“Got a big game later today, Iknow, so I appreciate you taking the time to come in and talk about the storythat’s got everyone all worked up…”
He launches into the interview,which covers the usual trajectory of my career, starting with my collegefootball career and then progressing into when I was drafted by the NFL.
Finally, he asks, “So tell meabout Jordan Spears. You cheat on the guy a lot? The way they say in thepapers?”
Considering we were justdiscussing a little backstory, the question is obviously out of nowhere,intended to throw me off.
“Not the way they say in thepapers,” I say. “We were off and on throughout our relationship, so what I didwas never outside of our agreements.”
“That’s not his story.”
“I made some mistakes. I think wedidn’t do a very good job of defining where we were at back then, which is whyit ended up the way it did.”
“But now you’ve found love?
I smirk. “Yes, I have,” I say,turning to Bryce and offering as compelling a performance as I can.
The interview shifts to Bryce andour fake meeting, our fake interest. Then Henry sidetracks into talking aboutmy games and my successes. He covers the alleged scandals that I reveal wereimpossible since I was with Bryce the whole time. It’s going really well until—
“So I read something the otherday,” Henry Mason says, “and I want to know if it’s true. Your mother hasn’tbeen on the scene since your career began, and I don’t ever hear anyone elsetalking about this, but I heard that it’s because she walked out on your dad.”
Chills race across my flesh. Thisinterview just spun out of control.
My mother’s absence has beenmentioned in interviews before, but we always said she and Kiernan divorcedwhen I was little. I’ve never had anyone confront me about the subject likethis, and I fear he might know something that the other reporters never knew.
“They got a divorce, yes,” Ireply, hoping he’ll leave it at that, but I know the curtness of my response isonly going to make him more suspicious.
“Okay, I’m going to tell you thestory I heard, and I just want you to tell me if there’s any truth to it atall. Is that cool?”
“Totally.”
I feel Bryce looking at me. He’s ascaught-off-guard by this question as I am, and I think he’s concerned since hemust see I’m about to lose my shit.
“I heard your dad beat the shitout of your mother, and she packed up and left you guys to get away from him.That she left her own son to save herself.”
He must know that isn’t true, butI can tell he’s trying to start shit. He wants me to lose my cool. He wants meto go on a tirade defending Kiernan, so I have to keep it together.
I laugh. “It really wasn’t any ofthat. No. My dad never hit my mom.”
“That you saw.
“That I saw. He never once evenraised his voice to her.”
“Really? A guy who practicallyscreams at you from the stands every day never even raised his voice?”
“As much as anyone does in arelationship.”
“Did he ever hit you?”
“No.”
“Because he’s known for having atemper.”
“He has a temper, but he’s notviolent or abusive. He’s just a very passionate man. I’m the same way. Andsometimes we get into fights here and there about a game, but things don’t everget out of control.”
“Well, you tell me,” he says. “Whydid your mother leave you guys? What was it? Was she just unhappy? I mean, isit true that you don’t know where she is?”
Sweat collects on my forehead. “It’snot. We still keep in touch.”
