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"I already scheduled a press conference." I gave him a smug look.
"You scheduled one? You?"
I shrugged. "I called my buddy at WRX and told him I wanted to talk tomorrow. I told him to bring friends."
Eric nodded at me, impressed. "I like it. But is it okay if I get involved? Just to give it a patina of professionalism?"
"I'd expect nothing less," I said. "You need to earn that commission, buddy."
* * *
"I'm sorry? What did you just say?" Wes asked me. He ran his hands through his hair, making it stand up in crazy clumps.
"Avery was a prostitute. I hired her to act like my girlfriend. Then we fell in love."
Wes looked stymied as he paced behind his desk for a minute. He finally stopped. "Why are you telling me this, son?"
I swallowed hard. "Because Jessica and Pax know about it. And they're in talks to do a reality television show. They're going to be doing a ton of press, and I believe that this will be part of what they're talking about. Also, Avery's sister's threatening to go public with it."
West blinked at me. "The fact that Avery was a prostitute. And you hired her."
"Correct."
Coach and I looked at each other for a beat.
"When were you thinking about doing a press conference?"
I shook my head. "Later this morning."
Wes raised his eyebrows at me. "Where the hell's Eric at?"
"He's at the house, plotting." I shrugged. "He's on board with this. He also told me I had to tell you the truth."
Coach slumped down into his seat and sighed. "You think?" He scrubbed his hands over his face. "This is going to be an interesting season."
"It'll be okay." I hoped.
"We're going to stand behind you no matter what. This team has had a great run because of you."
"Thank you. I appreciate that," I said. "I didn't plan this. I'm sorry."
A glimmer of humor sparkled in Wes's eyes. "You can't help who you fall in love with. That's what I told Pamela when I left her for Angie, anyway."
Coach got a divorce last year, but he'd never spoken about it. "How'd that go over?"
Wes grunted. "About as good as the news that your girlfriend's a prostitute is going to go over."
I nodded at him. "Fair enough."
Wes grunted again. "Who said anything about fair?"
* * *
I usually only spoke to the press after our regularly scheduled games. I swallowed hard as I adjusted my tie and took one last look in the mirror. You're doing the right thing, buddy. And, for once, it's for the right reason.
Her.
Avery was the one. I'd worked hard my whole life to get where I was, but it wasn't going to mean anything if she wasn't by my side.
