Settling the Score (The Summer Games #1)(103)

“There was a part about the doctor being in love with Caroline since college. Oh, and apparently Georgie dressed up and recorded them admitting to faking the pregnancy!”

Holy shit. Georgie did it.

I LOVE YOU GEORGIE.

“You can read the rest on the plane!” Kinsley continued. “Get to packing!”





CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR


Andie




THINGS I CARRIED with me off the plane in London: - The 2mg Xanax my seatmate offered upon hearing the condensed version of my story - An abysmal understanding of the London transit system

- A healthy dose of panic and anxiety (see: why I held on to the Xanax)

- My iPhone loaded with the theme song from Rocky, Wonderwall by Oasis, and Your Song covered by Ellie Goulding - A text message from my mom that read: “This is crazy. You cannot fly halfway across the world and show up on the doorstep of a man you hardly know. What do you think will happen once you get to London?! You need to call him first! Meemaw is having heart palpitations.”



My mom was wrong. She had to be. Freddie’s article was his way of putting the ball in my court. He’d gotten rid of Caroline and he’d all but shouted to the world that he wanted to be with me. It was my turn to show him I was capable of a grand gesture. After my plane landed in London later that same day, I pulled my luggage into the first bathroom I found and glanced in the mirror. Oh, sweet Jesus. The long flight had done a number on me, and without a deep clean in a shower, there wasn’t much I could do. I washed my face and swiped on some mascara and blush. I could feel the woman beside me watching me freshen up, and when I finally glanced over and met her eyes, she smiled.

“Going somewhere fun?” she asked as she washed the soap from her hands.

“Umm…well.” For some reason I couldn’t come up with a lie on the spot, so I shrugged and told her the truth. “I’m going to try to find the man that might be the love of my life, now that his ex has been outed as a psychopath.”

Her mouth dropped open in shock and I laughed, trying to ease the awkwardness.

“Oh my lord…you’re—”

I cleared my throat and nodded before she could even say it.

“Right,” she said with a conspiratorial smile. She rifled through her purse and handed me a can of dry shampoo. “Here, take this dear.”

I glanced up at my reflection and took note of my rat’s nest. “Ah, good thinking.”

She nodded and patted my shoulder. “You’ll knock his socks off, I’m sure.”

I sprayed in some dry shampoo and pulled my hair up into a messy bun. After a dab of perfume behind my ear, I pulled my luggage out of the bathroom behind me and headed for the taxi line out front.

I felt good, like maybe I wasn’t a crazy person for flying to London without Freddie knowing. If Random Bathroom Lady believed in me, then this would surely work out in my favor.

“Where to?” the cabbie asked as I slid into his back seat and pulled my suitcase in after me.

“Miss? Where to?”

He stared back at me in the rearview mirror and I froze, unable to give him an answer.

“Oh. Right.”

I had no clue where Freddie lived. How had I not thought this far ahead? Maybe because I’d shoved clothes into a suitcase, hightailed it to the airport, and jumped on the plane just as they announced the final boarding call. Now I was in London with nowhere to go.

“Ma’am, where do you want to go?”

“I actually have no idea,” I said with a tight, strained laugh as I opened the backdoor and pushed my luggage back out onto the sidewalk. I probably looked like a whack job, and truthfully, I was starting to feel like one.

I stepped back up onto the curb and dropped my suitcase beside me. It was 9:00 PM London time, and I wasn’t sure if Georgie would have her phone on her, but I tried her anyway. The traffic around the airport made it hard to hear the phone ring, and for two seconds I feared I’d be stuck on that sidewalk with nowhere to go. I’d have to find a random hotel and stay the night like a lonely loser.

“ANDIE!” Georgie squealed into the phone. “Took you long enough!”

I sighed with relief at the sound of her voice. “Hi Georgie.”

“I take it you’re phoning to shower me with praise on my excellent detectivating?”

“Uh, well…yes, something like that.” I glanced around. “I’m actually in London.”

She screamed so loudly into the phone I had to hold it away from my ear to keep from going deaf. The few people hovering on the curb beside me, waiting for their taxis, sent me awkward glares.

“Georgie, stop screeching.”

“Where are you!? I’ll come round and pick you up.”

“I’m still at the airport. My plane landed like thirty minutes ago.”

“You’ve come for him haven’t you?” She sounded so excited by the prospect.

“Unless he’s already found someone else?” I joked with a flat, anxious laugh.

“Are you kidding me? The prat has been lolling around his flat like the world is ending. He’s clearly been waiting for you to call, and any time I try to go over he nearly bites my head off about giving him space and what not. It’s all been very dramatic, I assure you.”