Settling the Score (The Summer Games #1) - R.S. Grey Page 0,28
my things and then dug into my bag for another shirt since mine was still sticky from practice. Fortunately, I had a clean Lululemon tank stuffed in there. I pulled it on before I turned to assess Freddie. Michelle and a few other rookies had gathered around him. Even Liam was over there, chatting with him about God knows what.
Kinsley tried to catch my eye but I ignored her and tugged my bag over my shoulder.
“Did you invite him here?” Becca asked, running to catch up to me.
I shot her a glare. “Of course not.”
“Well he looks really happy to see you.”
He did. When I looked back in his direction, he’d stood and stepped past the group to get to me. Michelle watched me from over his shoulder with a curious frown. I ignored her and glanced back to Freddie to find a seductive smile stretched across his lips. Yesterday, I’d psyched myself up before joining him for a swim. I’d prepared the whole day, but this—him surprising me at practice—caught me off guard. I’d had no time to neatly compartmentalize him. He was there, standing in front of me, smelling divine and smiling down at me. At least his tush was safely under a pair of jeans this time.
“I thought I’d arrive in time to watch you practice,” he said with a touch of disappointment that didn’t quite reach his smile.
I looked back at the empty field. “Short practice, we just finished up.”
“I can tell,” he said, reaching out to drag his finger across my sweaty bicep. Goosebumps bloomed beneath his touch and I inhaled a shaky breath before working up the courage to meet his eyes.
“Yeah, you might not want to come any closer. I’m still pretty gross.”
He tilted his head. “I didn’t mind yesterday.”
Everyone was watching us. Kinsley and Becca had stopped to join Liam. Michelle and a few other girls were behind them, curious as ever. I didn’t like being the center of attention.
“Did you need something? Or…”
“Well I actually have a light day today. No interviews or anything.”
My throat tightened. I couldn’t have this conversation in front of everyone. I reached forward and tugged his hand to pull him out of the practice facility after me. The sun hit my skin and I inhaled a breath of fresh air, happy to be free from the prying eyes.
I let go of his hand as soon as I realized I still had hold of it. “Sorry, everyone was listening to us and I couldn’t take it.”
He nodded. “I came to see if you wanted to have lunch with me. You haven’t eaten yet have you?”
He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t show up at my practice and invite me to lunch. He couldn’t look like that and smell that good and be that nice without expecting me to fall. I really didn’t want to fall.
I shook my head. “Actually, I’m going to the gym.”
I thought that would end it, case closed, but he smiled wider.
“Brilliant. I’ll bring the protein bars.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Freddie
OUT OF THE two of us, my brother Henry was always the one fit to take over as the heir to our family’s estate. He was born first and meant for the role, but even still, it was never a duty he tried to shirk. He enjoyed the old traditions: the stuffy etiquette rules that bored me, the hunts that lasted four hours too long, and the dinner parties that, to me, always seemed like a chore.
As soon as I was old enough, I moved from our estate and rented a flat in central London. By the time I competed in my first Olympic games, the fate of our family had long been decided: Henry would follow in my father’s footsteps, take over the family business, and later, accept my father’s title.
There was peace in the few years following my father’s passing. Henry ran the Farlington estate as he saw fit and I was free to swim. It was out of respect that Henry and I never discussed his duties. I pitied him for being shackled to our family’s title while I traveled the world doing as I pleased.
When Henry’s heart failed suddenly, it was during a time in my life when I felt untouchable. I’d just finished up at the London Games and I had more medals to my name than most Olympians could ever dream of. I was dating and going out and enjoying my life in London when I got the call that he was