Page 82 of A Whole New Play

The foreboding feeling grows. Is this about the team? Did the coaches announce I’m being benched or something?

It takes effort to hide the fear from my voice. “What story?”

“Shit,” Gary grunts. “I was hoping you already knew…”

“Well, I don’t.” My hand shakes as I smooth down my bedhead. Damn anxiety… “Just tell me. What’s going on?”

“A picture of you kissing a young woman in Minnesota was posted on social media last night. No major outlets have shared the story yet, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they get ahold of it.”

My anxiety is replaced by confusion.

The picture can’t be of me. I haven’t kissed anyone in public in ages. Then, it hits me.

Me and Valerie… kissing on that metal bench outside of the hotel.

Damn it.

“Well,” I sigh. “That sucks.”

Gary’s shock travels through the phone as several beats of silence. “I thought you’d be more upset.”

Am I upset?

Not really.

Does this mess up the plan to keep our relationship a secret? Potentially. Depending on the angle of the photo, it could be easy to identify her. Or maybe not. There’s no point getting worked up about the situation until I know more.

Look at me being levelheaded and logical. My parents would be proud.

“Can you send me the picture?” I ask Gary.

A series of taps sound through the earpiece. “Done.”

My phone buzzes in my hand.

I open the text message. It’s a screenshot of a post from an obscure online publication. In it, there’s a picture of the photo posted on social media where I’m holding Valerie’s chin as I kiss her. The way my head is tilted blocks her face.

I don’t need to see more but curiosity gets the better of me.

I open the social media app and type the name of the random profile that originally posted the photo. I find the account. When I expand the picture, I see the caption lists me by name and includes a quip about my “secret girlfriend”. And the first comment is a crass remark contemplating if getting laid is the reason I’ve played better lately.

I smirk.

Sex isn’t the reason for my improved performance, but there’s no denying things turned around for me almost the exact moment Valerie came into my life for the second time.

“You still there?”

“Yeah.” I bring the phone back to my ear. “The photo doesn’t look so bad.”

“No,” Gary agrees. “And the story could go nowhere. But just in case, I’ve already spoken with Avery,” he mentions my PR agent. “She and her team are working on different strategies to ensure the story spins in your favor if it gains traction. They’ll be sending details my way in a couple of hours, but until then, you might want to keep a low profile.”

I nod along to his advice, having already thought the same thing. “No problem.”

“Good. There’s, ah, one more thing.”

“What is it?”

He hesitates. “You might want to give Davis a call.”

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