This was a big thing, though. Applying for a promotion and going through an interview process. How is it possible that he didn’t mention anything on the day of the interview? He went into work, nervous and excited, without saying anything. And he returned home from work, relieved it was over, apprehensive for the news on how it went, without saying anything. I must have said something like “How was your day?” and he probably replied something along the lines of “Fine.” How did he not think to tell me?
I was right there.
“If you could be the best in the world at any sport, what would it be?” Leo asks, drying himself with his towel and plonking back down on his lounger.
We had a lovely long lunch earlier, before returning to our places by the pool for a nice nap in the shade—watching Leo try to move the heavier-than-expected umbrella stand toward us without falling in the pool was utterly fascinating, but he got there eventually—and now we’ve emerged from a quick dip and are drying off in the late-afternoon sun.
“Good question.” Ruby ponders for a moment. “Formula One, I think.”
Leo is stunned by this response. “What? Why?”
“Because it’s really cool,” Ruby answers breezily. “I’d be really rich and get to drive really fast.”
“It’s also super dangerous.”
“Yeah, but I’d be the best at it, so my chances of crashing would be slim. Why, what would yours be?”
“Golf.”
“Golf?” Ruby wrinkles her nose. “If you could pick to be the best atanysport in thewholeworld, you’d choose golf? Honestly, Leo, I’m ashamed. I’m not sure we can get married anymore.”
“It’s the obvious choice,” he argues, putting his sunglasses on and brushing his wet hair out of his eyes. “It’s extremely difficult, so you’d be well respected. It’s not dangerous, it’s very calm, and there’s no running necessary. Plus, the prizes are big money. Imagine, traveling all over the world on tours, strolling across those green lawns in the sunshine in the fresh air, playing excellent, satisfying shots. It’s a classy sport.”
“It’s boring,” Ruby says, aghast.
“It’s not boring and if you bothered to watch it with me or try out some lessons, like I’ve urged you to, you would discover that. Although, I’m not sure you have the patience for such a precise sport,” he grumbles. “Freya, what would you choose?”
“This is a very good question,” I declare, lying back with my hands resting on my stomach.
“Yeah, I think it says a lot about a person,” Ruby says, narrowing her eyes at Leo. “Golf?!”
“Tennis would be a good one, because winning Wimbledon looks like an epic moment in someone’s life,” I muse aloud, the others nodding in agreement. “A winter sport might also be quite fun, like ice skating, because it’s very elegant and athletic.”
“Ooh yes, and you get to wearloadsof sequins,” Ruby points out.
“I know,” I say suddenly, clicking my fingers as an idea pops into my brain. “Fencing.”
Ruby blinks at me. “What?”
“Fencing.”
“Why onearthwould you pick fencing?” she asks, bewildered. “Have you ever even done any fencing before?”
“No, but you get to use a sword.”
Leo appreciates this sentiment. “I hadn’t considered fencing. That’s a very good point.” His face lights up. “No pun intended!”
“Ha! Point! Good one!” I say brightly.
“Okay, did you two secretly have wine with lunch?” Ruby asks in disbelief. “You have the opportunity to be the best in the world at any sport and my boyfriend chooses golf and my best friend chooses fencing. What iswrongwith both of you? Freya, nobody has heard of any fencing champions!”
“Well, that’s not true, is it? There’s bound to be diehard fans out there.”
“You’re not going to become rich through being the best in the world at fencing!”
“It’s not all about money, Ruby,” I say, enjoying how baffled she is at my choice. “And I wouldn’t just be awesome at fencing in the Olympics and stuff, I could also be the stunt double for amovie star in their sword-fighting scenes. I could do the choreography for big action movies. Now, that is cool.”
“That’s really cool,” Leo agrees. “And I could be the stunt double for any movies that have golf scenes in them!”
