hand on her shoulder. "You know, I've been thinking about that coffee we talked about."

"Is that so?"

"I figured since we're both the best in the world," he said, his tone light and playful, "we can't just have regular coffee. It has to be the BEST coffee in Paris."

Whitney laughed. "Oh, so you're a coffee snob?"

"Absolutely," he admitted. "Only the best for the best and since you've been crushing it on the court, I think you're due for some good damn coffee."

"Hmm," Whitney tapped her chin, pretending to consider his offer. "I think I might be able to swing it."

He grinned, clearly pleased. "I was hoping you'd say that."

As they walked together, Whitney felt heat spreading through her chest. Tyrese was a breath of fresh air and their conversations flowed easily. She found herself relaxing in his presence, enjoying the break from tennis and her complicated feelings about Devin.

After leaving Stade Roland Garros, Tyrese endured a 30-minute drive back to the Olympic Village with Whitney and her coach. Tyrese sat in the front seat while they discussed her previous match in the back. Despite the minimal attention she was giving him, Tyrese didn't seem to mind. He listened to music, occasionally scrolling through TikTok and laughing quietly.

When they arrived back at the village, they went their separate ways with Tyrese promising to text her the details of their coffee date later. Yes, date. He made sure that Whitney knew it was definitely a date, not just a casual hangout.

As she headed back to her room, she replayed their interactions in her mind. Tyrese was making his intentions known and she was intrigued by the idea of getting to know him better outside the confines of the Olympics. She was curious if their connection would last when they got back to the real world.

Later that evening, after meeting with her coach to discuss her next opponent and eating dinner with some other USA tennis players, Whitney felt the need to clear her mind before calling it a night. During dinner, CoCo had mentioned a mindfulness space that was created for the athletes to relax and meditate, and with the hectic nature of the last few days, it was exactly what she needed.