My heart rate spikes. “Anything else?Anyoneelse?”
I hear the hitch in her breath, and her face goes blanker than a scorecard before first pitch. But she smooths her hands over my jersey in a crisp, efficient motion that feels way too good for how quick it is. The air between us is thick and hot. She removes my cap, fixes my hair, and puts it back on, her fingers grazing my scalp, my forehead, my ears.
By the time she’s done, I’m so flustered, I can’t remember anything she just prepped me for.
My eyes jump to where Doug’s standing at the back of the room, his arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Coop slaps my butt, startling me enough that I jump. He grins at me. “You’re up, kiddo.”
I look at Coop, then Scottie, then Logan, and then head to the table.
I can barely hear Scottie’s nails clicking on the back of her iPad.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Scottie
I’m more nervous watching Lucas in his first real interview than I was watching him pitch, which is saying a lot, considering my intestines tied themselves into knots so tight during the game, I forgot to reapply sunscreen and now have two hot stripes along my upper thighs where my shorts rode up when I sat.
Stupid, Quinn.
Lucas is the last interview I care about. A couple of high-A players will come next, but they’re not my problem.
Not that Lucas is a problem.
During the sixth inning, right as I was slipping out to coordinate player availability for postgame media, Jake’s agent grabbed my elbow and told me what a good job I was doing for Jake. He mentioned a possible endorsement deal with some surprising companies—including a laundry detergent.
“Laundry detergent? You really see Jake as the face ofTide?”
“They love seeing him clean up his act. It’s a compelling story. And the endorsement is worth a strong seven figures. In fact, I bet I could get them to get you involved, and we could see about some of that money coming to you.”
I felt like my soul was getting stained just listening to him. Entering a fake relationship with Jake to keep him from getting sent down to the minors was one thing. It felt noble. But this … this was nothing but money. Lying for an endorsement.
“I don’t think I’ll have thetimefor that. It’s almost March,” I said, emphasizing the month to remind him of what we’d agreed on. Most recently, that is. Jake and I were only supposed to date until he reported for Spring Training and would be the Firebirds’ problem. Pushing it until the season opener wasn’t a big deal—just a few days. Then it was till the end of the month. And now …
“Ms. Quinn,” he said with a laugh that made me want to spit. “You have the time. What could be more important than supporting someone who means so much to you and your family? Jake talks about your parents constantly. Your mother issohappy you two are together.”
The way this man could spin …
“How’s Doug feeling about Jake?” I asked, hating the mention of my mom, trying to reorient myself.
“He’s not feeling much, seeing as things just started. We’re not out of the woods yet.”
His mention of the woods made me feel like a little girl from a fairy tale stuck in them. A Grimm fairy tale.
“This is all fascinating, but I have a real job to do,” I said, stepping back. “And it’s not branding redemption arcs.” I said it with all the firmness of a baby doe first trying to stand. But I said it, and I walked away, and that’s a victory.
Ugh.
Why am I thinking about this when I should be watching Lucas? I fix my eyes on himandmy mind, and an aching twingeof affection fills me seeing him sit at that big wooden table by himself, microphones in front of him. He’s so good, sogolden, with his long blond hair that curls up around his hat, his wide blue eyes, and his open smile.
He’s prepared so well.
So why am I so afraid they’re going to eat him alive?
Reporters immediately flag his attention.
“Fischer—”
