So heisOK? Then why isn’t he attending?
Not only that, but he must have seen my messages andignoredthem. He knew how important this event was to me, how embarrassed I would have been to turn up alone, and he didn’t even have the decency to tell me? At the bare minimum, he could have sent a short text letting me know he wasn’t coming. At least if we both hadn’t turned up, it would have looked like a joint decision.
My jaw clenched as I scanned the room, futilely searching for Luca’s dark, messy hair. He was nowhere to be seen, setting my teeth on edge. I rubbed my temples, trying to ease the tension building there. No one else had this uncanny ability to make me want to snap and scream so easily.
God, I told my mum, sister, friends, and the damned journalist that he was coming. They’re all going to know he stood meup.
The burn creeping up my neck and cheeks felt like a beacon of embarrassment. Every pulse of my heart felt like a ring of shame in my ears, humiliation twisting through my stomach.
“I wouldn’t take this personally, Matilda.” Jack reached for my arm and held it reassuringly. “Luca is…has some issues. He does some douche-y things sometimes, but he has good reasons for doing them. It doesn’t excuse it, but he doesn’t do it just for fun.”
“What’s the reason for today, then?” I whispered, hoping to disguise the overwhelming panic and frustration in my throat.
“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out, I promise.” I nodded, surveying the room to see if anyone was looking. The burning behind my eyes became impossible to ignore. “Try and enjoy your night. I’ll do some damage control with the press.” I finally looked at him, and his eyes softened. “I promise I’ll make sure that this blows right over. I have a few favors to call in.” All I could do was nod. “Are you OK?” Jack’s brow furrowed slightly.
That was possibly the worst thing anyone could ask when you were on the verge of tears. I momentarily tipped my head back to the ceiling, inhaled, and then met Jack’s eyes.
“I’m fine. Thanks, Jack.” I gestured over my shoulder toward the toilet sign. “I’m going to head to the bathroom and freshen up.” He held my shoulder, offering one final reassuring squeeze, and turned toward the press.
I wasted no time rushing toward the hallway. But instead of turning into the women’s bathroom, I walked straight past and out the back door.
I went to the gymat the studios instead of attending the press event. I could have gone home to work out, but the quiet there felt more oppressive than ever when I’d gotten used to spending all my days and evenings with a certain talkative blonde.
After I’d overheard Matilda’s conversation earlier that day and come face-to-face with her lies, I’d decided I wasn’t going to go that evening.
I don’t know how anyone has worked with him in the past.
Of course I like skating with you…I’m happy with our teamwork.
I’d seen red when I’d caught her out earlier, but it had been the reality check I’d needed. Matilda had started to work her way under my skin, just as Nancy had, so this was a good thing.
To make my already foul mood worse, when I’d tried to call my mom to talk to her about it, a nurse had answered her phone. She’d explained that my mother was fine, but too exhausted to talk. The steady whooshing of her BiPAP machine came through the phone, each breath she took a painful reminder of her fragility, making my eyes sting with unshed tears.
Initially, I hadn’t responded to Matilda’s texts because I knew I would let my anger get the better of me. I didn’t want to argue withher, I just needed to reinsert some distance between us. It wouldn’t look good that Matilda had gone alone, but by the time I’d calmed down enough to even consider showing up for the sake of appearances, it was too late. Traffic in the city was a nightmare, and I’d never have arrived before people noticed.
It was for the better, anyway. I wasn’t sure that I had it in me to pretend everything was fine, especially with her family and the cameras watching. Turning up and letting everyone see the tension between us was worse than staying away.
I tried to push away thoughts of her arriving alone. I considered checking the channel’s Instagram page to see what was happening but decided against it. I wasn’t a fucking teenager.
A stupid voice kept whispering in my ear that I was overreacting—that I shouldn’t have been that angry over someone I didn’t like or trust.
It’s because you do like her and you’d started to trusther.
You’re angry because her words hurt your feelings.
Amping up the speed on the treadmill to a sprint, I willed my mind to clear. The twenty-five minutes I had been running had left me coated in sweat, my shirt clinging to every muscle along my torso.
From where I ran, I had a good view of the dark reception lobby. The gym was on the second floor, and one of the walls was composed of a huge floor-to-ceiling window. Only one security guard was on duty.
I almost lost my footing when a flash of yellow darted through the front doors.
It was Matilda.
I knew this not only because of her wavy blond hair and hurried gait, but also because she dumped a small bag at the guard’s station, which I would have bet had a doughnut in it. Even from here, she looked beautiful.
Has she left the press event early?
Guilt swirled in my stomach, and I shut off the treadmill and bolted after her. I knew she’d be pissed that I hadn’t turned up, but I didn’t think she’d blow off the whole event. I grabbed my gym bag and stormed to the stairs.
