Page 40 of Drop Shot
I sit there quietly, listening to them chat. I don’t interject, because frankly I’m scared of the conversation turning to Elias and me again.
Our food arrives and that thankfully adds another layer of protection since we’re all so hungry we’re too busy stuffing our faces to talk.
Outside the restaurant, I hug each of the girls.
“You’re coming to the match tomorrow, right?” Ebba asks, referring to the quarter final Elias is playing in.
“Of course.”
That’s what I’m being paid to do, I think to myself.
“Good.” She smiles and pulls me in for another hug. “See you there.”
“See you.” I wave as her and Sabrina head down the other side of the street.
My shoulders sag when they’re no longer in sight.
This lying to my friends thing is a whole lot harder than I thought it would be.
CHAPTER 12
WHIMSY
The Miami heatis threatening to suffocate me and it’s only March. The weather today is particularly brutal with not one cloud in the sky for coverage. If I wasn’t having a flare up, I don’t think I’d be handling it quite this poorly. I fan myself as conspicuously as I can.
The match is close to finishing up if Elias keeps his wits about him. He’s two points ahead of his opponent in the final set and he only needs another two points in order to win the match. But I’ve seen some crazy things happen in a tennis match, so his win isn’t guaranteed until it’s over.
Ebba leans over and I get a whiff of her floral perfume. With the headache that’s pounding behind my eyes it’s almost too much. “Are you okay?” she asks softly.
“Fine. Why?” I lie.
“You don’t look very good,” she says.
I pout my lips in her direction. “Rude.”
She swats my knee lightly. “You know what I mean.”
“I’ll be okay,” I say. “It’s just been a long match.”
She doesn’t look like she believes me, but she quiets and focuses back on the game. Hopefully the match distracts her enough to keep her attention off of me for the duration.
When Elias pulls out the win he raises his hands in the air, clapping with the crowd. I feel incredibly happy for him any time he wins because I know how much it means to him, but somehow, it feels different now that I’m not just his assistant. I know our romance is fake, but I already feel like I can call him my friend when I wouldn’t have before.
Since Elias is heading into the semi-final he stays on the court for a quick interview. He answers the interviewer’s questions, but his eyes narrow in my direction where I sit in his players box. I squirm beneath his stare. I don’t like that he can see right through me.
He finishes his interview and waves to the crowd before he gathers up his stuff and heads down the tunnel.
“I need the restroom,” I say to Ebba before making a quick exit.
I manage to get out ahead of her before she can question me, and enough people file in behind me that I know she won’t be able to catch up if she tries.
I think I’m in the clear as I skirt past the bathrooms, heading for one of the indoor areas reserved for players, their teams, and VIPs. Once I get somewhere cool and dark it’ll get better.
Elias comes out of nowhere. One second, he’s not there, and the next he’s grabbing my arm and pulling me off the path and around the side of the building.
And to think I was so close to AC.
“What are you doing?” I hiss at him. He’s sweaty, his shirt sticking to his skin. “Why aren’t you in the showers?”
