Lucia laughed. “Perfect. Keep that energy. We’re set up right over here, follow me, please.”
I immediately spotted Kim among the people gathered around the branded step and repeat, watching snowboarders answer questions. I scanned the rest of the crew and finally found Ben toward the back, arms crossed and forehead furrowed.
The crowds and noise and lights fell away while I studied him. I knew without a doubt that I was looking at Ben being benched. The interview action was all up near the step and repeat, where the snowboard team was currently trying to make a human pyramid. Kim was right at the edge of it next to correspondent Maizey Liu, along with a camera crew I didn’t recognize. No Neil and Hailey.
“Excuse me for a sec,” I said to Erica, and she nodded without looking at me, totally focused on snowboarder Kyle Hobbs.
I fought for control of my body as I got closer to Ben, because we were in a public space surrounded by a billion phones. The narrative about the two of us had a life of its own, but I wasn’t about toadd new chapters by getting cozy with him. If anyone was watching all they’d see was a friendly drive-by at a socially acceptable distance apart.
He was so locked on to the action that he didn’t see me approach or notice when I paused next to him. I was almost afraid to interrupt his hardcore staring.
“Hey you,” I finally said.
He jumped. “Oh,hey!”
His expression immediately relaxed into the Ben I’d become oh so familiar with, as if seeing me was the antidote to whatever poison his body was processing.
Ben moved a half step closer to me but maintained the buffer. “You look fucking amazing,” he said quietly.
I ran my hand down the front of my cobalt velvet dress. “This old thing?”
The corner of his mouth tugged up. I knew exactly what his devilish expression meant.
“How’s it going?” I jutted my chin toward the action.
His smile disappeared. “I wouldn’t know. They’ve got me riding the pine.”
My stomach clenched. So my theory was correct.
“Any clue why? Because your episode is doing great. People love it.”
“Ourepisode,” he corrected me. “And I’m not sure. But it’s fine, don’t worry about me. All good. Maybe Maizey was feeling left out or something?”
His reassurances sounded genuine but the cloud of frustration remained.
“Ben...” I began. I glanced around and moved closer to him. “It’s me. You don’t have to fake it. What’s going on?”
He locked on to me, his eyes stormy. “Quinn, everything is fine, I promise. This setup is our final one for the night. I’m not hungry so I’m probably going to head out before they start serving dinner. You need to focus on the event and have fun. Drink it in. It’s for you.”
“Eh,” I tipped my head back and forth. “It sort of feels like it’s for our host, not us.Everythingis branded.” I pointed to the table of Vox Telecom water bottles behind him.
There was a fine line between celebrating the athletes and making us props in their content, and while I was honored beyond belief to be at the Games, it felt like the dinner had been born in a boardroom.
“I’m leaving with you.”
“Quinn, no,” he insisted. “Stay.”
I shook my head. “I don’t want to be here. I’m overstimulated. I’ll just say I need to rest, and we can hang out.”
He sighed warily, because it wasn’t what we’d agreed to.
“C’mon,” I said, poking him in his stomach, which was unsurprisingly rock hard. “Let’s play hooky. Isn’t that sort of your brand?”
I could’ve sworn I saw tension flash across his face. “I haven’t been that guy in a long time.”
I’d accidentally discovered a pain point. I backtracked. “Sorry, you’re right. Correspondent Ben is nothing but professional.”
“Hey, Quinn? We’re ready,” someone called out, and the crowd in front of us turned around to stare at me.
