Page 39 of On His Team

I say, “Four of them already talk to each other every day.”

“So?”

“So they’re not five random people you have to convince from zero. It’s basically one building having a conversation with itself.”

Her expression changes. That got through. She starts typing again.

“You think they’ll say yes?” she asks.

“To a youth clinic?”

“With game tickets.”

I think about it. “Probably.”

“With a sponsor.”

“Compliance is the part I’d ask first.”

She writes that down. Then looks at the folder on my laptop. “This is useful.”

“I know.”

“You could sound less pleased about it.”

I shrug. “I could.”

She turns the laptop slightly toward herself. That’s when I remember what I left open behind the folder. Camden University. Master of Science in Sport Administration.

Gianna points at the tab. “So you’re applying?”

I look at it. “Thinking about it.”

“You already told everybody you might stay.”

I did. “Yeah.”

“So why haven’t you applied yet?”

“I’ve got until March.”

She looks over. “That isn’t what I asked.”

I lean back.

There it is.

Gianna has a way of asking questions like the obvious answer is waiting somewhere in the room, and I’m being difficult by not pointing to it.

“What do you want me to say?” I ask.

“I don’t know.”

She turns the laptop toward me. “Do you want to stay?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

The answer comes fast. Too fast. Gianna notices. I can tell because her eyes narrow slightly.