Page 66 of Carrie Soto Is Back

“Failures.”

“They used the worddefeats.”

“I haven’t lost the French Open yet, and they are already counting me out?”

“I told them they were making a mistake. I said, ‘You have a contract with the most talked-about athlete of the year. You want to shoot hernowso that when she wins this summer you have the campaign of the decade.’ ”

“But they didn’t buy it.”

“They would rather wait and see.”

I kick her car door, and Gwen glares at me. “What the fuck are you doing?”

“Sorry.”

“Look, you and I both know Melbourne was the beginning. You will win one by the end of the year.”

“Do you really believe that?” I ask her.

“I believe in you. I think if you say something can be done, it will be done.”

I close my eyes for a moment and wonder how to tell her how much I needed to hear that. But I cannot find the words.

“So, Bowe,” Gwen says, looking at me for a split second before looking back at the road. “How did that all go? He said he got a lot out of it. Was it good? Did it help?”

“It was great, actually,” I say. “It was really helpful to have a sparring partner at that level.”

Gwen raises her eyebrow. “And that’s all?”

I look at her. “I don’t know what you’re getting at.”

“I saw a photo of you two out to dinner in Melbourne. And people are saying he came to your matches. I was wondering if…”

I shake my head. “Mind your own business.”

“Oh, c’mon!” she says. “I could tell that Bowe maybe still had a thing for you. I couldtell.”

I turn to face the passenger-side window and watch us crawl through traffic. We are passing through the industrial side of Los Angeles at a snail’s pace. “You’re creating a soap opera in your head.”

“I really think you two would be good together. He’s rough around the edges, but he’s such a good person—just like someone else I know.”

“Gwen, give it up.”

“I just think it would be nice if you, you know, had someone in your life.”

My hand is on the door of the car, and I find myself tightening my fist. “Are you dissatisfied in your own relationship?” I ask. “Is that why you’re prying into my mine?”

“I’m not prying. I just want to see you happy. Is that wrong? To think it would do you good to be with someone for a change?”

I want to open the door and jump out on the side of the freeway. “You don’t get laid enough, Gwen,” I say, keeping my voice low, not wanting to wake up my father. “I’m going to tell Michael he needs to step it up so you get out of my business.”

Gwen rolls her eyes and waves me off. “Well, excuse me for wanting you to be loved.”

“I’ll just call him and tell him now,” I say. “That he needs to learn how to satisfy you so you’re not trying to live vicariously through me.” I pick up her car phone and hit the speed dial, assuming it will be her husband. It starts to ring.

Gwen snatches the phone out of my hand as Michael picks up.

“Hi,” she says. “Just letting you know we’re off and running, headed out to the…”

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