She makes a sound that I can’t decipher precisely but I know isn’t pleased.
“What?”
“Listen. I’d normally tell you to sign the papers and stay quiet until the interest in you two blows over, but I think this might be one of those perfect storms of celebrity and intrigue.”
“Meaning?”
“I think curiosity is only going to grow. Right now, it’s all happy and supportive but if you turn around and annul it as fast as people find out…”
“It’ll fan the flames.”
“Yes.”
“And everyone will think I’m a flaky bitch.”
She chuckles softly. “I wouldn’t go that far, but we both know that women tend to face more backlash than men for the same missteps.”
I look across the room to Travis. He’s still talking with Bill but meets my gaze. Everly’s right. If public opinion is going to turn on one of us, it’s going to be me.
“I’ll reach out to my publicist immediately to craft some statements that take accountability while still maintaining your reputation,” Everly says with more confidence than I feel. “You’re human. People will understand.”
“People but maybe not sponsors.”
Fuck. Fuckity fuck, fuck, fuck.
“The right sponsorwill. Leave it to me. I have two more meetings lined up for Monday. Who knows, maybe the newfound attention will help.”
Or it could scare them off. Again. I squeeze my eyes shut and rub my forehead with two fingers. I think I feel a headache coming on.
“I have to jump on another call,” Everly says. “I’ll check in later, but for now if anyone contacts you directly, just forward them to me. And if you need anything, let me know.”
Bill is gone from the conference room when I hang up with Everly. Travis is facing me but staring down at his own phone. As I get close, he looks up. A smile pulls at the corners of his mouth but it’s unconvincing. “Ready to divorce me?”
“Yes, but before we do, you should know that the news about us is out.” It feels like such a weird thing to say out loud. I havea decent social media following but I’m usually a byline in an article about other gymnasts.
He nods. “I was afraid of that.”
“You were?”
“Marriage certificates are a matter of public record.”
How is it that everyone else knows that but not me? Perhaps because I never, not once, considered that I’d get married and not want people to know.
“Is your agent freaking out?” he asks.
“She says she isn’t but, yeah, I think so. Will yours?”
“Nah.” He doesn’t sound very convincing. Travis tips his head toward the papers. “Shall we?”
I don’t move and his brows lift slightly.
“What if…” I start and then can’t bring myself to finish the sentence.
“If you don’t want to do this today, we can come back another time,” he assures me.
This is crazy. He paid the lawyer, and the paperwork is right there.
But the thought of doing one more thing that could potentially wreck my career has me second-guessing everything.
