Page 23 of Fake Out

I don’t know what to say, but I can’t wait until I have the perfect speech prepared. I need to act now before Marissa books that flight and leaves, taking my only chance at a comeback with her.

Back in front of her door, I gather my wits and courage. It feels like an eternity before I finally summon the strength to rap three times.

“Who is it?” Her voice is muffled through the door, but I can hear the tension in her tone.

“Hey. It’s me. Can we talk?”

There’s a pause, and then the door cracks open just enough for her piercing gaze to meet mine. She hesitates for a moment, studying my face before opening the door wider and gesturing for me to come inside.

“All right.” She crosses her arms as I step into her hotel room. “What do you want to talk about?”

“I know I can be… defensive,” I start, struggling to find the right words. I rub the back of my neck, feeling the heat rise up my cheeks. “I guess it’s because I’m afraid of being wrongly judged and being… I don’t know.”

“What?” she prompts, her expression softening ever so slightly. “Unworthy?”

“Yeah,” I admit, my shoulders slumping. “That’s it.”

Her eyes narrow as she studies me, and I can tell she’s trying to gauge whether or not I’m sincere. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, feeling more exposed than I have in a long time.

“Sometimes it’s easier to be a jerk,” I confess, my voice cracking. “Easier to ruin things before anyone has the chance to reject me.”

“Okay.” She’s giving me nothing, but that’s as it should be. It’s up to me to win her over.

I swallow hard, forcing myself to look her in the eye. “I know I’ve been self-sabotaging, and I’m tired of it. I want to change. I’m ready to put in the work if you’ll help me.”

She regards me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. I hold my breath, waiting for her verdict.

I lick my lips. “Are you quitting? Are you dropping me?”

Her shoulders lower, and I can see the fight dissipate. “I want to, but… no. You’re all I have.” She shakes her head. “Damn it. We’re all each other has at this point.”

“Exactly.” I inhale deeply. “Look, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry. But I won’t give up. And I know you won’t either. We’re a team, Marissa, whether you like it or not.”

She stares at me for a long moment, and then her expression softens ever so slightly. “You’d better be serious about this, Charlie. I can’t afford to have my career ruined by your antics.”

“Trust me. I’m done messing around.”

“Good,” she finally says, her voice soft and measured. “I can’t do this alone. If we’re going to make this work, you have to be all in. No more excuses, no more self-sabotage. Do you understand?”

“I do,” I say, my voice steady and resolute. “I promise you, I’m ready to make this right.”

“All right,” she replies, her gaze never leaving mine. “Then let’s get to work.”

I exhale, relief flooding through me. It’s not lost on me that this might be my last chance to turn things around. To prove that I’m more than just a washed-up athlete with an attitude problem.

“The next meeting can’t be like this one. You need to stick to the answers I give you. And we need to firm up our relationship story. After what happened today, it’s pretty clear it’s not good enough. We need to be more convincing.”

“Of course,” I agree, nodding my head vigorously. “Whatever it takes.”

“Even if it means staying up all night?” she challenges, raising an eyebrow.

“Even then,” I confirm, determination fueling every word. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

“If we don’t get this right, there won’t be another opportunity like this.”

“I know,” I admit, my voice cracking with emotion. “And I won’t let you down. I promise.”

“Actions speak louder than words, Charlie,” she reminds me, her gaze steady and unwavering. “Let’s make sure you keep that promise.”

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