Page 86 of Anyone But Her

"You all set for this commercial tomorrow?"

"I think so. I don't really know what to expect."

"Didn't they tell you what you'd be doing?"

"They said they'd get some shots of me working out and then I'd have a few lines to say to the camera."

"They should send you those lines ahead of time so you can practice but also so you don't say something you don't want to."

"I'm not worried about that."

"You need to be. You're young and just starting your career. You need to be the one driving your image. Creating your brand. It's a different world now than it was back when I was your age. If you don't make an image for yourself, someone else will, and it may not be good."

"I don't get the feeling WaveField will do anything to harm my image. I've met Garret and his team and they all seem like good people."

"You still need to be careful. If anything happens tomorrow you don't agree with just tell them no. And don't sign any more contracts without seeing a lawyer first."

Lou scolded me for not getting a lawyer to look at my WaveField contract. He had his guy look at it and it turned out to be fine but he said I can't take chances like that. It's best to always have a lawyer look at it.

"I'll set you up with an attorney. I have a feeling you're going to need him."

"Why do you say that?"

He grins at me. "You're gonna be huge, kid. You know how much you've been talked about in the sports media this week?"

"No. Why would they be talking about me?"

"People are watching you, Luke. When you're in a tournament, you're the one people are paying attention to. They go there to see you. People who like golf like to see the best, and right now, in your age group, you're the best."

"I don't think so. There are a plenty of guys out there who are better than me. I still have a lot to learn."

"Sure you do, but that's true for everyone. You'll always be learning, trying to get better, but you're already golfing like a pro and people notice that. You're going to have a lot of eyes on you at the tournament this week."

"Did you really have to tell me that?" I joke.

"I'm not trying to make you nervous. I'm telling you you have what it takes to make it. It won't be long before you'll have agents and companies approaching you, wanting to be part of your success. I don't want them taking advantage of you which is why I need to set you up with the right people."

"I appreciate the offer but I can't afford that right now."

"Don't worry about that. I'll take care of the costs until you're able to do so yourself."

"I don't know, Lou. You've already done so much for me. I don't want you doing even more."

"I won't take no for an answer." He gets up and puts the ice cream back in the fridge. "Get to bed. You need your beauty rest for the shoot tomorrow. The camera loves a pretty face." He gives me a wink.

"Thanks for the talk."

"Anytime." He starts to leave, then stops and turns back. "You got a girl, Luke?"

"A girl?" I choke out the words, my heart pounding. Does he know about Taylor and me? Is he testing me to see if I'll tell him the truth?

"A girl," he repeats. "Are you seeing someone?"

"No. Why?" I ask, my heart pounding even harder.

He grins. "You seem to be smiling more than usual. I thought maybe it was because of a girl. But it must be the golf. Makes me smile too, although it's not the same smile I have when I'm with Barb. That's why I was thinking you might have a girl. You've got that different kind of smile."

I shake my head. "Nope. No girl."

"Okay, well, goodnight, Luke."

"Goodnight," I say as he leaves.

I take a deep breath, relieved he doesn't know. But he could tell something was different about me. I have that smile. The smile that comes from being with the girl you want to be with forever. He just doesn't know that girl is his daughter.

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