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Andrea considered her recent interviews with the Monarchs and the players’ comments. “Barron’s teammates don’t realize he’s in trouble. They think he’s being himself.”
Faith opened her sketchbook. “If his teammates don’t think his behavior is unusual, what makes you think something’s wrong?”
How could she put her instincts into words? As she gathered her thoughts, Andrea glanced around the worn living room. Her gaze bounced off the simple neutral furnishings and lingered on the vibrant accent colors.
“It’s as I explained before, I recognize Barron’s behavior because I’ve been there.” Andrea’s words came faster as she struggled with remembered emotions. “The expectations on you are so high. Fear of failure overwhelms you. Your behavior becomes riskier as you try to compensate for your insecurity and numb your panic.”
Faith looked up from her sketchbook. “But that was your experience. It’s not necessarily what Barron’s going through.”
Andrea couldn’t allow the memories to overwhelm her. “I think it is.”
Faith put down her sketchbook and circled the laminate coffee table to sit beside Andrea on the tan love seat. “Tonight, you convinced a homeless mother running from an abusive ex-husband to move in with you.”
Andrea couldn’t escape Faith’s steady gaze. “We did.”
“Isn’t that one good deed enough? You can’t save everyone, Andrea.”
“I’m not trying to save everyone. I’m trying to help Barron avoid the mistakes I’ve made. You would do the same.”
Faith took hold of her forearm. “Yes, I would. But how are you going to help Barron when he won’t listen to you?”
Andrea sighed. Troy’s distrust echoed in her ears. “He thinks I’m trying to trick him into doing an interview for Sports.”
“Let the team handle Barron.”
“He won’t listen to them, either. They’ve done interviews criticizing him. I have to find a way to earn his trust and talk to him without Troy knowing.”
“And what will you say to Troy when your article is published? ‘Oops’?” Faith’s tone was dry.
“I can’t walk away from Barron.” After her mother died, she’d been alone and afraid, a dangerous combination. Barron seemed to be in a similar situation.
“How many people do you have to help before you can forgive yourself?”
A blush burned Andrea’s skin. “That’s not what this is about.”
“That’s exactly what this is about.” Faith released Andrea’s forearm. “You made a mistake. You’ve paid for it and you’ve learned from it. Stop punishing yourself and move on.”
Andrea thought of the reporters who ignored her during the games. And Troy. He wasn’t aware of her mistakes. But he still challenged her integrity. “I want to. But it’s hard to let go of the past.”
Troy looked away from ESPN’s Saturday morning SportsCenter to answer his cell phone. He recognized the number. “Hey, Rick.”
“Mary left me.” The Monarchs point guard sounded as though he were chewing glass.
Troy scrambled to gather his thoughts. “When?”
“This morning. After she read the latest Insider.”
Troy squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose. He spun on his heel and marched across the hotel room to his laptop. “What did she say?”
He hadn’t given the malicious gossiper any thought this morning. He’d been too anxious to hear what the sports pundits were saying about the Monarchs’ chances of winning their first play-off game in four years. He was pleased the anchors had used the franchise’s new marketing slogan, “We’re back,” in their coverage, but his priorities had been wrong.
“She accused me of flirting with other women.”
Troy froze with his hands above the keyboard. “What?”
“Last night—I mean, this morning—we went to some clubs looking for Barron.”
“Who’s we?”
