“The comments, Mac, about you and Tank,” Roger said. “Overall, they’re very positive. Lots of people remarking that the two of you make a cute couple, how you seem to be a good influence on him. A steadying one.”
McKenna remembered how she’d blushed when she saw that cutest couple hashtag on the mom’s video of Tank chasing her around the Pee Wee team’s rink. “I’ve read the comments too, Roger, and there are just as many negative ones.”
Roger looked uncomfortable; he obviously knew which ones she was referring to. “There are always going to be haters, people who exist solely to tear others down. But the truth is, there were a lot fewer of those than the positive ones.”
McKenna hadn’t really kept count or done a tally. Mainly because once she’d read a half dozen of the comments cutting down her appearance, she’d started skimming as a way of preserving her feelings.
“So how would this work?” McKenna wasn’t sure why she was pursuing this line of conversation.
“It obviously wouldn’t be a real relationship,” Benny said. “Hollywood puts together fake romances all the time, either for promotion or buzz or to do exactly what we’re attempting to do—repair reputations.”
“That’s true.” She suggested the relationship idea back at the beginning of all this because she was certain it would be the quickest way to clean up Tank’s relationship. If she was being completely honest, she still felt that way. The positive promo campaign was a race run in inches. Putting Tank—one of the most popular Stingrays players with the fans—in a relationship would garner a hell of a lot more publicity. And if they controlled the narrative, it would be good promo.
“You know exactly what we’re up against here, Mac. And you’ve proven you’re well-versed in how to spin things. Plus, public perception of you is very positive.”
“It is?” she asked.
Roger grinned. “You’ve got a girl-next-door kind of appeal that’s going over big with the fans.”
She wrinkled her nose because she and Roger had become good enough friends that he knew how much she hated being referred to as sweet.
“If you don’t want to do it, Mac, then obviously, the conversation is over,” Benny said, reassuring her this would be her decision.
McKenna, unable to turn her marketing brain off, started thinking the situation through. “We’d have to put a romantic spin on it. Especially considering the dust hasn’t fully settled on that viral video.”
Roger nodded in agreement, and she could practically see him playing through scenarios, the same way she was. “You spend a hell of a lot of time with the team, traveling to away games, so it would be easy to play it off as your friendship blooming into something more after Tank turned to you for advice.”
She chewed on her thumb nail as she considered that. Then she did a mental headshake, shocked she was even contemplating taking part in the idea. This was the kind of stuff that happened in books and movies, not in real life. “Is it against the rules for the two of us to date?” she asked, unwilling to do anything—real or fake—that might put her at risk of losing her job.
Benny shook his head. “There’s no workplace rule against relationships between players and team management. We’ve had a few former players marry women who worked in the administrative offices over the years.”
“Tish and Bobby.” Roger started naming some of those star-crossed lovers from the past. “Dennis and Mina. Evelyn and…” He snapped his fingers, thinking. “Dammit, what was the name of that right winger she eloped with? The guy who was only here one season.”
“Rick,” Benny replied.
There were times when Benny and Roger reminded her of some old married couple. The two of them had worked together for nearly ten years, and during that time, they’d developed a kind of hive mind. Most of the time, it amused her, but today…today, she couldn’t concentrate on anything except the thought of dating—fake dating—Tank.
“You know, it was actually James who planted this relationship seed, though I didn’t realize it at the time. He stopped by the office to chat a few days ago, and as we were recapping the gala, he said the two of you made a formidable couple,” Benny said.
She frowned. “Formidable?” That didn’t sound flattering.
Benny must have heard her tone, because he chuckled. “It wasn’t an insult. You calm Tank down, in all the right ways. You know how he usually is, always showboating or swaggering. His behavior at that fall fundraiser was abysmal.”
McKenna couldn’t argue with that. Between Tank’s two dates, the champagne guzzling, and the completely inappropriate dancing, he’d made a memorable—though not positive—impression that night.
Roger grimaced, clearly remembering the same things they were. “This time, though, he was charming and entertaining, and you were the perfect companion. I watched the two of you all night, Mac. You were a well-oiled machine, working well together. I swear, I think more fans and sponsors talked to Tank than any other player. Because for the first time ever, he was approachable and friendly, and having you there helped.”
“I got a call from Charles Steele yesterday,” Benny added.
McKenna held her breath nervously, concerned. “Tank and I didn’t go anywhere near him that night,” she said. “I swear. I was very careful to keep them apart.” She’d intended to give a wide berth to Lara as well, but the woman had cornered her before McKenna realized she was even there.
Benny nodded. “I know, Mac. And while you didn’t talk to him, that doesn’t mean the man wasn’t watching. I think he was counting on Tank to make an ass of himself, and he was ready to pounce when that happened. Instead, Charles begrudgingly admitted he was impressed by Tank’s behavior.”
She released her breath, her shoulders sagging in relief.
Benny rubbed his chin. “The man is aggravatingly old school. He doesn’t have any kids of his own, and Lara’s an only child. Apparently, he considers himself the patriarchal head of his family—which means he pulls strings when it comes to marrying off the women in his family.”
McKenna’s eyes narrowed. “I suddenly hate Charles Steele.”
