Not wanting to annoy Raleigh any more than I already have today, I follow her orders. The scalding hot shower does nothing to ease the doubt in my mind. I’ve been so careful not to associate with Trenton in any way, and now, today, of all days, he’ll be allowed to say my name. Sadly, I hope that he will. This award show is always a teaser for the bigger awards later in the season. Could they not have found anyone else?
I sulk to the living room and cozy myself up on the couch. Blocks away, in the heart of downtown, other nominees are dressed in their best, mingling and enjoying their evening. It’s never been my scene; I even skipped my first ever Grammys to watch from home. It’s safe to say I was disappointed in myself when I wonNew Artist of the Yearand wasn’t there to accept the award.That’s when I hired Raleigh and started to set my image straight.
***
AS MUCH AS IT HURTS me to watch Trenton announce his new single with a smile and cozy up next to his new wife, up-and-coming bluegrass singer Marissa Adams, it’s nice to be nominated in almost every category possible. By the end of the broadcast, when I’m nominated forVocalist of the Yearfor the third year in a row, I can feel deep down that this will be my year to win it. It truly is just an honor to be nominated for the biggestaward of the night, but this year has been special. I’m genuinely proud of what I’ve accomplished.
“Oh my gosh, you're smiling!” Raleigh says, lunging for her phone. “Let’s film this now.”
Before I know it, a phone camera is in front of me. “Hey y’all! Mae here. I just wanted to thank you for being by my side this year. I’ve had a crazy couple of weeks.” I lean my swollen cheek toward the camera and tap. Everyone already knows what happened anyway. Laughing, I continue, “The announcements tonight have filled me with a happiness that I cannot relay to you in words. I’m excited to attend this year'sCountry Music City Awardceremony and hope you all are planning on tuning in.” I pause and shrug. “Who knows? Maybe I’ll even have something new to share with you by then.” I watch Raleigh’s eyes widen beyond the camera as I close the video with a farewell.
Raleigh’s fingers sprawl across her screen. “And what surprise would that be?”
“I’ve been working on a few things,” I say, unbothered and definitely not spearheaded by the fact that Trenton will also be playing something new that night.
Not long after Raleigh posts the video, she and Dalton head out. Left to my own devices, I pull my fleece blanket tightly around me. I turn the TV and lights off just to sit in the sweet silence for a moment before feeling the itch to scroll through the comments on my new post.
RaeLovesMae189:I’m probably just clowning… but I bet the surprise is a new album!
BillBally:God, you’re so annoying! Next time you get beat up in a sleazy alley, do us a favor and don’t get up. LEAVE FOOTBALL ALONE!
Cuntrymusicstan:Once again, these dumb award shows are so wrong. Mae sold out after her debut album. Come back to real country music, Mae, we miss you!
SarahMags:Okay, but is Wyatt okay!? WHERE IS HE?!
MaeEvansFansUnite:We love you, Mae! We’ll stand by you forever!
Figuring I oughta stop on a positive note, I flip the phone over and let it rest on my chest. The apartment is quiet, but my head is buzzing with lyrics and strung-together notes just like it always is. I wish I had the energy to act on it.
My phone buzzes as I’m about to nod off. Squinting against the brightness of the screen, I smile when I realize the notification waiting for me is from Wyatt.
Wyatt:Hey, just saw the news! Congratulations! I can’t wait to watch you sweep!
Chapter 19
Wyatt
IT’S BEEN A ROUGH 48 hours for the Wyatt Lucas camp. As soon as I touched down in LA yesterday, I had a private meeting with my coaches. While the league is making me pay a fine, Coach passed down a suspension. The worst part about the whole thing was that I couldn’t fight back. I sat there and took the whole thing. It wasn’t until afterward that I realized I’d be missing the game coming off the bye week that’s integral to playoff contention.
After our meeting, Coach shuffled me into a franchise meeting. I apologized, not only to my team but to investors and the entire foundation. Coach gave the room a chance to speak and, while I was met with tight lips from higher-ups, many of my teammates offered their support, which I am so grateful for. Ben seemed reserved, and I’m still nervous about it. That could stand to be the most difficult conversation I have about thiswhole thing. Something I will have to do today so it doesn’t get a chance to fester further.
As my teammates' comments and questions came to an end, Coach and I walked across the hall to the media room. It was an immediate firestorm. Poor Robert had to recruit backup from his interns just to keep the room quiet enough for questions to seep through.
Coach had let it all settle yesterday, but before today’s recovery practice session, he brought the rest of his staff in as well as the team captains to watch and go over the situation in detail. Unfortunately for me, this means reliving yesterday’s circus.
The replay of the conference is playing in front of me now, courtesy of Coach and the PR team. It was embarrassing, but I think I handled it well, all things considered.
The first reporters’ questions were tough; luckily, I’d spent the entire plane ride practicing answers with Steven. Coach handled his low-ballers with ease, and it wasn't until Genelle Cieski broke out her Cheshire cat grin that I got nervous.
With her curly, jet-black hair, she bounded up into the air when it came to her turn. “Wyatt,” she began, tapping her pencil against her pad as if she were a lawyer in a courthouse. “You punched a fan wearing your jersey. How can you justify doing something like that to a fan of your franchise?”
I gulped, not realizing he’d been wearing my jersey specifically. I remember taking a breath as the question took root. “You know, Mae is a very special person.”
“You’re blaming this on her?” Genelle fired back, thinking she could catch me.
“Please let him finish,” Robert said from the side. He pinched the bridge of his nose; it was the eighth time he had to say it in the course of the meeting. I’m sure he went home with a raging headache.
My answer was, “I would never blame this on her. These were my actions alone.”
