“Something you want to share?” The way his gaze shifted around the yard, I figured something was weighing on hismind.
“I don’t mean that I’m some bastard who goes around lying all the time, but while we were having dinner, I was thinking, here I am, trying to convince this pretty real, cool guy to enter a world of greed and corruption, a world that thrusts people into the spotlight only to knock them down and see them get consumed by darkness.” He took a sip of hisbeer.
“You think I’mcool?”
I thought he was going to spit out his beer as he chuckled atthat.
I added, “I do have to say…I am curious. If you think that way about your industry, what the hell are youdoing—”
“—in a job that’s built around it? Well, long story short, it’s what I know. My mother always told me you needed to play to your strengths, and I do just that. Haven’t done too bad for myself for being a high schooldropout.”
“Not at all,” I said. “Clearly don’t need a degree to be a successful hottie likeyourself.”
He chuckled. “It’s also not too bad since I’m not actually dealing with the consequences in this line of work, so it’s easier to manage from this side. I just see what it does to other people. It leaves them in financial, physical, or emotional ruin. People—even good people—wind up in some bad situations. It’s a lot of pressure, and sometimes they’re looking to numb the pain. They’re prey to all kinds of addictions, and they wind up in rehab, passing their kid along to strangers until they basically have to grow up on theirown.”
“Why do I have this strange feeling you’re speaking from experience?” I asked, surprised to hear him open up likethat.
He shook his head. “It’s another life away from me now. Bottom line is that the industry can be rough, and it can eat you up and swallow you alive, so when you’re considering taking the money and running, just never forgetthat.”
I took his words to heart. “Fair enough. But first off, that’s something most people understand about fame and fortune. We all have TVs and watch all those specials about celebrities and stars. But also, unless you’re keeping something much worse from me, it sounds like you’re being pretty damnhonest.”
He snickered, but I could hear the sadness in his tone, the bitterness of a man who had seen the cycle he was referring to one too many times. “So what have your thoughts been on all this? You interested in working with this deal? I’d understand if you’re not. You said when I came out here that you weren’t interested in the limelight, and this would be that. And it would take you away from your work, which you clearly love even more than I wasexpecting.”
“I’ve been mulling it over since our first conversation, and I was thinking about possibly taking you up onthis.”
He glared at me as though I’d said something that had not only surprised him, but offendedhim.
“What’s that lookfor?”
“I’m not exactly trying to sell you on it now, and here you are, wanting to go forward withit?”
“I’m full of surprises, Dax Munro.” I winked at him, and hesmiled.
“Apparently.”
“I was already thinking about it before tonight, but when we were talking about what Crawford used to do, it ramped up my interest. I’ve always wanted to help upgrade the Fever Fight campus. They’re a nonprofit that has this rec center and different activity spaces for kids in the shelter, and they also coordinate with the local LGBTQ center. I have a couple of friends on the board, and I have this crazy image in my head of doing something to expand the rec center. That’s where I spent most of my time when I was younger. I figured we could expand it, make it more like a pimped-out YMCA. Then they could use some money for their library. It’s improved over the years, but it’d be nice if they could stock more books— Why are you looking at me likethat?”
“That’s what you werethinking?”
“Well, you mentioned it was like winning the lottery, and I always said that’s what I’d do if I won the lottery. Part of me feels like maybe this is my shot to give back to thiscommunity.”
“Your whole job is givingback.”
“But this would be a different way. Something that wouldn’t just help kids today, but decades from now. Crawford would have liked that.I’dlike that.” Crawford would have beenproud.
Dax’s gaze was fixed on me, but he remained silent, so I added, “Well, I’d have to draw it out for you to really impress you with the idea. I’ve been thinking about this for a long time,though.”
“No, clearly. It soundsnice.”
“I’m not saying I’m settled on it just yet. But giving it more thought than I wasinitially.”
“As much as I warned you, you won’t see me fighting you about it. This is a big break for me too. You ever heard of Freyda Inc.? I can tell by your expression you haven’t, and it’s not a big deal. They’re a rival firm, and you’re the one thing I can use to land this deal, which would put my company back ontop.”
“You like being on top, do you?” I asked, and the way Dax’s lips curled upward showed he appreciated theinnuendo.
“What the fuck could you know about topping, Mr. One Time inCollege?”
“I’ve hadrequests.”
