“Why do you call me that? That’s such a bro thing to say.”
“You definitely haven’t seen me with my brother enough if you think that,” he says, fixing his eyes on me in a way that looks casual but feels intimate. “I don’t know. It feels like you.”
“Forgotten?” I say, aware I sound bitter, but every day with him makes it harder for me to filter myself.
“Distinct,” he says decisively. “I like your name.”
“Oh, wow. Just what every girl dreams of hearing.”
He grins and leans forward again, and it’s at that moment that a knock sounds at the door, followed by it swinging open.
I jerk back. Lucas whips around.
“Logan?” he asks. “What are you doing here?”
Logan looks at us suspiciously and then holds out his phone to show a red meeting on his calendar. “Media training withScottie before we leave for Arizona.” He looks from Lucas to me. “You said it was mandatory.”
“It is,” I say, taking a slow, steadying breath. “You’re just on time. Have a seat.”
Logan sits next to his brother, and the lingering energy in the room shifts from charged to dangerous. Logan sees more than he should. I trust Lucas with the truth about Jake and me. But Logan’s ultraprotective of his brother. If Jake’s a jerk to him in Spring Training, he could try to embarrass Jake publicly.
I can’t risk that.
As Logan settles into the chair, I glance down and swipe my screen, deleting the recording from Lucas that I never hit stop on. As much as I’d love to listen to us flirting when no one’s around, that’s the kind of risk that would blow the lid on this whole operation.
Logan’s eyes flick from my phone to me. “Did you mean to delete that?”
“Shoot, no. Sorry, Lucas. Want to go again?”
Lucas shakes his head easily. “Nope. I’ve got it. Let’s switch to Logan.”
Logan leans back, folding his arms, looking too closely. “Actually, you’ve spent a lot of time with Lucas this week. Why doesn’t Lukie show me how it’s done?”
“You want to mock interviewme?” Lucas asks, looking like Logan just gave him a pony. “Yes! Let’s do this!”
I watch Lucas get into “media mode” with too much confidence. Logan’s not the open book his brother is, but after six weeks of fake dating Jake with paparazzi hounding us, I know when someone’s setting a trap.
“Okay,” I say. “Remember, most reporters aren’t looking for analysis. They’re looking for emotion, looking to make you slip. And they’re experts at asking questions that make you feel defensive or responsible. Or sometimes they’ll act like yourfriends so you feel like you owe them ‘transparency,’ when you don’t,” I continue, looking at Logan more than Lucas. He’s stone-faced. “Got it?”
They both nod.
“All right. With that in mind, picture this. It’s a long, blisteringly hot day, and you’re exhausted. You came into the eighth two runs up, walked the first batter, and then barely missed a two-strike pitch. Bam. Tie game. Everything went downhill from there.”
They both straighten.
I look at Lucas, in character. “Tough loss today, especially with you pitching right into that two-run homer. Why do you think you couldn’t hold the lead?”
“I give my best every game. I guess his stuff was better than mine today.”
“Too defensive,” I say. “Try something like, ‘I attacked the zone and made a mistake. All I can do is learn from it and do better next time.’”
Lucas nods, but before I can ask another question, Logan cuts in. “What about pressure? It’s your first season in the majors. Are you sure you have what it takes?”
“Pressure’s not a problem—it’s what makes me stronger. Helps me push myself.”
Logan’s eyes narrow. Then he asks, “And what happens if distractions in your personal life start affecting performance?”
Lucas cocks his head to the side. “We all have lives when we step off the field. Guys have sick kids. They lose a grandparent. Their wives get into accidents.”
