“That was a bad hit, man. He clearly crossed the line. They need to fine his ass for that.”
“You and I both know they’re not going to do that.”
“If you were MVP of the league like Brady, they probably would.”
“Well, them’s the breaks. The MVP is beloved by the entire league and I’m… well, you know what I am.”
“You’re the future of this league. Don’t forget it.”
I can tell that Rivera has something more he wants to say because he’s blowing smoke up my ass. I’m just not sure what it could possibly be.
“Jett, I need a favor from you, man.”
Here it comes.
“You need a favor from me? What is it?”
“It’s really a favor for my wife.”
“I can’t say no to Carla. Just tell me what it is and I’ll do my best.”
“She needs you to go out on a date with a woman.”
“A friend of hers?”
“No.”
“Someone terminally ill?”
“No, it’s not like a last wish type of thing. It’s a favor for a friend. She owns a matchmaking agency and asked Carla if we knew any players that would be willing to go on a date or two.”
For a split moment, Adrienne’s face pops into my head. If I were to go on any sort of a real date, I’d rather it be with her.
“Rivera, I don’t think–”
“I know it’s a big ask, but Carla never asks me to use my celebrity for anything. The woman who owns the agency gave a big contribution to the Alliance last year, so I couldn’t say no.”
“But why me? Coach T wants me to lie low while I’m injured. I can’t be videotaped or anything like that.”
“You wouldn’t have to do any pictures or video. The dates are all private, and we agreed they can be at places of your choosing for the sake of privacy. The owner wants to be able to say that her client roster includes prominent NFL players and actually not be lying on the advertisement copy.”
“But I wouldn’t be a client.”
Women who go to matchmakers want what they paid for… a damn match. I am somebody’s one-night stand, not a happily ever after. And did he say dates as in plural?
“On paper you would be.”
“She couldn’t use my name.”
“She wouldn’t, not without your consent.”
“What do the women look like?”
Rivera laughs. “It’s just a night or two out of your life. Show the woman a good time and you’re done. Does it matter what she looks like?”
“And what if she falls madly in love with me?”
He laughs again.
