Page 76 of Drop Shot
My heart and a little bit of my annoyance softens at his offer. “No, but thank you. A wing is really hard to do so…”
“So, you wouldn’t want me to mess it up?” He stands to his full height, smiling down at me. “That’s okay. Do you want me to call Ebba to come?”
“No. She doesn’t know, remember?” I drop the eyeliner back into my makeup bag.
“I know, but I thought maybe you could say your hand is cramping or something like that?”
I shrug. “It’s a good thought, but I’ll be fine.”
Elias eyes me up for a moment and sighs. “I’ve got to head out. I’ll see you in my box, I guess?”
“Yep, I’ll be there.”
He nods and he looks like he wants to say more but holds himself back.
When the door clicks shut behind him, I let out a tiny sigh of relief. A lone tear leaks out of the corner of my eye. I’m being silly. It’s not the end of the world that I can’t apply my eyeliner, but man does it feel like it today. Not being able to do something so basic is what bothers me.
I clasp my hands together and take a deep breath.
Finishing my makeup, I sort through my clothes and choose one of my—well, Elias’s—recent purchases. A 2005 Chanel balconette dress. It was a stellar find in a thrift shop here that only caters to luxury goods. Lucky for me the dress was in my size. Elias still paid a pretty penny for it despite its thrifted status.
With the dress on, I carefully select a pair of heels. I’m in the process of slipping them onto my feet when there’s a knock on the door.
Abandoning my attempt for the moment, I check the peep hole and find Ebba on the other side. I open the door and step aside to let her in.
“Did Elias ask you to come?” I blurt out.
She gives me a perplexed look. “No. I thought we could head over together.”
“Oh,” I say softly. “Yeah. That would be great.”
“I haven’t seen you much lately,” she says, sitting down on the end of the bed.
I pick up my heels and sit in the chair in the corner of the room. I’ve been avoiding her because I’m scared I’ll accidentally let slip that this whole relationship is a farce.
“I’ve been busy.” It’s not a complete lie.
“Yeah, loving all up on my brother.” She visibly shudders. “I love you, Whimsy, but why him? He’s just a stupid boy.”
I laugh at that. “You only think that because you’re his sister.”
“True.” She shrugs. “You ready?”
I swipe up my pass and slide it over my head. “Now I am.”
She stands and flicks the bow that holds the top part of my hair back. “I like the bow. I could never pull it off.”
“I wanted my hair out of my face,” I explain.
We head down the hall to the elevators. “Maybe we could get breakfast together in the morning?” she suggests.
“That would be great.”
I can’t avoid her forever. It looks too suspicious.
The elevator brings us down to the main floor, after a few stops picking up other people staying in the hotel who are attending the Open.
In the lobby, Ebba and I wait for the car to arrive. Across the way I spot Noah with his coach and friend Fisher, as well as Sabrina. Ebba looks that way, eyes lingering on Fisher longer than necessary.
