12. Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Bri
It’d been a week since Bri had spent quality time with Drew. Luckily, it had left her time to complete the proposal for how to fund scholarships for the family center back home in Westridge and send it to her dad. But truthfully, she missed Drew.
She’d seen him at the occasional dinner with his family. However, most days he was gone, practicing with his crew for the Fenimore Regatta. They typically only practiced once a week, but in the weeks leading up to today’s race, they’d been on the water constantly.
After seeing him every day during her first week living in Hillside Cottage, it was weird to be without him. It also didn’t do anything to help their image as an engaged couple. They couldn’t prove to the media they were in love when they were so infrequently seen together. But today there was a one hundred percent chance they would be photographed together at the Fenimore Regatta.
Bri wanted to look her absolute best while supporting him, so she’d worn one of her more formal outfits. She’d donned an elegant pale-blue wool midi-length coat dress in the color of Glencrest’s flag. A matching fascinator, nude suede pumps, and her engagement ring completed the look. She wondered if Drew would appreciate the care she’d put into choosing the perfect outfit for the day’s event.
I shouldn’t care if he likes my outfit. We’re only friends.
She reached up, adjusting her fascinator as Bastian grunted from the seat beside her in the back of the SUV.
“Do you have something to say?” she asked.
“You’re making me anxious with all your fidgeting.”
Bri shook her head, biting back a smirk. “Surely adjusting my fascinator isn’t enough to worry a strong bodyguard like you.”
He deadpanned. “Do you want to talk about why you’re so fidgety?”
She wished she could share everything with him. It was nice having Rosalie to talk to, but she had her own family and life in another country. If someone in her everyday life knew, it would make things a lot easier. But she’d made a promise to Drew, and she intended to keep it.
“I’m just nervous about what I’m wearing. I’ve never attended a regatta before.” Her stylist had selected three options for the event, and Bri had changed a handful of times before settling on this outfit. But now she was second-guessing it.
Bri had taken the time to learn about the rules of rowing because she wanted to show an interest in what Drew cared about, but none of her research had indicated anything about appropriate clothing for spectators—especially a spectator who was the best friend and fake fiancée of one of the rowers, who also happened to be the future king of his country.
“You look fine,” Bastian grumbled.
She pursed her lips. “That makes me feel so much better.”
“You know what I mean. Nice or cute…or whatever.”
Bri leaned over and patted his arm. “You should stick to your day job.”
“That’s the last time I ask a question,” he mumbled under his breath.
The car rolled to a stop, and Bastian quickly exited the car, holding the door open for her.
She made her way to her designated seat beside Drew’s parents, King Maxwell and Queen Lily, Bastian following closely behind.
“You look lovely, dear,” Lily said.
Bri released a relieved breath as she sat down. Drew’s mother looked as regal as ever today in a black-and-white polka dot ankle-length dress and a white ascot hat, so praise from her meant the world to Bri.
“Thank you.” She rubbed her hands along the skirt of her dress, hoping she could play the role of doting fiancée today.
I can do this. I can pretend to be in love with their son.
“I can’t wait for the regatta to begin. I think Drew’s crew has a chance at winning today.” Lily leaned closer to her. “Especially with you here. He’s going to show off for his fiancée.”
Bri smiled at Lily. Her knee began to bounce up and down in nervous anticipation of the event—and of all the cameras that would be trained on her and Drew. “I’m happy to finally see him compete.”
In all the years they’d been friends, she’d never had the opportunity to see him compete in a rowing event. She was happy to have the chance to watch him while she was living in Glencrest. It was a normal thing for friends to support each other at events like this, so she tried to focus on that.
Lily placed her hand on Bri’s knee, stopping the bouncing. She gave Bri a sympathetic look. “There’s no need to be nervous, dear. Drew will be overjoyed, win or lose, because you’re here.”
Bri bit the inside of her lip. She hated lying to their families.
Lily looked over Bri’s shoulder and smiled. “It looks like you have some surprise visitors.”
“Surprise visitors…” She stood and turned just in time to catch Addie as she launched herself into her arms, squeezing her in a tight hug.
“Bwi! I love your dwess.”
“Thanks, Addie girl.” Bri leaned back, holding the young girl against her stomach so she could look at her. “I like yours too. You look beautiful in purple.”
“I know.” She flipped her hair, and Bri set her back down with a laugh. “It’s my favowite color.”
“My girl is as sassy as ever.” Rosalie smirked before pulling Bri into a warm hug.
Colin stood closely behind them, his hands now on his daughter’s shoulders. He offered a nod and a quick, “Hi, Bri.”
“It’s good to see you again,” she said warmly.
“I thought I’d say hello before the race starts.” Rosalie wrapped her arm through Bri’s. Colin leaned down and pressed a kiss to Rosalie’s temple before scooping a squealing Addie up and walking to their box.
Rosalie pulled Bri back a few paces away from Drew’s parents. “How is engaged life treating you?”
She looked around them, making sure she wouldn’t be overheard. “Can I call you tomorrow morning? I would love to hear your perspective about a few things.”
“That should work for me.” Rosalie checked to make sure no photographers were around them before waggling her eyebrows. “It sounds juicy. I can’t wait.”
