“So, what’s the game plan?” I ask them both.
“Well,” Joyce starts in an uneasy voice. “While you were on the other line, I received a text from Ben.”
Ben is the general manager of the Nighthawks, and messages from him are rarely good news for players.
“What did he want?”
“We’re thinking that this problem may take a little longer than a week or two.”
“But I pay you both to make problems like this disappear.”
“This is different. Lisa Adams is different. She’s a major influencer and right now she can do no wrong. The media loves her. The world perceives her as a woman who was hurt by the big football player with a bad reputation, so we need to be careful how we spin this.
“What did Ben say to spook you like this? Why does the team care about my love life? You saw no one telling Tom Brady how to spin his personal drama.”
“Why does every ball player compare themselves to Tom Brady?” Phillip chimes in. “You’re not Tom Brady.”
“Thanks, Captain Obvious,” I say dispassionately. “Can’t we just get an interview with a reputable news outlet and expose her for the complete fake that she is?”
“No, that would be the worst thing you could do. Her fan base is wild. They travel in packs online and they’d figure out a way to turn anything you said publicly into something bad.”
“So, what’s the solution?” I ask, completely frustrated.
“We think you should lie low. The Hawks aren’t in the playoffs, so it’s an early offseason for you, anyway. Why don’t you take some time off? Maybe attend your friend’s wedding you mentioned a few months ago? You were concerned that you would not be able to make it, but now you can, and I think you should go. Take pictures while you’re there and put them on Instagram. Wedding photos always make people appear happy and safe.”
“Is this your idea or the Ben’s?” I ask, not liking that I’m being asked to stay quiet by a team I give everything to when I’m on the football field.
“It’s been highly suggested by the people who we’re negotiating a four year, one-hundred and ten million dollar contract with,” Phillip adds in a callous voice.
“So, this is about the money?”
“It’s always about the money.”
“I’m paid to play football, not be a role model,” I remind him.
“There’s also a personal conduct clause in every player’s contract you need to be mindful of. We don’t want to give them any excuse to negotiate lower.”
“Both of you really think this is necessary?”
“In my professional opinion, yes,” Joyce confirms.
“Okay.”
“Okay, you’ll be attending your friend’s wedding?”
After my grandmother passed away, there wasn’t much of a desire for me to return to Pennsylvania, so I haven’t seen Kyle Hudson, my best friend from childhood in years. Yet still, he’s getting married to his high school sweetheart and asked me months ago to be his best man. If our team had made the playoffs, there was no way I would’ve been able to do it, but now that we’re out, I can.
“Yes, I’ll be going.”
“Is it in Pennsylvania?”
“No, it’s a destination wedding. I’ll be staying at a resort in Turks and Caicos, but I think I’ll fly to Pennsylvania for a little while beforehand. I haven’t been home in a while.”
“Perfect, just be sure to check in with me,” Joyce advises.
“I will.”
“And Brick?” Phillip adds. “No romantic drama while you’re there, please. One scorned woman is enough and we don’t need any more problems with this contract negotiation. If we get this signed, sealed, and delivered, we all eat well for a very long time. ”
