“Pretty damn confident,” Kiernansays. “It was a bad year, but not just for my son, for a lot of players, andevery coach in the NFL knows that my son can play and is one of the reasons theCowboys won the Super Bowl last year. I’m confident that’ll be on their mindswhen they’re writing the checks.”
I move away from the crew he’scollected and stick close to Carson, who I know will keep the reporters awayfrom me. Darren chats up a reporter on the other side of the room. It’s clearby the way they chat that the guy’s interested in him. If they start somethingup, I wouldn’t mind giving him a few days off. He deserves a little vacationnow that the season’s over.
“Where’s Bryce?” Debra asks, approachingme, her martini glass in hand as she glances around.
“He had to head off and take careof a few things for the department.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I wanted tosee if he’d do this other nude photoshoot. Oh, well, guess I can’t ask him forpermission now,” she says, offering a sly look like she was hoping that shewouldn’t actually get to ask for his permission. “I’m playing,” she says.
Although, I can tell she’s partlyserious, but after the dick fiasco, I doubt that’s going to be an option. Andthat’s fair. I’m not sure that Bryce will be eager to take off his pants againnow that the whole world has seen it. But that might be a good enough reasonfor him to do it again.
“How’s your mom?” I ask.
Her eyes glisten beneath herglasses. “Doing great. The surgery went better than they expected. They want todo a round of chemo, but the prognosis looks good.”
“That’s really great to hear,” Isay.
She studies my expression, asthough she’s surprised by my interest in her mom…in her life.
“Hey guys,” Jordan says as hesteps between us.
“Hey again,” I say, hoping my toneconveys that I’m not excited about him being around.
“Oh, look. I think I need a refill,”Debra says.
I widen my eyes, hoping topsychically convey to her that I don’t want to be left alone with him, but Ican tell she isn’t eager to stick around for this shit show.
Jordan looks at me with apologeticeyes. Like he’s saying he’s sorry for what a shitty boyfriend he was, but Ideserve more than that.
“I think I’m gonna head to the bathroom,”I say.
I wish Bryce could have stuckaround. At the same time, I could tell he didn’t want to be here. And itworries me. Up until now, we’ve managed to make it work, but I keep waiting formy life to get in the way. I saw the disappointment in his eyes when he wassurrounded by the reporters earlier. He doesn’t want this life, and I don’twant to make him endure it.
As much as I don’t care for itanymore, who could I be if not Tad Roarke, football player? It’s something Ihave to give serious thought to, because one day, I won’t be able to rely onthat. One day, I’ll have to figure out who Tad Roarke is when he doesn’t havethe fame or the talent or the skill or anything anymore.
I head through a nearby hall. Themen’s bathroom is at the end. Jordan tails behind me.
“Come on. Just talk to me, man.”
“Talk to you about what?” I ask,spinning around to him.
He stands behind me, grinning. Hehas that disarming smile on his face, the one I became so accustomed to. Theone I trusted for so long. Too long.
It just reminds me of brokenpromises and a life I believed we could have had together—a life that now isone I’m relieved I was never a part of.
“It’s been long enough that Ithink we can run into each other in public without it being weird,” he says.
“I don’t want to talk to you rightnow.”
“When do you ever want to talk tome?”
“Good point. So why start now?”
He moves toward me, cornering meagainst the wall, that seductive gaze in his eyes. “Come on, Tad. Don’t youremember how much fun we had?”
I can smell the red wine on hisbreath, and it must be the reason why he’s acting like this, because he shouldknow better than to get this close to me. I start to shove him back, but heapproaches quickly and kisses me.
I push him back. “Get the fuck offme.”
