“Anyway,” he interrupts himself, “I’m happy you’re here. Is everything okay?”
“Can we sit? I need to ask your advice on something.”
His face lights up like it’s Christmas morning. “Of course.” He points toward the big glass doors covering the entire back side of the house. “Let’s go sit by the pool. I love it out there. It’s my favorite part of the house. I spend all my time back there in nice weather.”
“There aren’t any, like, Playboy bunnies in the pool, are there?”
He lets out a loud laugh. “Umm, negative. Never even met one.”
“Really?” It’s shocking. I half expected him to open the door with a maroon velvet robe and a pipe, surrounded by women half his age.
He offers me a drink, but I decline. We then walk through tothe backyard pool area. I understand why it’s his favorite place here. It’s stunningly luxurious out here. The pool is huge and unconventionally shaped. There’s a rock structure with a waterfall and a slide cut into it. It’s rounded out by a beautiful summer kitchen, complete with a bar that has an oversized television sitting behind it. There are multiple chaise lounges that look new and comfortable.
“Pierce must love this,” I say as we both sit in oversized chairs with cushions.
Dad sighs. “I think you’re right. When I’m on road trips, he’s supposed to stay with your mom, but when I come home, I always find beer cans and those girlie canned vodka drinks. High Boom or whatever they call it.”
I smile at his naivety. “High Noon.”
He points at me. “Yep, that’s it.”
I rub the high-end fabric of the luxurious chair. “This is really nice, Dad.”
He shrugs. “Better than the deathtrap lawn chairs I grew up with. Those things would eat you alive. But I survived, as did my entire generation, all without seven-thousand-thread-count fabric in our lives.”
I bite back my smile while he fidgets nervously. “Your season has started off well,” he offers. “That girl had it coming last night.”
I nod. “She did. That’s why I’m here.”
“Did you get fined by the team? The league? Do you need me to cover it?” He reaches for his wallet as if its contents would actually cover the cost if I were levied with a fine for my behavior.
I lift an eyebrow. “Have I asked you for any money since the day I left for college?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I’m always happy to help. Whatever you need.”
“Noted and appreciated, but it’s unnecessary.” I lick my lips nervously. “I just left Reagan Daulton’s office.”
He nods. “I hear she’s a hard ass.”
I twist my lips. “Yes and no. She’s a force to be reckoned with, but I think she’s well-intended and very smart. She’s made me a few promises, and today she delivered on one of them. I was offered a big endorsement opportunity. The biggest financial offer I’ve ever had. I think I might need a real agent. Can you help me find one?”
His face lights up. “That’s great, sweetie. What company did it come from?”
I wince. “It’s…umm…female prophylactics.”
He pinches his eyebrows together. “I have no idea what that means.”
“It’s better you don’t know. Can you help me find someone? I know it’s not enough for big agents like Leo or Tanner Montgomery, but I’m sure some smaller agents would be willing to take me on with a contract like this one in the queue.”
Leo Anderson is my dad’s longtime agent and friend. He’s nearly as big as Tanner, way too big for me.
“I’m happy to call Leo. He’d do me a favor and take you on as a client.”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to be at the bottom of the food chain. I’d rather have someone a little smaller who I matter to. Does that make sense?”
He nods. “Of course it does. That’s smart. I should have a few names for you. Let me grab my Rolodex.”
He runs inside and returns a few moments later with an actual rotating card apparatus. I can’t help but start laughing. “Oh my god, Dad, I can’t believe you still use a Rolodex. You can store all that information on your phone.”
