Freddie

I WOKE UP thinking of Andie, trying to recall the bits and pieces of her I’d found so appealing the night before. She wasn’t like any of the posh British girls I was used to. They’d have willingly thrown themselves over a bridge before tossing their knickers at my head, and yet Andie had done it without a second thought. I was intrigued, but I couldn’t pinpoint what exactly made her so different—the light behind her grayish blue eyes, her confident laugh, or her body. Her body. It’d taken all night to tear the image of her standing in my boxers out of my mind. Now that I was awake, I wanted to selfishly cling on to it, just for memory’s sake. 

My mobile buzzed on my nightstand and I rolled over to find I already had two missed calls from my mum, three texts from my sister, Georgie, and one voicemail from Caroline.

I pressed play on Caroline’s voicemail first, hoping it would realign my world and push thoughts of Andie to the side.

“Freddie! My gorgeous sportsman, I’ve missed you so much. I hope you’re doing well. Give me a ring later. Kisses, Caroline.”

Andie was nothing like Caroline Montague, though maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. I knew exactly what I was getting into with Caroline. She’d grown up in British high society, beloved by everyone. There wasn’t a utensil she couldn’t name, nor a duchess she didn’t know personally. I’d grown up alongside her and knew her to be polite, quiet, and predictable—quite possibly the exact opposite of the enigmatic goalkeeper I’d met the night before.

I pressed delete on her voicemail and then read Georgie’s texts. 

I smiled and sat up in bed. Georgie had been dramatic from birth, though she’d never admit it. I rang her and then reached for my laptop to glance over the day’s itinerary: practice, workout, phone interview, more workouts. I’d be running round the village until supper. 

“FREDDIE!” she squealed after picking up on the third ring. 

I smiled at the sound of her voice. “Morning Georgie.”

“You sound dreadful. What have you been doing all night?”

“Nothing. Honest. I just woke up and listened to a voicemail from Caroline.”

“Oh.”

There was a pregnant pause before she spoke up again.

“Well let’s not talk about that. How’s Rio? Has it given your pale English arse a tan yet? Or have you been loitering in the shade of Christ the Redeemer all day?”

I wiped sleep from my eyes and pushed the blankets aside.

“Honestly, I haven’t seen much of the place.”

She groaned. “What a bore. At least give me some details about the village. Is it just as barking as London was?”

“I’m sure it will be. Last night was…”

I mulled over my previous night, trying to compartmentalize the image of Andie that was fighting its way back to the forefront of my mind.

“Last night was what?”

“I’ve met someone.”

Silence.

More silence.

I pulled the mobile away from my cheek and glanced down to check she hadn’t hung up on me. 

“Georgie?”

“What do you mean you’ve met someone?”

Her usual charm was gone, replaced by a serious tone I didn’t much care for.

“It’s nothing,” I said, trying to backtrack. Maybe it’d been a mistake bringing it up.

“Well ‘nothing’ sounds quite like a girl to me, Freddie, and you haven’t mentioned any of those things in four years. FOUR YEARS. And you think I’m going to let you drop this?”

My stomach clenched. “Just forget I’ve said anything.”

Georgie wouldn’t let it go. “Spill it, Freddie. Who is she?”

I stared up at the ceiling and acquiesced, actually sort of glad to confide in her about Andie. What would it hurt to tell Georgie about her?

“She’s an American.”

“Is her last name Kardashian?”

“No, she’s called Andie. She’s a footballer. You’d like her, Georgie. She’s got a natural thing about her and she’s really talented.”

“Good lord Freddie, you sound like a smitten schoolgirl.”

I smiled. “You’re the one who asked, Georgie.”

“Are you in love already?” she laughed.

My smile fell and suddenly it wasn’t fun to talk about Andie any more. The silence was back, louder than before. Neither one of us was going to utter the words, because we didn’t need to. The idea of Caroline spoke loudly enough on its own.

Finally, she laughed. “Blimey. It’s rotten luck.” 

I’m glad one of us can laugh about it.

“Yeah, well. Really, it’s nothing.” I checked the clock on my bedside table. “Listen, I’ve got to run and get ready for swim practice.”

“Fine. On the contrary, I require a little lie down. Between our nutter of a mum and your dramatic love life, I’m feeling faint.”

I laughed and promised I’d phone her later.

“Wait, Freddie,” she said, just before I hung up.

“Yeah?”

“What are you going to do about Andie? Will you see her again?”

I hesitated before answering.

“It is a rather small village.”