I opened my mouth to protest, to argue that I hadn’t done anything yet, but there was no point in lying.
“I’m not going to tell you what to do,” he continued. “I’m your friend as much as I’m your coach. I just think you need to keep your head in the game and leave everything else on the sidelines. You have your first game in two days and the opening ceremonies tomorrow. Make sure your interviews are good tonight at the cocktail party and leave your love life at the door.”
I finished unrolling the tape from my wrist and threw the ball into the nearest trashcan so hard it drew the attention of a few teammates packing up their workout bags.
Listening to Liam, dealing with Sophie Boyle, and living with my own self-loathing was enough to send me over the edge. I didn’t have an ounce of regret as I worded a simple, direct text to Freddie. I pressed send just as I stepped up onto our bus and found the first empty row of seats up front.
Andie: Obviously last night was a huge mistake.
He texted back right away and my blood boiled as I read over the three simple words.
Freddie: No it wasn’t.
The bus pulled off onto the road and I typed away furiously, trying to prove to him how naive he was being.
Andie: You’re engaged for god’s sake, Freddie. I don’t care if you don’t love her. The WORLD loves her. And if anyone finds out about last night, it’s me they’ll go after.
Freddie: I’m betrothed, not engaged. And it won’t be for much longer.
He didn’t get it.
Andie: You’re missing the point. I need to focus on the games, not embroil myself in an international scandal. I suggest you do the same.
Freddie: I’ll be at the cocktail party tonight.
Andie: Great. You stay on one side of the room and I’ll stay on the other.
Freddie: No. I have nothing to hide.
I didn’t bother texting him back. Clearly, he didn’t understand. I shoved my phone deep into my workout bag, so far down that I wouldn’t notice the buzz if he texted me again. I leaned back against the bus seat, stared out at the Rio de Janeiro landscape whipping by, and tried to figure out how exactly I was going to avoid him at an intimate cocktail party without causing a scene.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Freddie
WHEN I’D LEFT Andie at the club, we’d been on the same page. We’d breathed the same air, felt the same things, and agreed that this thing between us wasn’t done—far from it. When I read her text after swim practice, I was shocked to find that so much had changed overnight.
I guessed she’d had time to think on it and in the morning, our actions seemed to take on a new light for her. As for me, I’d woken up wanting her just as badly as I’d gone to bed wanting her.
Which was why I had to ignore her text.
She didn’t know what she wanted, but I knew what I didn’t want to miss.
The cocktail party was something I’d been dreading the last few days. Any event where I had to dress up, plaster on a fake smile, and walk around like a twit answering questions from the press was an event I’d be all right with skipping altogether. But then I took another look at the invitation and saw Andie’s name printed beneath The United States of America. She had been chosen to be their flag bearer. They wanted someone new, with a fresh face and a perfect record. To the world, she was Andie Foster, beautiful American girl ready to take on the world from the front of a Wheaties cereal box. To me, she was more.
I stepped out of the car that had shuttled me and fixed my suit jacket. It was a new one my PR team had packed for me and I wasn’t yet comfortable in the thick navy material.
“So we’ll walk the red carpet, and you’ll answer a few questions and pose for a few photos.” The media consultant was telling me what to expect, but I was only half listening. I’d spotted Andie getting out of the car in front of me. It was pure luck. Fate. She extended one long leg from the back of the car and her own media consultant rushed forward to help her. He was a tall, skeletal bloke with a giant nose and a mobile attached to each hip. He held her hand as she stepped out of the car and I froze, taking in her simple blue cocktail dress. It was modest compared to what I’d seen her in the night before, but it didn’t matter. Her tan legs were enough of a distraction on their own.
“Mr. Archibald, are you prepared to walk?”
My media consultant stepped forward, trying to usher me forward, but I stepped past her grasp and headed for Andie. She didn’t notice me until I was there, taking her free arm in mine and gently pulling her away from her media consultant. Her hands were soft and shaking. I couldn’t tell if she was nervous about the event or about me.
Her coordinator shook his head forcefully. “Ms. Foster is set to walk the carpet alone.”
I smiled and nodded, acting as though I knew exactly what I was doing.