I do, one quick pack on the cheek. “Okay, how else?”
He flicks off the television, dropping the remote on his bedside table and pushing the tray out of his way. “Well my mother will be back any minute and since she said you passed your backgroundcheck I plan to bring you on as my full-time PR person. We could negotiate the contract. Do it now while I’m feeling generous.”
“Do you even need a publicist?” Sure he had a small problem with the photos I took care of, but I don’t see him as an overly rowdy member of the snowboarding circuit. What would a someone do for him that hasn’t already been done?
He leans back against his pillows smiling,“No, your job will be super easy.”
“Your mother scares me.” I hate to admit it, but it’s the truth. She showed me my background check — my credit score is seven hundred and twenty. Who knew they went so high. After congratulating me on graduating with no student debt she told me she found it acceptable for me to stay with her son in his room while she ate dinner. Oliver just rolled his eyes andnodded his head like he agreed with that assessment.
He fluffs one of his pillows, adjusting his body. “I try to humor her when I’m hurt or right before competition. But don’t let it bother you. She’s not allowed within three states of California once we’re back in the US. She keeps a house in New York and I only accept two phone calls per week. She’s very good about following the rules.”
Whatkind of mother needs boundaries like that? Although… I have started letting my own mother’s phone calls go to voicemail. No one needs to talk to me more than once per day. Maybe I could take a lesson from Oliver. “And she actually listens?”
Oliver laughs. “Not at first, but we negotiated and came to terms that were acceptable for both of us. She gets to be as crazy as she wants here in return.Did I mention she’s a lawyer?”
Well that makes a lot more sense.
He reaches for the fork again, but I lean over his body and take it out of his hand before he can shove it down his cast. “Seriously, leave the utensils for eating food.”
Oliver rolls his eyes. “Fine, at least until you’re not here or I find myself a ruler.”
“No rulers.”
“What else can I do? You’re doing a horrible job of distractingme.” He sinks deeper into his pile of pillows. “Tell me what it’s going to be like once we get back to California and you’re working for me.”
“I don’t know if me working for you is such a good idea.”
“It’s a great idea. You need a job and I need somebody to manage me. My coach is always saying if I want to be a megastar, I need a better presence. You’re the girl to do it.”
I fluff one of hispillows moving it closer to my side the bed. “How would me working for you even work?”
Oliver rolls his eyes. “During the hours of 9:30 and 3:00, you do PR things. You know, schedule interviews make up fake stories for the media that put me in a good light, and help me find hospitals to volunteer at, things like that. Good publicity. After 3 o’clock you date me.”
He makes it seem so easy. “Whatif you annoy me one day when I working for you? How does that affect the relationship?” If he keeps sticking forks down his cast, it’s a real possibility. There’s a lot of things we’d have to work out. We’re both in California, but I haven’t forgotten Oliver spends a big portion of his time in Utah. Even our California homes are almost two hours apart. He hasn’t worked out logistics yet.
Hiseyes fall to the expensive pair of high heels on my feet at the end of his bed. “I’ll buy you a new pair of shoes.”
I tap my left shoulder against his right one, careful not to push him too hard and make his cast hit the bed. “I can’t be bought so easily.”
Oliver twists his body in my direction so we make eye contact. “I don’t know how it will work, McKenna. All I know is that I want you bymy side and I’m willing to make it happen however we need to.”
He says it was such authority I want to believe him, and when he leans in for a kiss I decide to. I don’t know if this thing with Oliver and I will work out. Earlier today he told me I’d be the last person he ever fell in love with. But again I’m blaming it on the drugs. You can’t love someone after knowing them only a few days, evenif my heart says otherwise. Regardless, I think I owe it to myself and him to find out. Even if it’s scary, it’s worth the risk.
“Okay, after we get back in the states, and you’re off your meds, if you still want me to work for you, I will.” I hold my hand out for him to shake, which he does without a second thought.
“How long will you be in New York?”
“Two weeks.” That’s the length of timethey told us we’d be in post Gold Medal debriefing meetings. That’s if I’m not fired by now. I’ve made it this far. Maybe Asbell has decided it would be too much trouble to fire me now. He talked with me for over an hour after he made it to the hospital. If he didn’t fire me then, I can’t see him doing it now.
“I’ll have the paperwork drawn up and sent to your room in New York.”
“Okay,” I saywith a shrug. There’s no point arguing.
“Hell my mom will probably draw it up when she finalizes the lawsuit against the committee and Isaac.”
I drawn in a breath. “You’re going to sue the Gold Medal committee?”
“No, but knowing my mother, she’ll want to make them think that for a while. Scare them into acting faster so this doesn’t happen again.”
