I knew the article was out there, but I'd hoped it hadn't gotten much attention.
Gerald, my agent, looks at me and explodes, “What is your problem, Jaxson? Made enough money and now you want to destroy all our professional lives?” He gestures around the room, indicating the team. “I realize you're going through some early midlife crisis and trying to blow up your marriage, but you won't take me down with you.”
“You do remember your contract has a morality clause, don't you, Jaxson?” Coach intervenes. “It's there to protect everyone involved since we're a family-oriented league. As Gerald pointed out, your behavior is derailing everything.”
“Jaxson, this is bad,” Larry Kessinger, our league lawyer, points out. “Rumors about you are starting to surface. I know you get your affair partners to sign an NDA, but with how you hand them out, like candy at Halloween, you're bound to get caught eventually. At this rate, I'm surprised no one's claiming pregnancy yet.”
“No, that's not going to happen. I take precautions and always wrap up,” I protest. "And they aren’t affairs," I add, shaking my head.
"Po-tay-to? Po-tah-to," Larry snorts, waving a hand. "Same difference."
“Jaxson," Charlotte Friar, our soft-spoken PR agent, interjects, "don't be fooled by all the hype that condoms are the be-all, end-all. They're better than nothing, but they're not perfect. When used correctly, they're about 98% effective at preventing pregnancy and protecting against most STIs. But people make mistakes, condoms slip or break, and that drops the effectiveness. That's not even counting oral sex. Most STIs can still be spread that way. Oral sex only prevents pregnancy, not disease. So yeah, even if you're careful, maybe eighteen out of a hundred times could still end in pregnancy or infection.”
I swallow audibly. Those aren't great odds, especially with the real risks of pregnancy and STIs, some of which you can't cure and can even be deadly.
“Your potential offspring are the least of my worries!” barks Gerald, still incensed. “Our biggest problem is that TrueNorth and a few others are talking about pulling your endorsement contracts.”
He closes the distance between us and jabs a finger into my chest.
“But don't worry,” he sneers, “if none of your 'affair partners'…" he pauses, wiggling his fingers in air quotes around the words, "…end up pregnant, we can always approach Iron Stud Condoms for endorsement options.”
He takes a ragged breath and narrows his eyes. “Let's be honest, Jaxson. With how busy you've been, you've practically guaranteed yourself a surprise pregnancy… or twelve.”
Gerald's face is purple now, and even though I'm beyond embarrassed, I don't want him stroking out on us.
“What's been going through that head of yours, Jaxson?” he shouts, coughing mid-sentence. "I mean the one on your shoulders, in case that escaped you," he sputters, pounding his chest.
Before I can open my mouth, Larry cuts in again. “Gerald, calm down before we have to call you an ambulance.” He turns to me. “Jaxson, we need you to clean up your act. No more flirting with or touching fans in public. What you do in your private life is your business, but remember, your contract includes a morality clause tied to your professional image. You've got family-oriented endorsements riding on that. Once this season ends, your contract can be renegotiated for next year. Those endorsements can be reassigned then, too. So, knock it off and lay low for now.”
I try to control my anger and not lash out. They're right. I thought I'd been careful, even though I'd indulged a little too much. Still, the paparazzi caught me off guard with that photo. We were about to walk into my motel room when it was taken, so it could've been much worse. If that photo had shown the truth, I wouldn't be sitting here under fire. I'd be toast.
“What's our next step?” Coach sighs.
“Damage control,” Charlotte states.
“I'm still in talks with TrueNorth. They're on the verge of bailing,” Gerald growls. “Just one more screw-up like this and I won't be able to salvage it. I might not be able to anyway. The other sponsors are also getting nervous, but not to the same extent as TrueNorth. They have a lot riding on this with their big charity bash at the end of the season. So, keep your head down and don't make any more waves. What you do in your personal life is yours, but don't let it spill into the public eye.”
“I'll be more careful,” I agree, taking a deep breath.
“There's always Iron Stud,” Larry mutters sarcastically under his breath. “What? Too soon?” He throws his arms out in mock innocence.
“Not funny, Larry,” Coach groans.
“And, Jaxson,” Charlotte begins, “have your wife come to some of your games, at least until this blows over. Make a few social appearances together, too, so the paparazzi can get photos. It'll help repair some of the damage.”
“If she's even speaking to him right now,” Coach grumbles. “She called regularly, leaving messages for him at the beginning of the season because he wasn't picking up for her. Now, we can't get her to answer. My assistant Libby tried to contact her about next month's holiday party, but she hasn't returned our calls.”
“Sounds like your marriage is circling the drain, as well, Jaxson,” Gerald snarks. “Is she taking your calls?”
“I—I don't know. I haven't called her recently.”
“Is she calling you?” Charlotte asks.
“No… no.” I take out my phone and scroll through the call logs.
Just how longhasit been?
“No… No,” I repeat, a little concerned as I realize Melly's name isn't anywhere on my call list.That's… odd.
