“It’s tragic what happened to them—do you still keep in touch with Aimee?”
“Unfortunately, no. As you know, I moved away after the accident, started training with another coach, and understandably Aimee was distraught and injured, and after she quit skating, we kind of just lost touch.”
“How annoyed do you think she is, that this interview turned into her talking about you and Asher?” Eloise smirked.
“Oh, I’m sure it’s eating her alive.”
“One last thing before you go hit the ice to warm up—can you make any statement towards the allegations that you and Asher Leland were dating at the time of the accident. Witnesses place you and Asher together multiple times in what could only be described as compromising situations.”
Everything inside me stilled, and we watched the blood drain from Brittney’s face before she plastered on her megawatt smile.
“Asher and I had a connection, and while neither of us wanted to hurt Aimee, we couldn’t deny how we felt about each other. We loved each other, and had the accident not happened, we might’ve been something more.”
“Other witnesses say that they saw you assault Aimee months later—can you say anything to that?”
Brittney’s mask was cracking, you could see it in her eyes, the tightening of her lips into a thin line.
“You say you supported each other unconditionally, but one would argue that you being the other woman her boyfriend was cheating on her with, would not be unconditional support. Nor assaulting her after the fact. You say you worked hard and tirelessly to be here, vying for a spot on the next Olympic Team, and while that is undoubtedly true, the facts say that if the accident hadn’t happened, you wouldn’t have made the team—the spot would most likely be Aimee Bryant’s.”
I choked and Eloise let out a low whistle.
“Whoever this reporter is, I love them,” Eloise said.
“Asher loved me. He wanted to be with me, but felt pressured to be with Aimee Fucking Bryant because they were friends and partners. He was going to break up with her after their performance that day and tell her that after the Olympics she’d have to find a new skating partner. He was going to leave her to be with me, to be my partner. She got to have everything — the best coach, the talent, Asher and the Olympic Dream and then she went and fucked it up and ruined everything with the love ofmy life.” Brittney was borderline raging. Her coach finally came over and used his hand to block the camera, effectively ending the interview.
My hands started to shake, and I felt like I was spiraling. I couldn’t breathe, more fucking tears burned in my eyes. I’m sad, angry, hurt, and fucking pissed off. Too many thoughts, too many feelings. I didn’t want this.
“You know, I take back like, every damn word I said about Asher just now. That stupid son of a bitch—sorry Mrs. Leland,” Eloise fumed.
She’d gotten up and was now pacing in front of the fire, her hands flying all around her and she ranted on.
“And fuck Brittney, too. She’s a fucking snake, and I hope that interview ends her career. And I want to marry that reporter because that was fucking brilliant.”
Tears dripped despite my willing them not to.
“Eloise, I don't want to cry,” I said.
She looked at me, walked over and wiped the tears off my face.
“We’re not going to cry. Asher clearly doesn’t deserve our tears anymore.”
I nodded, though I was still very conflicted. A mix of messy emotions that I didn’t want to analyze. It was really starting to feel like the world didn’t want me to be happy—the minute I started feeling good about things, some kind of shit hit the fan.
“No, you know what we’re going to do. We’re going to get absolutely wasted and spend a girl’s night together. We’ll invite Annalise, get the girls on a video call — you know they’re going to want to go to war on your behalf—we’re going to have to protect Nicola from her — ugh. Orion will be put out because he won’t be invited, but he can take those puppy dog eyes elsewhere.”
Getting drunk sounded like a fantastic plan.
CHAPTER 18
lukas
Aimee was drunk…
No, she was absolutely wasted.
So were Eloise and Orion’s girlfriend, Annalise.
I leaned against the doorframe to the small library space, Orion and I had talked the manager of The Lodge to ‘book’ a private event. Orion had found me after Annalise had come storming into their room in a rage, talking about needing a girls night, because Aimee needed to get drunk. We told Annalise that they could stay in the corner library for the night, and she’d set to work, getting everything ready.
