The grin on Jade’s face was all Will needed to know, right? Jade knew it was there, covering her entire face. She wasn’t embarrassed. She had no shame about the new levels of pure joy she was experiencing recently. Hopefully one day she’ll be in a position where she really didn’t care who knew. And neither would April.
“Firstly,” Will began, “let me just say, that any girl who can make you look likethatsimply by seeing a photo of her, must beincredibly special.” Will raised his eyebrows, and Jade nodded her blushing head for him to continue. “Second, the fact that you have this level of happiness, and yet are willing to keep it between you until she’s ready, proves to me that what you have together is good for you.”
“Even if it feels like we’re hiding?” Jade’s smile faltered as she asked, knowing Will completely understood her position.
“Please, listen to this if you listen to nothing else that I ever have to say to you again.” Will waited for Jade to nod before continuing. “Jade, know that in doing this for her it doesn’t mean you’re hiding. Trust me, I’ve seen hiding, Iknowhiding.This, Jae, is choosing to support your...” Will waited.
“Partner,” Jade said through a smile and glassy eyes.
“Partner.” Will said with a small smile and nod in approval. “This is choosing to support your partner through a very difficult and vulnerable time in her life. It’s that simple. There will come a time when the topic is different, but the roles are reversed, and you’ll lean on her for support. It’s not easy, and I understand why you’re feeling the way you are. But Jae, you’re not hiding. You’reprotectingher. That’s something not many would do.”
“Thanks, Will. It means a lot to hear that,” Jade said softly.
“Now, I don’t want to know her name, or see her face, but given the huge grin you had moments ago I’m going to need you to zoom in on that photo to hide her face but show the fabulous outfit you helped her pick.” Will chuckled.
Jade shook her head with a smile as she did what Will requested, but took a moment to look at her stunning partner once more before adjusting the photo to show her work-husband.
Chapter 35
April
April had only made it to the quarterfinals in Montreal. The morning of the match had started out wrong and proceeded to go further downhill as the day went on. She tried to shake it off as the first tournament after some downtime, and hoped Cincinnati would prove more successful for her.
The morning after the match, and a long comforting chat with Jade at a nearby coffee shop, April was feeling ready to work through what had gone wrong in the match and apply any changes needed ahead of the next tournament.
That was, until her dad arrived in her hotel room for a “talk”. April knew something was off when he arrived at the door without his face in his phone. It wasn’t even in his hand. Whatwas worse, when he walked over and sat at the table, he didn’t take his phone out of his pocket.
Confused and concerned, April sat down opposite him waiting to see what this was about, knowing it wasn’t the usual pep-talk after a defeat.
Roland sat with his back ramrod straight as usual, hands clasped and resting on the table, fingers interlocked yet fidgeting. He seemed restless. But the pinched look on his face was what unnerved April the most.
“I wanted to put forward a proposition to you. This is not a comfortable thing for me to talk about with you, but things have been brought to my attention which I can’t let go unaddressed any longer.” Roland started.
April’s mind started to reel. What was he talking about? Could he have heard about Jade? No, they’d been so careful.Always. She knew she’d taken some risks recently, but never in public. Any time they went out, she had made sure they kept apart at all times, never close enough to touch hands. Even Jade had been so good to fight her nature and not always be the one to open doors or place her hand on the small of April’s back whenever she did. It had to be something else. Right?
“I realize that you are now no longer a teenager, and that we can’t continue to treat your career as such either. Perhaps that was my fault. Keeping your social media accounts strictly business with very little of your personality was how we were able to give you some level of privacy.” He continued.
April sat and said nothing, taking in her dad’s body language as much as his words. She had always known him to be confident to the point of being cocky. So self-assured that nothing could make him stumble. Until now, as she watched him move in his seat and seem seconds away from wringing his hands.
“It seems the time has come to begin opening up a little more about yourself on your public social media. Perhaps sharingmore photos of training, in the gym, perhaps even a short video involving your meals. Giving fans a glimpse at what you put in to becoming the top tier playing you are.” He said, notably uncomfortable with his own suggestion.
That was it; April couldn’t keep her thoughts to herself any longer.
“So, more of what we dabbled in earlier this year? That’s fine, I’m ok with that. But there’s obviously more.” She said warily.
Roland stood up and walked over to get two bottles of water from the crate of them that they received at every hotel. He sat them on the table and returned to his seat where he took a drink and cleared his throat before continuing.
“It’s time that you start posting a few images that aren’t tennis related,” he began. “Some of your sponsors have asked for their products to be showcased in day-to-day settings over the years, and I’ve managed to push back. Their rival products are getting more exposure, and they need you to showcase the everyday use more.” He took another drink and refused to make eye contact.
“That’s fine, I don’t mind some shots of me in regular clothes with the watch on. I don’t even mind shots in the kitchen with the sports drink.” She knew there was more, and the only way to get him to answer directly was playing thedadcard instead of themanager'scard. “Dad, what aren’t you telling me?”
“The photos shouldn’t just include your products, but I think it’s important to start including other people in your life too.” Another gulp of water leaving the bottle nearly empty, and little left to distract him from the real reason for being here.
Wait, where is this going?
“While the focus of your social media accounts will remain to be about tennis, we need to widen the content type. Consider it future planning for when your competitive career eventually ends. The public - both fans and the media – are growing more intrigued by you each year. Likely a byproduct from keepingyour personal life private. Many athletes document their entire lives on their social channels.”
“That’s not me though, I don’t want to put my whole life out there.” April argued. “I want to keep my privacy, but I’m happy to post more content if that’s what’s needed.” April stated.
