Something shifted in Evan’s expression, and he nodded slowly. “As long as you’re in, I’m in.”
CJ tightened his grip on Evan’s hand. “I’m in.”
And for the first time since the picture was published, he believed they might actually be okay.
25
EVAN
The meetingwith Reid Harrington took place early the next morning in a conference room at the stadium that overlooked the field. Evan had been in this room exactly twice in his career: once when he signed his first contract and once when he signed his extension. Both times he’d sat across from Reid, and both times, he’d left feeling the specific relief of accomplishing the next step in his career. This time, he didn’t know what he’d be feeling when they left.
Evan’s agent was sitting at the table next to CJ’s, but they each shifted so Evan and CJ could sit together between them. For half a second, neither of them moved as the significance of that move took hold. Then CJ dropped into the chair next to Marcus and Evan followed, taking the seat beside him, sitting close enough that their elbows brushed. On his left, Matt turned in his chair and studied both of them for a second. Then his expression broke into something familiar and fond, and for a moment, he looked like the kid he’d been in college.
“Well,” Matt said, dragging the word out slightly. “This is a hell of a reunion.”
CJ laughed. “Yeah, not exactly how I imagined getting the band back together.”
Matt snorted. “Oh? You didn’t imagine the two of you being involved in a PR crisis that resulted in half the management team sitting across the table from you?”
“I was thinking a bar and some bad decisions, actually,” CJ shot back.
“Hey,” Matt said, pointing a finger at him. “Those decisions built character.”
“They builttolerance,” Evan muttered.
“Which has been very useful in this career, especially when my clients drive me to drink.” Matt winked at both of them, and for a moment, it felt like a version of themselves that had been simpler, with late nights and bad takeout and arguments about nothing.
“Seriously, though,” Matt said, leaning forward in his seat, “you two good?”
CJ nodded first. “Yeah.”
Evan echoed him, and Matt gave a satisfied nod.
“All right. Good.” Then quieter, like it slipped out before he could censor himself, “Took you idiots long enough.”
Evan rolled his eyes, and CJ laughed.
Matt motioned for Evan to lean in, then spoke too quietly for anyone else to hear. “This is the part where I ask if you’re sure.”
Evan didn’t look at him right away. “I figured.”
“And this is the part where I tell you,” Matt continued, calm and even, “that I’ll back you either way. But I need to know whatyouwant before I start swinging.”
“I don’t want to hide it.”
Matt nodded once, like that confirmed something he’d already known. “Okay.”
“I mean it,” Evan added, turning to look at Matt. “I’m not doing the ‘no comment’ thing. I’m not pretending that photo is something it’s not.”
“Good,” Matt said without hesitation. “Then the only question that matters is whether you’re going to regret making this choice. It’s going to get loud, and there will be noise you can’t control.”
Evan glanced at CJ, who was deep in conversation with his own agent, then looked back at Matt. “I think I’d regret hiding it more.”
“All right,” Matt said. “Then that’s the direction we go.”
Evan blinked. “That’s it?”
“That’s it.” Matt shrugged. “You’re a grown man who knows his own mind.”
