Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 429(@200wpm)___ 343(@250wpm)___ 286(@300wpm)
Priyam’s grin is magnetic. “She was brilliant, if I do say so myself.”
“That’s awesome, Pop-pop. You should be proud,” I say.
Another smile. “And how was your stint as a Little League coach for your niece?” he asks, taking the seat next to me.
For the next few minutes, I regale him with tales of my niece. He shares stories of his grandkids. When it’s time to order, I don’t even ask Maddox what’s good. I’m a grown man. Don’t need his help. I pick the herbed scallops, and Maddox holds up a finger. “I wouldn’t—”
I shake my head. Don’t want his opinion. “Love scallops,” I declare, doubling down on my choice.
When the scallops arrive, they’re bland as fuck.
Serves me right.
By the time the meal ends, Priyam has promised to take me golfing in England. “It’s a sin that you’ve never been to London, but I’ll be changing that soon. I want you to come to our facilities there. I’ll show you around. We can do a video shoot, some photos, the whole works. London is fantastic,” he adds.
I find the will to smile even as my heart aches. I don’t let on that I wanted to go to London with Maddox. To see the sights, hit the clubs, dance with him. “I’m so there,” I say to Priyam. “I want to see everything. The river, the bridges, but I especially want to see as many football matches as possible.”
There. Football was never on my Maddox travel list. Football doesn’t break my heart.
Priyam grins, then tugs on his pastel yellow bow tie with penguin illustrations. “So, bow ties. I’m envisioning a whole campaign for them. What if we have you teaching other guys on camera how to tie a bow tie? Like you did in the sample video you sent? But we expand on it. Go big with it. Make it a whole thing.”
I grin. “I’m in.”
“Love it,” Vance says.
Priyam shifts his gaze to Maddox. “What do you think?”
Maddox’s lips twitch almost imperceptibly, then he meets my eyes and deadpans, “Zane knows his way around ties.”
Way to stab me in the chest with that dig.
But I don’t intend to strike out looking. I square my shoulders, hunting for a retort. Except, my heart hurts too much. I’ve got nothing.
Maybe that’s why Maddox turns back to Priyam, switches to his professional tone, and adds warmly, “Zane’s definitely the man for that.”
There he goes again. Praising me. Talking me up. Doing his fucking job.
And all I’m thinking is…I could have been your man.
Even though I’ve no clue how we’d make us work. I doubt there’s a how-to video anywhere explaining the trick to moving a forbidden romance out of the dark and into the light.
When the dinner ends, we fan out to the classy block in the Sixties, surrounded by beautiful brownstones and canopying trees.
“Thanks again for dinner. I’m heading uptown, so I’ll catch you all soon,” I say.
After our goodbyes, we go our separate ways, Priyam and Vance walking toward the East River, Maddox heading downtown. That’s the same direction I have to go, but I can’t handle walking the same way as him, wondering if we should share a car, making awkward small talk.
Instead, I walk up Park Avenue. After a few feet, I turn around, lean against a building, and catch my breath.
Don’t look.
But I don’t listen to the wise voice in my head. I turn my gaze his way, lingering on his silhouette as it fades into the New York night and he walks farther away from me.
25
JUST A DIP
Maddox
Three weeks later, I’m out for a run along the beach, taking my phone in hand in case anyone calls. The Los Angeles sun is sweltering at six in the morning when the alert from The Sports Network blasts across my screen. Pro Bowl kicker Braxton Arrow signs with the Miami Mavericks. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
I squint from behind my shades. What the hell?
Before I can recover, Vance’s name flashes on my screen, then his face. I accept the video call.
“I thought he wanted to sign in Los Angeles?” Vance asks, wasting no time with hellos.
“I did too,” I say, just as surprised.
Vance scoffs from his desk overlooking Central Park. “And he went back to his first agency. What is up with that kid?” He scratches his head, trying to figure out a client who’s not ours. “Wait. Why am I asking you?”
I wince but take it on the chin. Vance has mostly forgiven me for losing Braxton. Mostly.
But when he lobs a sucker punch now and then, I hit back by shifting to my wins. “Did you see the paperwork for Carter Hendrix?” I ask as I run through the sand, sweat sliding down my chest under my tank.
July is in full swing in Los Angeles. Next week, the All-Star Game comes to town, but I won’t let myself think about it. “I sent it to the contract department late last night.”