“Right, so I’ve got a girlfriend.”
“No, you don’t. Because you had that great camera shot of you and Brittany. She’s a gorgeous girl and you played like a dream when she was standing there.”
“I didn’t even notice her there.”
“But the camera did. The audience did. And the Twitterverse certainly did.”
“But—”
“Nico says you’ve got a girl. That she wants to move in with you.”
“I asked her.”
“Doesn’t matter. She can’t. You’ve got to hold her off until you’ve played to the paparazzi for a few dates with Brittany. She’s a one-woman publicity queen and you don’t want to turn her against you. Look, it doesn’t have to be real. Brittany knows how this is done. Go on a few dates. Let her show off some new jewelry, and then let her find someone else. You know she’ll be finished with you by next year.”
“Next year!”
“Yes, next year. This is how it’s done, Rob. You’ve got to listen to me. This other girl, is it love?”
How to answer that? It was so new and, yet, I’d been so sure when I asked her to move in. “Yes, it’s real.”
“If it’s love, she’ll wait. She’ll understand that this is your career. And if she doesn’t, then you’ll know it wasn’t meant to be. Come on, Rob, think. It’s only a few dates. A couple months until the season is over. I’ll make sure the Bobcats pay for the meals. They won’t cover any jewelry. You’ll have to take care of that yourself, but they can pay for the food.”
“No.” I wasn’t going to do that to Heidi. She’d given up her lease. Where was she supposed to live?
Marc blew out a breath loud enough that it sounded like a rumble through the phone. “You have to, Rob. Seriously. Look, I was going to call you and congratulate you on how smoothly you’ve been handling the image thing. National TV, dude. A close-up with you looking lovelorn at Brittany.”
“I wasn’t looking at her!”
“The camera made it seem like you were. And social media has started calling you two Rittany.”
“That’s a terrible name.”
“Yeah, well I didn’t make it up. Brittany knows how to work the fans and she’s damn good at it. Dating her would be just the boost to your career that will keep you as the darling of the team. That’s important in general, but right now it’s crucial. You need this boost, Rob. At least until you establish yourself in the majors.”
Holy hell, what was I going to do? Marc had warned me early that this first season was crucial for setting up my image in sports. And that the right image could take my career to the stratosphere. That’s what he’d said. Stratosphere. As long as I kept playing well, he and the team’s publicity wing would manage the rest.
“I just want to play baseball,” I groused, knowing that I sounded like a child.
“I told you when you first signed with me,” Marc said. “I warned you it wasn’t just about baseball. It was about your image. That’s how I got you such a great deal at the Bobcats. They needed a wholesome boy. If you make Brittany look bad, she can destroy your image. And that will hurt your whole career.”
“I never asked her out.”
Marc snorted. “Like that makes a difference. The media already has you two in bed together.”
“Hell, no!”
“Take it easy. I’m not suggesting you do that. I’m just saying you go out on a few dates. Let the Bobcats pay for your steaks and champagne. What happens after the meal is your business.”
And what the hell did I say to Heidi? How could I explain this to her? After I’d begged her to move in with me. After I’d claimed it would solve all our problems?
“This isn’t right,” I said.
“It’s show business.”
“You mean baseball.”
“Same thing.”
