“Yeah, we’re honored to be here,” Neil said. “Normally we’d have a bigger crew, but bio-identical human growth hormones are tough to beat, in more ways than one.”
I grimaced. “Yeah, that sounds like a mess. I can’t believe Andre Levins got caught doping.”
Actually Icouldbelieve it. I’d seen plenty of the dicey stuff that athletes did to tip the scale in their favor.
“Oh, not just Andre.” Neil raised an eyebrow. “The scope of it is crazy, hence us needing to throw all our firepower at the story. But don’t worry, you’ll never know the difference. I have a hidden third arm in the middle of my back, I can do it all.”
“It’s true, I’ve seen it myself,” Ben laughed. He pointed at Hailey. “That one over there can hold a camera, key light, and a boom mic all at the same time.”
“Eh,” Neil said. “Hailey’s in more of a production assistant role this time around. I’ll be in charge of our cameras.”
“Hold on, that’s not what Kim said.” Hailey frowned at him. “She said I’m ready to be on cam two.”
“Well, Kim’s not here,” Neil replied smugly.
The room went quiet as the pair shot daggers at each other. Awesome,moretension on what was already going to be a hell of a week.
“Hey, as long as you make me look pretty, we’re fine,” Ben joked.
Mel brayed out a laugh. “Oh, youalwayslook good,” she said in a flirty voice I’d never heard.
“Thanks for noticing, I’m blushing,” Ben flirted back.
Hailey caught me rolling my eyes.
“Let’s sit,” Ben said. “I know Quinn is busy, so time is money.”
“At this point, the only time she’s not working is when she’s sleeping,” Mel said as we took our spots at the table.”
I shot her a grateful look, because she was still trying to level set them about my availability.
“Mel, I know you and Kim talked quite a bit as we were sorting through schedules,” Ben said. “I wanted to confirm that we’re all still on the same page. And please forgive me in advance for any hiccups, because this is my first time running the show.”
It was a rare moment of humility, the last thing I expected from a man who once told a reporter that he was going to write a book about his life story, which was destined to be aNew York Timesbestseller. Bennett Martino always assumed that his force of will would make what he wanted to happen, happen.
I paused. I’d sworn I wasn’t going to do the interview, yet here I was, sitting across a table from the man. Maybe Ben was more powerful at manifesting than I gave him credit for?
I pulled out my phone just as a text from Zoey came through, which included a photo of her and Ben arm in arm on the ice. Another ally down.
“As we talked about, we’re doing one master interview, where the two of us will sit down and go over my main questions. That’ll be the meat of the show. At that point we can also address anything else we uncover during our time together,” he continued, his eyes drifting to me.
I felt preemptively itchy at the thought of it. There would be zero uncovering happening with Ben. He’d never get access to that part of me again.
“Did you send us the questions?” Mel asked, once again running front for me.
Ben shook his head. “I didn’t. I know firsthand what happens when you get the questions in advance—spin city. I prefer to have a few guideposts for the conversation rather than a strict script.”
Mel frowned at him. “But you said you haven’t really been researching Quinn’s comeback, so how do you know...”
He broke out his gold medal smile. “Please trust me, we’re good, I swear. I might be new in the interviewer’s chair, but I’ve sat through enough of these things to know what to do and not do. It’s going to be great, I promise you.”
“It’s just that I’ve been burned before,” I finally spoke up, giving Ben a pointed look.
“Exactly. We need this to be a feel-good story.” Mel picked up the thread even though she didn’t catch my subtext. “Not too much focus on the past, okay?”
“Understood.” Ben nodded and turned to me. “I’ll take good care of you.”
He said it softly, and just for me.
