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“Yes. Do you know who she is?”
"Everyone knows who Astrid is,” I say. “She's like Tom Brady or Michael Phelps or Simone Biles. She’s so big and popular that everyone knows who she is, even if they're not a fan of the sport."
I don't follow sports. I'm vaguely aware of team names simply because my family is full of football, hockey, baseball, and basketball fans. But Astrid Olsen really is that big. She was a favorite for the Olympic Gold, but she fell during the qualifying round and was badly injured. The fall happened on live television and was replayed over and over and over. Everyone in the US has seen that clip. Her rehabilitation was covered extensively, and she is now an advocate for athletes with disabilities and is a national speaker and book author.
"So that’s Linnea’s sister. Linnea is Alex and Astrid’s agent,” Charlie says.
“Oh.”
“Torin and Linnea’s families are really close,” Ami says. “Their grandfathers were best friends. She and Torin are…” She swallows. “…together right now. Here in the States. On some little vacation.”
I reach behind me, finding the shelves of seedlings, and slowly sink to the ground, my phone still in front of me. My stomach feels like I swallowed a rock. My heart actually hurts. Because…I believe this.
He needs to get married.
He and Linnea have been friends for a long time.
He asked me and I said no.
Clearly, he asked a woman he knows well and likes. And she said yes. Because she’s obviously a very smart woman. Who wouldn’t want to marry Torin?
You. You said no. Remember?
“How do you know about this?” I ask.
“There’s this podcast out of Cara called Wait ’Til I Tell Ye. They talk about all kinds of things, but they cover politics and celebrity gossip and that includes Linnea’s brother and sister and…the royal family. According to them, everyone always hoped Torin and Linnea would get together, and they’re thrilled. The palace has made two official statements. The first one just said that they’ve been friends since they were kids, and the palace is happy they’re spending time together. But there was another one yesterday. It basically said that the royal family already considers Linnea a part of the family.”
My whole body suddenly hurts.
What the hell? He’s been texting with me. He’s been on the phone with me. He told me I was ‘spoken for’. And all this time he’s been here, in the U.S. with another woman? A woman he’s going to marry? That feels really icky.
“Then I was concerned because I knew he’d flirted with you,” Charlie goes on. “And Leo said Torin had been looking for you the morning after the wedding.”
My heart beat stutters. Torin had told our grandfather he’d been looking for me? My face gets hot thinking again about what happened in the foyer of Leo and Ellie’s house.
“What did you do?” I ask Charlie, knowing my big sister’s concern would lead to some kind of action.
“I asked Fiona what the deal was.”
I take a deep breath. Torin’s sister would know. “And?”
“Torin doesn’t want to marry Linnea. But the king expects it to happen and he’s not turning over the crown until it does.”
“Torin would be a really good king I think,” I say quietly. I do think that. He wants programs like my farms. That shows very good judgment in my opinion.
Charlie frowns. “So what the hell is Torin doing sending you boots?”
I take a deep breath. “That is a really good fucking question.”
“Oh, Abi,” Ami says, her voice gentle. “You look really sad.”
“I feel really sad,” I admit. Which is stupid. I knew we couldn’t flirt, or even have a fling, forever.
“You really like him?”
I nod. “But I’m also…really…” I frown. “What is he doing? He’s cheating on his fiancée with me? Even if he doesn’t want to get married to her, that is not okay.”
“Well, the engagement isn’t official,” Charlie offers. “It’s an arranged marriage between their grandfathers.”
