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“I told you this would happen.” It sounds like he’s gritting his teeth while talking.
“Yeah, I get it. So why don’t you tell me how to fix it? That’s your job right? Making this all go away?”
“Oh, there’s a really simple way to make this all go away. End things with the hockey mom. It’s a no brainer. Then, accept the sponsorship from the Franklin Distilleries, and this will all fizzle out within a week. And you and I will be even richer than we already are.”
My heart stops, the familiar sense of overwhelming dread coiling in my gut. I can’t imagine ending things with Andie. I’m pretty sure I’m already in love with her, and I didn’t even think my heart knew how to work like that. But Andie made it beat again, made the blood pump again, made me see everything in a new light. And being with me includes stupid drama like this. Us being photographed, being gossiped about.
And Noah, he’s an adolescent boy, now in the spotlight for less-than-positive reasons.
I should’ve known I couldn’t make their lives better. I should’ve known I’d drag them into my wasteland. Into this pit.
Faintly, I can hear Max yelling at me over the phone, asking if I’m still there. I hang up and let the phone drop to the floor, leaning forward and cupping my face in my hands. I just need the world to fade away for a minute while I think. I need silence for my brain to work.
A firm hand grips my shoulder, I know it’s Remy. In a low voice, I hear him say, “How can we help?”
CHAPTER 29
ANDIE
“It’s gonna be okay, Andie.” Noah consoles me. I should be the mature person here. The one telling him it’s going to be okay. But it’s Monday morning and I still haven’t heard back from Mitch. I’ve tried calling and texting. Nothing.
“I know. You’re right,” I tell my brother with the best smile I can muster. He arches an eyebrow, obviously unconvinced. I continue packing his lunch for school and he heads toward the front stoop where he waits for me in the mornings when it's not too cold. He and Dad used to sit there together in the mornings while Dad drank his coffee.
I manage to drop Noah off at school and make it back home, my brain is in such a thick fog, I barely remember the drive there and back. Thank goodness for muscle memory. I head straight toward the home gym, knowing I’ll feel more clear-headed after a good workout.
Starting with pull-ups, I add my band for assistance. My arm strength isn’t as good as my leg strength, but my goal is to do pull-ups unassisted soon. I wonder how many Mitch can do with those big arms? I groan. Stop thinking about Mitch!
When I’m done with a set of pull-ups, I move on to Arnold presses. Halfway through my set, I hear my doorbell ring. I throw my weights down and rush to the door, hoping Mitch will be there. Even though I know he’s in Canada and has a game tonight.
I swing open the door and find Melanie there. I blink in surprise but she steps inside and pulls me into a hug. “Hey, I saw the article and got your address from the guys.”
I melt into her arms and return the embrace. It’s nice to be comforted by a friend. “I’m glad you came. Honestly, I'm going crazy.”
We pull back and I lead her into the kitchen. “You want coffee?”
“I’m okay,” she says, taking a seat on a bar stool. I sit beside her and she looks at me, her eyes full of concern. “The guys said Mitch is a mess.”
My eyes blur with tears. “He won’t talk to me.”
“Oh, Andie. I’m sorry.” She pauses. “Maybe he’s just overwhelmed and needs to clear his head?”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I know this isn’t my business, but he’s working on his temper, right?”
I nod.
“So, it makes sense that he’d allow himself time to think instead of lashing out at someone he loves.”
My heart does something funny when she says loves. It feels like it’s pumping extra fast and twisting at the same time. “Maybe. I just want to talk this out. It’s neither of our faults.”
“It’s not. The media can be brutal.” Her eyebrows go up when she says it. “West’s reputation before we got together was less than stellar.”
“Really?” I ask, feeling surprised. They just seem so perfect, it’s hard to picture either of them before they were engaged.
“Oh yeah.” She releases a small laugh, but there’s no humor in it. “When we started dating, an article came out about how I was his newest bed warmer… well, that’s putting it nicely. It was humiliating.”
“I bet. That sucks.” I grimace. “I know what that blog said about me and Mitch is bogus, but it surprised me. Like, I just wasn’t expecting to be in the public eye so soon, and in such a negative way.”
