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“Very funny.” His voice followed her.
She laughed. “I thought so.”
Troy grabbed the serving tray and utensils. “Has Connie’s ex-husband come back?”
Andrea balanced their empty glasses and the pitcher of what remained of their iced tea. “No, thank goodness. Connie’s lawyer thinks he’s gone back to Iowa. At least, his response to the divorce filing has an Iowa return address. It looks like he’s going to fight it.”
Troy moved to the kitchen sink. “I’m sorry about that. I hope he reconsiders.”
“We all do.” Andrea studied the play of muscles beneath Troy’s navy blue jersey as he lifted dishes from the sink to place them in the dishwasher. Her eyes were drawn to his tight glutes. Her hands itched to stroke them. “But, in the meantime, even our neighbors are keeping watch for Wade. We don’t want anything to happen to Connie or Tiff.”
Troy looked up from the dishwasher to capture Andrea’s gaze. “And I don’t want anything to happen to you. Be careful if he does come back.”
His words added to the warmth she already felt from watching him. “You’re the one who acts impulsively, remember?”
Troy grunted. “Just promise to be careful.”
“I promise.” Andrea rested a hip against his kitchen counter. “I got your statement today about Barron going on IL to start his treatment.”
Troy added detergent to the machine’s reserve. “I wish he didn’t have to come off the court, but it’s his call. And Jackie and Marc support him.”
“I do, too.” Andrea recalled Barron’s tension. “I spoke with him this morning about his decision to enter the p
rogram. He needs to put distance between himself and the fears that cause him to drink. At least until he can learn how to resist those triggers.”
Troy locked the dishwasher’s door as he straightened. “You called him after I sent the press release? I guess I should have expected that.” He sounded disappointed.
Andrea corrected him. “Barron came to the Sports office before you issued the statement. He agreed to let me interview him.”
Troy gave her a sharp look. “You’re doing a story on Barron’s addiction?” He didn’t seem as excited at the prospect as she was.
“Barron can help readers understand why people fight against admitting they have a problem. His story could convince people who are under similar pressure to get help. It could help prevent them from making the same mistakes he made.”
Troy rubbed the back of his neck. “Don’t you think Barron deserves his privacy?”
Confused, Andrea searched Troy’s features. “He offered to let me interview him.”
“With a little persuasion?” The skepticism in Troy’s eyes hurt.
“I’m telling you the truth. I didn’t talk him into this interview. He asked if the only reason I’d been after him to talk about his alcoholism was because I wanted to write about it—”
“There, you see?”
She raised her voice over his interruption. “And I told him no. I’m concerned about his welfare because I know what he’s going through.”
“Use your own story if you want to help people.”
Her irritation was straining at its leash. Why was he attacking her? She’d thought they’d come further than this. “Come on, Troy. You know public figures bring more attention to issues.”
Troy crossed his arms. “I also know stories about sex, drugs, and athletes sell more papers than articles about the good they do in the community.”
She was numb. How could he claim to love her but know so little about her? “That’s not the kind of reporter I am. I don’t exploit people to help Will sell papers.”
“You expect me to believe he’s never asked you to?”
Willis was excited this morning when she’d told him about her interview with Barron. She pushed the memory from her mind. That wasn’t the reason she’d interviewed the NBA player. “I expect you to believe I never would. I’ve covered the Monarchs’ food drives and clothing drives. I’ve written about their work at the Morning Glory Chapel, including donating money so the chapel could expand its homeless shelter.”
Troy inclined his head. “Those were good articles—”
