“I know, but remember: Football isn’t forever. The more you build up your brand by doing things like this now, the more prepared you’ll be when it’s eventually time to retire. We made the plan from the start that we wouldn’t let you be one of the guys who blows his NFL earnings on poorly managed real estate or a fleet of fancy cars. We’re planning for the long run, and becoming friends with Aria Wilder is definitely good for that.”
Admittedly, Griffin rears back at the reminder that football will eventually end for him—even if he’s glad Mike is looking out for his future. Griffin tries to imagine himself without the sport, but the only picture that comes to mind is him as some underwhelming, lame version of himself. A has-been who takes every chance to relive his glory days. There’s not much else he’s good at, not much else he has to offer.
Griffin pushes the thoughts away. For now, he’s still a professional player, and he’s just been pitched a PR opportunity.
He’s not clamoring to say yes. But if Aria’s team pitched the setup, that means Aria sees it as valuable, so he wouldn’tbe taking advantage. Griffin’s heart picks up a little when he thinks of Aria—his crush—his interest in knowing more about her, getting more glimpses of her behind the scenes.
That moment onstage, though initially terrifying, felt like opening up something new. Aria’s presence was powerful yet warm, witty and endearing.That womanhas his interest. Spending time with her would be enjoyable, and although Griffin isn’t convinced the plan is error-proof, the pros probably outweigh the cons.
“I guess I’ll give it a shot. But first—what did they have in mind exactly? I can’t be her prop onstage every night. Especially with games and training.”
“No, no, no. An appearance or two that we’ve planned and agreed upon in advance. Social media stuff. It sounds like they’ve already gotten an ask for a commercial, but it’s still being discussed. Of course, you’d be compensated for such work.”
“So no going onstage?”
“Doesn’t sound like it. To be fair, I don’t think she needs you as a backup singer or dancer.”
Griffin smiles. “That works for both of us then. Yeah, I guess sign me up. But Mike? Let’s try to keep this whole thing simple, okay?”
“You got it! Trust me, this will be great for you.”
Griffin hangs up after saying goodbye and stows his phone away. He’s ready now more than ever to get himself dressed and on the road to go home. He pulls on his fresh clothes, dumps his towel in the laundry basket, and throws his gym bag over his shoulder. He calls out his goodbyes to the staff that remains in the back areas and takes the familiar path through themaze of his hometown stadium’s hidden tunnels to the players’ parking lot.
As the cold night air hits the back of his neck, he picks up his pace.
Griffin slips into his car, a moment in which he usually relaxes with the knowledge that his work is done as he makes for home, but his thoughts go back to Aria Wilder.
The woman who keeps dipping into his life whether he likes it or not.
Chapter 6
Aria
Not even a full week passes, and Kelsey has the first engagement for Aria and Griffin set up. The Chicago Animal Society is hosting their annual fundraising gala, and the pair have been invited to attend as celebrity guests. The event takes place at a charming, historic hotel downtown that promises an enjoyable evening for all.
Two hours before it kicks off, Aria stands in her walk-in closet at home wearing a robe, assessing the gown options her stylist sent over. The first is a ruby-red satin halter-neck dress that dips low in the back. The second is long-sleeved, midnight blue with sparkles arranged in an ombré pattern of sorts. The final option is a billowing floral-print cupcake-style gown with small puffy sleeves.
“I don’t think any of these are a bad choice,” Bailey says.
Aria grabs the red satin option and holds it in front of her before the mirror. “I like this one a lot, but I’m worried I’llbe cold with the low back.” She replaces it on the hanger and takes the long-sleeve option. “Maybe this one.”
“It brings out the blue of your eyes,” Bailey says. “Plus that sparkle is so you!”
Aria decides to wear the blue dress, but not because of the sparkle. Because she knows she’ll be comfortable in it too. Aria isn’t sure how much longer sparkle and happily-ever-after songs will be considered “her” when she wants to dig deeper lyrically. Then again, when aren’t sparkles appropriate? She could write a heartfelt song all her own, one true to her heart, and still rock a sparkle.
Aria slips into her bedroom to lay the dress on her bed.
Tonight will be interesting. She and Griffin have been chosen as the mystery celebrity guests at the gala, so to begin, they will stay under wraps in one of the hotel’s downstairs meeting rooms while the guests mill at the bar with a few adoptable pets in attendance. This is the time the guests will stop by the silent auction, get their cocktail of choice from the bar, and make their annual pledges to support the animal shelter’s efforts. Once the guests take their assigned seats in the ballroom, she and Griffin will make an entrance and introduce the official programming.
Aria is good on her feet—thanks to a lifetime of being a performer—but she’s not sure how the two will pass the time backstage.
“Can we get separate rooms?”Aria had asked Kelsey.
“You really want to? They’ve suggested you wait together, and I think it could work so you can warm up to one another before going on. Real friends would want to be together, right?”
“If you think it’s important.”
“I think it’ll help this whole setup for you to get to know each other a bit. And no one likes a diva.”
