Page 19 of Out of Bounds

"It’s a photo?" Kassie raised an eyebrow.

"A photo that’s been sharedmillionsof times." Cleo shuffled out a few folders and set them carefully in front of us in a color-coordinated line. "We used to be a good university for football. Hell, we were a great one. Our last coach came in, fucked us up, and we spent five years in the trenches." Cleo shook her head."Coach Lawson is supposed to be the new blood and Ryan here is supposed to be the newface. And the newfacecannot be ajoke."

I shifted back in my chair. Cleo was right and recognizing that was the first step towards fixing the problem.

"He’s not a joke," Kassie interjected. I stopped to look down at her, but she ducked away. "I mean, he’s an asshole. I’ll call a spade, a spade. But he’s not a joke. This isn’t something to freak out about."

I didn’t understand the problem either, but a grin threatened to make an appearance.

Kassie doesn’t think I’m a joke.

The arguments didn’t change anything. Cleo clicked a button on her computer again. "What we have here is one PR-created relationship that'll benefit all parties involved."

8

Ryan

The Kind Of Propositions You Sign NDAs For

I leaned forward, ready to grab a pen. Even if Cleo wasn’t happy with me leaving Marrs at the end of my junior year, she still had an obligation to make sure I had no spots on my record before going for the draft. I trusted her judgment.

"Okay…you lost me," Kassie admitted.

"Ryan Cross, Four-A-Cross." Cleo gestured towards me. "Quarterback for the Romans, one of the greatest in Marrs University’s history, anything he signs is an instant bestseller, we can’t keep his official jerseys in stock. And, he is noted inSouthern Sports Insideras…stiff."

I shrugged.

"Texas Rangin’ Podcastcalled him amethodical robot. Kenan Foley said Ryan Cross is curt, hard-headed and…difficult in interviews."

That was unreasonable. "They keep asking what my favorite music is—what does that have to do with football?"

"You didn’t have tofinishthe interview at that."

"I have better things to do with my time," I grunted.

Cleo ignored me. "As much as I’ve beentryingandpleadingwith him, Ryan will say he’s ready for the draft. Except he’s…well, he’s not…approachable. I mean, at all. Pictures, events, interviews, you name it. There’s a clear divide betweenhimand players who embrace their media training. It’s my job to fix this. And, with the rest of the publicity that Marrs is…experiencing, this will be the perfect opportunity to—"

"Arelationship?" Kassie laughed but there was nothing funny about this. "We couldn’t spend…two minutes together in a room without going at each other’s throats. There’s no way that—"

I didn’t taste blood through my mouthguard to balk at a challenge.

"I can behave if you can," I told her.

The art girl stared at me. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"One, you can’t snarl at reporters. Two, you can’t fall in love with me."

Her mouth fell open and she snapped it shut. Kassie’s eyes flashed. "This guy? Difficult? Shocking to me. Ryan, the day I fall head over heels foryou,asteroids hit the Earth.” She shook her head. “Does your demeanor actuallyworkon other girls?"

"My fake girlfriend doesn’t need to worry about other girls."

"I wish your fake girlfriend the best." Kassie beamed. "Hopeshecan swallow your personality."

I shifted forward. "It’s a good thing I never have a problem with women and swallowing."

"Ryan," Cleo chided me, shocked.

Holy shit. On a call with every important person on the roster too. I’d been so focused on the art girl, sharpening her knives, and that curved mouth of hers, lips parted, I completely forgot about the audience we had.

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