Page 23 of Gossip Game

“It depends on the situation. And this situation sits firmly under the no comment heading.” She leaned forward in her chair. “But now I’m in a pickle. We’ve been working behind the scenes to subtly elevate Noah’s image among the fans.”

Charlotte snorted a laugh. “Yeah, I saw how well that went last weekend.”

Asia groaned. “That’s on me. I didn’t see it coming.” She fanned herself with the program she was holding. “But honestly, can you blame them? And from where I sit, you looked like you were enjoying your purchase.”

“It wasn’t a purchase. It was a rescue,” Charlotte snapped.

“Whatever you say,” Asia said with a chuckle. “But your ‘rescue’ is why I’m in a pickle.” She sighed. “We invited a young heart transplant patient from Make-A-Wish to the game. He’s going to meet with Noah after.”

“That’s sweet, but I’m not seeing the pickle.”

“His sister, who, according to her mom, couldn’t care less about football, came today because she wants to meet you.”

“Me?”

Asia nodded. “Charlotte, there are little girls in the stadium wearing your affirmation bracelets, Noah’s jersey, and waving signs cheering him on. The media is eating it up. No one else in the league is getting this kind of adoration. For Noah’s sake, we need to tap into it.”

Charlotte fingered the three silver bracelets circling her wrist.

“What are you proposing?” Sophie asked.

“That Charlotte join Noah at the meet and greet with the family after the game.”

“With cameras rolling?” Charlotte choked out.

“Nope.” Asia shook her head. “That would take all the attention away from Dalton, the little boy. We do want media exposure, obviously, so we’ve arranged a little press conference for Dalton and his family afterward.”

“Oh, I like that,” Sophie cooed. “They can tell everyone how nice Noah is. And Charlie, too.”

Asia nodded. “Obviously there will be cameras as you both exit the stadium. But you two can just walk out with no comment. Like friends would do. Nothing scandalous.”

“Good, because we are just friends.” Technically, Charlotte wasn’t sure what she was to Noah. Friends would be nice, though. She ignored Sophie’s inelegant snort.

“‘Just friends’ works for me,” Asia said.

“What did Noah say?” Charlotte wasn’t committing to anything without running it by him first.

Asia rolled her eyes. “You know how he is. Tight-lipped about his personal life. Except it’s a little hard for you both to keep your friendship under wraps any longer. He said he’d do whatever you wanted.”

“Aww.” Sophie slapped Charlotte on the shoulder. “That’s sweet.”

It was Charlotte’s turn to roll her eyes. “What does my brother think?” she asked Asia.

All three of them turned to focus their attention on Jay, who was playing a video game with Grayson while the game on the field was at halftime.

“I don’t consult him with these types of things. I leave that up to the GM.”

“So, this is Hank’s idea?”

Asia nodded solemnly. “Hank felt every shot the media fired at Noah last season like it was directed at him.

“I’ll say,” Sophie chimed in. “Deep down, my dad is a big softy when it comes to his players.”

Charlotte sucked in a deep breath. She’d felt those shots, too. Every one of them. Especially the ones Bucky Kincaid used to smear Noah’s reputation. Because she was the guilty party who brought Noah into Bucky’s crosshairs.

“Okay.” She agreed before she could change her mind.

Noah had just played the game of his life. Thirty-one completed passes—three of them for touchdowns—without a single interception. He’d even scrambled for the first down twice. But what did the media want to focus on? Charlotte Davis. More specifically, why he couldn’t keep his hands off her. As if he knew the answer to that. It had taken every ounce of composure he had to stand at the podium and deflect their ridiculous questions about his personal life.

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