“Great! We can start slow, but I think for the next few home games, you should move from the press box to the team’s box.”
“What?” she exclaimed loudly.
“It’s a subtle move, but it would help us start to sell this,” Roger explained. “We’ve got that amazing new intern, Vicki, who needs experience, so I’m going to work with her in the press box, sort of mentor her, while we establish you as Tank’s girlfriend.”
When she first started working with the team, one of the things she’d incorporated as part of the family-friendly branding was pictures and videos and interviews of the players’ family members—mothers, fathers, wives, and girlfriends—all rooting from the team’s box during home games. Those posts had become incredibly popular with the fans, consistently getting a high number of likes and comments.
“I really think it’s important for me to be in the press box.”
Benny shook his head. “I understand that, but let’s just give it a few games and then we can revisit.”
McKenna sighed, then realized they were putting the cart before the horse. “What if Tank rejects this entire idea?”
The second she asked the question, she hated knowing she’d be disappointed if Tank said no. Because it wouldn’t feel like he was rejecting the idea, but her.
That thought alone should tell her how NOT over Eddie’s betrayal she was, and how much she REALLY needed to stay away from Tank.
She was in deep shit here.
“He won’t,” Roger said with a certainty McKenna couldn’t understand. “The three of us can present it to him on Monday. That’ll give you the weekend to really think this over and decide if you want to do it.”
“If you change your mind,” Benny added, “then we’ll figure something else out.”
McKenna gnawed on her lower lip, then shook her head. “No. I think I should bring it up with Tank alone.”
“We can do it together,” Roger insisted. “After all, it was our idea. We’re not trying to dump it all on you.”
“I know, but I still think it’s better if it comes just from me.” If he rejected it out of hand, McKenna preferred that happened in private and not in front of her boss and Roger.
“You think you can convince him?” Benny asked.
She shrugged because she didn’t have a clue how Tank would reply to this idea.
Benny rubbed his chin. “You know, you’d probably have the best chance of selling this to Tank. The past few weeks have proven that he listens to you and does what you say. That’s more than the two of us have ever managed to do in all the years before you arrived.”
“And he just said as much in that podcast,” Roger added. “Said he trusted you.”
“Okay, yeah. Fine,” she said. “I’ll talk to Tank.”
“Wait until Monday, Mac. I still want you to take some time and think this through. I swear this is not one of my ‘other duties as assigned.’” Benny joked, smiling. “You say no, it’s no.”
“I’ll think about it,” she promised.
Benny rose. “Well, it’s after quitting time, and my husband will kick my ass if I’m late for dinner again this week.”
Benny was probably late for dinner ninety-nine percent of the time, but considering he and his spouse of fourteen years were still madly in love, she figured he was always forgiven. “Tell Kyle I said hi.”
Roger added his goodbye and the two men walked out together, leaving her alone and trying not to spiral into another panic attack.
Unlike Benny, McKenna didn’t have anyone waiting at home to have dinner with her, so she was free to work—and stress out—as late as she wanted.
Turning back to her computer, she intended to schedule posts for the coming week, write copy and edit pictures. She needed to get ahead because she’d be out on the road with the team for the next three days. While she was able to work on planes or buses, she preferred working on her desktop in her office because it was easier and quicker to lay her hands on the files she needed, and the screen was much bigger.
Unfortunately, all she managed to do was stare into space, wondering how in the hell she was going to convince Tank to fake date her.
“You realize quitting time has come and gone.”
She looked toward the door, surprised to see Tank leaning on the doorframe.
