“Twenty games? For defending myself from a homophobic?—”
“For assaulting someone at a team-sponsored event,” Marshall interrupts. “That’s how they’re framing it. And that’show it’s going to play in the media unless we can control the narrative.”
I look at Noah. He’s staring at his hands.
“What about the slur?” I ask. “That’s on video too.”
“It is. And we’ll use that in our defense. But it doesn’t change the fact that you threw the first punch.”
“He shoved me first.”
“After you grabbed for his phone.”
“Because he was recording us without permission?—”
“You shouldn’t have an expectation of privacy in public. Filming on a sidewalk isn't illegal.” Marshall leans forward. “Look, I understand why you reacted the way you did. But understanding doesn’t change the optics. You assaulted someone, it was caught on camera…again…and now the league has to respond.”
Silence falls over the room.
Then Coach Enver speaks for the first time.
“What about the other part?”
Marshall glances at him. “I don’t think?—”
“We need to address it.” Coach turns from the window, looks at Noah, then at me. “Is it true? What the videos show? Are you two together?”
More silence.
Noah doesn’t move or speak.
So I do.
“Yes,” I say. “We’re together.”
Coach’s face stays stoic. “For how long?”
“Since probation ended. Officially. But—” I stop. “It started before that.”
“Before probation ended?” Marshall looks at Noah. “While you were supervising him.”
“Yes,” Noah says quietly.
“Jesus Christ.” Marshall stands up and paces the area behind his desk. “Do you understand what this means? The league’s going to investigate whether Masterson received preferential treatment. Whether the suspension was toolenient because of your relationship. Whether the entire probation process was compromised.”
“It wasn’t,” Noah says. “Everything was done by the book. The league made the disciplinary decision. I just coordinated?—”
“You coordinated while sleeping with him?”
“Not while supervising him. It was afterward.”
“Semantics. It looks the same from the outside.” Marshall stops pacing. “This is a disaster. The coach’s son in a relationship with a player. A player he was assigned to manage. This calls into question your judgment, Noah. And mine for hiring you.”
“Bob—” Coach Enver starts.
“No. This is bad. For all of us. And for the organization.” Marshall looks at Noah. “I need you to write a statement explaining your relationship to Masterson. When it started, how it developed. I want full disclosure.”
“Are you asking me to resign?” Noah asks.
