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“Not what I was proposing.”
“Really?”
“Your personal life is just one part of you, and you can decide how much of that you give to the world. But remember, no one is ever really known as being one thing.”
“I’ve kept my personal life out of the spotlight this far. Another few years in the NFL is long enough to have my brother’s college tuition paid for, and then whatever happens, happens.”
“You haven’t just kept yourpersonallife out of it, though.You’ve kept yourwholelife out of it. It’s hurting your chances of getting a longer contract with Cleveland. Your teammates hardly know you, you don’t go out with the team, workout with the team, you’re at none of the social events, and even at NFL-sponsored things, you put in the time you’re required to and are the first to leave.”
Maybe he does know everything about me.
“You think Cleveland would offer me a longer contract if I hung out with the players?”
He sighs.
“To be honest, Cleveland doesn’t think you want to be there. They have concerns you’re looking to jump to another team or stop playing altogether.”
“What? No. I work my ass off for the game.”
“Yes, but not for the team.” He pushes the plate away a little, and I only realize then that he’s finished every bite. “When was the last time you went out with the guys? Your team, or friends, or partner, or anyone? When was the last time you had some fun?”
I struggle to remember. I visited my brothers at college the other week, but we stayed in, and I cooked, and we watched a movie. That was fun. The team went out a few times. We had the gala thing a few months back, but I did just walk in with the team, take a few pics with them as a group, then ducked out the side door to go home. It was black-tie, and my suit is snug on my legs and ass and… shit, is he right?
“I haven’t had a partner in years, and keeping my private life out of the spotlight kind of means no going out. Besides, it’s not like anyone in the team asks me to go out.”
“That’s a cop-out.”
“Is not.”
“Is so. If you wait for other people to ask you out, you’d never leave this apartment.”
“I would, too. I used to go out. I just stopped.”
“When did you last go out? What was the number one hit at the time? No, no. Who was president?”
“Fuck you! It hasn’t been that long.”
“Okay, so come out with me.”
“What?”
“You said no one asks you. I’m asking. Come out with me tomorrow night.”
“I wasn’t angling for an invite.”
“I know, but I was going out, anyway. A friend of mine is DJing at a club, so come out. If you’re worried people will see you, you can wear a hat or a disguise. Oh yes, let’s wear disguises! I can bring some over. Okay, it’s settled. We are going out in disguise.”
He stands up from the table and takes his plate to the kitchen like that’s the end of the conversation and it’s all decided. I open my mouth to protest, but no words come out. My brain is trapped in a loop of his rambling. Somehow, I’ve got plans to go clubbing in disguise with my hot young rookie agent.
Chapter 3
Jase
IshowupatParker’s place, half expecting him not to answer the buzzer, but barely a breath after I press the button, the door clicks, and I push through. I take the stairs because I hate confined spaces and jog the ten flights to his door.
“So you were serious about the disguises,” Parker asks, looking at the black duffle bag slung over my arm.
“Absolutely.”