“It is.” Bri breathed out a sigh of relief, knowing she could unload all her confusing thoughts soon. “How’s married life?”
Marriage looked great on her friend. Ever since her arranged marriage to Colin had blossomed into a love match, Rosalie had become even more of a ray of sunshine than she’d been before. Today, her auburn hair framed her face in soft curls, the perfect complement to her simple white floral dress.
Rosalie’s gaze turned dreamy as she looked at Colin’s retreating form. “It’s wonderful. I feel like I was born to be a wife and a mom.”
“You really were. How’s the sweetest five-year-old around doing? I miss her.”
“Addie’s wonderful. She’s growing like a weed and still as precocious as ever, as you saw.” Rosalie laughed lightly. “I’m so thankful and honored to be her mama.”
“She’s blessed too.” Bri smiled, happy to see her friend so full of joy. “Oh, Drew wanted me to ask you…do you know if Wes has a thing for Annalise or Josephine? He said Wes looked embarrassed when Liam mentioned they should hit him up.”
“Really?” Rosalie cocked a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “I’ll let Colin know and see what he thinks. I’ve been dying for Wes to settle down so we can have someone to double date with.”
“I think the race is getting ready to start,” Lily called back to them, pointing to the water.
“I should go find Colin and Addie. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” Rosalie gave her a quick hug and left.
Bri returned to her seat next to Lily and gazed out at the river. The races were fast—most crews covered the two-thousand-meter course in under ten minutes, so the day passed by quickly. Bri cheered when Drew’s crew won their first heat against Findorra and their second race in the semifinal against Rothwell.
Teams from Wistonia, Edgemont, Westridge, and Meldovia were eliminated, leaving Glencrest, Drew’s crew, to race against Bristol for the championship title.
Once both crews’ boats were ready, the starter’s voice sounded over the speakers around the river. “For the championship title, we have Glencrest and Bristol. When both boats are straight, I’ll start you by saying, ‘Attention. Go.’”
Each coxswain held up a hand in the air until they were ready.
Finally, the starter said, “Attention…Go.”
Then both crews were off, rowing hard in their first drive. At the one-mile marker, Bristol’s team was ahead by a few seconds, but Glencrest had a great rhythm going, and she knew they had a shot to come back and win the race.
Bri crossed her ankles and yelled, “You got this, Drew!” Even though she knew he couldn’t hear her, it felt right to cheer for him. She saw Lily nudge Max’s arm and could feel them watching her as she cheered for her best friend.
As the teams neared the final stretch, Bri was amazed to see Drew’s crew picking up speed. Their strokes were smooth from the catch to the finish. They looked clean and synchronized, moving together as one. With only seconds to spare, Glencrest’s boat pulled into the lead. The boats were finally close enough that when Bri spotted Drew in seat five, she couldn’t hold back her excitement.
“Yes! Go, Drew!” Bri cheered, jumping out of her seat. This was no act. It felt natural and good to be supporting Drew at this monumental event in his life.
She clutched Lily’s hand just as Glencrest’s boat crossed the finish line a mere second before Bristol’s. Bri threw her free hand in the air and cheered for her best friend, smiling widely as his teammates slapped the water in excitement over their win.
When they were free to get out of the boat, Drew jumped into the water instead of onto the platform, swimming straight toward her.
He emerged from the water, his white tank clinging to his torso. Bri couldn’t help but let her eyes roam over his body, taking in his chiseled arms and the outline of his abs. Since when does Drew have abs?
Their entire childhood, he’d been scrawny. But the man walking toward her with water dripping off his body was muscular and confident. She was speechless.
Bri tried to shake away the thoughts flooding her mind. There was no way she could have a real attraction toward her best friend.
This is all fake , she reminded herself.
Except, it didn’t feel fake. Not when she had a stirring feeling inside her she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Not when Drew sucked in a sharp breath when she called him her fiancé. Not when he shielded her from the press and held her hand. Not when she saw him step out of that water, looking like a Greek god.
Bri looked forward to her call with Rosalie tomorrow because she desperately needed to vent about what she was feeling. Things were getting confusing.
She looked back at Drew and found he was only a few paces away. Her mouth fell slightly open when she spotted the blue-and-green bracelet on his wrist. The threads were faded, but she recognized them nonetheless. It was the friendship bracelet she’d made for him over a decade ago. She had no idea how it had remained intact for so long, but the fact that he still wore it all these years later had a blush covering her cheeks.
With as much calm as she could muster, Bri put a smile back on her face and clapped for him. When he reached her, Drew pulled her into his arms, wrapping her in a tight hug. The clicking sound of cameras erupted nearby.
She sucked in a gasp as the cold water quickly soaked through her coat dress. “You’re freezing, Drew,” Bri squealed in his arms.
He pulled his head back with a laugh and looked right into her eyes. “Then I guess I need you to warm me up.”
He’s only saying this because we’re in public . But Bri couldn’t rid her mind of the niggling thought that right in her arms was exactly where he wanted to be, regardless of who was watching.
A shiver spread through her body, and it wasn’t because of the cold water soaking through her dress.