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Of course she would bring up my only high-profile friendship. “Absolutely.”
“You are in town to attend the Grammys with your longtime friend.”
I smile a little. “That’s correct.”
“Any chance your relationship with Amber is more than friendly?”
I roll my eyes. “Nope.”
“Do you believe taking time off to attend celebrity events distracts you from your football goals?”
“Absolutely not. Relaxing and allowing myself to enjoy an evening with friends has no effect on my play.” I’m not sure it’s true, but it sounds better than admitting I worry that every second I’m not thinking about football is a distraction I can’t afford.
It’s the reason I don’t date.
Ellie pops into my head.
We aren't dating, though.
“Some people believe athletes who pursue fame off the field damage their careers.” She throws that statement out without asking a question.
“Amber is one of my oldest friends. Supporting her at the Grammys tomorrow night has nothing to do with me and everything to do with her. If I weren’t a professional athlete, no one would even notice I was there. I’m not going as Slater Jones, quarterback. I’m going as Slater Jones, old friend.”
“Is there a difference?”
“Absolutely.”
She tips her head to the side. “Any hints you want to share about where you might be headed this year?”
I wish there were. It’d be useful if we could override the cheating allegations with breaking news. “You’ll probably know before I do.”
She laughs. “Even I’m not that good.”
We chat for a few more minutes.
When the bright lights click off, she leans forward and says, “For what it’s worth, I didn’t know Ronnie was going to make those claims when I interviewed him. He wasn’t even supposed to be part of the segment. He was at the game. I was at the game.” She shrugs, as if dinging my reputation was a chance occurrence.
“Don’t journalists check their sources?” I can’t help asking. She can blame Ronnie all she wants, but she’s the one who decided to put him on the air.
“He’s not a source. What was I supposed to do when he came up to me?” She doesn’t even pretend to be contrite.
Remorse is for the weak.
The interview airs the next morning—the same day as the Grammys—and the response is mostly positive. Ronnie’s allegations haven’t changed anyone’s opinion. Most fans made their minds up about me years ago. Sports, as with the rest of life, is viewed through the lens of our experiences, and I—for better or worse—have had a ton of drama in my career.
Ronnie has not responded to Annabelle’s request for a follow-up interview or our demand that he release proof. As far as Cam can tell, he’s dropped out of the public eye entirely. Both Judy and Cam think we’ll get through this hiccup with little damage.
I spend the afternoon at Amber’s.
After selecting a suit and trying it on so her guy can make the alterations, I swim laps in her pool and then lounge in the shade while Amber gets ready.
When it’s almost time to go, I grab a shower and get dressed.
Brian hustles us into the limo, and we start the slow journey to the arena. Amber takes a call from a reporter where she explains in lengthy detail what she’s done thus far today. I learn far more about her pre-Grammy routine than I ever wanted to know. Apparently, it took her makeup artist nearly two hours to achieve her “stunning but natural” look.
As I listen to her, I try to tamp down my nerves. Before the infamous interception game, I would have eaten up the attention. Tonight, I’m hoping the focus stays on Amber.
Thankfully, she will command notice. Her hair is teased to the max, her eyes are smoky, and her sparkly dress is backless. Her fingers drum against her bare thighs as she talks.
