Pain explodes everywhere as we collide. Lights flash, and the air leaves my lungs when I collapse to the ground. As a thud reverberates in my skull, everything goes dark.
* * *
TROY
Mel steps out of a cab and joins me on the street. She’s in a stylish pair of blue trousers with a loose white top, and her work bag is casually slung over one shoulder. “Beautiful day to lose a client,” she says, gesturing to the sunny sky. “Don’t you think?”
I grunt. “At least they’re not making us sit down for a long dinner first.”
The purpose of the meeting hasn’t been made explicit, but we all know why we’re here. Marshall and Patel invited us out for a quick cocktail, a proper breakup.
“I still brought all our proposals,” Mel says, lifting her bag slightly. “In case we want to prolong the agony.”
“What’s another five minutes after weeks of pointless negotiating?”
I’ve been working over my final sales pitch, searching for ways to position the agency that might better appeal to the star athletes. Mel and I have patched together a version of a global marketing campaign we could launch, although it means a long stretch of credit stress, and moving in that direction would be the opposite of what a boutique agency is supposed to offer.
We might be beat. It stings, but we can’t let it shake us. We’ve got to move on and do something big, make sure the agency isn’t perceived as losing.
Adding insult to injury, they scheduled this meeting during Orlando’s US Open game. I’ll watch it from the start as soon as I’m back home after this cocktail. With Zeke and Kevyn on the team, I’d make sure to review it anyway.
But with Orlando on the field, it kills me that I’m not glued to the screen right now, watching every play live.
Mel and I talk strategy as we make our way into the swanky bar. When we tell the hosts who we’re meeting, they set us up at a private table, secluded in the corner, and immediately deliver olives and cheese to snack on.
Marshall and Patel arrive together, and they both give us the sympathetic smiles that precede this type of breakup. We keep it friendly with some small talk about their recent games, and Mel works her magic, cracking jokes and charming the star athletes.
Marshall has a stern look on his face, difficult to read like always. He’s got gray stubble and steely eyes, projecting power here just like he does on the mound.
The last couple of weeks, I’ve been itchy, restless. Orlando and I are back to only seeing each other in the hotel, but since he slept in my bed, the possibility of something more has lingered.
This isn’t curiosity anymore. My desire has matured into something else.
I’ve been punishing myself at the gym and spending every waking minute at the office to distract from that reality. Now I need that work to come to fruition, to clench something for myself and the agency.
These new clients would bolster our reputation and buy me a vacation home, sure.
But there’s a legendary pitcher from my old team and the best football player in Philly across from me. There are a lot of things I can’t have. I can’t have the career I wanted for myself on the baseball field, and I can’t have Orlando the way I’m starting to want him.
But goddammit, this I should be able to take.
“Troy,” Mel says, pulling me back to the table. “A beer?”
I nod to the waiter. We make a little more small talk, and when our drinks arrive, Marshall and Patel share a glance. I know what’s coming.Sorry this didn’t work out. Nothing but respect.
But I’m not in the mood for business talk. I’m in the mood for action.
“Launching a global marketing campaign is the worst thing that either of you could do for your careers,” I say bluntly.
Marshall raises his eyebrows. My reputation from the Unstoppable Nine means he’s always treated me with respect, but I also know he’s used to being the big star on a team of great, but not legendary, players.
He’s not used to people talking to him like this.
Good.
Patel takes a sip of his whiskey, not nearly as affronted. “Is that right?”
I give Mel a quick glance to make sure I have her approval, and the way she cocks her drink when she sips it says,Why the hell not?
