Double Bossed

Someone suggested following a pair of pole vaulter twins from Montana who had to travel without their parents because the family couldn’t afford the trip. I guessed that qualified as a tear-jerker. I thought it sounded like something that belonged in Reader’s Digest.

I didn’t know where I would find my story today, but I’d get Vic what he needed. No more renegade investigative pieces. No more going outside the lines. I delivered exactly what Vic ordered. I was determined to be his new go-to girl. I had to count on this salary.

Sure, the baby’s father was a millionaire, but he didn’t know. And what would he do when he found out?

Were we going to raise a baby on two different continents? Were we going to ship the baby back and forth on an airplane? It was crazy. Nothing made sense.

But for the past week when I was with Blaine, I had these moments when I could see it. I could see us together, building a life, raising a baby. I blamed the pregnancy hormones for concocting ludicrous ideas like that.

But he was sweet and funny. He made me laugh when I was angry and annoyed with my boss. He was strong and masculine. I knew he was protective of me, possessive even, and he’d be like that with a baby. But how could I ruin his life like that?

I’d take away the freedom he had. I’d restrain him to a life of parenthood he didn’t ask for.

I walked out of the meeting, ready to search the city for my next public relations campaign.

I looked down when my phone rang. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw it was Blaine.

“Hey, there.”

“Hey, love. How’s work?”

“Shitty. How’s the pool?” I stopped to sit on a bench. I couldn’t believe how much cooler it was this week.

“Jim thinks I can shave another half second off my turn. I’m working on it.”

I imagined his body slicing through the water as his massive shoulders came up out of the water. He was incredible. And for the past week he had been mine. All mine. I never once felt as if Blaine wanted one of those swim groupie girls. We didn’t talk about what this was, but I wasn’t naïve enough to think he wanted something after Rio.

I was a constant while he was here. He needed that to focus on swimming.

“That’s great. I’m heading out to look for a story,” I explained.

“Why don’t you stop by here?” he suggested.

“Because you have to focus,” I teased.

“I focus better when you’re here.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible.” When we were alone all he did was pull the clothes from my body and take me to a new side of paradise.

“Come watch me swim, love. I want you to be in the stands. Tonight is the ceremony and I won’t get to see you. Curfew starts tonight.”

It was going to suck, but from now until the end of the swim finals Blaine was off limits after eleven o’clock. No more waking up together. He offered to sneak me into the village, but that wasn’t going to happen. Not as long as he had a tiny twin bed and a roommate.

“All right. I’ll stop by. But I can’t stay long. I have to work, remember?”

“See you soon.”

He hung up, and I looked for the shuttle to carry me to the aquatics center. I had this funny feeling that I should tell the baby where we were headed, but I stopped myself. Again, I was going crazy.

I climbed onboard and enjoyed the ride through the city.

17

Blaine

Tonight was Opening Ceremonies and tomorrow was my first event. I had one final day to warm up before competition started. And I wanted Ava here.

I couldn’t explain it, but she fed something in me. Calmed my soul. Energized my blood. Fueled my strength. It had only been a week since I had found her again, but it felt longer than that.